What did the Industrial Revolution ever do for us?

GlynD

The Industrial Revolution changed the UK for the better, permanently and laid the foundations for the rights we take for granted today. It formed many of our major towns and cities. Brought socialism into politics for the first time and prevented armed uprising in the UK at a time when the risk of it was very high.

martinsurrey

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Blip? More like attempting to walk the Himalayas in a pair of flip flops. :eek:

No a blip it is in the grand scheme of things, people take the rough very badly but take the good times for granted.

The UK economy is 2.6% smaller today than it was 5 years ago in 2008.

The UK economy was 16% bigger in 2008 than it was in 2003

The economy is now 12% bigger than it was in 2003 (all inflation adjusted).

we all just got used to things getting better all the time.

grizzly1911

martinsurrey wrote: »

No a blip it is in the grand scheme of things, people take the rough very badly but take the good times for granted.

The UK economy is 2.6% smaller today than it was 5 years ago in 2008.

The UK economy was 16% bigger in 2008 than it was in 2003

The economy is now 12% bigger than it was in 2003 (all inflation adjusted).

we all just got used to things getting better all the time.

How do you measure economy?

Do the current figures include toxic bloat that still needs to be expelled?

Thrugelmir

martinsurrey wrote: »

No a blip it is in the grand scheme of things, people take the rough very badly but take the good times for granted.

The UK economy is 2.6% smaller today than it was 5 years ago in 2008.

The UK economy was 16% bigger in 2008 than it was in 2003

The economy is now 12% bigger than it was in 2003 (all inflation adjusted).

we all just got used to things getting better all the time.

Since the early 1800's. They have been around 200 financial crisis's. So my observation was made in the context that this without doubt is the worst. As effects so many countries.

The world's global financial markets are now so interlinked. That the outcome is far from clear.

Perelandra

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

Isn't it astonishing that all our ancestors managed to survive, battling against all these adversities, in order that we could all meet round this forum and chatter away together?

Each of us could change places with any one of those millions we liked, and the result would still have been exactly the same.

And then you wonder...

If all our ancestors who survived and battled against adversity saw our meeting on this forum and chattering away together, would they ask themselves- "Was it worth it?"

zagubov

Perelandra wrote: »

And then you wonder...

If all our ancestors who survived and battled against adversity saw our meeting on this forum and chattering away together, would they ask themselves- "Was it worth it?"

Loads of potential ancestors didn't make it. As you might imagine there were huge death rates from infections once people crowded together including masses of child deaths in the scarlet fever plagues that accompanied urbanisation in the north.

Even certain less fatal conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis weren't portayed in portraits prior to the industrial revolution (whereas osteoarthritis was). It was prevalent in Native Americans and may have a bacterial trigger brought back by transatlantic travellers and spreading in urban concentrations in Britain and other parts of Europe.

Thrugelmir

Perelandra wrote: »

If all our ancestors who survived and battled against adversity saw our meeting on this forum and chattering away together, would they ask themselves- "Was it worth it?"

Yes. As their contribution made their UK a better place to work and live. Not least our freedom from oppression.

Kennyboy66

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Since the early 1800's. They have been around 200 financial crisis's. So my observation was made in the context that this without doubt is the worst. As effects so many countries.

The world's global financial markets are now so interlinked. That the outcome is far from clear.

Worse than the 1920's / 30's Great Depression ? Blimey must be bad.

Between 1929 - 1932 Industrial production fell 25% in the UK and France and fell by more than 40% in USA and Germany.

It would hardly be a stretch of the imagination to say that this led directly to Hitler getting into power in 1933 and the start of WW2 six years later.

Ironically one of the few powers not affected by the Great Depression was the Soviet Union, but as they were just preparing for forced collectivisation that led to roughly 4 - 5 million people starving in the Ukraine alone (1932/3), I doubt we can claim this as a success.

GlynD

Kennyboy66 wrote: »

Worse than the 1920's / 30's Great Depression ? Blimey must be bad.

Between 1929 - 1932 Industrial production fell 25% in the UK and France and fell by more than 40% in USA and Germany.

It would hardly be a stretch of the imagination to say that this led directly to Hitler getting into power in 1933 and the start of WW2 six years later.

Ironically one of the few powers not affected by the Great Depression was the Soviet Union, but as they were just preparing for forced collectivisation that led to roughly 4 - 5 million people starving in the Ukraine alone (1932/3), I doubt we can claim this as a success.

In my view it's only a crisis if it's not properly controlled. It took about 20 years to pay for WW1 and we only just finished paying off our Lend Lease debt to the USA for WW2 about five years ago. The borrowing post WW2 for rebuilding was vast as well. I wonder is any of that debt still hanging on?

Thrugelmir

Kennyboy66 wrote: »

Worse than the 1920's / 30's Great Depression ? Blimey must be bad.

Has the current crisis run its full course?

Is there risk of social instability. With those that have plenty and those that don't. Something which Hitler played on in winning public support.