[gradjobplease]

Something I've thought about after reading "The Making of Modern Britain" by Andrew Marr. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Hypothesis: That the UK culturally is and continues to be the most small c conservative major country in the world. I do not mean Conservative politically, as radical things can be done by both left and right wing.

Modern evidence in favour:
1. The recent rejection of the AV system
2. The yes vote in the 1975 EC referendum (technically the conservative thing to do)
3. The strong support for the Pound and the Monarchy
4. The relatively large decline of manufacturing relative to other countries, due to being reticent to change machinery/working practices

Historical evidence in favour:
1. Lack of a real revolution (overthrow of Government) since 1689
2. One of the few major countries to reject both fascism AND communism (along with the US and France, although France came close with both)

Modern evidence against:
1. The 1945 Labour manifesto receiving the enthusiastic support it did post war
2. Thatcher's supply side policies during the 1980's, very radical indeed

Historical evidence against:
1. Magna Carta, very ahead of its time
2. The relatively early adoption of Parliamentary democracy

So what do you think TSR?

[Sir]

I'd say yes.

P.S OP, Add a poll.

[mrt23498]

(Original post by gradjobplease)
Something I've thought about after reading "The Making of Modern Britain" by Andrew Marr. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Hypothesis: That the UK culuturally is and continues to be the most small c conservative major country in the world. I do not mean Conservative politically, as radical things can be done by both left and right wing.

Modern evidence in favour:
1. The recent rejection of the AV system
2. The rejection in the referendum (technically the conservative thing to do)
3. The strong support for the Pound and the Monarchy
4. The relatively large decline of manufacturing relative to other countries, due to being reticent to change machinery/working practices

Historical evidence in favour:
1. Lack of a real revolution (overthrow of Government) since 1689
2. One of the few major countries to reject both fascism AND communism (along with the US and France, although France came close with both)

Modern evidence against:
1. The 1945 Labour manifesto receiving the enthusiastic support it did post war
2. Thatcher's supply side policies during the 1980's, very radical indeed

Historical evidence against:
1. Magna Carta, very ahead of its time
2. The relatively early adoption of Parliamentary democracy

So what do you think TSR?

But there is no other safe currency we can use. Just look at all the european bailouts, the euro could potentially collapse. And the AV didn't show any real promise of improving the current system, hence it was rejected.

[gradjobplease]

(Original post by Sir)
I'd say yes.

P.S OP, Add a poll.

Done

[CoffeAddict]

Just wondering, what does this expression exactly mean : "small c"?

Edit: I am beeing serious, I do not understand it and would be thankful for some explaination, as english is not my mother tongue and not every idiom is familiar to me.

Wait- does it actually mean what it says?
as in ''small c'' refering to conservative being written with a small c?

[Darkphilosopher]

(Original post by gradjobplease)
4. The relatively large decline of manufacturing relative to other countries, due to being reticent to change machinery/working practices

Surely this is because of our ability to outsource labour/production to countries in which costs are lower?

EDIT:
Also, if we were given alternatives which could offer a great benefit then it is likely we would choose them.
The AV system simply wasn't worth changing to imo.

[Rakas21]

In Europe, possibly.

In the world, no.

The UK is actually becoming less Conservative.

[PendulumBoB]

(Original post by gradjobplease)
Something I've thought about after reading "The Making of Modern Britain" by Andrew Marr. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Hypothesis: That the UK culuturally is and continues to be the most small c conservative major country in the world. I do not mean Conservative politically, as radical things can be done by both left and right wing.

Modern evidence in favour:
1. The recent rejection of the AV system
2. The rejection in the referendum (technically the conservative thing to do)
3. The strong support for the Pound and the Monarchy
4. The relatively large decline of manufacturing relative to other countries, due to being reticent to change machinery/working practices

Historical evidence in favour:
1. Lack of a real revolution (overthrow of Government) since 1689
2. One of the few major countries to reject both fascism AND communism (along with the US and France, although France came close with both)

Modern evidence against:
1. The 1945 Labour manifesto receiving the enthusiastic support it did post war
2. Thatcher's supply side policies during the 1980's, very radical indeed

Historical evidence against:
1. Magna Carta, very ahead of its time
2. The relatively early adoption of Parliamentary democracy

So what do you think TSR?

