who for the next pm?

[Mike Muz]

Your country isn't 'great' any more, because back in '69 the Japanese came out with the Honda CB750f four cylinder mass produced, oil-tight and superbly engineered and manufactured (reliable) motorcycle that literally blew any British two-wheeled icon that may or may not have ruled the blacktop for so many decades before that (Norton Commandos/Triumph Bonnevilles and Tridents/Vincent Black Shadows/BSA's/Brough Superiors ...) away.

Of course, while each of those British iron wonders was a beautifully hand-crafted work of metal art in and of itself (not to mention the unique visceral charisma and character each of them had to offer) ... they often rattled themselves apart in a fairly short order, leaked oil everywhere, and generally couldn't be trusted to keep running any where near as far or as long as did the following Japanese multis

You may be right. But we're streets ahead of anything coming out of the U.S.A. albeit in a repair garage streets ahead. Where could you get a Harley Davidson rechromed back then, in the era you mentioned !
Although I never owned one, I liked the look of the 400/4, with it's organic looking downpipes!

Mike

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Your country isn't 'great' any more, because back in '69 the Japanese came out with the Honda CB750f four cylinder mass produced, oil-tight and superbly engineered and manufactured (reliable) motorcycle that literally blew any British two-wheeled icon that may or may not have ruled the blacktop for so many decades before that (Norton Commandos/Triumph Bonnevilles and Tridents/Vincent Black Shadows/BSA's/Brough Superiors ...) away.

Of course, while each of those British iron wonders was a beautifully hand-crafted work of metal art in and of itself (not to mention the unique visceral charisma and character each of them had to offer) ... they often rattled themselves apart in a fairly short order, leaked oil everywhere, and generally couldn't be trusted to keep running any where near as far or as long as did the following Japanese multis ...

You guys simply failed to keep up with the times, choosing rather to rely on your prior imperialist nature and military or cultural conquests to keep you seated at the top (a common mistake made by innumerable empires over the millenia).

Ego and hubris ... gets em every time (guess what modern global empire is in their cross-hairs right now)!

I think these are some of the symptoms as to why we are no longer a great manufacturing nation, but not the root cause. During the 40s and 50s through to the 80s, Britain was essentially broke, still paying for the 2nd world war. Japan and Germany were to some extent re-built and re-financed, largely backed by the US, whilst the UK was left paying huge debts to the US.

In addition, I'm not so sure about Japan, but certainly in Germany, the way they finance their manufacturing industry is quite different to the UK. In Germany industry would be given loans on favourable terms for long periods allowing them to re-invest and improve manufacturing processes, whereas in the UK, "fast buck" financing meant that all profits would go to the lenders, leaving little for re-investment and the improvement our aging car and other manufacturing plants etc. which then could not compete with their more modern counterparts in Germany and Japan, no matter how skilled or willing the workforce.

Our political elite is populated with those more closely allied or more commonly related to our legal and financial systems with far less representation by manufacturing and industry. The trade unions tried to address this imbalance, but they were already on the back foot, trying to get better conditions for their members in industries already rendered uncompetitive by the means by which they were financed.

That's my take on it anyway.

 

[technodup]

You guys simply failed to keep up with the times, choosing rather to rely on your prior imperialist nature and military or cultural conquests to keep you seated at the top

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we should embark on a new wave of conquests. Show some of these mouthy wannabes and never have beens who's still boss.

We can start with Belgium.

 

[ajm]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we should embark on a new wave of conquests. Show some of these mouthy wannabes and never have beens who's still boss.

We can start with Belgium.

I like the thinking but I've been there... from what I saw, I'd vote to leave it well alone!

 

[Adruzzz]

Re: Re:

I think these are some of the symptoms as to why we are no longer a great manufacturing nation, but not the root cause. During the 40s and 50s through to the 80s, Britain was essentially broke, still paying for the 2nd world war. Japan and Germany were to some extent re-built and re-financed, largely backed by the US, whilst the UK was left paying huge debts to the US.

In addition, I'm not so sure about Japan, but certainly in Germany, the way they finance their manufacturing industry is quite different to the UK. In Germany industry would be given loans on favourable terms for long periods allowing them to re-invest and improve manufacturing processes, whereas in the UK, "fast buck" financing meant that all profits would go to the lenders, leaving little for re-investment and the improvement our aging car and other manufacturing plants etc. which then could not compete with their more modern counterparts in Germany and Japan, no matter how skilled or willing the workforce.

Our political elite is populated with those more closely allied or more commonly related to our legal and financial systems with far less representation by manufacturing and industry. The trade unions tried to address this imbalance, but they were already on the back foot, trying to get better conditions for their members in industries already rendered uncompetitive by the means by which they were financed.

That's my take on it anyway.

Very nicely put

 

[k-rod]

Re: Re:

in the UK, "fast buck" financing meant that all profits would go to the lenders, leaving little for re-investment and the improvement our aging car and other manufacturing plants etc. which then could not compete with their more modern counterparts in Germany and Japan, no matter how skilled or willing the workforce.

Our political elite is populated with those more closely allied or more commonly related to our legal and financial systems with far less representation by manufacturing and industry. The trade unions tried to address this imbalance, but they were already on the back foot, trying to get better conditions for their members in industries already rendered uncompetitive by the means by which they were financed.

That's my take on it anyway.

Hmmm ... and wasn't that what the underlying 'cause' of the second world war was all about, anyway (the putative/over-the-table history book version notwithstanding) ... ?

 

[highlandsflyer]

They are both hideous. General election please!

 

[technodup]

They are both hideous. General election please!

Why? Do you think Jezza will win it?

Because that's the only way you'll get rid of Thatcher II.

 

[JohnH]

Re:

Well, the press have hounded Andrea Leadsom into submission...

...which just leaves You Know Who.

P.S. If anyone wants to read the article that Theresa May's campaign team pressured the Telegraph to remove, it's here. And it's scathing...
http://order-order.com/2016/07/02/read- ... -campaign/

 

[highlandsflyer]

Feck, we are all so darn puddy whipped nowadays!

She is one ugly old trout, I just don't see the electorate taking to her at all.

Great time for Labour to bounce back.

Even Corbyn would be better looking with a little eye shadow.