Poll: Britain as a Republic?

[Terramax]

Do you honestly think that more deserving parties are going to get more money if the Royal Family didn't exist?

All that taxpayer money would either be diverted to whoever is at the head of state, or into a Preservation of History fund.

The point is, there's always going to be some tit at the top taking the lion's share of everything, be it a royal family or some elected official.

I don't think I know. The amount of money that the royal family earns - no one else can justify getting that kind of money. Yes some of it will go to another head of state, but not all of it. And even a little more to the general public is better than none.

EDIT: and to add to that, if it was found out that some head of state was earning more than they should be, it'd be much easier to cut out their expenses than that of the royal family. Yes the expenses scandle shows MPs have been getting away with thousands and millions, but at least we've been able to stop it now and prevent it from happening in the future.

When are we going to stop the royal family from wasting our money away? Probably never, because people like you seem to think it's easier to just let them do as they pleased, no questions asked.

 

[Ophiuchus]

Given that the elected government runs the show and the monarchy does absolutely bugger all apart from existing mainly for show, it'd make no difference. I voted no, because pointless change is... well, pointless.

 

[WolfThomas]

It's like when Australia voted to become independant, it failed.

It not just as simple as it failed, when you consider it was 45-54%, it meant a considerable proportion of the Australian population wanted a republic and when you consider how many people (because voting is compulsory) voted against it out of apathy, laziness or a simple "maintaining the status quo".

I honestly think it would have been majority yes, if voting wasn't compulsory and is perhaps an indication that in the not so distant future we may implement a republic.

The big question is whether a republic should be minimalist or populist. Minimalist the head of state is elected by the party with the majority, where as populist the head of state is a separate election (like the USA).

I WAS mostly making a joke, but I see your point.

Curse the inability to covey tone over the internet.

 

[Wadders]

Well, if your tax money doesn't go to the monarchy, it'll just go to some other undeserving bunch of sods. And hey, they keep the tabloids out of the real news areas, so why not.

It's like when Australia voted to become independant, it failed. Popular consensus on the decision was because it's easier to make gloat when we beat you at evereything always when you're still technically our lords and masters.

Remind me, who won the ashes this year?

Dunno yet, I'm too busy watching sports that don't bore the shit out of me.

God help me, I tried, but I fell asleep just before they broke for lunch.

Also, we have beaches and bikini babes, you have cornwall and north londonersincreasinglypettyargument

Protip: We did.

But in all honesty, I'd rather have beaches and babes than Cornwall and Londoners. Southern fairies.

only if its protected by jedi

Fuck that. If Tesco can singlehandedly fight off Jedi, then I wouldn't want them defending my country...

 

[yaik7a]

In one of my politcs classes a question came up regarding the pros and cons of replacing the monarchy for an elected head of state (such as a president).

Now I really believe in democracy and that the people should have the ability to vote for who they want to represent them. I hate the fact we have a hereditary lottery to decide for us, why should someone with a certain name have such substantial privelages over others? why should our tax money go towards them to enjoy such a great lifestyle? shouldn't it go towards more important things...

The monarch holds no substantial powers aswell so why do we need them, for historical and traditional values? I think thats just pointless when we can have a more effective government without it.


What are your thoughts?

Prime minster is better

 

[Megacherv]

No. What we have now has worked for hundreds of years, why change?

Im not a brit, but i will second this. Its just for show, why complain about it? Its like complaining about cheerleaders at a sporting event.

Yeah, the Royals are ace to take the piss out of, and we're waiting for Prince Charles to become King, and then die about 2 months after.

 

[TheRealCJ]

Well, if your tax money doesn't go to the monarchy, it'll just go to some other undeserving bunch of sods. And hey, they keep the tabloids out of the real news areas, so why not.

It's like when Australia voted to become independant, it failed. Popular consensus on the decision was because it's easier to make gloat when we beat you at evereything always when you're still technically our lords and masters.

Remind me, who won the ashes this year?

Dunno yet, I'm too busy watching sports that don't bore the shit out of me.

God help me, I tried, but I fell asleep just before they broke for lunch.

Also, we have beaches and bikini babes, you have cornwall and north londonersincreasinglypettyargument

Protip: We did.

But in all honesty, I'd rather have beaches and babes than Cornwall and Londoners. Southern fairies.

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

 

[Wadders]

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

*hrumph*

Well, if you will excuse me, I'm going to...erm...I dunno. Get rained on?

And yeah, it was nice for us However I care little for cricket. It's just funny how we get beat for years in a row, we win once, and suddenly we're the champions of the world again. That is how un-used to winning we are as a nation

 

[TheRealCJ]

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

*hrumph*

Well, if you will excuse me, I'm going to...erm...I dunno. Get rained on?

