Who Here Is A Republican?

[Rave]

I bloody am! As a Georgist libertarian humanist I detest most of Jeremy Corbyn's idiotic ideas but he's 100% right to snub the queen; he's also right to oppose Trident renewal, what an earth do we need WMDs for in the 21st century? Are North Korea or Iran going to nuke us to prove their point? If they are then let them die of cancer slowly and painfully trying to occupy our now polluted lands, while I'll have died painlessly being morally correct. The humans that survive will likely learn quite quickly that theology leads to misery.

[cica]

Maybe the nuclear threat from overseas isn't apparently precisely because we have a nuclear deterrent in the first place. I see both sides' points and ultimately we'd be better without them but it's not obvious to me that time is now.

[MrPin]

In theory I am a Republican. However I think the the Queen has been a good "Head of State", which was a job she never thought she would have. I especially like her husband Phil's great sense of humour. I dread the thought of President Blair.

[StainlessSteelCat]

What would be different from a Prime Minister Blair v a President Blair? It seems to me that the Queen is a figurehead and essentially powerless. If that's the case, what additional power would a President get?

How many nukes do you need to act as a deterrent? Perhaps 2-3 capable of reaching practically any country in the world would be enough? A couple to repeat Hiroshima/Nagasaki - and I suspect many leaders would be thinking twice. Add in the capability to quickly produce more if necessary - and surely that's enough?

North Korea barely seems to have any capability and yet people take baby steps around it.

[porca misèria]

The case for the Monarchy is rather similar to the case for the House of Lords, as so nicely expressed by W S Gilbert in 1882:

(Ouch, youtube is full of truly terrible videos of this).

When Britain really ruled the waves -
(In good Queen Bess's time)
The House of Peers made no pretence
To intellectual eminence,
Or scholarship sublime;
Yet Britain won her proudest bays
In good Queen Bess's glorious days!

When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte,
As every child can tell,
The House of Peers, throughout the war,
Did nothing in particular,
And did it very well:
Yet Britain set the world ablaze
In good King George's glorious days!

And while the House of Peers withholds
Its legislative hand,
And noble statesmen do not itch
To interfere with matters which
They do not understand,
As bright will shine Great Britain's rays
As in King George's glorious days!

[Hail the Tripod]

I bloody am! As a Georgist libertarian humanist I detest most of Jeremy Corbyn's idiotic ideas but he's 100% right to snub the queen; he's also right to oppose Trident renewal, what an earth do we need WMDs for in the 21st century? Are North Korea or Iran going to nuke us to prove their point? If they are then let them die of cancer slowly and painfully trying to occupy our now polluted lands, while I'll have died painlessly being morally correct. The humans that survive will likely learn quite quickly that theology leads to misery.

As a fellow Georgist libertarian humanist, I agree about quite a lot. Although I would rather keep Trident and get rid of the rest of the military.

Given that Safari tries to auto-correct Georgist, I think we may not be numerically significant.

[Longtermrenter]

I'm a Republican. Imagine president Blair? Yes, someone who, after a period of deciding we don't like them we can replace with president Attenborough or President nice guy. The point being there will be a choice not defined by DNA. I'm a member of Republic. Visit their site at Republic.org and you will find many of the common defences of the monarchy debunked.

Example: We need the monarchy for tourism. Look at the palace of Versailles. People still visit that.

[MrPin]

I'm a Republican. Imagine president Blair? Yes, someone who, after a period of deciding we don't like them we can replace with president Attenborough or President nice guy. The point being there will be a choice not defined by DNA. I'm a member of Republic. Visit their site at Republic.org and you will find many of the common defences of the monarchy debunked.

Example: We need the monarchy for tourism. Look at the palace of Versailles. People still visit that.

I did, and I bought a cup of tea and some china.

[winkie]

I know I can't be because I dislike guns.

[MrPin]

I know I can't be because I dislike guns.

I'll bet you have a 9mm repeater in your bedside cabinet.

[JoeDavola]

I dislike the royals but that really churns my stomach are the plebs who worship them, who go out if their way to try and meet them and treat them with such adoration and admiration.

Why are they loved? It's a bunch of rich c*nts born into money who think your a pleb and beneath them, and your grovelling behaviour only proves it further.

[MrPin]

I dislike the royals but that really churns my stomach are the plebs who worship them, who go out if their way to try and meet them and treat them with such adoration and admiration.

Why are they loved? It's a bunch of rich c*nts born into money who think you're a pleb and beneath them, and your grovelling behaviour only proves it further.

