To be pleased that the UK is no longer world leading

[pontypridd]

John Major said it today. I think he’s right.

Why does it matter though? Why can’t the UK just be bog standard/ normal?

Warning complacency and nostalgia was a route to national decline, Major urged Britons not to view the country through rose-tinted glasses.

"We are no longer a great power," he said. "We will never be so again. In a world of nearly 8 billion people, well under 1 per cent are British.

"We are a top second-rank power but, over the next half century - however well we perform - our small size and population makes it likely we will be passed by the growth of other, far larger, countries.

"In recent decades, we have consoled ourselves that we 'punch above our weight' in international affairs. I think that was true: but that was then, and this is now."

He said Britain's international influence had rested on its history and reputation, as well as its membership of the EU and alliance with the United States.

I don't see how anyone could disagree with that but maybe "pleased" isn't the best word.

Other than IKEA, can you name one Swedish company?

Of the top of my head ...Volvo

Governed by some of the best pompous twats in the world.

I think we have a problem due to the class system, which I know in some ways has gone, but the public school system being soooo much better than the state just skews everything imv.
Other countries don't have that to the same degree.
So what I would like is more equality whether we are world leaders or not - a better country for the citizens is what is wanted.

Swedish companies apart from IKEA and Volvo?

How about: Ericsson, Spotify, Electrolux, H&M, Skanska, Recipharm...

I think Sweden do pretty well tbh

[quote CoalTit]@sashagabadon, what does "financial innovation" mean? When I read that all I can think of is transnational tax avoidance and the disastrous debt-reselling schemes that brought about the 2008 financial crisis.[/quote]
The city of London is what I mean. Not all innovations are positive of course and more regulation is needed but other countries want to bank with us, trust our institutions, are happy with our rules.There are too many criminals misusing the city though and I would love to see money laundering cracked down on

Warning complacency and nostalgia was a route to national decline, Major urged Britons not to view the country through rose-tinted glasses

I agree with him.

However...wasn't he the PM who said

"Fifty years from now Britain will still be the country of long shadows on county grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers and pools fillers and - as George Orwell said - “old maids bicycling to Holy Communion through the morning mist” and if we get our way - Shakespeare still read even in school."

I'm mixed nationality and have lived in several European counties, also travelled around the world a fair bit. Yes, the Uk does some things well but generally it doesn't have the world-leading reputation it thinks it does.
In terms of influence - China, USA and Russia have bigger political and economic influence.
Culture too...most cultural references in the counties I lived in were American.
At everyday level, I had to stop introducing myself as British and only made reference to my other nationality because of the negative reactions. There was an assumption that I'd be arrogant, not knowledgable about the rest of the world and a binge-drinker.
People were a lot more positive about my other nationality (which I had got used to playing down in the UK as it gets bad press over here).
Education...yes it has a good name and is well regarded by employers. Many universities are still excellent, although there are also many "Mickey Mouse" ones.

Healthcare...it's patchy. There are many excellent specialists but the system as a whole isn't great. GPs in particular lack knowledge of many conditions and are resistant to referring people to specialists who do have the knowledge. You can't refer yourself to a specialist or choose the person who treats you. Private healthcare is out of most people's reach.
I have friends from former Soviet republics who have given up on the NHS and go home for treatment, as private healthcare there is affordable and very good, from what they say.

Obviously this is all anecdotal and subjective. But so is the concept of "world-leading". How do you even measure that?

@sashagabadon

“with rich people wanting to use our courts.”

This is just simply not true