Just remember though, that the UK is still the 7th largest manufacturer in the world. ARM anyone? However, the amount of UK jobs in our lines of manufacture are comparatively low, due to the markets we operate in. In terms of pounds and pence, we're still a powerhouse.

Being one of a few global financial capitals also gives the UK a healthy GDP. A GDP per capita that is ranked about 22nd in the world, compared to the powerhouses that are China (90th) and India (127th). Yes, there's market control in these new age powerhouses, but with GDP/capitas so low, ultimately spells poor social conditions.

The chances of us becoming a Malta in 20 years are slim to none. If anything, there will be a better global balance - which is a good thing. Capitalism is broken, but it might not have to go out with a bang. Perhaps it can lead to a stalemate and offer a road to society being the new capital.

@stonebat Your son is smarter than me!Tell that to him :)

@Vitaliy_Kiselev

Same problem. Efficiency of any serious project is in big question. And under serious I mean Moon or Mars.

Of course I agree with you. But is it in human nature is not overcome problems? The conquest of space is an idea, the same as the ability to start a fire by early man. If we learn to live beyond Earth we can create a better political systems than those which we know from Earth. We have to start with small steps, such as: elevator space, orbital power station.... Is economic efficiency is to send telescopes into orbit? From the perspective of the average person probably will not, but whether from the perspective of such a thinker as you are? Vitaliy, I am a utopian, I dream of a better world and I think that as long as thehuman will be subject to forces such as other animals, as long as we stuck in this shit. This is my "religion".

I love my 3 yo son singing,

Today is my favorite day God made it in a special way I like tomorrow and yesterday But today is my favorite day

Tomorrow is surely gonna be worse than today. So why not enjoy today? :)

Some of us miss the good old days. I'm sure some of us, possibly all of us, might miss today.

"Who implements and executes the new plan?"

This is another problem in the west. Should a government bring about grand changes, they only have 4 years and if it isn't deemed popular, they get thrown on the scrap.

Long term change is almost impossible to do, and so yet again, the nation stagnates and flip flops between two politically convenient extremes.

Consumerism is the UK is the steady process of giving away our wealth to China. In 20 years the UK will be a poor nation with as much significance in the world as Malta, and China a super power. Because we used to be a well educated country, we could design and export, we could provide services and build meaningful companies. Our computer industry eventually let the US soundly beat it in almost every area apart from ARM's mobile chips, but we had a good run at it (BBC Micro, Acorn, Amstrad, etc.)

The education system in the UK is now failing, and economic cuts will make it even worse. Whilst our military and technology sectors stagnate, China's are growing. Kids in Asia take education more seriously because knowledge is directly linked to social standing. In the UK something odd happened with popular culture and now knowledge is linked to nerds, whilst lack of knowledge is linked to a higher social class - celebrities.

On a train going from a small town in Japan I noticed school kids reading text books on the way home. This would never happen in the UK, not since the 50's has such a studious attitude been common in the UK.

I feel that the last 3 generations are mesmerised by consumer goods, warm sofas, television and comfortable office jobs.

We have not yet found a way to break out of that lifestyle, which ultimately leads nowhere.

I became a filmmaker to avoid the office lifestyle and I tried to break out of 'the system', it was a high risk 'all or nothing' approach and I am glad I did so, rather than do what so many people do - steady job, family, house, then death - not just of the individual but of a nation.

Energy costs are rising, and the European Union governments not doing anything to improve this condition. On the contrary, increase excise taxes on fuel because in this way they can squeeze out of the taxpayers more money. The success of the European Union, in the last century, we owe thanks to low cost energy. I know that I will repeat, but the World West lacks the guiding ideas. This idea could be the conquest of space. We need to invent new technologies, even those that now seem as if they were in the field of SF. This is a sensible future, but this system can only see a real gain, calculated over several years rather than tens. Apparently the sky is the limit, but in light of the political systems that limit reaches only a few hundred meters.

How to get UK back on track.... Invest in robot technology and 3D printers. The ability to manufacture stuff without a factory full of slave labour is the next step forward for capitalism.

However it does raise the question of what to do with jobs. Already in UK, one of main first jobs for young people (service till at supermarket) is obsolete because of self service machines.

The need to have a talent that premium market can utilise has never been greater - otherwise face being enslaved or unemployed.

I hate nostalgia, I hate it desperately. I long for the days when nobody was nostalgic.

@Mimirsan

System changed.

If you remove goverment benefits and bank stumulus system will collapse.

Just look at the charts.

Right now goverments have three targets.

Get free resources, in fact restoring colonies. Same things will be used to distract people. And you need to distract people if you plan to remove most social benefits made in 20th century. Removing benefits is necessary as they want to make global corporations and banks empire. Much more efficient, one that replaces it's parts instantly. Do not work for specified salary, have problems, boom, you are moved to less developed parts of the empire and will be happy to work just for food. And people who want to risk their lifes in persuite of better life of their childrens will be used hard, much harder than today.

@itimjin Thats insulting! Im not tory matey...Im more of a anarchist if anything! ;-)

@vitaliy Wasnt just because we had to work just that we could not afford it. :-)

My point is my family (like many others) worked hard to get by in the 80s yet we still could not afford a holiday....wasnt a big deal. Many brits cant even survive without a holiday per year these days.

I was brought up on if you didnt have the money you dont have it to spend. Too many just spend and dont have to money to but dumping it on the credit card is okay. Food on the table and roof over your head are main priorities.

Eoshd "Because people are stuck in shitty office jobs, they come home tired and sit in front of the TV. There is too much of that in Britain."

Too true our dear government likes it that way ;-)