If you ruled the World

[Ragged Robin]

If I ruled the world
Every day would be the first day of Spring
Every heart would have a new song to sing
And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring
If I ruled the world
Every man would be as free as a bird
Every voice would be a voice to be heard
Take my word, we would treasure each day that occurred

(Extract from lyric from the Musical "Pickwick")

If you ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus , what changes would you institute? You are nott allowed to include reunification, driving and mobile phones, rubbish and stray animals.

Mine would be:

1, Improve disabled access generally, and particularly to beaches , including reinstituting (or enforcing) the law which makes access to beaches free for all, and forbids blocking an entrance.

2. Reinstate and/or enforce the law which restricted the height of building to 4 storeys in towns and 2 elsewhere.

3. Restrict the size, type and weight of vehicles allowed to access narrow residential village streets, and/or restrict access (and parking) to residents.

[jacob]

Improve disabled access generally, and particularly to beaches , including reinstituting (or enforcing) the law which makes access to beaches free for all, and forbids blocking an entrance.

I would never have expected complaints like this from you

[David]

Err ..... Build some infrastucture namely some town squares and promenades to sit and watch the world go by

[elizabeth]

There seems little point in trying to encourage a debate if the things that most people are concerned about are " not allowed".
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if it's different than yours.

[jofra]

Surely No. 3 falls within the exclusion rule "...not allowed to include reunification, driving ....."

[Ragged Robin]

Err ..... Build some infrastucture namely some town squares and promenades to sit and watch the world go by

That is an interesting one David : a nice thought ., particularly if some are by the sea. What about piers? Can we have easy disabled access and comfortable seats! What about food and drink -would you have cafes or would that spoil the peace by being too commercialised

[Ragged Robin]

Surely No. 3 falls within the exclusion rule "...not allowed to include reunification, driving ....."

Actually I said "driving and mobile phones" but anyway the post is about the type of vehicle being used, not how it is driven!

[Ragged Robin]

There seems little point in trying to encourage a debate if the things that most people are concerned about are " not allowed".


Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if it's different than yours.

Everyone other than I , according to you!

There is little point in trying to encourage debate if people like you are going to undermine everything I say. What have I done to make you so aggressive (or is that just how you are), I "banned" certain subjects because they have been discussed to death and I wanted a new slant on things. Also they are contraversial and I wanted a pleasant dicussion for once! It was actually the post on air quality and what people expected of this island that put the idea in my head, and I am suprised no one mentoned it, although my point 3 is actually very relevant to it.

Everyone is entilted to their views and tostart threads about anything within reason without people like you attacking them Please do not ruin another of my threads by getting it removed because of personal attacks. If you dont want to contibute sensibly to the subjects I please just keep off the thread. Nothing to stop you starting your own thread on subjects you want to dscuss.

[kibsolar1999]

If you ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus , i would
- change the election law and so on...
- make the civil society stronger and so on...
- make them all pay their taxes and so on...

i would not bother about reunification, driving and mobile phones, rubbish and stray animals, and the other things also not.
they can be solved from the cypriots themselves (ok, the 3 above as well) .

[elizabeth]

There seems little point in trying to encourage a debate if the things that most people are concerned about are " not allowed".


Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if it's different than yours.

Everyone other than I , according to you!

There is little point in trying to encourage debate if people like you are going to undermine everything I say. What have I done to make you so aggressive (or is that just how you are), I "banned" certain subjects because they have been discussed to death and I wanted a new slant on things. Also they are contraversial and I wanted a pleasant dicussion for once! It was actually the post on air quality and what people expected of this island that put the idea in my head, and I am suprised no one mentoned it, although my point 3 is actually very relevant to it.

Everyone is entilted to their views and tostart threads about anything within reason without people like you attacking them Please do not ruin another of my threads by getting it removed because of personal attacks. If you dont want to contibute sensibly to the subjects I please just keep off the thread. Nothing to stop you starting your own thread on subjects you want to dscuss.

I did not attack or undermine you, I merely expressed my opinion, that is not a personal attack but you do seem to take things very personally. I was not aggressive and neither do I want your post removed, I just feel that as people may have things which they feel are important they should be free to express those views as you wish to express yours.I'm sorry if my reply upset you, that was not my intention.

[thornaby]

Eradicate religion.
Eradicate Brexit remoaners.

[dani]

1. I would have the Government invest in Solar Energy. Giving incentives for homes and businesses to install panels.
2. I would close down (after all proper warnings, of course) any organisation which didn't pay their Electric Bill.
3. Instead of imprisoning people who were unable to pay fines - and thereby costing the Country money - I would introduce 'Community Service'. Those sentenced would have to give their time to cleaning up the environment and/or helping the elderly and socially disadvantaged.

