How does the United Kingdom view the monarch?

[GodsPetMonkey]

Whether the head of the royal family is the head of state or not doesn’t really matter. Think about it, does the Queen have any power? None, absolutely none.

Now, I can’t speak for the British, but here in Australia, the only purpose she serves is to have her head carved on the back of our coins (one less decision to worry about). Effectively, our head of state is our Governor General (really the Queens representative) who is selected by the Prime Minister anyway. It’s a good system, if we were to become a 'republic' I should doubt it would change, rather then a Governor General we would have a President, same system, makes sense doesn’t it. All the Governor General does is sign the paper of what ever is passed by parliament anyway (as the Queen's Representative), so he doesn’t hold any real power.

Actually, I tell I lie, he does hold a power, the power to sack the ruling government, pretty nifty, only ever used once though.

I should imagine that the British would keep the same political system that is has now if they removed the Queen, the head of state would just be selected by parliament. Only problem is what do you put on the coins?

Actually, now that I think about it, what does a head of state do? Really, I don’t think Australia would notice if we didn’t have one, one less formality to worry about.

I think the reason why this Queen vs Republic thing keeps on popping up is because someone is confusing her with someone who has power. Probably Americans, they give to much power to their head of state. You deserve Bush, its your own fault the system is broken.

I doubt Australia will get rid of the Queen soon though, and not because we cant decide on what to replace here with, but rather because we would hate to lose a public holiday. Long live the Queen, because I love it how I don’t have to work when it’s her birthday!

GodsPetMonkey - Not caring who is the head of state, as long as he/she gives me a holiday.

 

[Hamlet]

Originally posted by polymath
It's called freedom of choice, MrPresident, and please explain why the hell I should vote for people who don't represent my views? Run for office? You already know my views on politicians. I certainly don't want to mix with the grubby little toe-ers of the party line!

Suggest an alternative then or hush.

It's very easy to make a lot of noise about the system but not to suggest how to improve upon that. It's also intellectual laziness.

 

[MrPresident]

does the Queen have any power?

She decides the government in a hung parliament.

It's an annual day to honor the President, whoever he is at the time.

I thought it was the combination of George Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays.

It's called freedom of choice, MrPresident, and please explain why the hell I should vote for people who don't represent my views?

Who said anything about voting for a party. I just said you should vote. If this means spoiling your ballot then so be it.

Yeah, right, they've tried to change their bank balance and the amount of influence they wield.

Do you really think that you can become rich as a politican? If you do then I suggest you do a little research. I suggest looking at the different in wage bills between Cherie Blair and Tony Blair, I think you will be surprised.

Are you saying that I am to blame for these career politicians getting in, even though I've never voted for them, and the people who actually did vote them in have nothing to do with it? Funny!

Yes I am. If you are so intelligent and can easily spot a career politican then why don't you vote for the other person. That way you could stop such politicians from getting into office. However the problem with this is that you assume that every politician is a career one, now who is living in the clouds? As for running for office, why don't you? Are you afraid that you wouldn't get any support? Oh right you don't want to associate yourself with them. I wonder what you would do if you got arrested for something, probably call a lawyer and we all know that they are much better than politicians.....

To finish off I have a question, if democracy is so bad what do you suggest as a better form of government?

 

[newfangle]

The faster the monarchy is abolished, the faster Canada will be able to sever the rest of the weakening ties with Great Britain.

But it doesn't matter because GB is just a colony for the US now. Tony Blair is basically Bush's secretary.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Originally posted by newfangle
The faster the monarchy is abolished, the faster Canada will be able to sever the rest of the weakening ties with Great Britain.

But it doesn't matter because GB is just a colony for the US now. Tony Blair is basically Bush's secretary.

We refer to him as Bush's poodle.

 

[amadeus]

Why does agreeing with the U.S. make Tony Blair "Bush's poodle?"

Does the United Kingdom have to fight on the side of Saddam Hussein to make you happy?

 

[Ozz]

Originally posted by newfangle
The faster the monarchy is abolished, the faster Canada will be able to sever the rest of the weakening ties with Great Britain.

Is this a supposed to be a good thing?
I've noticed the more we "sever" our ties
to our past (oh so P.C.) the more Canada
slides into a mediorce, holyer than thou
do nothin' piece of crap of country.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
Why does agreeing with the U.S. make Tony Blair "Bush's poodle?"

Does the United Kingdom have to fight on the side of Saddam Hussein to make you happy?

WHY THE **** WOULD I ENDORSE SADDAM HUSSEIN??????

Sure, to you Americans the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' concept might be perfectablly acceptable but some of us have got morales you know.

 

[amadeus]

No, but the thing is, that whenever someone agrees with the United States, you try to shoot them down by saying they're a puppet of the American government!

 

[ComradeDavo]

Whenever someone disagrees with you you call them a 'bleeding heart liberal' and whenever someone disgrees with the United States you demand they be bombed!

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Originally posted by ComradeDavo
Whenever someone disagrees with you you call them a 'bleeding heart liberal' and whenever someone disgrees with the United States you demand they be bombed!

You say that as if it were a bad thing..,

 

[MrPresident]

You say that as if it were a bad thing..,

You say that as if it is funny.

Why does agreeing with the U.S. make Tony Blair "Bush's poodle?"

Because he won't let the public disagree with his agreement, if you know what I mean.

 

[monkeyman116]

Long live the empire! Reconquista! Defragmentation! Whether its capoital's at London, or Washington, or Canberra or whatever, a single English state is what we want, or rather, a single English speaking state if Irland Scotland and Wales want to join.

 

[EdwardTking]

Originally posted by ComradeDavo


We refer to him as Bush's poodle.

Umm

"God save George Bush's poodle.."


doesn't quite shine!


One more absurd reason for sticking with Queen Bess!

 

[CurtSibling]

Originally posted by ComradeDavo


We refer to him as Bush's poodle.

Sorry, comrade, I don't.

Mr Blair doesn't agree with every word Mr Bush utters.
You are just going by some of the more sensationalist media view.

We are the USA's main alliance partner.

If you like it or not, the UK and USA are a good team.

 

[CurtSibling]

Originally posted by MrPresident

You say that as if it is funny.

Because he won't let the public disagree with his agreement, if you know what I mean.

We can disagree if we want!
What is Blair going to do?

Break out the SAS and Royal Air Force on the masses?

Gimme a break!

PS
If he cracks down on unwashed crusty scum every May day parade, Blair gets my vote!

 

[ComradeDavo]

Originally posted by CurtSibling


Sorry, comrade, I don't.

Mr Blair doesn't agree with every word Mr Bush utters.
You are just going by some of the more sensationalist media view.

We are the USA's main alliance partner.

If you like it or not, the UK and USA are a good team.

Aye Curt, I was refering to the Mirror's description of him.

 

[CurtSibling]

Understood...

Party on.

 

[MrPresident]

We can disagree if we want! What is Blair going to do?

He could take us into a war with Iraq that the public might not want.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Originally posted by MrPresident

He could take us into a war with Iraq that the public might not want.

In such circumstances, it is clear that the public does not know what is good for them, having had their opinion hijacked and perverted by evil socialists and media.
Anyway, I thought is was George Michael who referred to Blair as Bush's poodle. George Michael and the Daily Mirror - both examples of great, in-depth political analysis.

And one was not joking or being funny when saying what one did, my dear young fellow. Just expressing that one prefers that type of the spectrum to the alternative.