I'm in Grammar Nazi mode.

I dislike fame and royalty. I hate "bigheads" in general.

[MrPin]

Obviously a nice hat makes you important. I have no connection with the "Pin Hat Company", apart from shares.

[Mrs Bear]

In theory I am a Republican. However I think the the Queen has been a good "Head of State", which was a job she never thought she would have. I especially like her husband Phil's great sense of humour. I dread the thought of President Blair.

Yes, with Cherie as First Lady. Every time I get a twinge of republicanism I think of that.

[MrPin]

Yes, with Cherie as First Lady. Every time I get a twinge of republicanism I think of that.

I'm a bit disappointed I haven't been Knighted yet, apart from that, the Queen Liz 2 has been OK.

I never met the Queen, but one of my college chums dad's got an OBE for running China properly, and another mate's dad got an MBE for being really cultured, and having a complete lack of modesty. I think my dad deserves a medal now!

[knock out johnny]

So, my solution is as follows. I would firstly eradicate the corrupt house of Lords and create a series of regional assemblies with each region having identical regional powers. These regions would send representatives to an upper house to oversee the executive turning our democracy on its head. But I would also reserve seats for special interests such as the various professions, unions etc etc to provide specialist knowledge and experience.

Yayyy!

Because another tier of government (and it's ensuing cost - and undoubtedly the extra level of taxation) is the solution

Oh, and who decides who the special interests for the reserve seats

Your solution sounds like a bloody mess

[Riedquat]

I'm not particularly republican but would probably shift pretty rapidly if the monarchy decided to go back to a more than ceremonial role.

[Guest_northshore_*]

Something like that, maybe Georgist limited government atheist. As far as I'm concerned there are no good wars which means non-interventionism and limited/no government military.

[porca misèria]

I'm not particularly republican but would probably shift pretty rapidly if the monarchy decided to go back to a more than ceremonial role.

You mean like that Right Charlie campaigning on his pet issues? Thick as my bowel movements, but gets the ear of the press because of who he is.

[LiveinHope]

You mean like that Right Charlie campaigning on his pet issues? Thick as my bowel movements, but gets the ear of the press because of who he is.

Met all the senior royals except Edward and I wouldn't class any of them as 'thick', but it's all relative.

[knock out johnny]

Met all the senior royals except Edward and I wouldn't class any of them as 'thick', but it's all relative.

Yeah, but it's always easier to play the man than the ball when pushing for republicanism

[Riedquat]

You mean like that Right Charlie campaigning on his pet issues? Thick as my bowel movements, but gets the ear of the press because of who he is.

Possibly. Depends on how much I happen to agree with his opinions. I've given up being fair and have decided a thoroughly authoritarian dictator would be fine just as long as he happened to agree with me. I find it too hard to care about other people any more.

[Qetesuesi]

The humans that survive will likely learn quite quickly that theology leads to misery.

Best aware us on NK's theology then.

You mean like that Right Charlie campaigning on his pet issues? Thick as my bowel movements, but gets the ear of the press because of who he is.

Sure, but people ought to be consistent - I don't hear similar grumbling about pop stars or other celebrities making political statements etc. What exactly has Angelina Jolie done to qualify as a UN ambassador?

[porca misèria]

Sure, but people ought to be consistent - I don't hear similar grumbling about pop stars or other celebrities making political statements etc. What exactly has Angelina Jolie done to qualify as a UN ambassador?

I've no idea (I've heard the name but wouldn't recognise her or associate her with whatever-she's-done). What did she do to become a celebrity in the first place? Was it purely an accident of birth? Was she the one who famously had lady-parts removed 'cos of some genetic problem? Besides, if she's a person of charisma and who gets on well with people, could it not be the same skillset that qualifies her for both celebrity and a UN role?

[edit] Didn't some spice girl get some kind of prestigious diplomatic gig when they broke up?

[Steppenpig]

I was a signed up member for a while a couple of decades ago. (Just a magazine subscription, nothing active). I still think the royals are an abhorrent shower, but can't really see any thing better coming out of the current system. The problem is, the political establishment is so rotten, and stupid to boot, they would never set anything up that would noble and worthwhile, as it would spoil their own gravy train.

Funnily enough, the (ceremonial) German president is an excellent example of a popular and respected figure, he was an East German pastor who rallied support for the end of the DDR, but his canditaure was opposed by the political parties. He only got in after their slimey generic party politcal placeholder had to resign for variuos dubious stuff.