To be a Republican?

[TheRhubarb]

Sorry to be a miserable bitch but I really do hate all this Jubilee crap. I don't give a crap about the Royal family one way or the other. I'm very happy to let them exist the way they do so long as we don't have to treat them like some kind of minor gods. However that's just what everyone appears to be doing and I cannot turn on the TV, listen to the radio, buy a newspaper or even walk out of my front door without this Jubilee shite being shoved in my face.

Now even Mumsnet has bowed down to her Maj.

The country's gone to the dogs thanks to the Coalition, vulnerable people are more vulnerable than ever because of cuts, unemployment is high, kids can't afford to go to University, families are relying on food banks and yet we are supposed to forget the fact that our bank and bellies are empty to cheer on some millionairess who is so far removed from real life she might as well be a Martian.

I don't normally care that much to have an opinion about this but when people actually expect me to join in a rendition of God Save the Queen then the fine red mist descends.

It's turning me against the Royal family and making me wish we were Republicans. Anyone else or is it just me?

It's not a big minority at all. X posters out of the XXXXXX on MN. Hardly vast.

There is a big difference between putting up something meaningless which will change nothing and promoting a political party campaigning to govern the country.

Find one normal person who was happy.

The million was on London. One small part of the entire country. Or do you think there were no celebrations elsewhere? Don't be stupid.

I'll leave you to your whining though.

YANBU. Another one here.

I'm not a killjoy, who doesn't love parties and bank hols? But it does get on my nerves that many of the same people supporting extra days off and celebrations funded by taxpayers will be the ones who complain that strikes damage the economy.

Why can't the Queen lay on the events out of her enormous wealth anyway?

Stupid? Wow! Always good to resort to insults when your arguments are so facile that they don't stand up to any reasoning at all.

Just because a million people turned up to wave flags at some stupid old bat in London yesterday does not mean it's not obscene to spend all this money "celebrating" something so utterly pointless when we have so little money in this country we are now opening food banks to feed our working poor.

As I said, bread and circuses, and you have fallen for it hook, line and sinker. More fool for you.

Actually I think people should be a lot more bitter and sour given the hideous inequalities that exist in our country.

One family live In absolute luxury meanwhile. Why? And we hero worship them. Why? And if we question it, we are bitter and sour. Why?

Brainwashed.

That one family lives in luxury because an awful lot of money is just given to them

Brainwashed they certainly are Winky. Soupdragon is an excellent example of someone who has been well and truly brainwashed - the royal PR machine will be very very proud.

And to be honest, I think the majority of the British public couldn't care less about the Royal family. It's just a lovely four day weekend that appeals.

Agree with Winky. I have certainly not spent my whole weekend fawning over the royals - I have been working. But frankly I can't be arsed to spend my life hating and being outraged over the unfairness of everything.

"But frankly I can't be arsed to spend my life hating and being outraged over the unfairness of everything."

Which is why the status quo rules and the unfairness remains .

Apathy is happy that it won without a fight . . .

There is PLENTY I get active about, as anyone who knows me would tell you. But the royal family. and being envious of other people's privilege is not one of them.

YANBU. Happy Republican here. The best revenge is living well.

I notice that people keep focusing on the Jubilee celebrations and not answering about the inequality of being another person's legal possession. I know it must be hard to realise you've been supporting your own subjugation your whole life, but do people really think it's okay to be owned?

One more vote for the Roundheads here - sick to death of all the sycophancy to the establishment.

Free thinkers will always be in the minority

But Ariel, if we don't change the status quo then everything else we're doing is pissing in the wind - I run a local group attempting to raise £2 million to build a children's hospice. It sickens me that the queen (and others like her) has the money to build it tomorrow but meanwhile we will slog and beg to raise the money and it will probably take five years to do so.

It's an insane world view - and not one shared in many other European countries where redistribution of wealth is seen as far more important (and not perceived as bitter and sour) than it is in this crazy country of ours.

I am just wondering if those that are working who feel like this are going to go into work tomorrow.

