I happened to notice the BBC's "most read" news stories right now, and it is an absolute disgrace and appalling reflection on this country. Hopefully by the time you click the link, a more positive vision of the UK will have emerged. 
But the current stories are:
Tax to pay for fast net access - the heartwarming story of the government taxing everybody in order to subsidise private companies upgrading the telephone network. They're private companies... WTF? Do I get a dividend later as a result of my extra investment?
TV dance man, 73, loses benefits - a potential benefit cheat gets caught by his own stupidity and half the country seems to think it's a shame because he happens to be mildly entertaining on TV
Expenses row MP dropped by Labour - another scumbag politician fiddling the expenses system.
Light sensors cause religious row - two Orthodox Jews complain that automatic light sensors in the stairwell area of their apartment are breaching their Human Rights and taking the case to court. Court. Over automatic light sensors.
BA asks staff to work for nothing - do I need to explain this?
Hydrogen car to be 'open source' - OK, not such a bad story. But the car's exterior design is an eyesore.
Force disciplines police blogger - I see we're in full-on Soviet state mode now - a policeman blogging negative things about the government & its bureaucracy has had his right to privacy overriden and his name plastered in the press "in the public interest"
Grandfather reveals lottery joy - eh, ok, I'll give this one a pass.
'Mass opposition rally' in Tehran - looks like the only place where the population are trying to roll back the power of the state today is Iran. Huh. Irony.
Court quashes murder conviction - let's celebrate because a poor bastard who was wrongly sent down 7 years ago has finally had his conviction overturned.
Lovely....
But the current stories are:
Tax to pay for fast net access - the heartwarming story of the government taxing everybody in order to subsidise private companies upgrading the telephone network. They're private companies... WTF? Do I get a dividend later as a result of my extra investment?
TV dance man, 73, loses benefits - a potential benefit cheat gets caught by his own stupidity and half the country seems to think it's a shame because he happens to be mildly entertaining on TV
Expenses row MP dropped by Labour - another scumbag politician fiddling the expenses system.
Light sensors cause religious row - two Orthodox Jews complain that automatic light sensors in the stairwell area of their apartment are breaching their Human Rights and taking the case to court. Court. Over automatic light sensors.
BA asks staff to work for nothing - do I need to explain this?
Hydrogen car to be 'open source' - OK, not such a bad story. But the car's exterior design is an eyesore.
Force disciplines police blogger - I see we're in full-on Soviet state mode now - a policeman blogging negative things about the government & its bureaucracy has had his right to privacy overriden and his name plastered in the press "in the public interest"
Grandfather reveals lottery joy - eh, ok, I'll give this one a pass.
'Mass opposition rally' in Tehran - looks like the only place where the population are trying to roll back the power of the state today is Iran. Huh. Irony.
Court quashes murder conviction - let's celebrate because a poor bastard who was wrongly sent down 7 years ago has finally had his conviction overturned.
Lovely....
