Why are the British so passive in terms of acts of government and unreasonable taxation?

Who knows? Hot blooded Latin temperament, a more devolved power structure putting the people closer to the politicians, the fact that they never had a Maggie to break the back of public protest -or- some combination of all of these.

It does seem strange that the British will complain about new laws but, once they are passed, follow them slavishly but our southern European neighbors seem to think that the passing of the law is just the first step.

A brand and image controlled population that fear off standing out from the crowd?
Lack of knowledge and understanding about politics? sort of attitude where they might think "after all politics are boring and doesn't really affect me does it"
Many don't know what to do about it and feel helpless , maybe thinking "how can one person make a change?"
To caught up in their own lives that they think someone else will sort it out for them?

Could be any of the above all of the above or many other things too.

The British love stability, so find "boat rocking" very difficult.

In terms of domestic behaviour they are probably the most docile nation in the world - an interesting contradiction is their "exporting" of death and chaos to other countries over the last 600 years.

I doubt there will ever be another revolution (civil war?) as long as there's something good on the telly.

The British content themselves with satire and parody of their political leaders to let off steam. TV shows like 'Bremner Bird and Fortune' would be shut down in many other countries. Its a tradition that goes back to the Eighteenth century at least, with political satirists like James Gilray. The bi- monthly satirical magazine, 'Private Eye' is routinely hauled through the courts for libel by some greasy politician, spiv or whatever. 'Spitting image' was so effective at ridiculing the government and politicians that attempts were made to close it down.

It hasnt all been easy! In the early 1980's At least eight inner city areas were burnt during rioting. Things got so bad that there was talk of putting troops on the streets. Racial tensions spill over into riots in the former industrial towns of Lanashire and Yorkshire for example every several years. Margaret Thatcher introduced a desperately unpopular local tax system called the 'poll tax' which led to large scale rioting across London along with a blunt, nation wide refusal to pay it. Trade uunionism began in the UK in the early nineteenth century and cost the lives of hundreds who dared oppose the authorites.

I tend to think that we have a way of 'suckering' politicians etc, so far out onto a limb, that they either fall off, or we saw the whole branch off behind them.