Whatever you think about the monarchy per se, the fact that this woman has spent 60 years of her life doing what to me seems like a pain in the arse duty, smiling, making speeches, etc and will probably continue to do this until she drops, well, not many of us would do that. We are all concerned with ourselves. The Queen does seem to be selfless.

People are striking so they can enjoy their retirement. No work. She won't retire. Banquets until all hours surrounded by despots....money doesn't buy her an early night!

I wouldn't have wanted to be freezing for hours on a barge at 80+ .Plenty of people in this country however were THRILLED to see her. What else would make them turn out like that....hmmm...tickets to see a wimbledon tennis player.....

I wouldn't swap.

Entirely with you, OP. I'm not British, but have lived here for a large portion of my adult life, and am enormously fond of and committed to this country. I'd be delighted to see celebrations of Britishness, but this apparently unthinking kowtowing to a monarchy genuinely puzzles and appals me. It's not an institution that deserves any respect in any modern democracy, and it certainly has no place in a recession-ridden country that likes to think class has no place any more. It seems like a weird blind spot on the part of hard-working ordinary people.

The 'they draw tourist revenue' argument makes no sense when you think that Versailles still gets countless tourists despite what the French did to their aristocrats and monarch. And the 'President Blair/Cameron would be awful' one doesn't work either - for a start, no career politician would be interested in a role with very limited powers (and what a president's powers are would be determined by referendum anyway), and the electorate would be democratically electing an individual for a finite period, not a political party. Plus, you might elect someone wonderful as president. I'm Irish, and the first president I was old enough to vote for, Mary Robinson, remains someone I'm delighted and proud to have had as my head of state.

YANBU - the whole thing stinks but we've managed to avoid it.

Saladcream - tbh I would be glad to, but of course the fecking nursery is closed so I don't have a choice, I get full time child care instead. As with most people who have non-trivial jobs, the work load doesn't go down just because there's a bank holiday, the same amount still needs doing, so her majesty's gift to me is a horrendously stressful Wednesday-Friday. Thanks Brenda.

YANBU. You should come to Scotland- none of us give a f**k about the Diamond Jubilee!

Yadnbu. It's ridiculous and indicative of widespread doublethink that people can on the one hand think they live in a free democracy and laud a woman who has inherited enormous wealth and power (albeit mostly ceremonial) at the same time. I hate the system we have, power based on old feudal systems followed by an inherited line has no place in our society. Don't care about the economic arguments, it's just wrong. Bringing in tourism pounds to the economy and favourable comparisons to corrupt and sleaze-ridden politicians should not affect our views on the monarchy one iota. It's inheritantly unfair and ought to be abolished.

jazz, of course she can retire - albeit it's called 'abdication' of course - feel free Liz, abdicate whenever you want.

What's that? You don't want to, because your quite enjoy the opulent life style and the sycophantic fawning of your subjects? Hmm.

If it's such a hideous life why did Kate marry into it?

SurprisinglyCurvaceousPirate, I do agree with the point you're making. I think it about many incredibly rich people - someone like a premiership footballer would also not miss 2 millions and you could open your hospice like a shot. I have nothing against Republicanism and Republicans, and I hold no truck at all with people who say "Who would want a President Blair or Cameron, hmmm?" as though that shoots the Republican argument down immeditately. I wouldn't call myself a royalist. Affection and respect towards the current Queen is merely that - affection and respect. To be honest I think it is what the majority of people who turned out to cheer for her feel. I can't imagine them doing the same for King Charles after twenty five years, can you? because that's certainly the only jubilee he'll get to :)

What I'm on about is that a couple of posters on here - you weren't one of them - well, their posts makes them sound like they are perpetually choking on hatred and bitterness and envy. And insults and abuse towards an 84 year old woman who stood for four hours in the freezing rain on Saturday waving at people who wanted to see her, well, that's not a political point is it? It just sounds unpleasant.

Sorry, an 86 year old woman. Even older.