[gary&shirley]

I agree with above post, how come so many rich business groups don't pay their electric bills, cut them off including all the government organisations that don't pay, and what we would really like to improve life here would be able to walk along the edge of the sea like the Lapta Walk.

[woodspeckie]

Love the Lapta walk, easy to get to even for disabled drivers, seats along the way and the Cabin serving snacks open during December to February when we are there.

[waddo]

"If you ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus , what three changes would you first institute?"

Firstly, if I had the sort of power as described above, why would I waste it on not being allowed to: "You are not allowed to include reunification, driving and mobile phones, rubbish and stray animals." when all of those are equally as important - if not more so - than having a seafront walkway?

However, to keep in line with the question of "three" changes, I would:

1. Ensure equality for all residents, temporary or not, as stated in the constitution.

2. Put in place a system of health and living support for all residents, temporary or not, for those elderly persons unable to support themselves.

3. Expressly forbid the erection and/or completion of any new buildings whilst any existing buildings remained unused.

[kibsolar1999]

interesting to see that some expect more (changes to happen) from north cyprus as their homecountries did until today....

anyway, dani,
the "normal" net metering solarenergy systems are reduced im VAT, from 16 to 5%, which is an indirect incentive of 11%.
also, the produced solar energies kWh are deducted from your consumption before paying your electricity bill, meaning, also here you get a "VAT incentive", and over a 20 years lifetime this sums up to a 30-40% incentive of the original purchase price.

[elizabeth]

"If you ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus , what three changes would you first institute?"

Firstly, if I had the sort of power as described above, why would I waste it on not being allowed to: "You are not allowed to include reunification, driving and mobile phones, rubbish and stray animals." when all of those are equally as important - if not more so - than having a seafront walkway?

However, to keep in line with the question of "three" changes, I would:

1. Ensure equality for all residents, temporary or not, as stated in the constitution.

2. Put in place a system of health and living support for all residents, temporary or not, for those elderly persons unable to support themselves.

3. Expressly forbid the erection and/or completion of any new buildings whilst any existing buildings remained unused.

They are my three changes too, and being greedy, just one more
The Police would enforce, and in some cases abide, by the laws of the land.

[Hedge-fund]

Eradicate religion.
Eradicate Brexit remoaners.

Ahhh religion & politics - that will calm things down

My question is who is your favourite Beatle but you can't pick George, Paul or Ringo?

[waddo]

Alexander - but you will only understand that if you have seen a very old film or heard the song - lol.

[Keithcaley]

...My question is who is your favourite Beatle but you can't pick George, Paul or Ringo?

Pete Best

[jofra]

Or Stuart Sutcliffe...?

[Ragged Robin]

"If you ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus , what three changes would you first institute?"

Firstly, if I had the sort of power as described above, why would I waste it on not being allowed to: "You are not allowed to include reunification, driving and mobile phones, rubbish and stray animals." when all of those are equally as important - if not more so - than having a seafront walkway?

However, to keep in line with the question of "three" changes, I would:

1. Ensure equality for all residents, temporary or not, as stated in the constitution.

2. Put in place a system of health and living support for all residents, temporary or not, for those elderly persons unable to support themselves.

3. Expressly forbid the erection and/or completion of any new buildings whilst any existing buildings remained unused.

Waddo; As I tried to explain to Elizabeth earlier in this thread, the reason for the exclusions was that I felt that these had already been comprehensibly discussed and whilst most if not all of us agreed they were problems, there was considerable dissension on how to solve them?
Comments on the thread on air pollution made me wonder f there were other issues that were causing a lot of dissatisfaction in the expat population. It is interesting to see that the increase in building seems to be a common factor. Of course if anyone still wants to discussion reunification, stray dogs etc. there is really nothing to stop them starting their own threads.

I am interested in your item 2,. There is certainly a need for something like that , but ten, maybe even five, years ago I would have said it was unfair to expect a country in the circumstances of theTRNC to subsidise expatriates who normally had better resources than the "locals". In view of the increased wealth and therefore contribution to the income of the country of recent expats, and the fact that some who had made preparations to support themselves have lost money as a result of the inadequacies of the legal system, I am beginning to have second thoughts. These are increased by the fact that despite non recognition the country seems to have found a veritable well of income from other "tourist" sources despite that fact that these may not be approved of by the residents local or expatriates whose quality of lifestyle may well have been reduced or even destroyed because of them (I am of course referring to these large buildings catering to outsiders, such as hotels and casinos.

