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British Monarchy; keep 'em or ditch 'em?
Topic Started: Jun 13 2008, 07:52 PM (344 Views)
jDELIGHT
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Fun is the only noise you should hear
The UN, of all things, thinks the British should get rid of monarchy

A 21-Skwerl Salute for the Dizzy Twirling Hippy Chick!

"Your only true land based hope are aerodynamically correct goats." JT
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Kyleslavia
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I personally think that the monarchy is an interesting symbol of the UK. However, if I lived in Canada or Australia, I would definitely not want to associate myself with the British monarchy. I personally feel bad for the Canadians and Aussies as well as many other nations of the commonwealth that have to accept Queen Elizabeth as their head of state.
Come and visit Kylesburg City, please clicky!
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Jack Tarr
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I have a better idea. Throw the UN out of New York and have nothing more to do with them.
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Omnivorous
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The AntiEss
I agree with JT!

Quote:
 
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "With so many human rights abuses around the world the UN should be busy reporting on issues of starvation, execution and the denial of the vote to huge numbers of people around the world.

"Saudi Arabia and Cuba should pay a little more attention to their own human rights record."
^ That

Forget about Mugabe rigging voting in Zimbabwe, get rid of the Queen! <_<
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Celtic Liffey
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While I don't think the UN should be voicing opinions about this as I don't think it has a mandate to comment on such things I would not be sad to see the monarchy abolished.
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Niongor
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I think the UN should keep it's f*cking nose out! The UK is one of the biggest contributers to that UNELECTED organisation, so how dare they be hypocritical enough to tell the British to hold referenda and sh*t. And what the hell is Saudi Arabia doing suggesting we become a republic? THEY are a monarchy! The hypocrisy of the modern world, no? I think Sri Lanka is just bitter than India and not Ceylon (as it was called then) was the jewel in the British Empire.

I am a supporter of the British monarchy, especially our current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Fair enough in the past some monarchs have been bastards (CHARLES I!!!!) but then name one country on earth that has got a 100% good leader record?

I'm a big supporter of "if it ain't broke - don't fix it!". It's been the system of governance for 1,000 years in the British Isles and it's well entrenched. Our monarch is non-partisan and where governments come and go, the monarch is a long term institution giving calm to otherwise choppy waters.

As an Australian citizen, I believe having a monarch is more good than bad. Currently our Governor-General is required to be non-partisan and standard (though not law) dictates that person has also served in the ADF. Our Governor-General is therefore modelled very closely on our Queen. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the idea behind republicanism in Australia and elsewhere, but Australia has strived as a Monarchy for 200 years (as individual colonies) and a century as a monarchy, plus the monarchy also serves as a symbol of Australian routes and heritage (from a British-descended pov anyway).

Just because somebody is elected, doesn't mean they're a better rular than someone born to be. Mugabe and Hitler were both elected afterall. Also look at what happened to South Africa after it became a republic. Not saying this will happen to Australia, New Zeland or Canada of course, just saying that monarchy gives a stable institution that acts as a symbol for one and all to associated with a single, united and (perhaps ironically) democratic culture. I digress though...

I am just completely pissed off that the UN have put their nose where it isn't welcome nor warrented. I believe they've overstepped their mark on this one (the bastards!). That's why you all had to put up with my rant :blush:

As a last note:
Quote:
 
I have a better idea. Throw the UN out of New York and have nothing more to do with them.


^ I agree with that, 100%!!
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

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Omnivorous
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The AntiEss
I like your rants. Especially when I agree with them :ph43r:
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the land
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One thing that I will mention....In Canada even though the Queen is the Head of State, The Governor General has no real powers. They may be allowed to change rulings but they don't because parliament would just decide to get ride of the Governor General and the Queen, so those powers have not been used. Basically the Queen is just a Figurehead for Canada. I think we need that symbol because it is a part of our heritage. we still get royal consent to pass all our legislation.

this is my understanding anyway....
You Don't Take Time out of Life for Music, You Take Time out of Music for Life~Unknown


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Cameron of Lochiel
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Our Cabinet needs to do MORE !!
Ditch the inbred wasters is my opinion !! ....

.... but I agree that's not a matter for the UN to pass comment on !!
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Almonaster
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I think having a non-political figurehead is quite useful. The cost is pretty small, compared to most government excesses, too.

Regardless of that, I also agree that it's none of the UN's business. :angry:
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Niongor
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Omnivorous,Jun 15 2008
08:01 PM
I like your rants. Especially when I agree with them  :ph43r:

:D I like you even more now!

England has always set the precedent for constitutional monarchy. The Witangemot of old was so powerful a ruling body that the invading Normans thought it best not to strip it of it's power (although this eventually happened subseqeuently).

