AIBU?
republicans, over here!
arghpleasestop · 09/09/2022 21:54
OK, it's been 24 hours now.
Can I say it yet?
Long live the king - any king! - you must be joking. How on earth can it be the 21st century and there is still a hereditary monarchy of 'special people with the right blood' who wear crowns, live in palaces and play a formal role in politics?
I can see from other threads that others feel upset and are following it all closely. This thread is not to deny those feelings and for sure Queen E worked hard shaking hands for a long time - but to say, WTF, bring on the republic please.
Am I being unreasonable?
AIBUYou have one vote. All votes are anonymous.
cakeorwine · 09/09/2022 23:50
Hereward1332 · 09/09/2022 23:41
I would far rather give more political power to a monarch, born to the idea of long term service and benefit to their country, than have it in the hands of short termist politicians. Politicians, even the good ones, have to get re-elected every five years and pander to short term concerns. Environment Vs fuel bills.
A Head of State with a proper written Constitution does not have to be political. Just a figure head.
The Queen was not political. She had a ceremonial role. A Head of State with a Constitution has a role to ensure that an elected Government follows the rules.
Hereward1332 · 09/09/2022 23:55
Exactly my point. Rather than talking about getting rid of am unelected head of state, giving them more power to act as a check on those with political aims seems sensible. A monarch brings a sense custodianship - duty to both ancestors and heirs- that you cannot elect.
cakeorwine · 09/09/2022 23:58
Hereward1332 · 09/09/2022 23:55
Exactly my point. Rather than talking about getting rid of am unelected head of state, giving them more power to act as a check on those with political aims seems sensible. A monarch brings a sense custodianship - duty to both ancestors and heirs- that you cannot elect.
You get rid of an unelected person who is there because of birth AND you write a new constitution.
Many countries have done this.
So can we.
Whatiswrongwithmyknee · 10/09/2022 00:02
Thank god - a home! I had an argument with SIL earlier who thought the queen had actual power. I would hope that as a country we would stand up for any non-elected single individual who genuinely thought they had the right to interfere with democratic processes....but the depth of shit which people will sink to always surprises me.
I feel sorry for the relatives of every 96 year old or other person who died yesterday. But I do not want anyone to assume that her death means more to me than any of the other ones and it feels disrespectful when they do.
PlanetNormal · 10/09/2022 00:05
I have always been a Republican, and the Queen’s death has done nothing to change that. I favour an elected figurehead President with a mainly ceremonial role. This works well in Germany & Ireland. Clarence House would make an ideal Presidential residence, then all the palaces, castles and estates could be sold off. Maybe Mr William Windsor, as he would then be known, would want to stand for election?
I would also abolish the House of Lords and replace it with an elected second chamber with some sort of maximum quota of politicians. The majority of seats should be reserved for non-political experts, eg scientists, lawyers, engineers, business people, academics etc etc.
Somegirlsarebiggerthanother · 10/09/2022 00:07
PlanetNormal · 10/09/2022 00:05
I have always been a Republican, and the Queen’s death has done nothing to change that. I favour an elected figurehead President with a mainly ceremonial role. This works well in Germany & Ireland. Clarence House would make an ideal Presidential residence, then all the palaces, castles and estates could be sold off. Maybe Mr William Windsor, as he would then be known, would want to stand for election?
I would also abolish the House of Lords and replace it with an elected second chamber with some sort of maximum quota of politicians. The majority of seats should be reserved for non-political experts, eg scientists, lawyers, engineers, business people, academics etc etc.
Sounds like a good idea to me
MojoJojo71 · 10/09/2022 00:16
oh thank goodness, I’m not the only one. The outpouring of grief is starting to get old already. I went to the theatre this evening and they asked us to stand for the national anthem as a mark of respect. I’ve never stood for it before and it would be hypocritical of me to do it now so I stayed seated but some of the looks I got you’d think I’d killed her myself!
VivX · 10/09/2022 00:18
Discovereads · 09/09/2022 22:19
The last time we had a republic didn’t work out so good for us.
That was nearly 400 years - so we should never try again, ever, despite a republic system working perfectly well for lots of other countries...
