(OT) The Monarchy!

Okay, so despite the fact I was supposed to be meeting up with QWOP today for a few drinks while watching the game. I find myself stuck at work thanks to staff shortages (thanks very much budget cuts).

I've been here now for around, two hours, and while reading through my work email. I noticed a communication from the British Republicans. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the work of the British Republicans, they're in simple terms, against the British Monarchy. I can't actually remember ever joining their mailing list. But, it seems I have.

So, it got me thinking. Does Britain still need the Monarchy, or should we just abolish it and let Queenie eat lead (As one of my eccentric friends put it)?

 

I'm not a Royalist but anyone thinking of changing the monarchy is wasting their time. Better things to do in life. We've had them forever. They've changed their names to hide the German ancestry and seem to be loved by most of us. Factor in tourism, continuity and the fact we could be like America makes you only like them more. I live in Northumberland and the WHOLE county is owned by a couple of families from hundreds of years ago when the land was gifted by the then Monarchy. Nothing is going to change anytime soon.

 

I'm completely against hereditary succession and monarchy in general. The setup of the entire British government is a total mess that should have been sorted out centuries ago, but was instead haphazardly slapped together into a towering mound of hypocrisy.

I could really sit in this thread all day writing this response in full, but it's far easier for me to just post this picture:

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I'm very much in two minds regarding the Royal Family.

In certain aspects, I do believe they bring some good into the country what with the amount of tourists that flock to this Isle because of them. Think about how many tourists will be on the streets of London come the Diamond Jubilee! They're very much the face of the brand so to speak.

However, for all too many reasons. I'am deeply against the Royal Family. Fair enough, thanks to the Royal Prerogative they have no real power. Which, if they did would be undemocratic. But, that leads on to ask, what is the point having them around.

It's debate that will probably go on for generations.

 

I think we need the royal family, because:

1. They bring in millions of pounds in tourism, far more than they take out.
2. They are our national symbol (a higher percentage of Americans and Australians/New Zealanders watched the royal wedding than we did)
3. I don't want to be like America, which is basically what we'd be without them
4. They are HILARIOUS, Phillip and Harry in particular
5. I find it funny how the Queen is actually in charge of our armed forces


Plus many more reasons

 

i think in this day and age it's a bit of a silly idea cause they don't particularly do anything significant, they are certainly not rulers of the country

however the money they bring in to the country with tourism / souvenirs and all that crap makes it worthwhile for them to stick around.

i think people from outside the country appreciate them, or at least the ideas of kings/queens more than the general British public do

 

Do you dislike all secular republics?

 

I like 'em...Besides, they've all got so many investments/land/nest eggs that in today's celebrity obsessed culture, they'd continue to be in the public eye and live life in a fairly similar fashion whether we become a republic or not!

 

No, just the ****ing Americans.

 

What is it about the setup of their government that you dislike exactly?

 

Not the Government (although i do blame it for Iraq) as such, more the general attitude of the people

 

Attitude towards what though? The way in which the US republic is set up doesn't really have anything to do with the people's general attitude to life nor the Iraq war. I'm not really sure what you mean here.

 

I mean I don't want to abolish the monarchy in case we become more like the American people (the sort of "Oh America, land of the free, home of the brave" attitude is one example, although there are many more)

 

Bit of a generalisation there but anyway, do you mean patriotic? There's plenty of patriotic people in every country of the world; I'm not seeing how abolishing the monarchy would cause people to act more patriotic.

 

I did Camp America when I was 18, the camp I worked in was around 95% black and hispanic but there were like 5 or 6 white counselors, one of whom was a 21 girl, currently at university (so well educated) and from a middle-class family. We were having a discussion about politics and more specifically about Britain's pandering to America with regards to the 'War on Terror' and how it was mind boggling that George Bush could be so stupid and still be in power....The girl actually started crying and walked out of the room. We naturally thought something must be up and she was crying about something in her personal life, but when asked, she said she loved her country so much and didn't like people saying bad things about it...I was ****ing gobsmacked!

I realise this has nothing to do with monarchy, but American's do take their patriotism FAR more seriously than the majority of Brit's or most other nations for that matter!

 

I'm against a Monarchy, because it's just ridiculous that in a modern age in a supposedly 'fair' society that the concept of royalty can exist, why should they live in luxury when others struggle to make a living?

There's all the arguments about bringing in tourism, but I can't exactly imagine tourism massively declining if we became a republic? France still manage to bring in tens of millions of tourists annually.
Plus, think about all the money that is spent on the royals - the royal wedding cost £20m alone for policing and security (as well as the loss to the economy by taking days off).

To me, it's just the symbol of an outdated British tradition that needs reform.

 

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American patriotism ****ing scares me! Honestly, I went too America about two years ago with family, and I was astounded at level of Patriotism. Even in the on North East coast, which is seen to be a little more reserved than most places it was very much 'in your face' patriotism. What I mean by this, is how quickly people would jump to defend the country, even at the slightest little remark.

I was having breakfast with my brother in a cafe near Central Park one morning, and commented on how American Sauce was not as good as back home. Low and behold, someone jumped straight in to defend American Sauce. Ironically, after looking at the bottle it was made in Mexico. But, it just goes to show how nuts they seem to be over there. Fox News is hilarious whenever they are interviewing someone even remotely anti American!

 

I'm totally against the Monarchy. Get rid of all of the aristocracy and confiscate their property which their ancestors took by theft and murder.

Monarchists often site the Royal family as generating income for us but cannot back it up with hard evidence... plenty of other counties have a tourist industry without a monarch and the history, Cathedrals and other ancient buildings, beautiful countryside, shopping centers and olde tea shoppes would still pull them in.

As for what type of government could evolve - we could look throughout the world for good and bad examples to copy or avoid.

America and Britain seem to produce some of the worst examples of jingoism I've ever come across.

 

Mexican bottle! That scares me. I've never really understood patriotism (at least at that level) to be honest.