We usually look across the Atlantic and shake our heads at the myths Americans buy into, whether it’s the idea that they live in the only truly free country or that their way of life is the envy of the world.
However, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve got plenty of our own rose-tinted glasses here in the UK. We love to poke fun at American exceptionalism, yet we are just as prone to clinging to a version of the UK that hasn’t existed for decades. From the way we view our own history to the state of our public services, we’re experts at telling ourselves comfortable stories to avoid facing some pretty awkward truths. It turns out that the tall tales we tell about our national identity aren’t actually that different from the ones told in the States.
1. We’re the most free country in the world.
Americans genuinely believe they have more freedom than anywhere else, which just isn’t true however you measure it. Of course, we Brits do the same thing, just with different phrasing. We bang on about British liberty and ancient freedoms while having CCTV cameras on every corner and some of the strictest surveillance laws in the democratic world. Both countries have convinced themselves that freedom is their special thing, when neither is particularly exceptional at it.
2. Our democracy is the best system and everyone should copy it.
The American system is a mess of electoral colleges and gerrymandering, yet they act like it’s the perfect way to run a country. Meanwhile, we’re still defending an unelected House of Lords and a monarchy that technically has powers. Both countries treat their deeply flawed democratic systems as if they’re perfect models for the world to follow, completely ignoring how broken they actually are.
3. We’re naturally better than other countries at everything.
America’s obsession with being number one is famous, but we’re just as bad, we’ve just learned to dress it up with self-deprecation. We still fundamentally believe we’re superior, we just hide it in jokes about queuing and tea. The assumption that being American or British automatically makes you more capable or civilised than people from other nations is alive and well on both sides of the Atlantic.
4. Our history is something to be universally proud of.
Americans gloss over slavery, the genocide of indigenous peoples, and ongoing racial inequality with flag-waving patriotism. Brits do exactly the same with empire, colonialism, and our own racial history. Both countries have convinced themselves that their historical atrocities are either overblown or somehow justified by the good bits. The mental gymnastics required to maintain this is identical in both places.
5. Healthcare is better our way.
Americans defend their privatised nightmare by claiming the NHS is a socialist horror where people die waiting for treatment. Brits defend the NHS by pretending it’s not falling apart from lack of funding. The truth is both systems have serious problems, but neither country can admit it because healthcare has become a culture war issue rather than a practical discussion about what actually works.
6. We invented everything important.
The American version is claiming they won both world wars single-handedly and invented democracy. The British version is banging on about industrial revolution and parliamentary democracy, while ignoring how much we nicked from other cultures. Both countries wildly overstate their contributions to human progress and downplay everyone else’s achievements.
7. Our way of life is under threat from outsiders.
Americans worry about immigrants destroying American values and culture. Brits worry about immigrants destroying British values and culture. It’s the exact same fear dressed up in different accents. Both countries have built entire political movements around the idea that foreigners are ruining everything, despite both being nations literally built on immigration and cultural mixing.
8. We’re classless societies where anyone can succeed.
The American Dream promises that anyone can make it through hard work, completely ignoring massive inequality built into the system. Britain claims we’ve moved past class, while our society is still divided by accent, education, and family background. Both myths serve the same purpose: letting people pretend inequality is about personal failing rather than how the system is set up.
9. Our military is keeping the world safe.
Americans see their military as world police protecting freedom everywhere. Brits still act like we’re a major military power punching above our weight for the greater good. Both are fantasy versions of foreign policy that’s actually about protecting business interests and maintaining power. The hero story is identical, just scaled differently.
10. We’re naturally more civilised and polite than other nations.
Americans think they’re friendly and welcoming compared to stuffy Europeans. Brits think we’re polite and mannerly compared to brash Americans. Both are just different versions of thinking our particular social rules are better than everyone else’s. Neither country is actually more civil, we just perform civility differently.
11. Our news media is the most trustworthy and unbiased.
Americans think their free press is the bastion of truth while consuming incredibly biased news. Brits trust the BBC as neutral while it faces the same bias claims depending on who’s watching. Both countries have convinced themselves their media is uniquely reliable, while consuming increasingly one-sided coverage that confirms their existing beliefs.
12. We have a special relationship with truth and facts.
Americans claim to value straight-talking and honesty, but they’re constantly being fed constant political lies. Brits pride ourselves on not being taken in by nonsense, and yet we fall for the exact same propaganda and lies. Both populations think they’re more discerning than others, when actually, we’re all equally likely to believe comfortable lies over uncomfortable truths.
13. We’re self-aware about our flaws in a way others aren’t.
This might be the biggest shared delusion of all. Americans think their culture of self-criticism makes them more evolved, but they’re actually defensive about any outside criticism. Brits think our self-deprecating humour means we’re honest about our shortcomings, but we’re really using that humour as a shield against real honesty. Both countries believe admitting flaws on the surface means they don’t need to actually fix them.
