Brits baying for blood

Diogenes

Diogenes

It's not my fault if you're retarded
GgtXF-WWIAAwMPB
 
Diogenes said:
That was later...
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That is, in large part, why Britain is becoming another Greece, a bankrupt euro-state, a Turd World state today. When you let the radical Leftists, the Socialists, the Communists, the one-world-government types ruin--they don't run, they ruin--your country, you eventually end up running out of wealth and into the trainwreck of being little more than an impoverished state with no political significance.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
That is, in large part, why Britain is becoming another Greece, a bankrupt euro-state, a Turd World state today. When you let the radical Leftists, the Socialists, the Communists, the one-world-government types ruin--they don't run, they ruin--your country, you eventually end up running out of wealth and into the trainwreck of being little more than an impoverished state with no political significance.
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It was inevitable once they wasted an entire generation and most of their wealth on WWI, IMO. Then they gave women the vote.
 
Diogenes said:
It was inevitable once they wasted an entire generation and most of their wealth on WWI, IMO. Then they gave women the vote.
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After WW 2 it got far worse. The Left took power and Socialized much of Britain's major industries. The MoD declared manned aircraft a thing of the past (the "Sandys storm" of 1957) that gutted the British aerospace industry with most of the engineers and management leaving for the US or elsewhere. The NHS was instituted (1947). The nation was broke following WW 2, and then the colonial empire disappeared over the next two decades. The British coal industry was nationalized in 1947 and subsequently driven right into the ground.

That's the real demise of Britain: Post WW 2, the nation was effectively bankrupt, lost their overseas holdings, saw Socialization of industry and the economy take over, and the nation went down like a Zeppelin on fire.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
After WW 2 it got far worse. The Left took power and Socialized much of Britain's major industries. The MoD declared manned aircraft a thing of the past (the "Sandys storm" of 1957) that gutted the British aerospace industry with most of the engineers and management leaving for the US or elsewhere. The NHS was instituted (1947). The nation was broke following WW 2, and then the colonial empire disappeared over the next two decades. The British coal industry was nationalized in 1947 and subsequently driven right into the ground.

That's the real demise of Britain: Post WW 2, the nation was effectively bankrupt, lost their overseas holdings, saw Socialization of industry and the economy take over, and the nation went down like a Zeppelin on fire.
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You ain't wrong, but the death blow came with the foolish decision to muck in with the rest on WWI. It was all downhill from there.

Britannia was a dead lady walking after that.
 
Grok says that World War I had profound and multifaceted effects on Great Britain and its Empire/

  1. Economic Impact:
    • War Debt: The war was extremely costly, leading to enormous debts. The UK borrowed heavily from the United States and other countries, which had long-term economic implications including high taxes and reduced public spending.
    • Economic Strain: The war effort drained Britain's resources, leading to economic instability. Post-war, Britain faced significant economic challenges including unemployment and inflation.
  2. Social Changes:
    • Loss of Life: Britain suffered massive casualties, with over 700,000 military deaths and countless wounded. This loss had a deep societal impact, altering demographics and family structures.
    • Women's Roles: The war necessitated women taking on roles traditionally held by men, which contributed to the suffrage movement and the eventual granting of voting rights to some women in 1918.
  3. Imperial Repercussions:
    • Weakening of Imperial Bonds: The war highlighted the vulnerabilities of the British Empire. The contributions and sacrifices of the dominions (like Canada, Australia, New Zealand) led to a push for greater autonomy, culminating in the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
    • Middle East: Britain's involvement in the Middle East, through the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, laid the groundwork for future conflicts, including the Israeli-"Palestinian" conflict.
      1. Political Changes:
        • Shift in Global Power: The war marked the beginning of the decline of British global hegemony. The rise of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers began to overshadow Britain's influence.
        • Home Front Politics: Post-war, there was a significant shift towards social reforms, with the Labour Party gaining ground, which eventually led to the welfare state reforms after WWII.
      2. Military and Strategic:
        • Military Fatigue: The war left Britain's military and civilian population war-weary, affecting its ability to project power in the immediate post-war years.
        • Colonial Unrest: The war's aftermath saw increased nationalist movements within the Empire, which over time would lead to decolonization. The strain of the war contributed to independence movements in Ireland, where the Easter Rising in 1916 was a significant event influenced by the war.
      3. Cultural Impact:
        • Loss of Innocence: There was a cultural shift from Victorian optimism to a more cynical view of humanity and progress, influencing literature, art, and public sentiment.
        • Remembrance: The war's horrors led to traditions like Remembrance Day, institutionalizing the memory of the conflict in British culture.

          In summary, WWI catalyzed economic downturns, social changes, political shifts, and the eventual decline of Britain's imperial power.





 
Grok adds that the mass casualties suffered by Britain during World War I had profound and far-reaching effects on succeeding generations, influencing social, economic, cultural, and political landscapes:

Demographic Impact: The loss of nearly 880,000 British soldiers represented about 6% of the adult male population and 12.5% of those serving, leading to a significant demographic shift. This resulted in a skewed gender ratio, with the 1921 Census recording 109 women for every hundred men, which had long-lasting effects on marriage patterns and family structures.

