Do you approve of the United Kingdom?

[Armeia]

I approve of them as they are our allies, however, I think they, like the rest of NATO, should be doing more to stop the Islamic State. And also I disapprove of how politically correct their government is, but overall I think the British are good people.

[Pandeeria]

I would prefer they disband their petty monarchy. As far as UKIP goes, let's pray they don't win.

[Imperializt Russia]

The DVLA, the driving licensing body, is a British institution of the British (read: united English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish) state.
Featuring the flag of the United Kingdom is wholly appropriate.

Especially considering there is already an EU flag on it.

The DVLA, the driving licensing body, is a British institution of the British (read: united English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish) state.
Featuring the flag of the United Kingdom is wholly appropriate.

Northern Ireland licenses don't feature the flag of the UK irritatingly. It riles up the nationalists because its apparently an attack on them somehow.

My four-and-a-half-year old UK provisional driver's licence features neither the UK or EU flags. It does feature several hologram/watermarked steering wheel motifs.

[Lerodan Chinamerica]

It's alright. Has a decent level of economic freedom and better-than-average drug policies. But draconian gun laws, no conception of freedom of speech and a public trend towards xenophobia aren't good. Aesthetically, most of the country outside London looks like shite.

It's not that there are draconian gun laws, it's that the United Kingdom's citizens realize that that they do not need guns, and that they are non essential. Thus, lack of attachment and commodity.

I don't need drugs, but that doesn't mean that I have the right to tell other people not to use them. We do have draconian gun laws - the Olympic shooters' team had to train in France for Christ's sakes! I even talked to the UK's Solicitor-General the other day who even admitted "The UK has some of the toughest gun laws in the world."

Also I'd argue that within London looks pretty shite too. In benefit to us, we do have nice countryside, but it's sort of determined by the weather a lot, which is unpredictable.

Really? There are some really nice bits in the city centre. Paddington is gorgeous. I have never been a fan of the British countryside, or any countryside for that matter. There's just something so depressingly boring about it.

[Settrah]

I would prefer they disband their petty monarchy. As far as UKIP goes, let's pray they don't win.

I agree about the monarchy, they're pointless now. At some point they served a purpose, but now they're just over privileged scroungers that do a bit of charity or environmental work once a year, and think it justifies their wealth. They're basically just a glorified celebrity family now.

[Valaran]

I approve of them as they are our allies, however, I think they, like the rest of NATO, should be doing more to stop the Islamic State. And also I disapprove of how politically correct their government is, but overall I think the British are good people.

Thanks

Could I just ask though, what more would you like us to do against IS? We already do conduct strikes in Iraq and have SAS teams on the ground, and there is no public will for intervening at all in Syria.

[The Nihilistic view]

Especially considering there is already an EU flag on it.

Northern Ireland licenses don't feature the flag of the UK irritatingly. It riles up the nationalists because its apparently an attack on them somehow.

My four-and-a-half-year old UK provisional driver's licence features neither the UK or EU flags. It does feature several hologram/watermarked steering wheel motifs.

It wouldn't, provisional licenses have an L where the EU flag will go once/if you pass.

[Imperializt Russia]

I would prefer they disband their petty monarchy. As far as UKIP goes, let's pray they don't win.

I agree about the monarchy, they're pointless now. At some point they served a purpose, but now they're just over privileged scroungers that do a bit of charity or environmental work once a year, and think it justifies their wealth. They're basically just a glorified celebrity family now.

The Queen herself does 300-something days of work a year. Every year.

The Royal Family is large and illustrious, and are useful as diplomatic assets and tourist attractions if you believe they're useful as nothing else.

[Pesda]

You're telling me that the British can't agree on what Britishness is? Why?

Absolutely.

Even wikipedia is pretty vague on the whole thing (it tries to deal with how britishness might not be in accordance with part so the UK than actually come up with a list of universal British characteristics).

Arguably, its a strength as it means it doesn't automatically alienate everyone

This sums it up neatly:

In November 2007 The Times newspaper's Comment Central asked readers to define Britishness in five little words. The winning suggestion was "No motto please, we're British."

If no one knows what it is then why does it exist?

[Settrah]

I agree about the monarchy, they're pointless now. At some point they served a purpose, but now they're just over privileged scroungers that do a bit of charity or environmental work once a year, and think it justifies their wealth. They're basically just a glorified celebrity family now.

The Queen herself does 300-something days of work a year. Every year.

The Royal Family is large and illustrious, and are useful as diplomatic assets and tourist attractions if you believe they're useful as nothing else.

It's just... I mean look at the way they photograph the royal baby, and how smug and self important he looks at such a young age because he got 700 presents for his birthday. Meanwhile some citizens can't even afford their electric. It just bugs me.

[Imperializt Russia]

Fascination with the royal baby and the sordid details of Prince Harry's saucy hotel bedroom antics are a product of 24 hour news culture and some inexplicable popularity of tabloid news.

No-one would ever try to deny that the Royals live sheltered childhoods (except maybe for Prince Philip, who was beaten at an old-fashioned school in Scotland, IIRC).

