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lionrampant31

Listed below are comments made by lionrampant31 between Friday, 17th October 2008 and Thursday, 24th September 2009.

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Not so special? 1:59pm on 24 Sep 2009 "If Franklin Roosevelt hadn't prepared for years to come in on our side we would probably have lost. If we had, Europe would have been a different place."

Soviet Russia would have controlled far more of Europe post-WWII than it actually did. Germany would still have lost. Whether Britain could have considered itself a "winner" in such a scenario is really not important - the threat to the Empire and Britain herself would have been eliminated.

That's not to say we shouldn't be glad the Americans of the day did eventually join our side, or grateful for the material assistance they provided beforehand; We certainly came out in a better state than we otherwise would have. However to simply state that the war would have been lost without American help buys in to a kind of, naive Hollywood style story of good triumphing over evil. It also completely ignores the fact that America came in with the quietly (in historical terms) stated objective that the British Empire would not be allowed to continue existing post-war.

As for the special relationship: it's only special when the senior partner wants it to be, and thanks to decades of poor leadership on the world stage (and yes, fiscal mismanagement at home too) we have become even less and less of an important figure in said relationship.

Ironically Margaret Thatcher did more for British global power for any Prime Minister since, or for at least three or four governments before. At the same time her Friedman-esque obsession with Market Capitalism (and that of the succeeding governments including New Labour) wrecked the country's ability to compete on a global scale through industrial output.

My point being that the only way to make the special relationship truly special is for a leader to come in with a true post-modern interpretation of Keynesian economics and a Thatcherite tenacity in foreign affairs.

Somehow though, I doubt that's going to happen.
The Queen 9:37pm on 01 Jul 2009 " MSPs ... Clowns. "

You're repeating yourself, good sir!
Honesty: The new battleground 11:56am on 01 Jul 2009 I've been relying on this site lately - http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/ - but even that doesn't give half the details or explanations we want does it?

It's about time people were reminded that it's not the government's money, it's our money.
The best prepared award 7:34pm on 31 Mar 2009 Canada may be better placed to weather the current storm than the UK or USA, and yes it may have had equal average economic growth for the boom years - but you must look beyond simple numbers to understand the pros and cons of their demur view of mass credit.

Based on my own internet exchanges (both personal and sometimes near anonymous) with ordinary people in Canada, it is glaringly obvious to me that for the average person the conservative credit offerings have led to a lower overall standard of living than was afforded to UK residents. Luxury goods are less easily purchased, high quality versions of everyday essential items are equally difficult to afford, and the opportunity for employment (for poorly qualified or unskilled workers) by is much lower than in the UK.

I will concede that these observations are made through a fibre optic cable and not a personal visit, but they do make sense in context of this article.
Woolworth into administration 6:04pm on 26 Nov 2008 "And government policy is not to prop up lame ducks."

Unless they're a bank.
What's your anthem? 7:32pm on 17 Oct 2008 "How about something brand new which relects the diversity of cultures and beliefs that is now Britain"

Oh come on...
What's your anthem? 7:32pm on 17 Oct 2008 "By changing it to this it will stop them moaning about God Save The Queen "

Half of Scotland would. The other half will be up in arms. We're a fickle bunch really.
The worst time to be British? 7:28pm on 17 Oct 2008 "was"? You mean the worst time is in the past?
What's your anthem? 7:27pm on 17 Oct 2008 A different British national anthem?

Rule Britannia. That'll do nicely thank you.

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