Small countries

[petergriffin]

Having lived in UK most of my life I did not realize one obvious but overlooked aspect: small countries, like the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, are easier to manage, with figures usually in order, socially compact, which are all good things. But this comes at the expenses of open mindedness.

Because they are small countries, people tend to marry and breed with their similar, therefore they don't leave much room for progress and diversity and, economically speaking, social innovation.

This looks like what the UKIP and SNP actually want: a small racist country with people who look like them and a tiny fringe of foreigners who are just smart enough to clean their kitchen (the image of Solomon Northup in 12 years a slave comes to mind).

Take the Dutch: they have an overinflated image if themselves. They think they are very open minded and prone to innovation but only living here you realize they are just rich farmers and they think like farmers.

Is this what England and Scotland are heading up to? And is this good?

[woohoo]

who knows what they really want, however a great many people have reservations about the number of people entering the country. I'm all for skilled workers getting in, I can't see what's wrong with a points system.

[edison]

Having lived in UK most of my life I did not realize one obvious but overlooked aspect: small countries, like the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, are easier to manage, with figures usually in order, socially compact, which are all good things. But this comes at the expenses of open mindedness.

Because they are small countries, people tend to marry and breed with their similar, therefore they don't leave much room for progress and diversity and, economically speaking, social innovation.

This looks like what the UKIP and SNP actually want: a small racist country with people who look like them and a tiny fringe of foreigners who are just smart enough to clean their kitchen (the image of Solomon Northup in 12 years a slave comes to mind).

Take the Dutch: they have an overinflated image if themselves. They think they are very open minded and prone to innovation but only living here you realize they are just rich farmers and they think like farmers.

Is this what England and Scotland are heading up to? And is this good?

It's notable that many of the countries at the top of various quality of life indices are smaller populated ones like those you mention plus Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, Nordics, Singapore, Hong Kong etc. I wonder whether what makes them good to live in isn't easily transferable to larger populations?

I have visited Switzerland quite a number of times over the last 6 months for business and from what I have gathered, there is a certain mentality of 'Keep Switzerland for the Swiss.' The recent referendum does seem at odds with the fact the country is very affluent, very low unemployment etc but there is a split between urban v countryside and French v German speakers. Given the amount of sheer petty minded rules and regulations there, I would rather live in an imperfect UK than a heavily thought policed Switzerland.

[petergriffin]

It's notable that many of the countries at the top of various quality of life indices are smaller populated ones like those you mention plus Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, Nordics, Singapore, Hong Kong etc.

Not exactly small, eh?

I remember back in early 2008, just before the collapse of the Icelandic banks, Iceland was top of the list of happiest countries.

Like I said, once you head for the route of inbreeding, there's no way back.

[scooterscot]

Having lived in UK most of my life I did not realize one obvious but overlooked aspect: small countries, like the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, are easier to manage, with figures usually in order, socially compact, which are all good things. But this comes at the expenses of open mindedness.

Because they are small countries, people tend to marry and breed with their similar, therefore they don't leave much room for progress and diversity and, economically speaking, social innovation.

This looks like what the UKIP and SNP actually want: a small racist country with people who look like them and a tiny fringe of foreigners who are just smart enough to clean their kitchen (the image of Solomon Northup in 12 years a slave comes to mind).

Take the Dutch: they have an overinflated image if themselves. They think they are very open minded and prone to innovation but only living here you realize they are just rich farmers and they think like farmers.

Is this what England and Scotland are heading up to? And is this good?

You think this problem does not already exist in England?!!!

Most families in England are already quite close nit. Already it's easy to find several generations living under the same roof.

[MicrosoftBob]

Not exactly small, eh?

I remember back in early 2008, just before the collapse of the Icelandic banks, Iceland was top of the list of happiest countries.

Like I said, once you head for the route of inbreeding, there's no way back from Cornwall.

FTFY

[SpontaneousOrder]

Bollocks thread of the day.

[doodab]

Bollocks thread of the day.

Why don't you start a better one?

[Mich the Tester]

Why don't you start a better one?

No, don't encourage him.

[Flashman]

Having lived in UK most of my life I did not realize one obvious but overlooked aspect: small countries, like the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, are easier to manage, with figures usually in order, socially compact, which are all good things. But this comes at the expenses of open mindedness.

Because they are small countries, people tend to marry and breed with their similar, therefore they don't leave much room for progress and diversity and, economically speaking, social innovation.

This looks like what the UKIP and SNP actually want: a small racist country with people who look like them and a tiny fringe of foreigners who are just smart enough to clean their kitchen (the image of Solomon Northup in 12 years a slave comes to mind).

Take the Dutch: they have an overinflated image if themselves. They think they are very open minded and prone to innovation but only living here you realize they are just rich farmers and they think like farmers.

Is this what England and Scotland are heading up to? And is this good?

Largest country in the world? Russia. A model of open-mindedness for us all.

Your thread is bollocks.

Your welcome.