The ultimate display of the want and need for balance between people and monarch was of course the English Civil war. Charles I was offered on multiple occassions the idea of a constitutional monarchy (along the lines of that we have now) and he refused, favouring the French idea of absolute monarchy. How silly the man was to think the English would take this. Although I wouldn't have seen him executed, it was the most potent simple against tyranny of the time: no taxes with consent, no government without the elected parliament.

It's somewhat of an irony that a Republican such as Cromwell (whom was not initially a Republican), forged into the mindset of the English the idea of monarchy by law or none at all. By the time union with Scotland took place and the two parliaments were "joined", the idea of "reigning but not ruling" was the role of the monarchy.

Today we have a perfect balance. A permanent figurhead with little actual power and a temporary government with a lot of power. I agree with the Land too, "I think we need that symbol because it is a part of our heritage". I think our current monarch is an instution in herself. She is the longest lived monarch and, should be reign til 2018 (I think) she'll become the longest reigning. As a personal note, this is a milestone I want Her to reach.
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

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Omnivorous
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The AntiEss
You mean you didn't like me before? :blink:
:shifty:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_...h_and_longevity
&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longe...urrent_monarchs





She still has a way to go to catch up with some of these guys, she's the 38th longest reigning monarch/head of state of all time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longe...chs_of_all_time
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Niongor
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Giver of the *Hi-5*
Omnivorous,Jun 16 2008
02:42 PM
You mean you didn't like me before?  :blink: 
:shifty:

Niongor @ Jun 16 2008
11:41 AM
:D  I like you even more now!


I always liked you, Omni! :blink: One day, when I overthrow some corrupt African government to replace it...with my own corrupt government...you'll be offered a luxury vacation with all expenses paid :D (as will all members of NSC...that I like :ph43r: )
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

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jDELIGHT
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Fun is the only noise you should hear
feel the like

A 21-Skwerl Salute for the Dizzy Twirling Hippy Chick!

"Your only true land based hope are aerodynamically correct goats." JT
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Omnivorous
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The AntiEss
Niongor,Jun 16 2008
06:02 PM
Omnivorous,Jun 16 2008
02:42 PM
You mean you didn't like me before?  :blink: 
:shifty:

Niongor @ Jun 16 2008
11:41 AM
:D  I like you even more now!


I always liked you, Omni! :blink: One day, when I overthrow some corrupt African government to replace it...with my own corrupt government...you'll be offered a luxury vacation with all expenses paid :D (as will all members of NSC...that I like :ph43r: )

:rockon: :B)


Can I have a huge animal reserve named after me instead?
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Niongor
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Giver of the *Hi-5*
Omnivorous,Jun 16 2008
07:18 PM
Niongor,Jun 16 2008
06:02 PM
Omnivorous,Jun 16 2008
02:42 PM
You mean you didn't like me before?  :blink: 
:shifty:

Niongor @ Jun 16 2008
11:41 AM
:D  I like you even more now!


I always liked you, Omni! :blink: One day, when I overthrow some corrupt African government to replace it...with my own corrupt government...you'll be offered a luxury vacation with all expenses paid :D (as will all members of NSC...that I like :ph43r: )

:rockon: :B)


Can I have a huge animal reserve named after me instead?

This shall be so :yes:

I'm thinking of naming a highly alcoholic beverage after jDELIGHT...
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

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jDELIGHT
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Fun is the only noise you should hear
Plenty of deceptive fruitiness and no whine.

A 21-Skwerl Salute for the Dizzy Twirling Hippy Chick!

"Your only true land based hope are aerodynamically correct goats." JT
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Niongor
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Giver of the *Hi-5*
jDELIGHT,Jun 18 2008
03:15 AM
Plenty of deceptive fruitiness and no whine.

So shall it be! :yes:
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

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Boreal Tundra
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I'd like to stick with the constitutional monarchy we have, thank you very much.

Just to correct one point, unless things have changed since I was in school (which it well could have) technically, the Queen or her representatives (Governor General, Lieutenant-Governor General) do have the power to rescind legislation, they don't use it. I do recall a documentary on the Queen and she does go through all the legislation brought through parliament and does pass her comments on to parliament, often suggesting changes which have been used.
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disposablepuppetland
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Original article
 
Iran complained about the UK's record on tackling sexual discrimination

Oh really? Presumably they were complaining about the lack of discrimination.


Personally I like our monarchy. It means we don't have to have a president.

At least with a bad monarch you can blame it on bad luck. Image how embarrassing it would be to elect an ignorant, warmongering fool to be the country's figurehead.

We're even more undemocratic than that through really. We also have an unelected House of Lords who have the power to review and reject the laws passed by the cabinet.
Again, I think this is a good thing. It prevents some of the knee-jerk legislation our elected officials try to pass when they pander to the latest hysteria in the press.
[align=center]This is what DPL is about - Also known as The Justified Ancients of West-Side - Furthermore known as the Jam
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