Dear Editor:

The center of the Industrial Revolution was Great Britain, (around 1760). Key, rapid developments in manufacturing, iron production, and steam power initially concentrated in Britain before spreading globally.

In the 1800s, the British economy was overwhelmingly dominated by the private sector, approximately 90 - 95% of national economic activity.

Following World War II, the UK's economic power severely declined, transitioning from a global leader to a nation facing bankruptcy. The nation suffered a net loss of 18.6% of its pre-war wealth, forcing it to rely on American loans and the Marshall Plan.

The start of a socialist society:

In the 1960s, the British economy's reliance on the public sector typically hovered around 40%. Today the UK public sector plays a significant role in the British economy, accounting for approximately 45% of national income (Gross Domestic Product) in terms of government spending for the 2025–26 period. In terms of the labor market, the public sector employs roughly 18% of the total UK workforce.

University Enrollment: Only about 8% of young adults went to university in 1970. By the end of the 1970s, this rose to approximately 14%.

In the 1980s, approximately 12 -15% of young British adults (typically defined as the 18–21 age cohort) were enrolled in higher education.

Age Participation Index (under 21s): This index rose from 12% in 1979 to 30% by the early 1990s, eventually reaching 32% by the end of the decade.

Post-18 Education: In 1990, roughly 25% of people over the age of 18 stayed in some form of full-time education.

My ex son-in-law (Gen X) is from Austria. None of his friends married or had kids, and he has only one cousin that married and had children. That brings us to today.

Speaking on Feb. 7, 2026, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias stated that because Europe's population growth is "almost negative," the continent needs young people to "fill the vacuum." He explicitly identified the Indian subcontinent as "one of the best choices for legal migration." Prime Minister Mitsotakis has also long championed Greece as "India's gateway to Europe."

It was all part of the plan.

Joe Scorcia

Boothbay