How do we Make Britain Great Again?

I read an interesting fact that 90% of content that is consumed today was created in the last 24 hours.

If this is true, then we might over-emphasize the daily and short term issues.

It is important to study history, because it gives you better perspective.

Instead of asking your opinion of Meghan Markle.

We can ask bigger, more important questions, such as

Why did Britain become the world’s largest empires?

Some people today in Britain would criticise this question.

It would have been better if it were never so.

But there are reasons that people in Britain enjoy a level of wealth, and entitlements (NHS, welfare) that they don’t have in other parts of the world.

It is essential to understand power and empires, because this is how the world works, and without understanding it, your security, and everything you enjoy, is at risk from other empires.

By asking these bigger questions, we can also learn lessons that can apply to today, and our future.

There is not one underlying reason why Britain became a world leading power. There are a combination of factors. Many of these echo today, and it can help guide our decisions.

Leaving the Catholic Church

In a move that echo’s that of Brexit, in 1534, Henry VIII took Britain out of the Catholic church, who were blocking his divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boelyn and have another shot at a male heir. He could also pocket the wealth from the church when he became head of it.

This enabled Henry to reallocate wealth to nobles, which gave him power, independence to shape policy, and the wealth which enabled Britain to build ships, defeat the Spanish armada, and a more powerful position during the thirty years war. It enabled Britain to align with rising Protestant powers such as the dutch, and it also fostered greater individualism, free from the restrictions from the catholic church, that gave it an advantage in exploration.

Shipbuilding

It was clear with the Spanish armada how, as an island, the importance of ships. In a time of exploration, it provided a feedback loop, as shipbuilding enabled Britain to trade, trade funded more ships.

Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights

In 1688, there was a coup, worried about the Catholic’s King James aligning with the Pope. This led to the Bill of Rights which limited taxes and laws from the Crown back to Parliament giving merchants and landowners greater power. This was essential because it helped avoid civil wars that happened elsewhere – such as the French revolution, and gave more power to the wealthy who would fund the expansion and industry. This stability gave the optimum environment for capital and growth.

What Barriers Does Britain Have Now

Britain has barriers to overcome that it didn’t have before.

An aging population vs a young growing population.
High taxes now vs low taxes then.

Energy – British coal powered the empire. Now Britain imports 40% of energy.

Much bigger competition – Britain then was comparable with France and Spain. Right now it is dwarfed by US and China.

Lagging infrastructure.  Aging roads, compared to modern canals and railways at the time.

Social cohesion – before it was a united protestant identity with clear class roles (and exploitation). Now there is less so.

Talent and innovation drain. Before, it attracted the greatest talent. Now, they are attracted to greater opportunities before – such as US.

What moves could be made? 

• Clear governance – making it more efficient
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Using advantages of English language, finance, service industries, education worldwide.
• Becoming world class in key technologies
• Attracting key talent and world class education systems