How can Britain become Great again?

[Newton's Ring]

Ok so there's a lot of Global competition now but I reckon we've still got what it takes - how do you think we can rise like a phoenix from the flames? How can Britain become Great again? Maybe not in the same way as in the past but how do you envisage jobs for many whilst still remaining profitable? Or is it possible?

Engineering? Industry? Technology? Film? Service?! Or something different?

[pandemic]

Need a can do attitude, confident people.
People need to stop moaning, unless they have solutions to offer.
People who actually care about Science, Engineering, Maths, etc. Maybe they should scrap uni tuition fees for these subjects.
Rid ourselves of the chav culture maybe :P
Reward those who work hard, not those who laze about

[Newton's Ring]

Originally Posted by bla5er

Need a can do attitude...
People need to stop moaning, unless they have solutions to offer.

Yep, think it's a symptom of getting older but it doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere these days. Do sarcasm and cynicism need to be the British way? Our national export?

[Iccz]

Where did the "Great Britain" come from?

Was it "great" as in the size meaning when we had more land?

Or does the great come from something else?




I guess the question is more about being "great" in terms of being amazing etc.

I don't think it' that bad in comparison to a lot of countries, it's just the economy that's failing a bit, oh and society, and the weather, and the media... hmmm

[Newton's Ring]

Originally Posted by Iccz

the media... hmmm

The media might be killing us.

[loz]

Define "great", on what basis do you want to measure it? And what do you mean by "again"? A return to the days of the empire?

We in the UK might think we have many faults, but the UK is still "great" by many measures.
For example, if you look at GPD (using purchasing power parity) we are right there in the top 10. That is actually pretty impressive considering the geographic size and population of the UK. Are you proposing we become "great again" by rising up that list for example?

(however, given the drop in sterling we have probably sunk a few places in that list since it was compiled based on 2007 figures. But that just needs sterling to rise again...)

1. United States: $13,780,000,000,000.00
2. China: $7,099,000,000,000.00
3. Japan: $4,272,000,000,000.00
4. India: $2,966,000,000,000.00
5. Germany: $2,807,000,000,000.00
6. United Kingdom: $2,130,000,000,000.00
7. Russia: $2,097,000,000,000.00
8. France: $2,075,000,000,000.00
9. Brazil: $1,849,000,000,000.00
10. Italy: $1,800,000,000,000.00

Per capita we slip down to 12th, but only because some very small countries in comparison are very productive - such as Luxemboug

Or what about invention and innovation - that would be a good measure of greatness, and something we often thing about in terms of the victorian era and the great British inventions that swept the world.

Well, according to measures of "National innovative capacity" (the ability of a country to produce and commercialize a flow of innovative technology over the long term), the UK is still right up there according to The Global Competitiveness Report

1. United States: 30.3
2. Finland: 29.1
3. Germany: 27.2
4. United Kingdom: 27
5. Australia: 26.9
6. Netherlands: 26.9
7. Sweden: 26.9
8. Switzerland: 26.9
9. France: 26.8
10. Canada: 26.5
11. Israel: 26.5
12. Japan: 26.4

Or finally what about 2008 Olympic Medals? Beat that Australia...
Do you want us to rise to the top of that table in 2012?

1. China 51
2. United States 36
3. Russia 23
4. Great Britain 19
5. Germany 16
6. Australia 14
7. South Korea 13
8. Japan 9
9. Italy 8
10. France

Source NationMaster. A great resource to compare a huge variety of national statistics NationMaster - World Statistics, Country Comparisons

[loz]

Originally Posted by Iccz

Where did the "Great Britain" come from?

The name of the geographic feature.

Great Britain is the main island in the British Isles (which includes Ireland btw)

[Wild Weasel]

Yes, it's short for Greater Britian. It's not a superlative.

[brian s]

Were we ever that great?

Cheers
Bri

[Gordon B]

Personally I still think we are great. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

Sick and tired of people running our country down. Take a look around, there are far worse places to be.

/rant over.

[krish]

Originally Posted by bla5er

People who actually care about Science, Engineering, Maths, etc. Maybe they should scrap uni tuition fees for these subjects.

... and scrap all the Mickey Mouse degrees that won't even get you on a toilet cleaning apprenticeship at KFC

[Someguy]

Would you like to see Britannia rule again, my friend?

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by brian s

Were we ever that great?

Cheers
Bri

How far back do you want to take the discussion?

[reddevil63]

Originally Posted by Newton's Ring

Ok so there's a lot of Global competition now but I reckon we've still got what it takes - how do you think we can rise like a phoenix from the flames? How can Britain become Great again? Maybe not in the same way as in the past but how do you envisage jobs for many whilst still remaining profitable? Or is it possible?

Engineering? Industry? Technology? Film? Service?! Or something different?

Respect and morals need to be brought back first of all!

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by reddevil63

Respect and morals need to be brought back first of all!

Absolutely right.

Also, get rid of the "one eyed Scottish idiot" in charge!