Poll: Do you like the (British) royal family?

[Shuswah_Noir]

From Australia, and I voted "Don't mind them (not from the UK)"
I prefer to read my news rather than watch it, it's easier to avoid the things I don't care about, and I get to see the things that don't make it to TV. So when they are in the news, I can generally avoid it for the most part.

 

[Flames66]

I'm still unclear what their continued existence offers.

What exactly do they do?

I don't mind them (being American), but if I lived in the UK I'd be pissed as hell that a bunch of people, who's only claim to fame is their bloodline and an outdated, almost extinct culture, are living (literally) like royalty on my tax dollars (or pounds, as the case may be).

One of the main reasons they are still around is they bring in a fair bit of revenue from Asian tourists who come to see all of their pomp and ceremony. They also contribute to good causes and the younger princes are actively serving in military operations and search and rescue operations. They are also important diplomatic figures. They also pay some taxes themselves.

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

They cost the Canadian tax payer every time they visit and they aren't very involved here. I consider them like I suppose my Dad considers my uncle: an expensive, unwelcome guest that we're obligated to host once and awhile.

How do we know this isn't the general consensus?

Where I come from there are a few people, usually younger kids, who really like the royalty. Everyone else is either indifferent or downright hostile about the fact we still have such a drain on resources, even though we are an independent country. Nothing will change here until Elizabeth dies though because she is Canada's queen. Not many people outside of Ottawa care about the rest of the royals and I can see no one getting excited about having a king.

 

[Cpt Corallis]

Evidence of their arrogance? Oh, I don't know, how about the fact that they've set up an entire set of special rules and protocols for meeting them that they still expect people of ACTUAL accomplishment to observe? That's pretty arrogant. And besides, the entire NOTION of royalty is that their BLOOD makes them special. What other evidence do you need? The fact that a democracy of any kind can continue to support such a notion is baffling to me.

And you're completely mis-stating my position. If I actually held the position that you claim I do, you'd be correct to refute me.

My position is this: Their position in society, their job, their role that dictates 90% of their behavior is based entirely on the actions of their genocidal ancestors. Suggesting that all wealthy white people in the Southern US are descended from slave owners is not only untrue (the population in the US is much more mobile, both in terms of geography and demographics than you're suggesting), but a poor comparison even if it were true. There isn't an entire publicly-funded institution dedicated to celebrating how awesome slavery was, so... NOT THE SAME THING. The descendants of slave owners don't inhabit areas where they still have slaves so that people can come and ooh and ahh, so... NOT THE SAME THING. The descendants of slave owners don't insist that all black people address them as "master", so... NOT THE SAME THING.

People can and have renounced their royal positions, so any difficulty royals experience as a result of their position (boo hoo hoo) once they reach the age of accountability is COMPLETELY self-inflicted because of a wish to retain their status and wealth.

I don't "hate them because of the actions of their ancestors". I hate the institution of which they are a part. Because they have chosen not to renounce it, I judge them for participating in it. I don't hate them at all, and certainly not for their ancestors' actions. I judge them for their own.

Those "Special rules" seem pretty much like table manners to me. Formal Table manners I will grant you, but i would say that they would be rather similar regardless of which head of state you are having dinner with. Bar possibly Silvio Berlusconi. They are traditions within that office, the same way that you thank people when they leave a party or you shake hands with someone that you have just met.

As for those who have renounced their royal positions: Do you think they can just suddenly flip a switch and be not a royal? They have been raised their entire lives in those surroundings. That has a severe effect on who they are and how they act. In addition, from their position as royalty, they can do more to bring about change than someone else. If William Windsor from london speaks out against human rights outrages, it has less of an effect than His Royal Highness Prince William speaking out. I agree that this is wrong. But that does not mean that their current actions do not have benefits. The Royal family today is not the same as it was 300 years ago.

My argument is that while considering that the institutions which give them power are unfair, it is perfectly possible to see that any royal is capable of performing actions which are to the best interests of others.

 

[Two Angels]

I'm still unclear what their continued existence offers.

What exactly do they do?

Pretty much drive our tourism industry and give us excuses for days off work, so quite an important job in all.

 

[Findlebob]

I'm still unclear what their continued existence offers.

What exactly do they do?

The prime minister still has to report to the queen once a week. But other than that its mainly events and traditional reasons. At least to my knowledge.

 

[Tharwen]

They really don't do much...

They're just like relatively sane celebrities who visit lots of sick children and open schools. We could do without them, but they're a lot like a landmark: Functionally useless but part of a national identity nonetheless.

