Don't be so English, complain!

I recently attended a literary festival where a well-known author and tabloid columnist was discussing his latest book, the subject of which was the English.He described how we have a rage that simmers away under the surface. We rant on about immigration, the war, the social security scroungers, flaying the skin off hoodies in public.

And I must agree, we do have this rage, and the worst thing about it is that we do nothing about it. We just sit on our hands and moan. Why is that? Is it our nature to be doormats?

For a start, why do we put up with such appalling service in virtually every aspect of our daily life? I defy any person reading this not to have done the following: Waited in all day for a delivery which was never going to arrive. Waited in all the next day for (delete as necessary) builder, plumber, electrician etc who was never going to arrive.

Spent all day queueing for something only to get home and find out that (delete as necessary) it's got something missing, it doesn't work, it's damaged.

Ate a rubbish meal in a restaurant after waiting ages and sheepishly told the 15-year-old waitress "it's lovely" when she asks you how your meal is.

Gone to a fish and chip shop at lunchtime and been told: "You will have to wait for a fish" because the owners are terrified they might have a piece of cod left over even though they are open for another two hours.

Tried to get some sense from either an automated telephone system or a foreign sounding gentleman the other side of the world called Nigel, who thinks Chester is on the Isle of Man.

Attempted to use any form of public transport to get from A to B at a reasonable price. Try getting from Wolverhampton to Brighton on a Sunday.

These instances are trivial in comparison to the decaying state of our health, education and legal systems that are systematically being reduced to Third World status. We accept it like sheep as our way of life.

Next time don't stand for it, speak up, make a fuss, tell them it's not good enough, stop being so English. I do, and more often than not it works. Try it. What have you got to lose?

David Breakwell, Blymhill, Weston-under-Lizard.