"DSK" wrote in message
...
I'd say that of the colonial powers, the British had about
the best (and most consistent, more to their credit)record
of building infrastructure, encouraging local economic
autonomy & development, and leaving the least mess behind
them. Certainly better than say Belgium.

Thanks-I think... :-)

big snip

It isn't the fault of Great Britain.

Agreed. None of the colonial powers ever seriously undertook
to build a stable & sef-sustaining social & economic
infrastructure to leave behind. And how can you blame them,
when that wasn't even close to what they were there for in
the first place?

Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.

Edgar wrote:


Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.

Indeed, and look at the sorry lot of their aborignal peoples.

Cheers
Marty

Well, they may well have grounds to feel that they are now ethnic minorities
in countries where there ancestors once had full possession, but they are
not starving to death in their thousands or killing each other in their
thousands like the Africans. Nor are their governments totally corrupt, nor
do they have to see their leaders feathering their own nests and riding
around in luxury while they starve, like the Africans.

"Martin Baxter" wrote in message
...
Edgar wrote:


Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.

Indeed, and look at the sorry lot of their aborignal peoples.

Cheers
Marty

Edgar wrote:
"DSK" wrote in message
...
I'd say that of the colonial powers, the British had about
the best (and most consistent, more to their credit)record
of building infrastructure, encouraging local economic
autonomy & development, and leaving the least mess behind
them. Certainly better than say Belgium.

Thanks-I think... :-)

big snip

It isn't the fault of Great Britain.

Agreed. None of the colonial powers ever seriously undertook
to build a stable & sef-sustaining social & economic
infrastructure to leave behind. And how can you blame them,
when that wasn't even close to what they were there for in
the first place?

Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.

So was the USA.

PDW

"Peter" wrote in message
ps.com...


Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.

So was the USA.

PDW

I was listing only those countries we released voluntarily...

.... building infrastructure, encouraging local economic
autonomy & development, and leaving the least mess behind
them. Certainly better than say Belgium.


Edgar wrote:
Thanks-I think... :-)


I've had the experience of talking with a few Indonesians
about their colonial history... the Dutch left a big mess
and a legacy of truly bitter hatred... you can always find
somebody that's worse!



big snip

It isn't the fault of Great Britain.

Agreed. None of the colonial powers ever seriously undertook
to build a stable & sef-sustaining social & economic
infrastructure to leave behind. And how can you blame them,
when that wasn't even close to what they were there for in
the first place?


Edgar wrote:
Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.


Canada was also a French colony, remember
Australia wasn't so much a colony as an open-air prison,
kind of a special case in many ways. There were some prison
colonies in the U.S. too. India might not feel they were
left in such great shape.

DSK