However setting up National Health scheme and improving social services is a mammoth task which takes expertise and experience and I doubt if it exists in the TRNC - look what a mess the UK NHS gets itself into after so many years of experience and with a more stable economy

On the other hand do you not think that the British Government should be doing more for its "distressed subjects" or at least those who have paid taxes, NHS contributions etc.. through a long working life, and as a reusult of living abroad made no claim on it.

[waddo]

RR, Firstly let me state that no task is too great for one who "ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus"! To bring about my Item No 2 would mean many changes in other areas as well however, as I was restricted to only three changes I am unable to suggest the other requirements. I note that you have now taken the subject of Health Support out of TRNC and asked a question about what the British Government should be doing, presumably for those who lived and worked in the UK and then retired abroad? In answer to your question about what the British Government should be doing for it's "distressed subjects" or at least those who have paid taxes, NHS contributions etc.. through a long working life, and as a result of living abroad made no claim on it, is "Nothing"!

To explain that, let me ask a question in response then and keep in mind that I paid my taxes for 45 years before I left and still pay income tax to that Government regardless of the fact that I have not set foot in the UK for the last 10 years. In 1995 we started to plan our retirement to TRNC, in 2006 I bought an expensive leather coat, in the knowledge that I would not need it here, in 2007 I gave away my coat to a friend and moved to the TRNC for ever!

Now, take the example of my coat, which I saved for all my life, paid for in good money and used maybe three times in total - Do I have any claim on that coat now? The coat and the NHS are the same - I have left the coat, I have left the UK - do I or should I - have any claim on the coat or the NHS??? My choice to leave the UK, my choice to give away the coat - I did both in the knowledge that if I needed a new coat or Medical services then I would have to pay for them.

[dani]

Have sent you a PM Kibsolar.

[rosiesmidge]

I would ban anyone from keeping peacocks unless they lived miles from anyone one else and had the room for them to roam in

[Ragged Robin]

Ok Elizabeth and Waddo, I have removed the resriction on he number of changes you can make!

[Ragged Robin]

I would ban anyone from keeping peacocks unless they lived miles from anyone one else and had the room for them to roam in

[Ragged Robin]

RR, Firstly let me state that no task is too great for one who "ruled enough of the world to make changes to North Cyprus"! To bring about my Item No 2 would mean many changes in other areas as well however, as I was restricted to only three changes I am unable to suggest the other requirements. I note that you have now taken the subject of Health Support out of TRNC and asked a question about what the British Government should be doing, presumably for those who lived and worked in the UK and then retired abroad? In answer to your question about what the British Government should be doing for it's "distressed subjects" or at least those who have paid taxes, NHS contributions etc.. through a long working life, and as a result of living abroad made no claim on it, is "Nothing"!

To explain that, let me ask a question in response then and keep in mind that I paid my taxes for 45 years before I left and still pay income tax to that Government regardless of the fact that I have not set foot in the UK for the last 10 years. In 1995 we started to plan our retirement to TRNC, in 2006 I bought an expensive leather coat, in the knowledge that I would not need it here, in 2007 I gave away my coat to a friend and moved to the TRNC for ever!

Now, take the example of my coat, which I saved for all my life, paid for in good money and used maybe three times in total - Do I have any claim on that coat now? The coat and the NHS are the same - I have left the coat, I have left the UK - do I or should I - have any claim on the coat or the NHS??? My choice to leave the UK, my choice to give away the coat - I did both in the knowledge that if I needed a new coat or Medical services then I would


have to pay for them.

Sorry Waddo, but your example does not hold water. I too gave away (actually quite a lot of things ) of monetary and/or sentimental value, but they were gifts and there were no strings attached. and I never thought of repayment or recompense By contrast the payments made all my long working life to the Inland Revenue and Social Security were Contract (and made under duress at this) entered into a time when my future residence could not be foreseen by either party. Payments to the Inland Revenue were for residence and in my case citizenship of the UK, and for the benefit I received as a result. During the last 20 years here I have not received as far as I can ascertain a single benefit, and I am consequently underwriting the UK and its residents, although I now do not even have the right to vote on how my money is spent. The payments to the NHS were made on the understanding that I would receive care and treatment in the event of illness and care in old age. Apart from a pension (which I only get because of an odd anomaly in legislation) I have made no claim on this for 20 years and am again seriously subsidising others.

I imaging that , like me and most of us, you also accumulated some savings for your old age. How would you react if your Bank or whoever refused to pay these because you had moved abroad?

I do feel that the UK is letting expats down and cannot entirely accept it as reasonable that the TRNC should be expected to remedy their deficiencies.

