I think the problem in the UK is far far worse than it is in the United States, although the US does seem to be skipping down the same red-brick-road that the UK went down (and with Obama at the helm there is more than sufficient risk that the wall at the end of the road will loom large faster). However, the UK is far far down that path, and it seems to have been imbedded far far deeper.
Whether it is RN sailors getting (basically) kidnapped by the Iranians, to a police department apologizing for having a poster that had a picture of a dog (apparently unclean animals to Muslims, although ask me another when it comes to how a poster of a sweet little puppy ), to (again on canines) having to put little boots on the paws of dogs when in certain areas (again, uncleanliness and all that jazz), to over sensitivies, to vans with antennae driving around neighborhoods looking for who's watching TV without a TV license, to the ludicrous concept of happy slapping (even the most liberal Democrat in the most Liberal area of San Francisco would not just stand there and have some kid slap him, then tape his reaction on a phonecam while laughing), to the 'war on knives' etc etc.
There are a LOT of brave British men and women, and that will always be the case, however the nation as a whole seems to have atrophied. Big time.
As for stereotypes, the ridiculous thing is that ALL of the stereotypes against the French seem to be totally misplaced ....they actually ping closer to the Brits than to the French, and by far. Goodness, the French have the harshest anti-Islamic laws in Europe, with powers given to judges that would make Putin puke!
To paraphrase what another FReeper said (in one of the threads discussing the collision between French and British submarines): 'the French tried to contact the Brits, but couldn't communicate because the French couldn't understand Urdu and Arabic.'
Suffice it to say, something happened to the UK. I don't know what exactly, but between the war with Argentina and today, something happened.
I agree totally with all of that and because I agree is the reason why is just really saddens me to no end.
I really hate how the country has gone I really do.
I do however think it is to late to do anything and even if the BNP got in and stopped immigration from these 3rd world countries I only see a civil war