Anglo Disease: one more step to it actually being christened | 48 comments (48 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Anglo Disease (4.00 / 2)

'But don't forget that most men without property would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich, than face the reality of being poor.' (1776, the musical)

When combining the most ruthless propaganda and delusion tools, the media, with the connotations from the above quote has allowed most of the US to be fooled.

Now the delusion is rapidly giving way to the reality of peoples' lives. It will be the impetus for real change as reflected in the rise of Obama and how his campaign has been mostly funded by the average person giving less than $100. Real change happens when people are in desperate times.

Please do not continue exhibiting your hubris over the US situation. Even though 'Old Europe' has more social justice; it is not immune from the robber barons.

The UK also has its greatest inncome inequality since the 1930's but has a buffer after the media is no longer the factor in promoting the delusions. It has the monarchy to fall back on. It is amazing how many intelligent people in the UK actually 'bow' to the Monarchy working in tandem with the Church of England and by extension, the upper class.

by An American in London on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 02:49:04 AM EST

Re: Anglo Disease (none / 1)

An American in London:

It is amazing how many intelligent people in the UK actually 'bow' to the Monarchy working in tandem with the Church of England and by extension, the upper class.

Presumably you are talking about "Old Money" here?

I do not think that "Old Money" is institutionally capable of protecting itself the way they once could when (say) the House of Lords had a veto.

The "forelock tugging" respect of the working classes (as conservative a group as you would find) has long since gone.

Royalty is merely another class of celebrity, and the intelligentsia understand that better than any.

Sure, there is a lingering respect for the Queen personally, but not, IMHO, a great deal more than an emotional attachment to the Monarchy as Head of State.

So I'm not really sure what you mean about "bowing" other than the exaggerated sycophancy that seems to take over in the personal presence of the monarchy....

As for the Church of England and the traditional "upper classes" I really do not see either as relevant at all to the UK today.

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 05:06:20 AM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 0)

I see the Queen, Church of England and the upper classes still very relevant to the UK today as the mindset of many British people, no matter how intelligent, is to be subservient, even if its in their mind only, to the upper classes.

The attitude, besides the small percentage of yuppies in the financial sector who probably make up most of the readership from the UK of this blog, is 'I know my place in our society and for me to rise above it is not a correct one since myself and my family have been indoctrinated to this by many generations of toffs.'

This is the reason the British have always been of the mindset 'I am what I was born and I shall not aspire to much better'. Even though there has been small changes in the general population, it still permeates British society and culture. With very few exceptions; there aren't many TV shows or films produced in the UK which are aspirational-the only ones are bought from the US.

by An American in London on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 01:55:10 PM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 0)

Well, that's an interesting view, and worth a Diary on its own, I think....

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 02:05:14 PM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 0)

It is a view shared by many in the ex pat community I am a part of and also by many aspirational Brits who have thrown off the 'shacles' of their parents and society's 'Royal/toff bonds'.

Besides the residue of an entrenched society; the non separation of church and state continue to also foster a society based on class. It continues in the schooling, communities etc. Very little is based on a meritocracy.

by An American in London on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 02:20:14 PM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 1)

Hmmm, ever been North of Watford Gap?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 05:33:41 PM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 0)

What's an "aspirational Brit"?

Very little is based on a meritocracy.

As opposed to where?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 05:40:26 PM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 1)

Aspirational Brit or any nationality is someone who wants to create a better quality of life for themselves and family without being predjudicial to others.

Very little is based on meritocracy in the UK as opposed to what it should be. No one is saying many other places are incrementally better but that doesnt absolve the UK of its mixing the monarchy and religion with the state which sustains its oppressive class system.

by An American in London on Wed Apr 9th, 2008 at 03:30:50 AM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 0)

How do social/occupational mobility rates in the UK compare to other countries? The expansion of third level education in the 1960/70's may have helped improve this substantially, but the re-introduction of fees seems designed to slow this down?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Apr 9th, 2008 at 06:09:19 AM EST
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Meh (4.00 / 3)

I's not hubris I'm exhibiting, it's schadenfreude.

After years of being on the sending end of relentless propaganda from the other side of the Channel or Atlantic telling me how reactionary/declining/cowardly/treasonous/failing I was, is it so unacceptable to be able to say "we told you so?"

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 05:15:09 AM EST
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Re: Meh (4.00 / 2)

You've also been told from your own side of the Channel to stop believing in Father Christmas.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 05:23:35 AM EST
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Re: Meh (none / 0)

I would hope your 'schadenfreude' is directed at the tiny number of Americans who were telling you 'how reactionary/declining/cowardly/treasonous/failing' you were and not the vast majority of Americans.

by An American in London on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 01:58:47 PM EST
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Indeed (none / 0)

and yes.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Tue Apr 8th, 2008 at 04:43:46 PM EST
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Re: Anglo Disease (none / 1)