Are we all fooked?

[expat]

The UK has had a lot of fun partying off its gigantic reserves for the last couple of hundred years and in this time its population has grown immensely, but is the party nearly over now? Can we support the kind of population we have here? Failed civilisations seem to share a common trait - their populations grow too large. Are we there yet?

I don't think you have that right: the failed civilisations with large populations are those that experienced their population growth before their industrial revolution. They never seem to reach prosperity and peace.

We are in the other group; but in the subgroup of "former empires". The situation there is not good either: most imperial countries are slowly and inexorably bankrupted by their fading empires, as they resolutely refuse to let go of them no matter what the cost. This is Britain's history for the last century.

Hello America, BTW.

Dennis Healey always wanted us to look to Austria: they seem to be the only country that managed the transition out of imperialism without a fall.

[DaveB]

Be quiet in the back!

But Daaaaaaaad, I want a wee-wee!

[sasguru]

Dennis Healey always wanted us to look to Austria: they seem to be the only country that managed the transition out of imperialism without a fall.

Only if you don't count annexation by Germany and having a population of incestuous half-wit Nazis as a "fall"

[expat]

Only if you don't count annexation by Germany and having a population of incestuous half-wit Nazis as a "fall"

and then losing a war and being occupied by the Russians. Well, at least it was over quickly. Bit like that best man.....

[TimberWolf]

I don't think you have that right: the failed civilisations with large populations are those that experienced their population growth before their industrial revolution. They never seem to reach prosperity and peace.

We are in the other group; but in the subgroup of "former empires". The situation there is not good either: most imperial countries are slowly and inexorably bankrupted by their fading empires, as they resolutely refuse to let go of them no matter what the cost. This is Britain's history for the last century.

Hello America, BTW.

Dennis Healey always wanted us to look to Austria: they seem to be the only country that managed the transition out of imperialism without a fall.

It's a lot simpler than that, it's ultimately about energy. An industrial revolution is just another way of using more energy. USA has lots, we used to have lots. Now we have little. All of Europe are probably fooked too. We don't want Austria, we want Australia.

[expat]

It's a lot simpler than that, it's ultimately about energy. An industrial revolution is just another way of using more energy. USA has lots, we used to have lots. Now we have little. All of Europe are probably fooked too. We don't want Austria, we want Australia.

It's about using energy, hmm, maybe.

Still true, though:
1. large population only hobbles you if it comes before your industrialisation.
2. empires end up costing the ruler more than the ruled.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Call me old fashioned - but I like Scotland and the UK so much - I actually live there.

Yes I know weve got some problems - but folks - its the same all over - and in case you hadnt noticed - you cannae run away from yourself.

Look at the Sky
Look at the River
Isnt It good ?

[expat]

Call me old fashioned - but I like Scotland and the UK so much - I actually live there.

Yes I know weve got some problems - but folks - its the same all over - and in case you hadnt noticed - you cannae run away from yourself.

Look at the Sky
Look at the River
Isnt It good ?

Some problems? I can get 6 figures in Germany, can't find a job that'll pay the mortgage on the house in the UK, and that's just an allegedly 3-bedroom brick hutch. I like it enough to live there, I just don't like it enough to work there.

[ThomasSoerensen]

Rookie mistake.
Schoolboy error.

Britain has the best cheese in the World. Number 1 cheese provider. All time top cheese fellas.

people who value cheese deserve to become extinct.

Cheese is milk that should have been used months ago - some clever fella tried to sell spoiled milk and found enough fools to invent a new category of food.

[DimPrawn]

people who value cheese deserve to become extinct.

Cheese is milk that should have been used months ago - some clever fella tried to sell spoiled milk and found enough fools to invent a new category of food.

And eggs are chickens periods.

HTH