Economic Consequences: The war depleted Britain's human capital, which, coupled with the financial strain of the war, contributed to economic challenges in the post-war period. The 1920s saw a significant reduction in real GDP due to high unemployment and a decline in trade, which were exacerbated by the war's aftermath. The loss of a generation of workers affected industries, leading to a loss of skilled labor and a permanent impact on Britain's industrial output.

Social and Cultural Shifts: The scale of loss led to a cultural mourning and a national sense of loss, influencing literature, art, and public memory. It also shifted societal attitudes towards war, with a more somber view of heroism and sacrifice. The concept of the "lost generation" resonated in Britain, affecting how subsequent generations viewed war and military service. The high number of casualties from the Pals battalions, where men from the same communities were recruited together, had devastating effects on local populations, as entire communities could lose a significant portion of their young men in single battles like the Somme.

Political and Imperial Decline: The war accelerated the decline of the British Empire. The human and financial costs of the war left Britain weakened, prompting a reevaluation of its imperial responsibilities and capabilities. This period marked the beginning of the end for Britain as a global superpower, with significant implications for its colonial policies and the eventual decolonization process in the mid-20th century.

Psychological and Health Impacts: Beyond the immediate physical losses, the psychological effects on survivors, known as shell shock or what we now recognize as PTSD, had long-term effects on mental health policies and awareness. Additionally, the Spanish flu, which spread in part due to the war's mobilization of troops, added to the civilian death toll, further impacting the health and demographic landscape.

Legacy and Memory: The memory of WWI casualties influenced British culture, commemorated through numerous war memorials and Remembrance Day traditions. This legacy has shaped British identity, emphasizing remembrance and the impact of war on society, affecting how Britain engages with its history and military engagements in the years that followed.

The mass casualties of WWI in Britain thus set a backdrop for the 20th century, influencing not only the immediate post-war period but also shaping the socio-economic, cultural, and political contexts for decades to come.


@Grok
 
Britain was broken by WWI, says Grok.

World War I had a profound impact on Britain's national finances, leading to significant economic changes both during and after the conflict. Here are some key effects:

  1. Increased National Debt:
    • The war led to an enormous increase in public spending. Britain's national debt, which was approximately £650 million in 1914, escalated to around £7.5 billion by 1919. This was due to the costs of military operations, war materials, and support for the war effort both at home and abroad.
  2. Inflation:
    • The war caused inflation due to the increased money supply to finance the war and the disruption of trade. By the end of the war, the cost of living had almost doubled from pre-war levels.
  3. Taxation:
    • To finance the war, Britain introduced new taxes and increased existing ones. Income tax rates rose significantly; the highest rate went from 6% in 1914 to 30% by 1918. Excess profits tax and duties on luxury goods were also introduced or increased.
  4. Borrowing and Loans:
    • Apart from taxation, Britain borrowed heavily both domestically and internationally. Loans from the United States were crucial, particularly after 1917 when the U.S. entered the war. These loans added to the post-war debt burden.
  5. Trade Disruption:
    • The war disrupted international trade, which was vital for Britain's economy. Trade routes were endangered by German U-boats, and many traditional markets were either cut off or focused on war efforts rather than commerce. This led to shortages and higher prices for goods.
  6. Economic Restructuring:
    • The war effort led to a shift in the economy. Industries like munitions, chemicals, and shipbuilding expanded, while others like textiles saw a decline. This restructuring had long-term effects on Britain's industrial base.
  7. Sterling's International Role:
    • Post-war, the British pound sterling began its decline as the leading international currency, challenged by the U.S. dollar. The weakening of the pound was partly due to the war's financial strain and the need to manage war debts.
  8. Post-War Economic Challenges:
    • After the war, Britain faced challenges like unemployment due to demobilization, the need to adjust back to peacetime production, and dealing with the economic aftermath including reparations, war pensions, and social welfare costs for veterans.
  9. Social Changes:
    • The financial pressures of the war also led to social changes, including the expansion of government in daily life, increased roles for women in the workforce, and demands for better social services, which in turn had negative financial implications.
Britain also defaulted on its World War I debts to the United States.

In 1934, amidst the economic pressures of the Great Depression, the British government ceased making payments on these loans, which amounted to over $4 billion at the time. This default came after France had already defaulted on similar debts to the United States.

The cessation of these payments was influenced by the broader context of global economic distress and the complexity of intergovernmental financial obligations from the war.

The default was formalized after the U.S. Congress passed the Johnson Act in 1934, which prohibited further partial payments on these debts by defaulting nations.

This event strained Anglo-American relations for years, affecting financial assistance and international relations during and after World War II

These impacts illustrate how World War I not only reshaped Britain's economy but also influenced its financial policy, social structure, and international economic position for the century that followed.
 
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