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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think it's about time we got rid of the Monarchy?

313 replies

clayspaniel · 20/09/2014 13:55

Now that the Scotland referendum is over, does anyone else think it is now time to have a complete constitutional reform, and discontinue the role of the Queen and all her associated hangers-on?

OP posts:
ocelot41 · 21/09/2014 16:21

Agreed. The whole concept of anyone being due more deference than others ( not to imagine crazy-making amounts of wealth) simply because of the family they were born into is offensive and unjust. A man's a man for a' that....

AnneEyhtMeyer · 21/09/2014 16:41

I think there will be more of a chance of the people wanting a referendum when the Queen dies, as Charles is a lot less likeable and comes across as a weak, privileged fool who can't keep his mouth shut. The best thing that could happen for the monarchy would be for him to die before the Queen.

The RF has to be slimmed down - I'm sick of still seeing Andrew and his kids sauntering around, same with Edward and his family too. I have a real feeling Harry is going to become the next Andrew. There is no point to him being in the limelight now that William has children. He should retire from public life along with his aunt, uncles and cousins.

LaurieMarlow · 21/09/2014 17:21

I've never really understood why the queen gets so much kudos. I get that she hasn't rocked the boat, kept her head down & got on with it, but given her extremely privileged lot in life I don't see why that's so remarkable.

Can anyone point me to any specific characteristics, skills, personality traits she has that make her such a wonderful monarch?

Username12345 · 21/09/2014 17:25

YANBU!

It's appalling in this day and age to still be ruled by an unelected person, especially in a place that likes to bang on about democracy.

Angry
LaydeeC · 21/09/2014 17:30

^^ this

TSSDNCOP · 21/09/2014 17:30

Like one Gordon Brown for instance?

JanineStHubbins · 21/09/2014 17:33

Like whoever the electorate voted for, obviously. For a fixed term.

Ireland has a good system: any registered political party can nominate someone to run for the presidency, but any independent candidate can also run provided they get nominated by a certain number of county councils and Senators. It did mean we had Dana running one year, admittedly Wink, but that's democracy!

Viviennemary · 21/09/2014 17:54

I can't see why the Queen gets such admiration too. She does her job to a reasonable standard even an anti monarchist like me would probably have to admit that. But let's face it. It's all about preservation of her family's wealth and superior position in this country which must be maintained at all costs. That is the main reason IMHO.

SlicedAndDiced · 21/09/2014 18:35

I absolutely promise that if you pay me the same as the queen I will ace it.

I am just fabulous at eating dinners, I always turn up on time to cut ribbons and I'll even smile at you all while I'm doing it.

Hell for that much I'll throw in a couple of cartwheels too.

AllotmentQueen · 21/09/2014 19:46

TSS, have you not seen people in line ups to meet the monarchy??? They all curtsey without fail! It's ridiculous and anachronistic.

I also fail to understand why the queen is so admired - I can't think of a single thing she has done above and beyond her 'duty' that makes her so special. And people have very very short memories - she behaved appallingly to Diana and especially over her death, and yet that's all been conveniently forgotten now.

There is just no good reason to elevate them above us all from an accident of birth - prior to widespread media coverage and education of their 'subjects' they could get away with pretending they were better than the rest of us, but that argument has been utterly blown out of the water now.

Owl, yes, I'm sure she'll be utterly devastated Hmm.

TSSDNCOP · 21/09/2014 20:09

obama meets the queen I had this in mind HM doesn't seem put out.

Anyway, what about my other questions?

I was considering the unelected members of the House of Lords as a place I'd like to start with some reform with some urgency.

browneyedgirl86 · 21/09/2014 20:12

YANBU! It's the 21st century. Why do we need a Royal Family? It's outdated and I think they are no better than scroungers. Sorry.

JanineStHubbins · 21/09/2014 20:14

It would be a massive breach of protocol for another head of state (Obama) to bow to the Queen. British 'subjects' are supposed to.

grannymcphee · 21/09/2014 20:19

Why on earth would anybody want this country to be a republic. Your taxes would escalate to make up the shortfall that would be lost from tourism. Do you think the Americans, Canadians, Australians, Chinese, Japanese and all the other nationalities from around the world would still come here in such great numbers if we didn't have the Royal Family? No they would not and billions of pounds would be lost to GB. These 'fashionable' ideas get thrown up every now and again but are ridiculous. This is our heritage you are wanting to destroy. Start studying our history!

JanineStHubbins · 21/09/2014 20:22

granny France is the most visited country on earth. Lack of monarchy doesn't appear to cause it problems on the tourist front.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/09/2014 20:31

Why on earth would anybody want this country to be a republic

Perhaps because some of us strongly object to the status of subjects and consider the monarchy an anachronism in the 21st century??

I can't speak for the Chinese and Japanese, but among the countless folk we've met from the other countries you mention, not one of them has come to the UK because of the royal family

We only have to look at the number of people visiting places like France to realise the "tourist income" thing is now utterly discredited. There are other arguments for keeping the monarchy, some of which make at least some sense - but income from tourism doesn't appear to be one of them

zeezeek · 21/09/2014 20:37

Vive la republique!!!

It is madness that in this day and age to have a monarchy. People talk about the amount of work they do - which is incredibly insulting to people who have to work 12 hr days just to earn enough money to feed their families. The luxury that they live in is insulting to the millions of people who are now relying on food banks. The money that we spend on this one family in one year could be used to save the NHS.

People bang on about voting for President Blair - but we did vote for him, back in 1997 and we were all pretty damn pleased with him for a good few years after that.

Like with political parties and politicians with an elected Head of State we can vote them in and we can vote them out. Who, honestly, would vote for Charles?

I hope that this country continues to grow and continues to evolve and that one day we will have the strength to say "no more".

FreudiansSlipper · 21/09/2014 20:46

Of course we would still have millions of visitors we have so much to offer the royal family are still part of that history

London is full tourists all year round most of them are spending their money on Oxford Street and Knightsbridge and the many restaurants, theatres and all the other wonderful attractions that we have to offer but our shops seem for many to be he biggest attractions the millions that is spent now would still be spent

SevenZarkSeven · 21/09/2014 21:13

"France is the most visited country on earth."

I did not know that! You learn something every day.

JanineStHubbins · 21/09/2014 21:18

Yep, and the US was second, Spain third and China fourth. The UK was eighth, behind Germany, Turkey and Italy. Not a lot of monarchies in that list!

thenightsky · 21/09/2014 21:26

The money that we spend on this one family in one year could be used to save the NHS

I'd say the NHS is a more worthy 'national institution'.

SevenZarkSeven · 21/09/2014 21:35

I don't know where I thought it would be - the states maybe....

A lot of people there have no need/inclination to leave though do they, there's such a lot to look at in that one country. If the states were different "countries" as they sort of are a bit they'd win by miles wouldn't they. Just thinking out loud!

How many of the visitors to France are from the UK I wonder. Loads I bet!

SevenZarkSeven · 21/09/2014 21:36

Also would be interesting to find out how much of it was business and hoe much leisure - a lot of continental european travel is business I think.

Thanks that's given me something interesting to mull over Smile

JanineStHubbins · 21/09/2014 21:41

It's only international tourists that count for those figures, I believe. Not sure if business travel is included, I'm inclined to think not.

Eminybob · 21/09/2014 21:43

I would need to see a lost of pros and cons. If I would be no better off without them then I see no harm in keeping them. I quite like them.

But I don't know enough on the subject to make an informed decision.

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