By that logic, people should never have had another attempt at inventing aeroplanes because it didn't work out for Da Vinci.
Thank goodness everyone is not like you, as we'd all still be living in caves.
Metrette · 10/09/2022 00:26
I’m a republican in the respect I don’t think we should have a monarchy whilst still having respect for those who do the job and for this literal end of an era.
I posted a picture of the queen I liked from years ago and said no more. Just to show respect really.
some friends mocked me for being a sycophant royalist.
I’m really not!
There’s always a respectful middle ground.
when the mourning period is over I’ll return to measures debate about it all but now isn’t the time. I respect that some of the public and her family are grieving.
cakeorwine · 10/09/2022 00:31
MrsFezziwig · 10/09/2022 00:27
I favour an elected figurehead President with a mainly ceremonial role.
But if they are only a figurehead then what would be the point of changing? And what platform would they run on to be elected?
Because our Head of State should not be there by birth right.
Blueberrywitch · 10/09/2022 00:32
I don’t really mind the actual royal family, as they are great for tourism and psychological comfort…but think all the other titles should be abolished - or at the very LEAST be inheritable by females!!! Which still doesn’t happen! So archaic. The Windsor’s are the least of the UKs problems. Maybe start with reforming the House of Lords.
VivX · 10/09/2022 00:34
"And Ireland becoming a republic was a blood free process was it?"
Have you even got the slightest notion of Irish history?
The US shift to independence from Britian also wasn't a blood-free process.
The blood-shed was the result of people fighting against British occupation rather than the abolition of monarchy.
Florenz · 10/09/2022 00:38
Netherlands is a monarchy
Belgium is a monarchy
Japan is a monarchy
Sweden is a monarchy
Norway is a monarchy
Denmark is a monarchy
Spain is a monarchy
I'd rather have a head of state that is there by birthright, than one who gets themself there by political machinations.
Anothernamechangeplease · 10/09/2022 00:42
I consider myself to be a republican, but was surprisingly saddened by the death of the Queen. She has undoubtedly provided stability and consistency over the years, qs well as the long perspective of history. On balance, I think she personally was an asset to our country.
I do think we need to have a debate now, though, about what comes next. The quality and longevity of our previous monarch isn't a good justification for a hereditary system that could just as easily produce someone totally unfit for the role. It's an anachronism, and it's just plain wrong.
I think people probably feel that it's too soon after the Queen's death to be having this conversation in earnest, but we do need to have a debate and ideally a referendum before we have a coronation. I suspect that, if it were put to a vote, the majority of the electorate would still choose the monarchy, though.
I don't dislike Charles particularly but I did really cringe at all the "long live the king" comments. I also really dislike all the stupid deference - no need for anyone to curtsey these days, surely!
If the majority still want it after proper consideration of the alternatives, then fair enough, but I would feel embarrassed for us as a nation if we just crowned Charles King without even thinking it through properly.
Lunar270 · 10/09/2022 00:45
bloodyplanes · 09/09/2022 23:09
I think the absolute outpouring of grief in this country over the queen's death has shown that a referendum on abolishing the monarchy will probably work out the same way that the brexit one worked out for those who wanted to remain. You seriously misjudge the strength of feeling for the monarchy in this country if you believe that we will become a republic any time soon.
Lunar270 · 09/09/2022 22:33
Does anyone know at what point a referendum would take place to decide whether the monarchy should continue?
I have no ill feelings for the royal family but think it's all a bit archaic and unecessary. I don't care how much money they bring to this country as the human construct that is monarchy, should really be consigned to the history books.
Maybe, but I do know that people don't like Charles as they do/did the Queen. And most people cannot stand Camilla. As said by others here, there's a difference between the queen and the monarchy.
For us that are old enough to remember Diana, her memory and warmth people feel is equal and opposite to how they feel about Charles.
MrsFezziwig · 10/09/2022 00:47
cakeorwine · 10/09/2022 00:31
Because our Head of State should not be there by birth right.
MrsFezziwig · 10/09/2022 00:27
I favour an elected figurehead President with a mainly ceremonial role.
But if they are only a figurehead then what would be the point of changing? And what platform would they run on to be elected?
And the answer to the second part of my question?
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