EchoesOfTheHorizon wrote:Why isn't this guy in charge of the U.K.? ...
Because we don't have a Presidential system of government, we have a Parliamentary Democracy which means one person doesn't 'run the show'.
In America, he would be running the show. ...
Well for sure but then you like to have stupider people than you running things. I presume because it makes you feel cleverer or that being stupid is no hindrance in America.
Corbyn and May just..... they are deeply uncharismatic, and I'm increasingly certain Corbyn was wheeled out of a elder care home somewhere, and he doesn't quite know where he is. ...
Well he's definitely surprised at where he is but behind the scenes the Trots will be making sure the Labour Party is ready for a lurch to the far-left if they get voted in, which I doubt.
I also completely lack a understanding of how a shadow cabinet works. ...
As the largest opposition party to be voted into parliament they shadow their counterparts in the govt of the day and examine the policies and proposals and raise objections and oppose things they disagree with but mainly they play the game of waiting in case they win the next election and are in charge.
Is this like the deep state in America, but the U.K. just gave in and said from now on, we will always have a deep state cause it is so much fun to have? ...
No idea what a deep state is?
And before someone makes this into a situation about Trump or Anti-Americanism, at least the US never had a president who stuck their penis inside the head of a decapitated pig. ...
Well what can you do with the aristocracy eh!
No way are you somehow better than us, except in the realm of pig carcass molestation. ...
It's only Yanks who appear obsessed with us being better than you as we, in the main, don't even think about you. I presume some sort of insecurity complex.
This thread is for explaining to Americans why your politics is so backwards, how it works.
Isn't this a bit like 'when did you stop beating your wife?'. The main difference is that we, unlike America, didn't adopt the French model.
1) Why isn't Nigel Farage running the show? ...
See above.
2) What the heck is a shadow government, and why aren't they locked up in the Tower of London for treason?
See above and that we don't lock-up our elected representatives.
3) What's with the flower pot hats the women wear on dress up day?
No idea what you are talking about? You been watching to much Disney?
4) Why isn't Guy Fawkes a national hero?
Because he was a catholic who tried to blow up parliament and kill the king.
5) Are knighthoods by King Francis II recognized by your heraldic offices?
Probably but it won't be by these 'heraldic offices' I guess.
6) Can the Queen declare herself a pagan, ...
She could but she'd have to not be the Queen anymore.
sacrifice a virgin in Canterbury Cathedral to Marduk (the Protestant Canterbury, not the catholic one) and get away with it scot free, at least the first time around? ...
No, as she would be stripped of the Crown and tried for murder.
7) Can Scotland declare itself a republic and remain a part of the U.K.?
Doubt it but since we work on precedent I'm sure we'd muddle some solution. But would we want them?

Do the border laws from the era of wars between Scotland and England still have any legal force in law?
In what sense?
9) Can the Queen pawn the Crown Jewels for new properties outside of the jurisdiction of the U.K. by her own authority?
I think so as she owns them but then she'd have nothing to pass down and we'd probably decide to become a republic.
10) Why isn't Nigel Farage President of England?
Because there's no such role.
11) Why hasn't anyone called bullshit on the concept of a unwritten constitution?
Because it's been working so far and we see what having one does in other countries, makes lawyers rich for a start.
12) Why not just conquer the Principality of Sealand?
Because unlike the Yank we've pretty much given-up invading other countries. That and that we like eccentricity.
13) Why do you guys kid yourselves with the idea that Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, heck.... even London is a ipcountry, instead of just staying they are a province or state? They didn't come into the union freely, they got dragged in and tramp stamped by former kings. England clearly owns them, and I know London was feral land for a while in the Middle Ages, and was depopulated only later.... it sure the fuck isn't it's own country if other aspects of England stretching back to King Alfred preexists it, and can't be their own country as well. ...
Wales hasn't been a principality since the C16th I think? Scotland is not a country by international law but shush don't tell the Scots that. England is also not a country by that metric, none of them are as the Sovereign State here is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the nationality is British. Now of course the way you identify someone who is truly British is that they never say they are to each other but say which country they were born-in and only say they are British when talking to a Johnny foreigner who doesn't understand the UK.
That's bullshit, someone tell London to shut up and just be a city.
Are you mental!?
14) Haggis from the U.K. Is illegal here, how can you subject people to that, don't you have health and safety laws? You can't own a gun, but you can have a haggis? That doesn't sound reasonable at all.
What you got against the Scots?

That haggis is illegal and guns aren't.
Oh! And you can own a gun in the UK, you just can't buy it with your haggis.
15) Why is Tea Time mandatory at set times, ...
Something to do with the Empire and the aristocracy I'd guess but pretty much you're living in Disney's 1950's.
and why do the English (only country in the world to think so) think Oreo cookies threaten the stupid tea culture, ...
We don't. We just think that like your chocolate they taste like shit.
and what the fuck is a Jammie dodger? ...
Two rounds of butter shortbread sandwiching a strawberry/raspberry flavored jam filling. Or it could be a 'jammy dodger' which is an extension of someone being 'jammy', i.e. lucky and a 'jammy dodger' a very lucky fucker.
Just dunk the Oreos in milk and shut up, everyone else on the planet does, even lactose intolerant nations do this.
Behave, milk is for children.
I got more, lots more questions. ...
Fire away.
You can go start a America thread, ...
We really won't be bothering I think.
but this one is about the U.K. only, and the foreign exasperation of it's bizarre ways, explaining how the society and government works. Get as philosophical as you can. I want to see a grand theory for the silliness. ...
It's the language I think, you'd not understand that as like they say 'two countries separated by a common language'. It's also the weather, being an island and a long and varied history.
I really don't get what the heck is going on there, and need it explained to me. Some things you only grasp when you live in the country, and don't think the U.K. understands how weird it is. We need some explanations. By we, I mean everyone not from the Isles. Weird place.
You don't have to be weird to live here but...