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2006-12-28 23:47:21
aardfrith
Δ > x > ¥
+145|7217
In 1945 and 1946 the USA and Canada loaned  Great Britain the sums of 4.33 and 1.19 billion US dollars, respectively.  At the time, the GB coffers were dry from the war effort and so the two largest North American countries saved us from financial ruin, albeit at a price.

The loans were to start repayment in 1950, to last 50 payments each but there were six years in which we deferred payment because of significant financial problems - anyone remember 20% inflation in the 1970s?  So now the final payments are being made and the total sums repaid are $7.5bn and $2bn respectively.  Of course, the loans made by each country had interest attached, hence the different sums loaned and paid.

These are the facts.  Now the topic for debate:

Is it time for the "special relationship" that we have with the Americans, one built on war and debts, to end?
2006-12-28 23:50:21
Big McLargehuge
Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody
+259|7028|Philadelphia, PA
Why would America and Great Britain's relationship end just because GB is paying back a loan from the USA?

Last edited by Big McLargehuge (2006-12-28 23:53:08)

2006-12-28 23:50:32
mtb0minime
minimember
+2,418|7080

Are you saying Britain should go to war with the U.S. or something? Or that we should stop being allies? I don't think this "special relationship" should end. We're two very strong and influential allies.
2006-12-28 23:50:40
Executiator
Member
+69|6846
What do you mean by "special relationship?


and if it was to end, what kind of relationship would we have afterwards?

Economy is built upon war, not peace.
2006-12-28 23:53:36
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6830|North Carolina

aardfrith wrote:

In 1945 and 1946 the USA and Canada loaned  Great Britain the sums of 4.33 and 1.19 billion US dollars, respectively.  At the time, the GB coffers were dry from the war effort and so the two largest North American countries saved us from financial ruin, albeit at a price.

The loans were to start repayment in 1950, to last 50 payments each but there were six years in which we deferred payment because of significant financial problems - anyone remember 20% inflation in the 1970s?  So now the final payments are being made and the total sums repaid are $7.5bn and $2bn respectively.  Of course, the loans made by each country had interest attached, hence the different sums loaned and paid.

These are the facts.  Now the topic for debate:

Is it time for the "special relationship" that we have with the Americans, one built on war and debts, to end?
Interesting quandary...  I suppose that depends on what relationship you mean.  I think we will remain major trading partners no matter what.

As for collaborating on foreign policy....  that might be ending soon anyway.
2006-12-29 00:10:09
aardfrith
Δ > x > ¥
+145|7217
Well, that's the thing.  What is this "special relationship" that the UK government alludes to so often?

From what I see, it consists of us pandering to the Americans' foreign policies while being kicked in the teeth.

We got nothing but grief from invading Iraq.  At the end of the diplomaitc debate, we (the UK government) were urging a second mandate in the UN but George Bush said it would all be alright and we didn't need one.  So we went along, for the sake of this relationship, and backed the invasion with our men and women of the armed services.  I think we can all judge what a mistake that was.  And that opened a whole can of worms with the Islamic terrorists, just as the Irish threat of terrorism (backed by American money) was coming to its end.

Economically, we get shit from the Americans.  We try to buy bananas from the Carinbean and Africa because they are cheaper and the US gets shitty with us by imposing 100% imports on goods from the EU.

We modernised our steel industry because it was inefficient, then sell it cheaper than the US can and what happened?  30% import tarriffs on all steel imports apart from those from South Africa.

So, what is this special relationship if not a way of fucking the UK for all it's worth?
2006-12-29 00:14:21
Executiator
Member
+69|6846

aardfrith wrote:

Well, that's the thing.  What is this "special relationship" that the UK government alludes to so often?

From what I see, it consists of us pandering to the Americans' foreign policies while being kicked in the teeth.

We got nothing but grief from invading Iraq.  At the end of the diplomaitc debate, we (the UK government) were urging a second mandate in the UN but George Bush said it would all be alright and we didn't need one.  So we went along, for the sake of this relationship, and backed the invasion with our men and women of the armed services.  I think we can all judge what a mistake that was.  And that opened a whole can of worms with the Islamic terrorists, just as the Irish threat of terrorism (backed by American money) was coming to its end.

Economically, we get shit from the Americans.  We try to buy bananas from the Carinbean and Africa because they are cheaper and the US gets shitty with us by imposing 100% imports on goods from the EU.

We modernised our steel industry because it was inefficient, then sell it cheaper than the US can and what happened?  30% import tarriffs on all steel imports apart from those from South Africa.

So, what is this special relationship if not a way of fucking the UK for all it's worth?
From what i heard, you brits hated Saddam far more than Americans did. Some kind of horrible history with him ro some shit. I thought britain was 100% behind this war to get that evil dictator out of power, which is what you did.

For the rest of your post, welcome to the world of economics.

You guys raped us, we retaliated and boy cotted.

We rape you, and britain whines about losing colonies all over the place.

I guess now the sun does set on the british empire.

EDIT: and I thought you would have the answer to what the "special relationship is" to help answer the first question... not create a whole slew of new questions...

Last edited by Executiator (2006-12-29 00:15:14)

2006-12-29 00:17:57
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6830|North Carolina

aardfrith wrote:

Well, that's the thing.  What is this "special relationship" that the UK government alludes to so often?

From what I see, it consists of us pandering to the Americans' foreign policies while being kicked in the teeth.

We got nothing but grief from invading Iraq.  At the end of the diplomaitc debate, we (the UK government) were urging a second mandate in the UN but George Bush said it would all be alright and we didn't need one.  So we went along, for the sake of this relationship, and backed the invasion with our men and women of the armed services.  I think we can all judge what a mistake that was.  And that opened a whole can of worms with the Islamic terrorists, just as the Irish threat of terrorism (backed by American money) was coming to its end.

Economically, we get shit from the Americans.  We try to buy bananas from the Carinbean and Africa because they are cheaper and the US gets shitty with us by imposing 100% imports on goods from the EU.

We modernised our steel industry because it was inefficient, then sell it cheaper than the US can and what happened?  30% import tarriffs on all steel imports apart from those from South Africa.

So, what is this special relationship if not a way of fucking the UK for all it's worth?
I hear ya...  If I was British, I'd be pissed as hell at Blair.

Being American, I appreciate the help your country has provided us in the Middle East, but I reluctantly must admit that it's been to our advantage much more than it has been to yours.

I figure the best way you can remove your country from this problem is by electing a party into your parliament that is more isolationist.  As far as I can tell though....  It would appear that both your Labour and Conservative parties are interventionist, correct?

In a way, it resembles the situation here in America... 
2006-12-29 00:35:26
BVC
Member
+325|7120
The "special relationship" the US and UK share is, from what I see, based on common culture and would thus be hard to end.

"special relationship" in this case (and others) in non-PC speak means "We're both english-speaking, wealthy, mostly-white folk".

Last edited by Pubic (2006-12-29 00:36:54)

 

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