Monarchy

[GabberMan]

This question refers to the British Monarchy, also known as the consitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, but the poll and commenting are open to everyone, of course!

What do you think we should do with the Monarchy? Or perhaps what can we do with it?

 

[Analingus]

First of all, what poll? Second of all, fuck monarchs. Do they not bleed red like you or me?

 

[Artimus]

I think as long as The Queen lives, the Monarchy will remain popular and any failings on its part will continue to be overlooked. I doubt that will continue when Charles ascends.

As for getting rid of it. Not gonna happen. It's too much a part of our national psyche.

 

[GabberMan]

First of all, what poll? Second of all, fuck monarchs. Do they not bleed red like you or me?

Sometimes you have to wait a moment for the poll to show.

 

[Artimus]

You don't like monarchies.

I get and respect that, but there's need to be crude Analingus.

 

[Analingus]

You don't like monarchies.

I get and respect that, but there's need to be crude Analingus.

Oh but there is when some people are valued because of their blood line.

 

[Artimus]

Oh but there is when some people are valued because of their blood line.

I wouldn't waste the energy getting all worked up to be honest. Monarchies had their time and now it has passed (unless you're in Saudi Arabia or Qatar) They only exist now for reasons of national pride and nostalgia - to fulfill a romanticized version of history where people were noble, empires were great and life made more sense.

 

[Analingus]

I wouldn't waste the energy getting all worked up to be honest. Monarchies had their time and now it has passed (unless you're in Saudi Arabia or Qatar) They only exist now for reasons of national pride and nostalgia - to fulfill a romanticized version of history where people were noble, empires were great and life made more sense.

National pride. Yes. That is the key. See, you know us Americans have it while knowing we are all the same, but the british don't.

 

[Artimus]

Me thinks your view of Brits is rather old fashioned (or shaped by movies like Braveheart and The Patriot )

 

[Analingus]

Me thinks your view of Brits is rather old fashioned (or shaped by movies like Braveheart and The Patriot )

I talk to a Brit every day. Her view is the same as mine. The royalty is pointless in this day and age. :thefinger

 

[Artimus]

The royalty is pointless in this day and age.

True.

So's the original copy of the Declaration of Independence - which when you really think about it is just an old piece of paper, signed by a bunch of dead guys over 200 years ago who have no relevance in your day to day life.

And yet it is priceless, because of what it symbolizes, what it represents.

You could say it's a part of YOUR national psyche.

 

[robbied196]

The alternative would be President Gordon Brown or President David Cameron, thats a pretty fucked up alternative! :rofl: I think (although it won't happen) there should be a National Referendum on this question when the Queen pops her clogs.

 

[D-rock]

Not that I care because it's not my country, but if it were my biggest problem with it, considering it has very little real political power now, would be that I would see it as too big a waste of resources for it to be worth it for just cultural and historic reasons. I'm sure the money that goes into maintaining it could be used for other things.

Also like Artimus said the monarch now seems like a generally likable person to the people, or at least it seems that way from my somewhat limited perspective. I'm sure if a few of them go by that aren't very well liked at all it's possible the cultural aspect of it won't be enough to keep it going unlike in the past were there was pretty much no choice but to have them.

 

[Boobinator]

Analingus do you even know what a constitutional monarchy is? It's where the monarch is a symbolical head of state, but in practice has no power at all. I don't know about the UK, but here in Sweden, royalty isn't even allowed to vote (or align themselves politically) - which ironically makes them the least powerful citizens.

I like constitutional monarchy, provided it means anything. Countries like Great Britain, Spain, Japan and Sweden have been kingdoms for a very long time. Monarchy is an old symbol of our nations, just like Americans hail their flag.
Sweden for example has been a kingdom for nearly 1000 years, and that's the reason why we have pictures of monarchs on our coins, coat of arms and use crowns as symbols for our nation. All of that is part of that the national heritage and it has a major historical and cultural value.

However, I've no problem understanding why some countries choose to not be monarchies. The Italy and Germany (the German Empire was just a poor attempt) of today for example are young nations, and have no real reason to adapt monarchy.
In France monarchy became a symbol of injustice and during the 18th century it became evident how the nobility and royalty had been sucking the life out of the country. As such, becoming a republic was a symbol of a new era. A lot of the people who migrated to the United States thought the same, they were tired of how European monarchs/noblemen despite being so incompetent was given so much power and so republic became a fresh wind blowing.


Today, monarchy is just a tradition here in Sweden, similar to celebrating christmas. The vast majority of us don't believe in either god or the idea that monarchs are chosen by him.

I might also add that unlike the US, both the UK and Sweden are parliamentary states and as such a president would be given no power here (sort of like it is in Germany.) In other words, a republic for us would just mean changing uniform for suit - king for president.

 

[BlueBalls]

 

[BlueBalls]

I kid of course ..... or do I

But yes even though the Queen and the rest of her flock really cannot do anything without government permission anymore I really hate the fact that there are persons in my country who believe or like to think they believe that their bloodline was chosen by "god" and that they are somehow better than the rest of us. To me, that kind of thinking should have been abolished a couple centuries ago.

Maybe when the current elder generation passes these warm feelings towards the monarchy will fade also, because as Artimus says the Queen has her position and a certain kitch value in which some parts of the population still enjoy. Yes, she bings in a tremendous amount of money because of the tourism she generates and if that goes we're going to have to find an alternative, but as I have stated above I still cannot respect a person and a people who believe they are somehow superior to the rest of us.

And just the thought of having the moronic son as king, send shivers down the spine. :throwup:

 

[wrayven]

The British Royal Court should be maintained though given an even lesser role than they currently have.

 

[marquis2]

I kid of course ..... or do I

But yes even though the Queen and the rest of her flock really cannot do anything without government permission anymore I really hate the fact that there are persons in my country who believe or like to think they believe that their bloodline was chosen by "god" and that they are somehow better than the rest of us. To me, that kind of thinking should have been abolished a couple centuries ago.

Maybe when the current elder generation passes these warm feelings towards the monarchy will fade also, because as Artimus says the Queen has her position and a certain kitch value in which some parts of the population still enjoy. Yes, she bings in a tremendous amount of money because of the tourism she generates and if that goes we're going to have to find an alternative, but as I have stated above I still cannot respect a person and a people who believe they are somehow superior to the rest of us.

And just the thought of having the moronic son as king, send shivers down the spine. :throwup:

I think that the Queen is the last person to think she is chosen by God but she has an understanding of the word "duty" which puts our politicians to shame.
As for the heir, I haven't met him.I recall Stephen Fry (who does) saying that "there might be people who know more about history , there might be those who know more about architecture but there isn't anyone who knows more about both" In other words, anything but a moron.Just a middle aged man with an impossible job description and a great sense of duty.Unpopular heirs often make popular kings.
The monarchy is more than self financing as on accession the Queen handed over her income from the Crown Estates in exchange for an annual payment (most of which goes on wages to staff) of about half this amount.
There are many advantages to having a non political Head of State , if you don't believe me look at Gordon Brown.Do we really want an ignorant slob as our figurehead?

 

[om3ga]

We'll never have a republic (wished we did, though)....

 

[No_Man]

I'm an American, but I think Great Britain's constitutional monarchy is brilliant from an international politics standpoint. The Queen can kiss a foreign dignitary's ass while the Prime Minister stabs him in the back. The U.S. President has to do both at the same time.