The point of a socialist government is, surely, to give the same education to all, fairly. Instead of demanding cello lessons for your child, shouldn't you demand the government provides cello for all children?

Jack Thursby, Sheffield, UK

I was one of those people who was unhappy with the state of the UK so I did something about it and moved to sunny Brisbane, Queensland. The trouble with us English is that we are all stiff upper lip, grin and bear it type people when we could stop whinging do something productive. My life could not be better and the opportunities I have recieved here in 5 years are outstanding. I own a house and a flat(because it's affordable) and I have gone from being a truck driver in England to being an operations manager here in Oz. To top it all off the weather is great.
If you are not happy then get off your backsides and do something about it!!

Mark, Bribane, Queenland

My observation as an Australian is that Brits and Aussies whinge equally - and alot. It seems the more we have, the more we feel entitled too. One other interesting aspect of our cultures is that a whinge is seen as somewhat acceptable - almost an icebreaker with strangers and very often done in good humour.

Regarding Australia's convicts, an overwhelming majority of Australians have not a drop of convict blood, and those that do can trace back their ancestors as petty not heinous criminals (they were hanged). As a means of insult, references to convict heritage are meaningless here. They are more likely to raise a wry smile in the same way a mother might react to a frustrated small child calling her 'stupid'.

Justin, Melbourne, Australia

No, S. Martin is wrong. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "pom" comes from "pomegranate", which is a play on words, based on "immigrant". The original "poms" were immigrants from Britain to Australia.

Herbert G., Leeds, West Riding

Yes - intersting article. But I would like to see a decent healthcare cake being made before anyone worries about icing it..........

agb, alvechurch,

'Pom' is an acronym, properly POHM - Prisoner Of Her Majesty. As an Englishman I have no objection to being called a Whinger but I do object to being labeled as a POHM: by definition it is Australians who are the POHMs. So please don't perpetuate the myth.

S Martin, London, England

Is Jamie Whyte describing the U.K? Five hours on the train between Liverpool and York on the slowest rains in western Europe. Multiple violent crimes which aren't reported on the news in my locality. A health service which doesn't care that I have a degenerative eye condition and in the four years previous to me becoming a mature student I lost the ability to afford to live in a one bedroom flat due to council tax rises; with more on the way. This depsite working 50 hour weeks and having no debt. Anyone who is single and earning less than average wage in this country has plenty to 'whinge' about. I just wish the British would stop complaining and start acting against a government that treats the people as a bottomless money pit.

David, York,

An excellent article, except it seems that Jamie Whyte is completely unaware of the fact that Australians are the world champions of whinging (much as I like them in other respects).

HJ, Reading, UK

I normally agree with Jamie Whyte's analysis, but here I think he misses the point. I do not want Gordon or Tony to spend my money on anything other than what Government has any real duty to deliver, namely Security and Justice. In order to get what I really want I would have to send my children to Private schools and buy health insurance, neither of which I can afford, and both of which involve paying twice for what Government inadequately delivers.

I don't want to be pampered, I want to spend my money on my priorities, not soneone elses.

Richard, Preston, UK

Actuallly, the only grumpy people I know in Britain are newpaper columnists, who all seem intent on telling us how grumpy we all are.

Although, I don't live in London, which may have something to do with it.

Douglas, Edinburgh, UK

In the 2006 Budget*, the Chancellor announced that he could return money to taxpayers. But he wouldn't. Because he knew how to spend it. On education: "There are those who say – as with the £1.5 billion I have already found for law and order, security, environ-ment and the Olympics – this £440 million for education should be used to cut taxes, and I could, of course, afford to do so. But I say: investing in education comes first. And in-vesting in education is this budget’s choice".

There. A naked statement that he personally knows how to allocate resources better than the market.

I love the notion that he found this £1.5bn.

*http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_06/bud_bud06_speech.cfm

David Moss, London, UK

Maybe it's the more you have the more you want syndrome or is because the weather is lousy?

I will willingly spend your excess money.

Nickh, Perth, Australia

In the 2006 Budget*, the Chancellor announced that he could return money to taxpayers. But he wouldn't. Because he knew how to spend it. On education: "… There are those who say – as with the £1.5 billion I have already found for law and order, security, environment and the Olympics – this £440 million for education should be used to cut taxes, and I could, of course, afford to do so. But I say: investing in education comes first. And investing in education is this budget’s choice".

That was his most naked statement so far that the he knows how to allocate resources better than the market. And it is false.

I love the notion that he found this £1.5bn.

Spend my money, indeed!

*http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_06/bud_bud06_speech.cfm

David Moss, London, UK