Ever heard of the Middle East OP?

[Keckers]

Where does the psuedo police state fall in comparison to small c conservatism?

[gradjobplease]

(Original post by CoffeAddict)
Just wondering, what does this expression exactly mean : "small c"?

Edit: I am beeing serious, I do not understand it and would be thankful for some explaination, as english is not my mother tongue and not every idiom is familiar to me.

Wait- does it actually mean what it says?
as in ''small c'' refering to conservative being written with a small c?

That's ok

Typically when people refer to "small c" conservative, they mean maintaining the status quo (i.e. keeping things broadly the same politically). It needs to be distinguished from "Big C" Conservative as this is a political party in this country and not all the things they do are "small c" conservative (i.e. Thatcher's right to buy scheme for houses, supply side policies and the idea of there being "no society").

[karateworm]

The US, anyone?

[gradjobplease]

(Original post by PendulumBoB)
Ever heard of the Middle East OP?

I personally wouldn't count any country in the Middle East as being a "major country". I define it as G7+BRIC. Others may have a different definition.

[CoffeAddict]

(Original post by gradjobplease)
That's ok

Typically when people refer to "small c" conservative, they mean maintaing the status quo (i.e. keeping things broadly the same politically). It needs to be distinguished from "Big C" Conservative as this is a political party in this country and not all the things they do are "small c" conservative (i.e. Thatcher's right to buy scheme for houses, supply side policies and the idea of there being "no society").

Ahh, alright thank you.
And I kept trying to find a metaphora or something

[gradjobplease]

(Original post by Darkphilosopher)
Surely this is because of our ability to outsource labour/production to countries in which costs are lower?

EDIT:
Also, if we were given alternatives which could offer a great benefit then it is likely we would choose them.
The AV system simply wasn't worth changing to imo.

As a broad trend yes, but it doesn't explain why Germany and Japan are still so much more manufacturing based than we are.

[doggyfizzel]

Its apparent in our approach to other thing's too. The military have often been very conservative. Our style of playing sports such as football have been very slow to adapt to change.

[PendulumBoB]

(Original post by gradjobplease)
I personally wouldn't count any country in the Middle East as being a "major country". I define it as G7+BRIC. Others may have a different definition.

USA is pretty conservative; less than half believe in evolution.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

No.

The United States, for one, is definitely more conservative. Religious conservatives totally dominate public discourse in the media and even in congress, being a "liberal" is a political death sentence in many parts of the US, Fox News is the most popular news channel by some way, and Liberals are even a minority within the Democrats. Of course, this depends on the state in question. States like Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, California, NY, and Massacheussetts have a strong liberal tradition.

Japan is fairly conservative, too, and in more ways than one. The opposition centre-left entered into power for the first time ever in Japan at the last Diet elections, after 60 years of a total conservative hegemony. In it's corporate culture there is a very strong tendency to err on the side of caution, especially in the wake of the economic troubles of the early 1990s that are still felt today. There's little public sympathy for making amends to Korea or China for the war crimes of WWII, and indeed a lot of public opposition in the media to such notions.

[Craig_D]

Look at the rapid decline of religion here. The US strikes me as much more conservative, I'd say Ireland possibly is too.

[Darkphilosopher]

(Original post by gradjobplease)
As a broad trend yes, but it doesn't explain why Germany and Japan are still so much more manufacturing based than we are.

Maybe it's cheaper to import/obtain materials in Germany and Japan?

Germany is also a part of mainland Europe and Japan is very close to China so transportation costs for goods would be relatively low allowing a greater profit margin in manufacturing.

Idk though, i'm just speculating

[Bubbles*de*Milo]

No, ofc not. In ROI and South Korea, abortions are illegal..!