Does Britain suck?

[MrTAToad]

Countries should be run like countries - provide a service (or many) and make a profit from the purchase of said services. That way there would be no national debt - some money would be saved for any national emergencies, some would be saved for a future time, and a little for any overseas projects, and the rest would be re-invested back into the country.

[rubaiyat]

Speaking of money, the Bank of Scotland prints its own notes which I find very odd.

The Welsh would get a lot more respect if they printed their own as well, maybe on locally supplied stock, smelling of leeks.

btw Just as the Scots "lack the guts" to leave the United Kingdom, the UK itself lacks the guts to leave the EU despite bitching about it on every occassion. Are the Europeans ever so unpolite as to express the opinion that they made a mistake letting the British in?

[MrTAToad]

We all know Herr Blair would love to the UK to conpletely join the EU, so he's not likely to want to leave. It would take something like UKIP or possibly the Conservatives (with a bit of pressure). It should also be noted that if/when we do start the leaving process, the EU will make it as difficult as possible - probably with heavy financial 'costs' - after all, they wouldn't want anyone to leave...

It would probably take a few years to get back the losses made - but after that financial stability should return.

[monktus]

Speaking of money, the Bank of Scotland prints its own notes which I find very odd.

The Welsh would get a lot more respect if they printed their own as well, maybe on locally supplied stock, smelling of leeks.

btw Just as the Scots "lack the guts" to leave the United Kingdom, the UK itself lacks the guts to leave the EU despite bitching about it on every occassion. Are the Europeans ever so unpolite as to express the opinion that they made a mistake letting the British in?

As does the Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale, it's one of the things that Scotland retained when it formed a union with England, along with its legal and education systems, and the Church of Scotland.

It's mostly the "Little Englanders" that complain about the EU, there's a silent majority that are quite happy with it. Of course it's not perfect but I think a lot of people forget how useful EU membership is and that it would be disastrous to leave.

Also, we have "completely" joined the EU, the UK is a full member, we're just not in the Eurozone (which is a shame).

[reed]

The UK/Blair (here we go again) should never have sucked-up to G.W.Bush. Period. Just a little detail.

An aside....

I still have a Scottish pound note from long ago. In 1973 when I was in London (having spent a couple of months in Scotland) no pub would take Scottish Pounds as legal tender for a pint. I had to keep the last one as a fond memory of how Scottish Pounds were treated by the English. And yes the answer is....I blew the rest when I got back to Preswick, via Glasgow for my flight back to NYC. Good fun....if my memory serves me right.

No, I think there will always be a debate with you folks about your countries and how you have all been treated by the English and so forth. This is universal. I think the UK is just as "difficult" as any other country with the exception of the Sudan and Bermuda.

Good luck and I hope you remain friends. Except during the Six Nation Rugby Tour, of course.

[Rhisiart]

I am as guilty as anyone of going off the subject here.

From the BBC news web site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6366255.stm

Just another example of Stupid Britain.

God help us.

[reed]

rhisiart
A very sorded story that unfortunatly happens everywhere. Cruelty to children is so sick one doesn't know how to react to these cretin adults who do such horrors. Vomiting for starters. In France they call such situations..."Zola"...seeing how he wrote so much about the misery in French society during his epoch.
SIGH.

On the lighter side: Great match Galle/Ecosse (Wales/Scotland). If England plays like they did against Italy, the French will walk all over them. Viva le Rugby.

[MrTAToad]

there's a silent majority that are quite happy with it

And your source is ?