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This being the Jubilee year i should be filled with a sense of pride in my country, it is after all a landmark occasion, there have been celebrations up and down the country, my mum even went to take photos of the Queen, but i can't help thinking is it really worth it.

Is the Monarchy in this country worth the enormous taxes that are paid to them so they live more comfortably, is the moarchy worth the time and expense, i know they bring in tourists, but does that help the people waiting for a bed on the NHS that could rightly have used the money that was instead given to someone who already has more than they need...

So, pro's and con's of the British Monarchy?

They provide jobs for tabloid writers and paparazzi(sp?), whether that's a pro or a con is up to your own opinions though...
And let's not forget Prince "Harry Pothead" Harry's scandalous little episode...
That was good for a few laughs.

That depends. Aside from the entertainment value they provide, what do they do?

Originally posted by Sojourner
That depends. Aside from the entertainment value they provide, what do they do?

Apparently they provide the country with income from tourism, i have often wondered if the cost outweighs the income.

hmm from what i know, they dont do much that earns money.
Rather they use a great deal of it up.

Originally posted by CM
hmm from what i know, they dont do much that earns money.
Rather they use a great deal of it up.

Exactly, so what is their function, i have lived in Britain all my life but i am yet to see them actually make any real difference to the country.

What about other countries, what do their King and Queen do?

Saudi - they actually run the country.
Jordan - Ditto
Morocco - As above.
I cant think of any more...japan as a royal family, but not sure what they do.

The royal families that i can think of are very interlinked with the day to day affairs of the country and its policies. The British royal family isnt. I really dont see a reason for them, unless it is tradition.

Originally posted by CM
The royal families that i can think of are very interlinked with the day to day affairs of the country and its policies. The British royal family isnt. I really dont see a reason for them, unless it is tradition.

It probably is tradition more than anything else, the idea that we need a monarchy is very archaic, if they don't provide a purpose then what is their function for society.

The only upside of them is that the whole country gets behind them in years such as this, everyone comes out to see the Queen parade around, but then i have never been particularly nationalistic, so it doesnt' really work for me.

CHOP CHOP

seriously

I think that the monarchy offends against our most cherished principles.

Democracy
The head of state should be elected by the people.

Justice
These people are in many cases above the law and they have reached their position of relative power just because of birth right.

Freedom
I think it is a right of all citizens to try to become head of state - an English person is not free to do so.

Equality
These people have titles and privileges that put them before all other citizens.

So what does it matter that they bring in a few penny’s in tourist income. Anyway France is the most visited country in the world and we all know what they did to their monarchy.

I also think that the monarchy keeps the class system well and alive - this exasperates the inequality in the UK.

Actually

seriously CHOP CHOP

Originally posted by Tom
seriously CHOP CHOP

Charity starts at home, and revolution starts on SYM! Viva la revolution!

Seriously i agree with all that Tom says, the monarchy is at best pointless and at worst damaging to society.

Originally posted by Mr Sleep


Charity starts at home, and revolution starts on SYM! Viva la revolution!

Seriously i agree with all that Tom says, the monarchy is at best pointless and at worst damaging to society.

YAHAAAAAAA Put them up against the wall - the filthy oppressing bastards. ptua.

Barricade the streets and fall hopelessly in love with vulnerable girls.

Nothing like a good revolution

Originally posted by Tom


YAHAAAAAAA Put them up against the wall - the filthy oppressing bastards. ptua.

Barricade the streets and fall hopelessly in love with vulnerable girls.

Nothing like a good revolution

I see no problems with this equation

Originally posted by Mr Sleep


I see no problems with this equation

Go the revolution!

I agree completely with Tom here. The fact that sweden also has a king is imo one of the most embarrasing facts ever.

Especialy since he makes stupid political statements from time to time. (wich he isnt allowed to do)

If the monarch has a function as the head of state, as in Jordania, Saudi, Morocco etc, then the monarch has a function and whether it should be like this or not is another discussion.

The symbolic monarchy we have in many European countries is IMO totally pointless and a tradition that should be abolished since it is against so many principles that are fundamental in society (like Tom points out).

Originally posted by Dottie
Especialy since he makes stupid political statements from time to time. (wich he isnt allowed to do)

It's kind of weird, because the king has privileges like other citizens do not have...at the same time he lacks rights that other citizens do have.

E!

The british monarchy is much like our own little monarchy here in the us. Celebrities. They serve little purpose (sure they make movies but really its just work) and they get paid and respected too damn much. Celebrities and the British Monarcy put in like (X work) and recieve X100 in return. Its crap but its just what is. Imagine a world without simple distractions for morons, I mean what would all the idiots do"?


thug

Re: E!

Originally posted by RandomThug
The british monarchy is much like our own little monarchy here in the us. Celebrities. They serve little purpose (sure they make movies but really its just work) and they get paid and respected too damn much. Celebrities and the British Monarcy put in like (X work) and recieve X100 in return. Its crap but its just what is. Imagine a world without simple distractions for morons, I mean what would all the idiots do"?


thug

Start thinking for themselves?

Re: E!

Originally posted by RandomThug
Imagine a world without simple distractions for morons

Like computer games?

I'm going to take a stance opposing popular opinion. The monarchy isn't a waste of money or time in my opinion. At least not ideally. A good monarchy will represent the inherint nature of a state. A noble family becomes that way through displaying great leadership and skill, and I would take considerable difference with anyone who claims the British Royal Family has not provided strong leadership during crisis's. WW2 for example, the queen mother earned the respect and admiration of millions. The current laughs at the expense of royalty (and celebrities) for that matter I find laughable. Judge not lest ye be judged. A prince was caught smoking pot, OH DEAR!
For all their priviliges and lifestyle, they pay for it in spades for being under the constant scrutiny of the public.
I'm just a nationalist, sworn to defend queen and country. Pay me no heed, but there are many people who feel strongly that the monarchy is a good thing.

Originally posted by Obsidian
A prince was caught smoking pot, OH DEAR!

I couldn't agree more, the amusement I gained from the 'Harry Pothead' scandal was in the way the media worldwide treated it as some terrible scandal, when really all it was was one more teenager experimenting. However as it was the Prince it was in all the magazines, newspapers etc.

Whilst I think Australia should and will become a republic (there was a referendum a few years back but our Prime Minister, a committed Monarchist, manipulated the question so it had no chance of passing and now claims that ends the issue), As Obidian argues many people have strong feelings of loyalty to the Crown, which is IMO a lot of the reason why the system remains thus.