h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"America is a mucked-up loud place with warped values and strange people" - UK
"Man, Britian is a wacked-over little island with really warped people and strange values" - USA

Sound familiar? Throughout this group, I have seen the Yanks and Brits posing themselves subtly and
blatantly to the other team. Rather than scourn these people, let's take a quick comparative intelligent
look at the two nations. This should spark some decent discussion. What does the UK have that the US doesn't?
What does the US have that the UK doesn't?

First, let's tackle the governments:

United States of America (aka the Big One), Standing the Red Corner, wearing the Stars and Stripes...
Pros: From a fairly neutral standpoint, the U.S. original break-away was based on basic defincencies that the
U.K. hasn't even begun to work out, and has added some good concepts of its own to the democratic way of thinking.

1. Judicial Review - My friends, this is just a good idea, having a neutral panel of judges decide whether or not
a law is unconstitutional or not, therefore enforcing the basic rights of man despite the sway of the often excitable populous.
Speaking of unconstitutional, that bring us to...
2. A Written Constitution - One relatively easy to read document outlines the bounds of the government and outlines
the rights of the individual within the nation, as well as how the nation is run. It also makes it an absolute pain in the arse to
change it.
3. Checks and Balances - Power is divided instead of centralized, making it hard for tyrannical law. Unfortunately,
it also leads to a lot of bickering and a relatively slow-moving government. Of course, streamlined government is not exactly
a good thing.
4. Strong Local Governments - Allowing for individual areas to tend adequately to their individual needs

Cons: Oh, where to start...

1. Media Politics - Most American politicians are complete media whores. We know, they know, its just the way
things are. Everything is about image and style. Not necessarily content. Just blatant charisma.
2. Bureaucracy - The flipside of the strong local governments, sometimes you just don't know where to go for
help. State courts, county courts, federal courts, federal state tax courts, federal tax courts, federal civil courts, appeals courts....
And so on and so on. Fill in the gap here.

The United Kingdom (aka Great Britain), in the Blue Corner, Wearing the Union Jack...
Pros: Despite America's (and to some extent France's) claim to the title, the U.K. was the nation which truly
kicked-started the revival of democracy in the world, and laid down the framework on which many later
countries based themselves. They were the first nation to stand up and say, "Maybe divine right of kings is not
such a good idea, just maybe."

1. Parliamentary System - Though I am an American, I am a definite fan to some extent of the Parliamentary
System, with the legislative body having the power instead of the executive. Local elections are more important, and you don't
get the U.S.A.'s problem of people only voting in the Presidential elections and thinking they've done their civic duty.
2. Easy Removal from Office - When we are stuck with a bad Prez, we are stuck with him for four years.
Prime Ministers merely have to lose the support of Parliament to get booted out. It makes sure the executive is much
more responsive to his supporters.

Cons: Here we get back to things the U.S. fixed when it was founded...

1. Unwritten Constitution / No Judicial Review - Parliament can do whatever the hell it wants. The rights of
the individual can be changed by a mere act of Parliament, putting individual liberties at risk constantly. Too much power
in too few hands.
2. No Checks and Balances - You could argue that at one point there was a checks and balances system
in Britain (the King Vs. Parliament), but the royalty is now merely ceremonial. Once again, too much power, too few
hands.
3. Nobility - These includes the House of Lords, tax exemptions, etc., etc., and of course the blatant flaunting.
Democracy and nobility are contradictory institutions, but there they are, despite the currently watered-down state.
Thank you, William the Conqueror....

I'll tackle the two cultures (that's a gold mine) in my next posting.