Can't we just drop a nuke on the Vatican

[Montmorency]

The Baby Boom? You mean the one that occurred as a major world crisis came to an end? As millions of men-at-arms returned to their homes following years in combat?

when the British Empire was collapsing

Was this an existential threat to Great Britain itself? I think we're operating on different senses of "regression". From my perspective, GB was in a recovery phase.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

The Baby Boom? You mean the one that occurred as a major world crisis came to an end? As millions of men-at-arms returned to their homes following years in combat?

...and then went back to war across the world as the Commonwealth tore itself apart.

Was this an existential threat to Great Britain itself? I think we're operating on different senses of "regression". From my perspective, GB was in a recovery phase.

The wealth of Britain and its political influence have been in terminal decline since the start of WWII when the BEF was forced to abandon France.

This is my point, you think we're doing well here, but from a historical perspective we've fallen apart and essentially become a protectorate of the US - to the extent that our military has been entirely re-structured to support the US war machine and US political goals. The only upside is that being the US' bitch is much better than being China's bitch.

[Montmorency]

...and then went back to war across the world as the Commonwealth tore itself apart.

One war's as good as the next?

The wealth of Britain and its political influence have been in terminal decline since the start of WWII when the BEF was forced to abandon France.

This is my point, you think we're doing well here

!

You're incorrigible!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

One war's as good as the next?

It wasn't just war, but economic collapse. The Commonwealth fell apart and British economy has never recovered - heavy industry, ship building... toast.

!

You're incorrigible!

You find my analysis unpalatable? Consider the relative economic output of the various areas of the UK now and 50 years ago - not just in terms of GDP but in terms of balance and overall levels of employment.

[Montmorency]

You find my analysis unpalatable?

Flawed in principle.

Without getting into the details of your economic theories yet again:

It'll happen when our society enters a period of regress.

What do you mean by "our society", then? Anyway, you believe that Britain will in the near future implement cash incentives to couples willing to produce offspring? Britain's population growth is still quite healthy...

Edit: And don't say that they already do through tax breaks, childcare allowments, and the like - everyone does that.

Could you imagine that there are many facets to growth and decline?

Russia and Japan's fertility rate issues, for instance, are in large part due to economic growth increasing the cost of living and education changing the attitudes of women towards marriage and child-rearing.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Flawed in principle.

Without getting into the details of your economic theories yet again:

Because you don't accept that you get richer by making other people poorer?

OK - but how is ruling 1/4 of the globe down to virtually just these islands, having a virtual monopoly on certain minerals and cash crops down to being a net importer from other powers not an economic collapse?

What do you mean by "our society", then? Anyway, you believe that Britain will in the near future implement cash incentives to couples willing to produce offspring? Britain's population growth is still quite healthy...

This thing we have - "Western Civilisation" has a shelf life just like everything else, we just don't know what that shelf life is. I don't really think we'll enter an actual systemic collapse within my own lifetime, or not before I'm old an infirm certainly, but I can certainly imagine another global war in the next two to four decades.

Britain's population growth is negative without immigration - it is not healthy.

Edit: And don't say that they already do through tax breaks, childcare allowments, and the like - everyone does that.

Prior to this current government the tax system was, it has been argued, skewed against married couples and towards single parents.

Could you imagine that there are many facets to growth and decline?

In terms of education, military strength, health, and economics we're not making positive growth over the long-term.

Russia and Japan's fertility rate issues, for instance, are in large part due to economic growth increasing the cost of living and education changing the attitudes of women towards marriage and child-rearing.

They're also symptomatic of an acknowledged cultural malaise that makes people not want to procreate.

[Beskar]

Britain's population growth is negative without immigration - it is not healthy.

I disagree, Britain isles are supporting a population far beyond its means, like a Rome except with 21st century grain ships coming from EU and the USA. A population reduction and emigration would be a good thing. Canada and Australia are two nice alternatives I would consider.

[Montmorency]

OK - but how is ruling 1/4 of the globe down to virtually just these islands, having a virtual monopoly on certain minerals and cash crops down to being a net importer from other powers not an economic collapse?

Is it really an ongoing collapse in perpetuity?

Britain's population growth is negative without immigration - it is not healthy.

According to your ONS, the birth rate is rising - though admittedly that is partly a consequence of immigration, most of the risebeing attributable to immigrant mothers.

In terms of education, military strength, health, and economics we're not making positive growth over the long-term.

Economically, you're richer - period. Technologically, clearly stronger. Health? So good in some aspects that problems in others have been engendered. Militarily, you're still relatively powerful - isn't relative power what you're always on about?

They're also symptomatic of an acknowledged cultural malaise that makes people not want to procreate.

In Japan? I don't know...