And yeah, it was nice for us However I care little for cricket. It's just funny how we get beat for years in a row, we win once, and suddenly we're the champions of the world again. That is how un-used to winning we are as a nation

Haha.

You have to keep in mind: The Ashes were born because the English were so embarrased that they got beaten by a bunch of convicts

 

[Wadders]

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

*hrumph*

Well, if you will excuse me, I'm going to...erm...I dunno. Get rained on?

And yeah, it was nice for us However I care little for cricket. It's just funny how we get beat for years in a row, we win once, and suddenly we're the champions of the world again. That is how un-used to winning we are as a nation

Haha.

You have to keep in mind: The Ashes were born because the English were so embarrased that they got beaten by a bunch of convicts

Haha, I know, it's terrible really. We invent sports, then get our asses kicked in them by every other nation that competes!

Ahh well, we're used to it by now

 

[Rolling Thunder]

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

*hrumph*

Well, if you will excuse me, I'm going to...erm...I dunno. Get rained on?

And yeah, it was nice for us However I care little for cricket. It's just funny how we get beat for years in a row, we win once, and suddenly we're the champions of the world again. That is how un-used to winning we are as a nation

Haha.

You have to keep in mind: The Ashes were born because the English were so embarrased that they got beaten by a bunch of convicts

Haha, I know, it's terrible really. We invent sports, then get our asses kicked in them by every other nation that competes!

Ahh well, we're used to it by now

In fairness, we're also richer and smarter than them, so it's a pretty good deal for us.

 

[Wadders]

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

*hrumph*

Well, if you will excuse me, I'm going to...erm...I dunno. Get rained on?

And yeah, it was nice for us However I care little for cricket. It's just funny how we get beat for years in a row, we win once, and suddenly we're the champions of the world again. That is how un-used to winning we are as a nation

Haha.

You have to keep in mind: The Ashes were born because the English were so embarrased that they got beaten by a bunch of convicts

Haha, I know, it's terrible really. We invent sports, then get our asses kicked in them by every other nation that competes!

Ahh well, we're used to it by now

In fairness, we're also richer and smarter than them, so it's a pretty good deal for us.

True, true, but it goes without saying really. We know we're superior, we just like to let them do well in the fun and games because it makes them feel worthwhile

 

[TheRealCJ]

You did? Aw, that's nice for you.

Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go surfing, while simultaneously wrestling a crocodile and making love to dozens of beatiful women attracted by my accent.


... actually, that's a filthy lie, there only like, 8 of them, 10 tops.

*hrumph*

Well, if you will excuse me, I'm going to...erm...I dunno. Get rained on?

And yeah, it was nice for us However I care little for cricket. It's just funny how we get beat for years in a row, we win once, and suddenly we're the champions of the world again. That is how un-used to winning we are as a nation

Haha.

You have to keep in mind: The Ashes were born because the English were so embarrased that they got beaten by a bunch of convicts

Haha, I know, it's terrible really. We invent sports, then get our asses kicked in them by every other nation that competes!

Ahh well, we're used to it by now

Does war count as a sport? Cause the colonies routed you pretty badly there too

 

[Mr Wednesday]

Woooooooo yeah, Republic! Lets go round up some inbred Germans and throw them off the cliffs of Dover.

And then we can ellect a president!

...actually, let's not become a republic.

 

[stone0042]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't the post of monarch now basically symbolic? I mean your executive is the Prime Minister, correct? So why does it matter if you have a queen or not? I say boot her ass, seems like a drain on the economy paying for all that shit.

 

[Wadders]

Does war count as a sport? Cause the colonies routed you pretty badly there too

Meh. Since about the 1500's the UK's military record has been pretty good to be honest. Just a couple of minor blips with loosing the colonies (who said we wanted them anyway? I think it was better in the long run that we disassociate ourselves from those types ) and Charles I having no idea how to conduct a foreign policy. Other than that I'd say we've not done so badly.

 

[Smudge91]

To be honest we've tried a republic before and well look what happened to that. Also the monarchy doesn't do any harm and i think with prince william the monarchy will be come more involved with the public and do more good than the queen who is still a staught traditionalist of the monarchy shouldn't really be seen. Also Parliament and the Cabinet have a pretty large amount of power and so we're already really a "republic".

 

[Jaythulhu]

I think it would hilarious is Britain became a republic. It would, however, put four women's magazines out of business down here, and I'm afraid that send drive my mother out her rocker.

... Hmm, I think that could actually be champagne comedy. Go for it ya pommie bastards!


[Edit] When the queen finally karks it, and chucky moves up to the stage, will he or that horse-faced bloke he married be called king?