Scotland, you want out? We'll take your place.
PrinceShaun
Posts: 406 Forum Member
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A lovely article on CNN. If you're sick of all the negativity, give this a read, we take for granted sometimes just how lucky we are to live in the UK.
CNN.com wrote:Editor's note: David R. Wheeler lives in Lexington, Kentucky, where he is a freelance writer and a journalism professor at Asbury University. Follow him on Twitter @David_R_Wheeler The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(CNN) -- Here's a question that seems to be lost in the debate over the Scottish independence vote scheduled for September 18:
If Scotland votes to secede, does that open up a spot for another country? And if so -- Scotland, can we take your place?
I realize that Americans fought a bloody war of independence from England in the late 1700s, but our rifts have healed over the past 240 years. In 2013, the Pew Research Center reported that England topped America's list of favorite nations, in a near-tie with our beloved northern neighbor, Canada.
In the past few years, as America has degenerated into political and economic chaos, it has become increasingly clear that we would be far better off if we apologized for our revolt against the Crown and requested to rejoin the United Kingdom.
There are four main ways America would benefit from unification with the UK: Brits have better health, less inequality, excellent manners and -- let's face it -- a superior culture. Let's improve our quality of life by joining them.
Want to live longer? Then let's become Stateland — the 50-state replacement for Scotland.
Brits have greater longevity than Americans, and the British health care system, while far from perfect, is indescribably better than ours. In my visits to the United Kingdom, I've noticed that just about anyone who can afford private health insurance buys it, which allows Brits to supplement their free, government-provided health care. That means there's a baseline of care that every person receives, and if you want something faster or better, you pay for it yourself.
Meanwhile, America's needlessly complicated arrangement of government- and employer-provided health care, in a clumsy compromise with insurance companies, costs way more than other developed countries' while producing worse results.
Next, Britain is a more equitable society. Although America has a higher GDP per capita, most of us -- that is, the 99% -- are not happy because of our ever-widening wealth gap. Brits have less inequality, and their median incomes (unlike ours) have risen in the past decade.
America's middle class used to be the richest in the world; now we're overtaken by Canada. Unless you are the 1% in America, chances are your wages are stagnant. Living a good life -- owning a house and a car and being able to support a family -- seems like a struggle, especially when compared with your parents' generation.
Americans could also learn a few lessons from the Brits when it comes to good manners.
When I took students with me to film news reports of the 2012 Olympics in London, we dealt with unimaginable crowds on the street, in the shopping centers and on the Tube. Did we hear groans of exasperation when we accidentally bumped into Brits in Parliament Square while trying to get a better view of Big Ben?
Never. Did we see looks of frustration when our cameras accidentally knocked into innocent people in Piccadilly Circus? Not even once.
This patience and politeness stands in stark contrast to the attitude in big American cities, where cab drivers curse at you just for your mere existence, and TSA agents at American airports compete for the title of Biggest Emotional Abuser.
Finally, America would benefit from a closer association with Britain's culture. The country that produced Shakespeare, the world's best storyteller, has also given us some of the best entertainment and media of modern times. Our imitation of British television (e.g. "The Office") speaks for itself. Has any band ever topped the Beatles?
And nothing against PBS and NPR, but the BBC produces some of the best publicly funded journalism, putting much of the world's radio and television news programs to shame. The world respects the United Kingdom, in part, because the BBC is so trustworthy. That's called soft power.
But wait, you ask. What's in it for the Brits? Three things. Natural resources (oh so much land!), the majestic Grand Canyon and a sport called "American football." They'll love it.
So remember, Americans, if Scotland votes for independence on September 18, let's improve our lives by asking to take their place -- if not officially, then at least in spirit.
We hold this truth to be self-evident: Brits have a superior society.
Americans claim we don't want a monarchy, but deep down, we're just as hungry as our British cousins for news about Queen Elizabeth, Princes William and Harry, and those adorable royal babies.
England, will you take us back?
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Comments
It's so nice to read something so positive about the English
This is merely Americans confusing Britain, UK and England as they sometimes do. In fact the USA (or more specifically the original 13 colonies) was never part of the UK, it was a colony of Great Britain (and therefore a colony of Scotland).
However, the point of the article is to make us realise what we sometimes take for granted.
But isn't that kind of the point?
The US doesn't see much difference because when it comes down to it, most is invented. There is a NHS in Scotland, people would be treated as politely in Scotland, the BBC has plenty of Scottish input, politics as well, and the royal family is as much Scottish as English, the references that the writer made.
They must be utterly bewildered as to WTF this vote next week is all about.
The rest? No chance.
The Southern States of the US voted to leave the USA in the 1860's. and become the CSA.
The north said no you don't. You are part of the USA. This then led to the American Civil War.
So I would imagine for a state to leave the USA it would require a successful war against the other 49!
Which ever way the vote for Scottish independence goes it will be close.
Will the either side accept a decision that may be called against then on a majority of less than 10k votes?
Unfortunatly I do not think so!
As for the article itself, well there's some truth to what he says but I feel he may be looking at Britain from rose-tinted glasses and on manners we're not necessarily any more polite than the Americans. Infact I always hear from Brits about how nice the Americans are. All the Americans I've met were very friendly to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6vDzf-wSbk
There was actually a book in the 1930s called "Union Now" by
Clarence Streit, which proposed the US & UK join up:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1939/5/4/clarence-streit-author-of-union-now/
I propose a trans-Pacific union between South Wales and New South Wales.
Where is New Earth one might ask?
NASA's announcement is imminent.
Gladly.
But only if we can import a few million of you into Scotland, and pack the Scots off to Texas or somewhere else with nice, open spaces where they can whinge and grizzle to their hearts' content.
Let's hope enough do realise it.
No, the future does not look good for Scotland- Scot against Scot, I fear. If it is a Yes vote, I fear for Scotland as the power will go to Alex Salmond's head. I see in him a future Dictator. His dealings with Donald Trump showed what a weak, avaricious man he is.
That is a lovely article !
I don't know enough about the Scottish independence issue to have an opinion of it, but I do know that the British have many reasons to be proud of their home, so don't let the naysayers and critics get you down.
If she hates England so much why doesn't she move to Scotland?, after all its not as though you need a visa (yet)
Yes, I'd have New England and some parts of the west coast but I have no interest in most of the bits in the middle and the south.
She obviously doesn't hate this country too much to accept her Damehood.