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Question: Why did the British lose their empire!?
"Great" Britian lost their empire and now owns only a few islands, such as ascension and the Falklands!. So instead of Brits living in a luxurious tropical island they are instead living in a little cold, wet miserable island called britain which is over run with illegal immigrants, facing high crime and taxed through the ***!. What was the point of their empire if they the descendants gained nothing!? Well Americans, Australians, Canadians are living in luxury and high standards of living but the British are not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Its a very good point you make, but being taxed through the *** does give us some good things back - like free health care (all be it sometimes that the british media even says it not good, it is a system that works though)
As for the immigrants they are mostly genuine people looking to earn a living!.And who could blame them!? - if you could not earn decent money near your home town I am sure you would look elswhere!? It also means Britain is more multi cultural than most other places in the world!.
As for crime - it does happen, but we see far less gun crime as compared to the U!.S!.A!. When was the last time you heard of a drive by in the UK!?
I think it is nice the British empire "fell" as we gave the countrys back to the people!
When will America give the Iraqi people there country back!?
"When the oil runs out"!!! then lets see where the luxury living of Americans, Canadians goes!?
The Uk is being strongly affected by the American housing market at the moment so shall we now blame our falling wealth on America!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
As answered above Britain gave up her empire, partly as reward and partly because of the flattened (literally, thanks to the Luftwaffe) British economy of the Second World War!.
How would still having an empire turn Britain into a tropical island!?
While there might be higher standards of living in other nations, there are also much larger gaps between rich and poor – for example, while the top 20% of US households has seen an accelerated growth, 63% has seen a much slower growth, while the remaining 17% fall below the federal poverty threshold!. 15% of the nation are without any form of health insurance, and the number having to be covered by government health insurance plans is rising!. (This was based on 2004 figures recent developments will have had a further negative action!.) Britons (and taxpayers in the UK) are, through their ‘high taxes’, entitled to the services of the National Health Service!.
But, having seen some of your other questions, you seem more keen on knocking Britain rather than answers – why are you so afraid!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Well, I don't necessarily agree with your analogies!. However, you are right that England does not have the vast colonial empire that it once had!. The reason!?
-After World War II, England was economically devastated!. Their infrastructure was badly damaged from war, and their industry was all but in ruins!.
-With these factors, the English quite simply could not afford to maintain their colonies all across the world!. Plus war erupted in many of the colonies at this time as well!. Some of these "wars" were more organic, that is, revolutions!. And others were "theaters" during World War II, where industrialized nations fought one another!.
The most straight forward answer: they couldn't afford it!.
Hope this helpsWww@QuestionHome@Com
I have lived in Canada the US and Britain!. For the same income I have a higher standerd of living in the UK than I did in the US!.
However to answer your Question!. The Empire is now known as "The Commonwealth"!.
It is in the main largely independent countries!. This is because all of them helped keep Britain Free!.It was therefore deemed illogical to enslave others!.Www@QuestionHome@Com