25 Areas In Which the United Kingdom Totally Triumphs Over the United States
Alright, let’s get this out of the way. This list is meant to be a joke. We love the United States, and we love the United Kingdom. We aren’...
Alright, let’s get this out of the way. This list is meant to be a joke. We love the United States, and we love the United Kingdom. We aren’t trying to start a war. This entire list is meant to be in good humor. In fact, some of it is actually hard on the UK. (losing at sports that they invented?) So please, please, please don’t take offense.
While there are things that the UK does legitimately do better than the US, there are also things that the US does better than the UK. It flows both ways. For the purposes of our list, however, we chose to present it in this way for no specific reason as it is rather easy to pick on both countries!
So, if you have never been to the UK or the US, we highly recommend you visit. At least once. As it stands, it isn’t even all that different. Both countries speak English, have a common history, and share a similar culture, but there are still things that can be quite different. That is what we are trying to highlight in this list. Having said that, these are 2
Featured Image: wikipedia
Displaying actual prices
Image: Paul Swansen via Flickr, Source: wikipedia
In most US states, you don’t pay the price on the product. You pay the price + the tax. In Britain, the tax is included.
Complaining
Source: 9gag
Nobody complains better than the British. Nobody.
Documentaries
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag
Two words – David Attenborough.
Electric plugs
Image: amazon, Source: wikipedia
First off, the voltage is higher. It’s 220 vs only 110. But guess what? British plugs also have significantly better safety features. More power, more safety.
Bathrooms
Image: pixabay, Source: thoughtcatalog
In America, if someone wants to check if a stall is occupied they just peek through the gap. In Britain, this would never work; there is no gap.
Roundabouts
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag
The British obsession with these is warranted. Even the MythBusters showed they were more effective than traffic lights.
Messing with France
Source: 9gag
As the British say, “France is a beautiful country; the only downside is that it’s filled with French people.”
Note: C’est seulement une blague. Nous vous aimons.
Having their flag put on other flags
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag
Even a US state has the Union Jack on it (Hawaii).
Losing at their own sports
Source: reddit
Britain invents soccer (that’s why they used to call it that) and then can’t win at it. America invents basketball and then can’t lose at it.
Cops
Image: pixabay, Source: wikipedia
On average, American police kill more civilians in 1 month than British police kill in 2 decades.
Electing third party candidates
Source: reddit
Ok, it’s not like this happens regularly, but it definitely happens more than never. And that is exactly how often it happens in the US.
Interested in learning more about the United Kingdom? Check out 25 Barely Believable Trivia About The United Kingdom.
Date Format
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag
Smallest to largest. Doesn’t that make sense?
Understating things
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag
During World War II, when Britain was being bombed almost constantly, Churchill referred to it as the “unpleasantness.” That just about sums it up.
Cheaper real food
Image: pixabay, Source: reddit
In the US, only fake food is cheaper.
The metric system
Source: 9gag
They don’t do it perfectly, but they definitely do it better.
Tea
Image: pixabay, Source: thoughtcatalog
In Britain, teas are small, hot, and lightly sweetened. In the US they are big, cold, and stuffed with diabetes.
Playing the villain
Source: thoughtcatalog
If the bad guy isn’t Russian, he’s British.
Empire
Source: wikipedia
Even today, the Queen is still the head of State in 15 different countries.
Rolling cheese
Image: pixabay, Source: wikipedia
Only in Britain will you find a bunch of people chasing cheese down a hill (Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake).
NHS
Image: pixabay, Source: reddit
In the US, people declare bankruptcy because of hospital visits. In the UK, you don’t.
Note: The NHS is paid for by taxes, but even then, the US spends over $8,000 per person every year for healthcare, while in the UK it’s only around $3,000.
Marketing
Image: pixabay, Source: thoughtcatalog
Or rather, the lack of it. In America, they actually stop live sporting events for the sake of adverts. And lets not get started on infomercials or medication advertisements.
Keeping calm
Source: reddit
Just check the news coverage of Ebola. In the US, you would think the world was ending. In the UK, it was just another news story.
Taxes
Image: pixabay, Source: reddit
For the Americans out there, in Britain, you have PAYE. It’s how the government collects taxes, and its incredibly convenient. As an employee you don’t have to fill out a single form, ever. In the US, the IRS could implement this system as well, but the tax industry is a huge lobby, so don’t expect to stop filling out W-2 forms or 1099 forms any time soon.
News
Image: pixabay, Source: reddit
The BBC. Need we say more?
Note: The US has NPR, but nobody watches that. It’s not sensational enough. Let’s get some CNN and Fox up in here!
Faster internet
Image: pixabay, Source: thoughtcatalog
Dear America, you invented this thing. Why does Mount Everest have faster internet than you?
If you enjoyed this list, take a look at this one: 25 Common Misconceptions About The United States That Simply Aren’t True.
Source: TheList25