While reading the article on the BBC news site about Nordic Dads' paternity benefits (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4629631.stm), it occurred to me, what exactly do we have in Britain that is the envy of the rest of the world?

I know we have a lot of good things, but as far as I can tell there isn't anything about Britain that puts us above any other nation.

What benefit do you Brits get for being British that is the envy of the world? Most nations have something, what is ours?

Gene mapping at the Cambridge Science Park is generally concidered to be our cutting edge industry.

Glaxo Wellcom is also at the for front of the pharmisutical industry.

Liverpool are European Champions.

The London Stock Exchange is also a major world player.

We don't build things any more but our science and service sector are at the for front

I’m talking about benefits to the majority of the population, like the best roads in the world, the most amount of maternity leave available or the fastest trains. Something like that. In what area do we have the edge on the rest of the world?

Think of it like this, 'What benefit do we get for living in the UK that is above living anywhere else in the world'.

cheap travel to almost anywhere in the world?

In a word Culture

We have amongst other things;

world class museums,

a staggering range of well cared for monuments and houses,

a great reputation for gardening and horticulture

and despite the evidence around us in Sheffield world class architects

great literature

and music

I wouldn't say we had the best culture or architecture. mainland Europe has by far more of both!

Music and Literature are plausible but I can get these anywhere else in the world thanks to Apple (iTunes) and Amazon.

Originally posted by theflyingfish
cheap travel to almost anywhere in the world?

Its the same, if not cheaper in most of mainland europe.

Perhaps they are envious of our wealth, after all we do pay more than everyone else for everything.

Originally posted by nick2
Perhaps they are envious of our wealth, after all we do pay more than everyone else for everything.

You may have a point there but top of the pop's for being rich is the US with a GNI per capita: $37,610 where as the UK's is $28,350.

Perhaps they are also envious of they way you can live your entire life in the UK without ever working ?

We do a rather nice Beef Wellington. Additionally, we had in John Major, a Prime Minister with the foresight and inventiveness to create the 'Traffic Cones Hotline'.

a well running economy.
the NHS.

The BBC :clap:

The best TV and radio in the world

Originally posted by Cyclone
the NHS.

As a concept, yes, as a reality, not realy, I'm terrified of being so ill I have to go into hospital.

Nick,
Those are my feelings exactly. Someone once said to my father, 'Don't worry about going into hospital. You're in the best hands'. 'They are the only bloody hands', was his withering response.

We have England and we are English. Who needs anything else?

Just came across this thread. Sorry for digging, but it's interesting.

I would say, we have great historical buildings, which we preserve.
Great education standards (if we don't keep changing it!).
A good number of Nobel Prize winners.
Great writers like Shakespeare.

I’m talking about benefits to the majority of the population, like the best roads in the world, the most amount of maternity leave available or the fastest trains. Something like that. In what area do we have the edge on the rest of the world?

Think of it like this, 'What benefit do we get for living in the UK that is above living anywhere else in the world'.

Good God! What benefits do you get ? you must be kidding, do you live in a tent in the middle of no where ? :rolleyes:

Just came across this thread. Sorry for digging, but it's interesting.

I would say, we have great historical buildings, which we preserve.
Great education standards (if we don't keep changing it!).
A good number of Nobel Prize winners.
Great writers like Shakespeare.

No, not those kind of things Bango, the OPs looking for hand-outs, well more of them.

what? the OP was talking about significant benefits to living in britain - IE our culture, heritage. I certainly don't think they meant benefits in the welfare sense. Its starting to bug me how some American posters keep harping on about our welfare system, when really, I'd imagine, they have no first hand experience.

I certainly think you owe serapis an apology.

lol.....I'm confused... I think this female menopause is starting to kick in ! Either that, or it's amnesia. :hihi:

Heh, its not exactly on topic but the title made me think of the Bill Bailey quote:

"I'm English, and as such I crave disappointment. That's why I buy Kinder Surprise."

hehehe *ahem* I'll go now

Just came across this thread. Sorry for digging, but it's interesting.

I would say, we have great historical buildings, which we preserve.


we do?

what with the luftwaffe and council, theres loads of gems gone.

ash

Heh, its not exactly on topic but the title made me think of the Bill Bailey quote:

"I'm English, and as such I crave disappointment. That's why I buy Kinder Surprise."

hehehe *ahem* I'll go now

I don't normally like him, but I like that!:hihi:

we do?

what with the luftwaffe and council, theres loads of gems gone.

ash
Except the Eggbox. ;)

Except the Eggbox. ;)

that was a beautiful piece of hideous architecture bago, shame on you!:hihi: