Should GB be a world power

TeriBull , you are mistaken, I was not speaking of the entire English race , just those who patronise people of other countries because they feel they can and do not accept they are insulting people

Yes, neither phrase/description is exactly courteous, is it?

Let's put that phrase in the bin along with ' little englander' shall we?

Good job that we don't use the term ' little welsher' to each other on here then isn't it?

The British Empire no longer exists
No and it is a good thing that it does not exist as it did in the old days but we still have the Commonwealth. The sad thing is that we have neglected the Commonwealth in our eagerness to become Europeans.
I do have friends who some people may call 'colonials' although they would hate that term, having been brought up in Commonwealth countries.

GB is a small, insignificant county. Well, I can't agree that we are. Small, yes, but many of our institutions are respected worldwide. Our democratic way of life has been envied and copied in many countries around the world and many more countries could do far worse than follow our example.

'little welsher' - how did that term come about as it sounds quite derogatory:
1. To swindle a person by not paying a debt or wager: welsh on a bet.
2. To fail to fulfill an obligation.

Terribull

We all know it's just one of those terms/words that the left use to try and belittle , usually when feeling aggrieved that the debate /discussion is challenging their view in a more sensible manner. It's similar to the same old, same old tactic when debate/discussion is not going their way Thatcher, Right Wing Press and Colonialism is rattled out.

Your post of 10.41 was very good but obviously that is my opinion and others will not agree.

I will add that I am not sure there is a large number of the public who still believe we live in an 'Emperical Dream World' and see Great Britain as the 'Centre of the Universe'. Most people take a more realistic view of life and simply get on with living for today and consider those terms to be historic. In fact the younger generation would probably look at you blank wondering what you are on about and what does it have to do with this century, what does it mean for them .

The UK has simply evolved as the world , to use a crazy term, got smaller. The OP is a fair question but pointedly is aligning the question with defence spending and are we now a small, insignificant country that should stop seeing ourselves as the worlds police force and should we spend on nuclear weapons. So to answer that point the United Kingdom is a member of NATO, the UK is a member of the United Nations , the UK is a member of the G7, G20 so it naturally follows that the UK is small in land mass but the UK is not an Empire but it certainly is a country that has earnt respect worldwide and that is relevant for the 21st Century.

AB - Referring to English people who disagree with you as Little Englanders, is contentious, there isn't a Welsh equivalent, but I wouldn't use such a word to a Welsh person if there was one, because I'm sure it would be deemed as rude. Incidentally, do you use a small "e" for Englander to belittle us further?

Actually she could be very small! I don't know her actual size as such.

Well, we haven't hung onto their "coat-tails" re gun laws and capital punishment, have we?

Nobody's patronising annie. Slightly taking the mick perhaps, but she's a big strong girl.

Thank you Luckygirl and I agree with your post

We in Wales are use to little englanders attempting to patronise us , thankfully the majority of English do not, it would be sooooo boring if it were so.

I do not think we are insignificant, but neither do I think we are, or should wish to be , a "world power" - whatever that is.

My aim for this country is that it should be as prosperous as possible, deal with threats with wisdom and restraint, and share our cultural assets with anyone who wishes this.

There is no doubt that we do tag along on the coattails of the US - and I do not find this acceptable. I think that our mores are in fact more sound than theirs - gun laws, no capital punishment etc.

I do not think it is necessary to patronise Annie when her views do not tally with someone else's. This is an interesting debate and I thank vq for starting it; but inevitably there will be differing views on all sides - and those are interesting to hear, and should be heard with respect - which is one of our British values that we should treasure.

Well said, Alea.

If you mean World Power in the military sense, we are not in the same league as the so-called Superpowers. It would be good however if we could still bring military expertise(of which we have plenty) experience (ditto) and good sense to whatever forum makes the decisions. I think the calibre of our armed forces is second to none and our ability to apply our democratic principles should not be underestimated.
Our financial sector (Stock Exchange, banking etc) puts us among the world leaders, our cultural significance ( theatre, music, architecture, ballet, the Arts in all forms) is I think unequalled and our Human Rights knock many countries with greater military strength into the proverbial cocked hat. OK our NHS and Education are taking a hammering, but were still mould breaking, our universities are world class and our Scientific and Medical research also among world leaders.
So I think we have to redefine what we want to be. The UK is not an "insignificant country". The days of empire have been gone for over 50 years but there is a future of cooperation and leadership in so many fields of human endeavour ahead.

I think we are a country that punches well above it's weight, taking many different aspects into account, not only economics and politics but also in the arts. I think we are great innovators and have produced a wide spectrum of writers, artists, musicians, singers, fashion designers etc. etc. Just as Andrew Neil produced a list of what France has given the world, I think that could certainly match them. On a lighter note I never understand why we bother entering the charade that is the European Song Contest, we have nothing to prove on that score having given the world the Beatles, Rolling Stones and a list that could go on adinfinitum. Although I appreciate that is not the thrust of the argument here.

I agree with your comment AB, we have been guilty of being America's lapdog and I don't think we have a "special" relationship, whilst we are an important ally to them, I think it's all a bit one way, their way!

However, having said that I also agree with Jing's statement about the City of London, it is one of the world's most desirable capitals, hence it gravitational pull in drawing in the world's rich, which I know in some respects doesn't always serve those working there in trying to find somewhere affordable to live.

I take some of your points though VQ, the British Empire no longer exists, but that applies to any other previous imperial powers, France, Spain. Many European countries were guilty of expanding their power bases and taking advantage of the countries they sucked into their empire, maybe China could learn from some of our mistakes. I also agree that industry has to fight to survive in a global world. I don't think we are centre of the universe at all, do any of us, but I think we are a major contributor on a world stage, although that of course may not stay the case.

To be quite honest, whilst I think it's possible it's not "our time" anymore, and India and China are two of the new world super powers, they have a long way to go to become egalitarian societies, and whilst we are not a utopia and have disparities between the rich and poor, Britain is still a better place to live than some other countries that are perceived to be on the up and up.

We have rather a lot jingle , in parts of Wales, not in the Valleys but in rural areas , country mansions, holiday homes etc.

No. I definitely don't ab. But I'm sure Wales is rife with them.

Of course you ( and me, and anyone on here) are entitled to our views.

Thank you shysal

Vampire and Anniebach. My thoughts exactly, and we are quite entitled to them!

Seventy odd years on, the old colonials must be dying out, replaced by their grandchildren, who have grown up in the real world.

Britain is still a world power - it is just that world power is not what it used to be, for anyone. Power belongs to whoever can effectively use it. If all the countries in the world worked together, they could resist those power-hungry megalomaniacs who want domination without responsibility, but it would mean certain internal sacrifices and constant watchfulness.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

I don't mix with 'old colonial families' either, are there lots of them in Wales?
They must be extremely elderly.

Please do not patronise me Petra, thank you

I agree with Jingl on this.Not from any drum banging days of the Raj,
But from the aspect of all the things she mentions plus the fact that this country is doing so well economically ( which is why immigrants want to come here) our links both to Europe and the US, our culture etc we have many world class things to offer.So as a country, even a small country, we have much to offer ( there's the Commonwealth as well)but our response to world events does have to be tempered with caution ( maybe this is what you mean VQ) because our armed forces are not quite what they used to be!
This doesn't mean that we can't be part of a concerted effort with other like minded countries to rid the world of the likes of ISIS.

Anniebach. If you were to leave Wales at some time and visit other countries and talk to locals, you would find out that we are still very much admired/ respected/ envied. Why do you think so many people want to come here.

I know Jingle, you obviously don 't mix with old colonial families