Really. It's a parody to how abysmal this country is; so many people are taking the antidepressant Prozac, that British drinking water is contaminated with it. Recently, the number of antidepressant prescriptions has gone up from 9 million to 24 million per year. (BBC News)

But why is everybody so miserable? Why are so many people plagued by pessimistic feelings of inadequacy, desperation and helplessness? Maybe it's the poor state of affairs in this country: an education system in which there is so much pressure to perform well, a constant strive, greed for success. The implications of failure are harrowing: low grades: low life. Is this right? Maybe some people are just not so good at academic stuff, but prefer more practical skills, but the transition of this country's industry from mainly primary industry (like steelworks, wood crafting, coal mining) to mainly tertiary and quaternary has left those unfortunates out in the rain.

So there are multitudes of people with nothing to do; living off the welfare state. You say "Well, it's their fault they did not learn at school!" It's hardly surprising. Those who don't want to won't, but because employment is becoming closed to everyone except those who are qualified, they're not going to get anywhere. Besides, for the majority of people - who wants to learn about molecular chemistry, or about the far reaches of the Solar System or how to calculate Standard Deviation. Its no wonder kids don't want to learn. There used to be a time when people could go into a job as an apprentice, learn the skills as they went along then work fulltime - such as ship building, clothe and shoe manufacturing and blacksmithering (? lol). Not the case anymore. No grades - no job. So the destitute and the unemployed (which has in fact risen despite all the Labour promises of Cutting Unemployment) left depressed, feeling inadequate and miserable begin to breed resentment and anger. Thus the social fabric of the country breaks down, with chavs roaming the streets, teens getting pregnant and mariages failing. No wonder we rank 29th in the List of Best Countries in the World (based on socioeconomic statistics: BBC News). That puts us lower than all of pre-expansion Europe. As much as we deride the Irish: they're the most socioeconomically advanced country.

What about jobs? Dead end, tiring, repetitive, leaves one wondering if there is any point. All the money you earn goes to paying the mortgage and other loans which are tied to you for the best part of your life. It's hard to live as it is with living costs so high yet living standards so low. Years later you look back and think: Have you achieved anything in your life? No. Your life is futile: just another insignificant human struggling for an existence. Doped with religion, sex and TV (i quote John Lennon, but may i also add 'doped with Prozac') we pursue our unreachable goals and live on in this pitiful existence, no longer caring.

So the conclusion? We're left with a country where nobody cares about anything. The social fabric is so deeply torn that hate and anger is rife. The economy is supported by borrowing: nearly everyone has loans creating the illusion of wealth where there is none. Animal rights? Who cares? When nobody cares for anyone else or their property, then no one is going to give a damn about the plights of animals. Global warming? Ha... when people have got more pressing issues like their mortgage or football they're hardly going to give their carbon footprint a thought. Who cares? Nobody. What a pitiful state of affairs: this hollow hall of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of travesty, this state of hate... This depressed land, this earth, this realm, this England.