[The Nihilistic view]

The Queen herself does 300-something days of work a year. Every year.

The Royal Family is large and illustrious, and are useful as diplomatic assets and tourist attractions if you believe they're useful as nothing else.

It's just... I mean look at the way they photograph the royal baby, and how smug and self important he looks at such a young age because he got 700 presents for his birthday. Meanwhile some citizens can't even afford their electric. It just bugs me.

Abolishing the monarchy won't magically make everyone afford their electricity bills.

[Valaran]

Absolutely.

Even wikipedia is pretty vague on the whole thing (it tries to deal with how britishness might not be in accordance with part so the UK than actually come up with a list of universal British characteristics).

Arguably, its a strength as it means it doesn't automatically alienate everyone

This sums it up neatly:

If no one knows what it is then why does it exist?

Because as a nation that's been around for some time we do have a sense of national identity and extensive cultural links.

And leading back your point, you see why I find it hard to believe that Britishness is being enforced on you (as we wouldn't know what to enforce in that case). I think its more likely Cameron's policies and/or englishness you have a greater problem with.... which incidentally is fair enough; I hardly agree with that either.

[Imperializt Russia]

We really need another Scottish PM.

Cameron's just sexually repressed, shiny and annoying.
Also conservative. Fuck this.

[Merovech]

I only disapprove of Northern Ireland, they should reunify into one whole Ireland with the Republic of Ireland

[Settrah]

It's just... I mean look at the way they photograph the royal baby, and how smug and self important he looks at such a young age because he got 700 presents for his birthday. Meanwhile some citizens can't even afford their electric. It just bugs me.

Abolishing the monarchy won't magically make everyone afford their electricity bills.

Lol, unfortunately.

But I'unno, it's amazing how quick we are to demonize benefit cheats (and rightly so in some cases), but the Royal Family just seem like glorified benefit scroungers to me, and that because they're 'royal' and important for diplomacy it's accepted. Just doesn't seem right to me. I reckon losing them wouldn't be that bad.

[Imperializt Russia]

I only disapprove of Northern Ireland, they should reunify into one whole Ireland with the Republic of Ireland

Much of the population of Northern Ireland would disagree vehemently.
They've already had their violent disagreement with that suggestion.

[Valaran]

We really need another Scottish PM.

Cameron's just sexually repressed, shiny and annoying.
Also conservative. Fuck this.

Yeah

I didn't mind him that much a year or two back. But he's become more annoying now.

[Frazers]

I only disapprove of Northern Ireland, they should reunify into one whole Ireland with the Republic of Ireland

We're not stupid enough to want unification with the RoI mess

[Pesda]

If no one knows what it is then why does it exist?

Because as a nation that's been around for some time we do have a sense of national identity and extensive cultural links.

And leading back your point, you see why I find it hard to believe that Britishness is being enforced on you (as we wouldn't know what to enforce in that case). I think its more likely Cameron's policies and/or englishness you have a greater problem with.... which incidentally is fair enough.

Oh Britishness is being enforced on me. Not to a huge extent of course and I'm not complaining of an imaginary cultural genocide. But every now and then I do feel like I am expected to adopt it.
As for Englishness, I have no problem with that. English people are adorable.

[Valaran]

Because as a nation that's been around for some time we do have a sense of national identity and extensive cultural links.

And leading back your point, you see why I find it hard to believe that Britishness is being enforced on you (as we wouldn't know what to enforce in that case). I think its more likely Cameron's policies and/or englishness you have a greater problem with.... which incidentally is fair enough.

Oh Britishness is being enforced on me. Not to a huge extent of course and I'm not complaining of an imaginary cultural genocide. But every now and then I do feel like I am expected to adopt it.
As for Englishness, I have no problem with that. English people are adorable.

Eh, fair enough. I think we've largely reached common ground for the most part.

Aww, that's kind (this is why we're still united)

[Pesda]

Oh Britishness is being enforced on me. Not to a huge extent of course and I'm not complaining of an imaginary cultural genocide. But every now and then I do feel like I am expected to adopt it.
As for Englishness, I have no problem with that. English people are adorable.

Eh, fair enough. I think we've largely reached common ground for the most part.

Aww, that's kind (this is why we're still united)

It's a pleasure talking to you. Now I think I should get off NSG and get some work done.

[Valaran]

Eh, fair enough. I think we've largely reached common ground for the most part.

Aww, that's kind (this is why we're still united)

It's a pleasure talking to you. Now I think I should get off NSG and get some work done.

Likewise


Now I have no excuse either *quickly find another thread in general to pester*

[Glasgia]

We really need another Scottish PM.

Cameron's just sexually repressed, shiny and annoying.
Also conservative. Fuck this.

Unlike the maso-sadist opposition chancellor...

[Pope Joan]

I am for an independent Scotland.

Therefore I do not approve the UK, however benign their policies may be.

Not that they are all that benign anyway. Messing around in the Mideast for starters. Still pining for the Crimea for another.