英国国家概况——文化

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Traditionally, the British culture has a reputation for its requirement of decency and civility in doing things. The requirement was reflected in the traditional image of the English gentlemen.

In the early years of history, most of British people inherited their class status because few people moved away from their hometowns. People with incomes from rents and property payments were considered in the upper class; those who were educated and dealt with paper in business or in a profession made up the middle class; and those who did manual labor were in the working class.

Family life has always been of great importance for the British people. The British culture, influenced by Christianity, attaches the utmost importance to family life and the upbringing of children. It is in violation of the basic principle of the English value to “sacrifice a small family” for the sake of public property because the English value is based on individualism.

The British people take a keen interest in private family life. Meals, for example, are considered as an important element in family life, with all family members sitting around the table. Uninvited visits at mealtime are not welcome. British people like to drink tea. Afternoon tea is an important component of the English way of life.

Additionally, Britain is a welfare state with a from-cradle-to-grave social welfare program. The English social welfare program includes a number of social services. The most important ones are the National Health Service, the social security program, and personal social services.

The National Health Service program is based upon the belief that the government should be responsible for improvement in the health of the people. The program provides free medical care for all the British people.There are many people who enjoy complete free medical care without making any contribution for various reasons. These include all children under 16, people who are retired, and people from less well-off families.

The social security program refers to the various benefits people are entitled to get under certain conditions. Mayor items of the social security program include the retirement pension, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits, maternity grants, widows’ allowances, and the family income supplement.

Britain is entitled to feel proud of its ambitious social welfare program, but it must remember that there is not a single service that can be got free of charge. If one does not pay, other people must pay for it. In this case British taxpayers are the “other people” who have to pay a lot of taxes. A lot of money is transferred from the haves to the haves-not through the social welfare program.