Damn, there are some depressing British things streaming right now

[NV Whino]

Run: a four-part, interconnected series about the down and out in London.

Common: a stabbing in a pizza joint leads to multiple family turmoil.

And something else I watched that was so depressing I've blocked from my mind.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. This is a depressing time in Britain

The Tories control the government, and they are slashing the social safety net any way they can.

Under a Parliamentary system, whichever party has the majority in Parliament gets to pick the prime minister, so there is no divided government. Whichever party is in power has clear sailing.

There were reports that they actually laughed gleefully as they cut some of the programs. University tuition has gone up, and the Tories have cut grants to student, so they have to take out loans, just like Americans, lucky them.

There are now food banks in the UK, something that was never necessary before. Prime Minister Cameron actually said he was proud of "the private sector" stepping up to help hungry people (who didn't used to be hungry).

He promised that he wouldn't privatize the NHS---so he has just cut its budget.

The Brits made a lot of depressing movies and TV during the Thatcher era, too.

[NV Whino]

2. Thanks. Gives some insight into these movies.