As a matter of interest, it woud in fact be cheaper for the NHS if they were pay for my treatment here, than provide it themselves, and I am meantime shortening their waiting lists!

[waddo]

"Sorry Waddo, but your example does not hold water."

Sorry RR but neither does yours! Your first paragraph simply explains that you did not check on how the UK would support you should you leave it never to return.

Your second paragraph assumes that most people would have been able to save for the future without any prior knowledge of what their past may have been.

Your third paragraph is a personal view of the UK, a place you left of your own free will. I fully agree that the TRNC should not support its immigrants simply because they came here in the knowledge that either themselves or their country of origin could not support them either.

Finally you are not shortening the NHS waiting lists, you are not on their waiting lists because you gave away your right for NHS treatment when you left.

I am not being argumentative here, I am simply stating what appears to be unpalatable facts of life. We all make choices in life and we all (apart from politicians it seems) get to live with them. Some are good and some are bad and in some instances some are forced upon us. The military used to have a saying - mind you in this modern age it has probably been discontinued as being PC - "Self inflicted injury is no excuse"!

My original question remains unanswered: Do I have any claim on that coat now? The coat and the NHS are the same - I have left the coat, I have left the UK - do I or should I - have any claim on the coat or the NHS???

In returning to the question posed by this thread - my original post of the three changes remains as it is and I have no wish to further deviate from your original post.

[Ragged Robin]

"Sorry Waddo, but your example does not hold water."

Sorry RR but neither does yours! Your first paragraph simply explains that you did not check on how the UK would support you should you leave it never to return.

But Waddo, I did! I spent a lot of time writing (and not getting replies) to Inland Revenue and Dept of Work and Pensions trying to find out what my position overseas would be! They really did not want to tell me, but it did not matter anyway since they changed the goalposts anyway. I believe that this is because too many "swallows" were having their cake and eating it , living abroad but returning to the UK for medical treatment. I by contrast have not so far claimed a penny for medical, dental or optical treatment. That must have saved the NHS a lot of money, just on routine dental and optical checks alone.

Your second paragraph assumes that most people would have been able to save for the future without any prior knowledge of what their past may have been.

OKI made an assumption but that was made on the basis of what friends have done and from reading posts here, and I DID say MOST people! For myself I have always saved for old age (in addition to private and state pension conribtions). It was the way I was brought up and not only saved when working in the UK , but for several years working and living here in the good old days when Work Permits were not made difficult because of the actions of the post 04 immigration. So far I have paid for all my own treatment, but that was by choice, not because I do not think the NHS does not owe me something . In fact I hope to continue to do so, but because I lost so much of my savings through an ill advised (in both senses) investment) it is a matter of whether my life or the money runs out first! and I go without much that I really need.
Your third paragraph is a personal view of the UK, a place you left of your own free will. I fully agree that the TRNC should not support its immigrants simply because they came here in the knowledge that either themselves or their country of origin could not support them either.

Finally you are not shortening the NHS waiting lists, you are not on their waiting lists because you gave away your right for NHS treatment when you lef

Sorry but I just do not accept that as a matter of principlle Note that I am not talking here about what does happen, but what should





I am not being argumentative here, I am simply stating what appears to be unpalatable facts of life. We all make choices in life and we all (apart from politicians it seems) get to live with them. Some are good and some are bad and in some instances some are forced upon us. The military used to have a saying - mind you in this modern age it has probably been discontinued as being PC - "Self inflicted injury is no excuse"!

True, but the original principke of the "Welfare State" was that those who could should contribute to it and all in subsequent need should be entitled to care. No restrictions on where they chose to live

My original question remains unanswered: Do I have any claim on that coat now? The coat and the NHS are the same - I have left the coat, I have left the UK - do I or should I - have any claim on the coat or the NHS???

No of course not! Unlike NI contributions etc. you gave the coat of your own free will without any expectation of recompense and it would make no difference whereyou live. If you had dire need of it, and the person who you gave it to you was better off , he might feel a moral obligation to return it, but that is a different matter. In my view if , like my,you have paid up to date NI contributions, are still paying Tax and are a citizen of the Uk - possibly subject to means test, but that is a different issue.

It looks as though, yet again, we shall have to agree to differ!

In returning to the question posed by this thread - my original post of the three changes remains as it is and I have no wish to further deviate from your original post.

I understood that you - and Elizabeth - felt that I was being too restrictive limiting to three posts, and on reflection I think you could be right on that point.. However if you want to suggest another improvement or not , is , naturally, entirely up to you I am just happy to have a friendly discussion without personal attacks or aggression.

[meldy]

I would give everybody their full kocan