Talk:Mystery:Why is England More Liberal than the United States?

Nice essay! I hope you add more! I have always been wondering this, considering until recently England was more centered towards religion. NickP 01:15, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

Andy,

This is a very interesting topic, but I think an important point needs to be raised. English liberalism is not a new problem. It's important to keep in mind that many of the first colonists in America came here to escape from what they perceived as laxity within the Church of England, and that the revolutionary war was a reaction to British governmental overreach and over-regulation. In many ways, American conservatism is a RESPONSE to British liberalism. --Benp 13:38, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

There is no doubt that the roots of revolution were in the overreach of government and taxation. The latter may be characteritic of left leaning (liberal) governments but I think it is a little anachronistic to decribe this a a reaction against "liberalism". Going further, I don't believe the British government of the time, while authoritarian, could be decribed in terms of either classical liberalism or its current meaning.

I would add that fundamental reason why Great Britain/UK (I have no idea why this work singles out "England" specifically) and Europe generally have more liberal attitudes has arisen from several historical trends - that this topic needs to expand on- but most notable the contrasting feature of the United States is that its growth and success rests on indiviudal responsibility, liberties and a hostile mindset to big government and tax since the revolution! Laguardia

The entrenched Church of England

I wonder if part of the reason is that the officially entrenched nature of the Anglican Church has caused a complacency amongst the religious over there. In many ways the Church of England has become more of a social organisation than a religious one, and this has had a liberalizing effect on the population on the whole. --DamianJohn 14:43, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

Good point ... and certainly worth adding. I'll include it now, and please feel free to improve.--Andy Schlafly 15:01, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

More liberal

Is the UK more liberal? What factors are we judging its liberalism on? MaxFletcher 16:53, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

England is certainly less conservative than the U.S.--Andy Schlafly 17:07, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

I am sure that it is but I am just wondering about what factors have been taken into account. MaxFletcher 20:18, 17 July 2011 (EDT)

The BBC

It's a public broadcaster, which tend to be liberal (look at NPR and PBS in the US) and furthermore, Brits have no choice in funding it, as it's paid for by mandatory TV licenses. Finally, while there is commercial (i.e. non-government TV) in Britain, the BBC is the only free (as in beer, aside from the license) option. Because of the tightly-controlled media, and lack of a free market, it's no wonder liberalism is so rampant there. --FergusE 22:01, 17 July 2011 (EDT)