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

Ok, my first post ever here so take it easy on me.
ok, i am all or the royals gaining some power, the final say and when we go to war. Cause so far, the British government have done some piss poor things.

Do i think that ruling because of your birth is good? No
Do i think being elected and doing a shit job of it is better? No
Do i think that being Brought up learning how to rule instead of being elected and winging it is better? yes.

Right now, i really think the only person who actually cares about the uk and the commonwealth is the queen. I mean can anyone in a commonwealth country truly say they care what's happening in another commonwealth country if it doesn't effect them?

To everyone outside of the UK, if you don't like hearing about the wedding, make something interesting happen in your own country's.

Anyone in the UK, grow up. most of us get a day off and in one of the best days of the year to just relax, and for the bartender. im sorry you don't get the day off. You got into bar tending, maybe not by choice but that's your job, think of the tips.

You make a good point, no amount of saying they bring in tourism and they're good embassadors is gonna convince me of their worth but having one person to rule a country in my opinion COULD be a better system than our current one.
I'd still prefer if this person was elected, but instead of being elected for 4-5 years, they get maybe 10-15 years.
Because at the minute, our prime ministers only concentrate on very very short term goals so that they'll be re-elected again, they never think of long term. which isnt what is best for us, im not saying a monarch is what we need because if they gained any real power again they would probably become currupt.
But i think if our prime ministers were given longer terms they'd be able to create more stable and coherant policies.

EDIT: also, welcome to the escapist

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I'm still unclear what their continued existence offers.

What exactly do they do?

Draw in millions of suckers tourists to pump their cash into our economy; act as status figures as a display of our massive political penis; rub other nations nose in the fact that our royal bloodline still stands today. The Royal family do some good for this tiny island nation I live on. Just think of all the money that will be spent on memorabilia, pointless decorations, food, furniture and alcohol for the upcoming Royal Wedding? Also there's a great sense of pride in our nation for actually having a Royal Family.

Yes they are most defintiely more along the lines of artifacts these days; but when people come to the UK they want to go to London; hey want to go to Buckingham palace. Not to mention being knighted by the queen is quite an honour.

 

[Legion]

I am very "meh" towards them. I don't really see the point in them being Royal any more seeing as the Queen is very little but a figurehead now, as others have said, they are simply state sponsored celebrities who bring in tourism.

I dislike them less now that they actually pay taxes though.

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

okay, so far there's been about 6 pages split almost equally between:
Yeah they're great, they bring in tourism, they're ambassadors, they do charity work.

I dont really care (mainly people who arent from the UK)

and finally, No they suck, generally the reason being that actually having a monarchy is undemocratic and many people feel they're a wast of space.

So what im now going to say is, Personally i think the actual institution of a monarchy is incredibly fascist, the fact that one bloodline rules the country pretty much sums up what is wrong with the country.. and its the same with our prime ministers, Im almost certain all of the prime ministerial candidates at the last election went to eton college, and then oxford to study the same degree. Nick clegg got fast tracked into politics because of his dads position. The top 2 candidates for the leader of labour are brothers... Our country is ruled by the upper class, whether we have a monarchy or not, so either way its BS

 

[Azure-Supernova]

and finally, No they suck, generally the reason being that actually having a monarchy is undemocratic and many people feel they're a wast of space.

Hell at least in the days of old shit got done

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

and finally, No they suck, generally the reason being that actually having a monarchy is undemocratic and many people feel they're a wast of space.

Hell at least in the days of old shit got done

lol tbh if monarchs werent currupt, it'd be wayyyy better, so much less red tape and bureaucracy, you're right shit would get done...but if monarchs werent currupt we wouldnt have had a republican dictator (irony) come along and slaughter all the royalists.

 

[Jedoro]

They seem to be government-sponsored celebrities. Hell, the ones we have in Hollywood get on my nerves, why would I care for some that are funded through tax dollars?

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

i think there should be an indifference option there. i really don't care, don't love them don't hate them, there's nothing special about them, they're just another family to me, another family who i don't know, so of course i don't have an opinion on them, especially since the seat of king/queen lost all official power.

the middle 2 options are for those who have no strong feelings

 

[amucha98]

.

 

[Dogstile]

They bring in a profit. Currently, they can stay if thats all they do.

However I am actually interested in the royal wedding. A day off? Fuck yeah! Royal wedding drinking game anyone?

 

[Echo136]

I live in Michigan. Not Wales. Is there some reason I should care at all about this wedding?

 

[standokan]

I really detest the dutch royal family, I don't know if it's like a puberty angst anarchy thing or just genuine honest detest(ence?)