Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9168

Revolution!

I know, it's fairly long. I was reading it and thought the other Brits might appreciate.


It has long seemed to me unfortunate – and I’m taking the global view here – that such an important experiment in social organisation was left to the Russians when the British would have managed it so much better. All those things that are necessary to the successful implementation of a rigorous socialist system are, after all, second nature to the British. For a start, they like going without. They are great at pulling together, particularly in the face of adversity, for a perceived common good. They will queue patiently for indefinite periods and accept with rare fortitude the imposition of rationing, bland diets and the sudden inconvenient shortages of staple goods, as anyone who has ever looked for bread at a supermarket on a Saturday afternoon will know. They are comfortable will faceless bureaucracies and, as Mrs Thatcher proved, tolerant of dictatorships. They will wait uncomplainingly for years for an operation or the delivery of a household appliance. They have a natural gift for making excellent jokes about authority without seriously challenging it, and they derive universal satisfaction from the sight of the rich and powerful brought low. Most of those above the age of twenty-five already dress like East Germans. The conditions, in a word, are right.

Please understand I’m not saying that Britain would have been a happier, better place under Communism, merely that the British would have done it properly. They would have taken it in their stride, with good heart, and without excessive cheating. In point of fact, until 1970 it wouldn’t have made the slightest discernable difference to most peoples lives, and might at least have spared us Robert Maxwell.

Bill Bryson – Notes from a Small Island (1995)




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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 7236

quote:

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Originally posted by Goatboy:
It has long seemed to me unfortunate – and I’m taking the global view here – that such an important experiment in social organisation was left to the Russians when the British would have managed it so much better. All those things that are necessary to the successful implementation of a rigorous socialist system are, after all, second nature to the British. For a start, they like going without. They are great at pulling together, particularly in the face of adversity, for a perceived common good. They will queue patiently for indefinite periods and accept with rare fortitude the imposition of rationing, bland diets and the sudden inconvenient shortages of staple goods, as anyone who has ever looked for bread at a supermarket on a Saturday afternoon will know. They are comfortable will faceless bureaucracies and, as Mrs Thatcher proved, tolerant of dictatorships. They will wait uncomplainingly for years for an operation or the delivery of a household appliance. They have a natural gift for making excellent jokes about authority without seriously challenging it, and they derive universal satisfaction from the sight of the rich and powerful brought low. Most of those above the age of twenty-five already dress like East Germans. The conditions, in a word, are right.

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hahahahahaha....its all sooooo true, especially the bread and the queues. I like queuing

You have cheered up my day at work. Maybe we should add the ability to laugh at our own idiosynchracies
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sp00ky
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To err is human.

[This message has been edited by Spooky (edited 01-20-2001).]

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9164

quote:

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Originally posted by Spooky:
hahahahahaha....its all sooooo true, especially the bread and the queues. I like queuing

You have cheered up my day at work. Maybe we should add the ability to laugh at our own idiosynchracies

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Get back to work cockboy. You dont have time to laugh for that long.



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Remember, when
someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it
only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and bitch-slap the
motherfucker upside the head...

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