Rob
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Post by Rob on Apr 26, 2022 22:22:16 GMT -5
Besides maintaining a tradition, what purpose do the royals serve? I think, in some ways, they help keep their country together.
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 27, 2022 5:27:58 GMT -5
Besides maintaining a tradition, what purpose do the royals serve? A better purpose than a whole load of useless, greedy, self-serving politicians!
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 27, 2022 5:35:10 GMT -5
Well I know you do support it, but what for? It’s a figurehead position really. Yah, yah, constitution and all that I guess. But really serves no purpose other than figurehead and tourist attraction. The point is we have a Head of State who is NOT a politician, who represents the whole country, but isn't concerned about the next election etc.
FYI some people want to replace a ceremonial Monarch with a ceremonial President, but the UK Political Class wouldn't go for that, because they'd want the Full-Fat US style Presidency with, of course, them in the role!
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 27, 2022 6:51:16 GMT -5
You have to remember that Her Majesty isn't just the head of the United Kingdom, she is also the head of the Commonwealth, 54 countries, which comprises nearly one in three people on this planet.
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 27, 2022 11:28:39 GMT -5
Well I know you do support it, but what for? It’s a figurehead position really. Yah, yah, constitution and all that I guess. But really serves no purpose other than figurehead and tourist attraction. The point is we have a Head of State who is NOT a politician, who represents the whole country, but isn't concerned about the next election etc.
FYI some people want to replace a ceremonial Monarch with a ceremonial President, but the UK Political Class wouldn't go for that, because they'd want the Full-Fat US style Presidency with, of course, them in the role!
So the whim of a single person who lives in luxury? Again I have no issue with QEII. She’s been a very good leader. But that is a lot of power for one person who has no direct accountability for it.
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 27, 2022 11:30:33 GMT -5
You have to remember that Her Majesty isn't just the head of the United Kingdom, she is also the head of the Commonwealth, 54 countries, which comprises nearly one in three people on this planet. I don’t forget. We’re one of them. Her image is on a lot of our currency. Despite that I feel no particular obligation to the Royal family.
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 27, 2022 11:48:11 GMT -5
But that is a lot of power for one person who has no direct accountability for it. Actually marty, she has very little power. She can guide, steer, influence the leaders of parliament, but we still live in a democracy and it is our elected representatives that make the laws. At the beginning of each political period, there is a grand ceremony where the Queen sits in all her regalia, on the throne and reads a speech about what laws will be enacted; The Queen's Speech. It is written by the politicians and given to her to read out.
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Post by Juli on Apr 27, 2022 14:07:40 GMT -5
Mal, I understand that the Royal Family aren't even allowed to vote, is that true?
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frodi
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Post by frodi on Apr 27, 2022 17:02:12 GMT -5
Besides maintaining a tradition, what purpose do the royals serve? Bread and circuses
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 27, 2022 18:53:11 GMT -5
So the whim of a single person who lives in luxury? Again I have no issue with QEII. She’s been a very good leader. But that is a lot of power for one person who has no direct accountability for it. I really don't think you understand the institution of the Monarchy.
The Queen is fully aware of what happened the last time a Monarch tried to interfere with the rule of Parliament (the English Civil War). She can comment and influence, but she has much less power than the billionaires who control much of the UK media, for example!
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 27, 2022 18:55:05 GMT -5
Mal, I understand that the Royal Family aren't even allowed to vote, is that true? They are allowed to vote.
They choose not to.
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 27, 2022 18:57:46 GMT -5
Besides maintaining a tradition, what purpose do the royals serve? Bread and circuses Nope, that's the job of our elected politicians, except they've managed to screw things up so badly, that many people can't even afford bread and so have to go to Food Banks in one of the richest countries in the world.
As for "Circuses", have you ever watched Prime Minister's Questions? It is literally a political Punch and Judy show.
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mank
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Post by mank on Apr 28, 2022 5:24:30 GMT -5
I have a question for those of you that reside west of the pond. What do you know, understand, think or care of Prince Harry's behaviour at the moment? He is all over our press, but they are saying that he is only acting this way for the sake of the American media. Do you, Mr & Mrs Middle America, even care about him? Are your press hyping him up? I know he is here but I don't pay much attention. I do know he is on the cover of my wife's People magazine. I think he and his wife Meghan have accused the royals of being racist if memory serves. Honestly, I don't care what he does and I don't quite get the "royal" behavior or rules that they follow. I will say I do think it is kind of cool since I do enjoy all the pomp and circumstance. And lastly, I think Queen Elizabeth Monarch of England is cool too.
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 28, 2022 6:38:36 GMT -5
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 28, 2022 6:57:31 GMT -5
So the whim of a single person who lives in luxury? Again I have no issue with QEII. She’s been a very good leader. But that is a lot of power for one person who has no direct accountability for it. I really don't think you understand the institution of the Monarchy.
The Queen is fully aware of what happened the last time a Monarch tried to interfere with the rule of Parliament (the English Civil War). She can comment and influence, but she has much less power than the billionaires who control much of the UK media, for example!
There’s a big difference between not understanding and actually not caring. I think Monarchy’s are extremely dated traditions. Many of them with a history of serious human rights violations. Again I live in Canada. Our Governor General, though appointed by our Prime Minister, is the Queen’s official representative in Canada. The GG has to sign off on any of the bills that make it through Parliament and the Senate to make them official. A few other symbolic responsibilities too of course. Including sitting in the Speaker’s chair at the opening of a session of parliament and reading the “Speech From the Throne” which is of course written by clever people in the PMO. But it is all just pomp and pageantry. The GG is a cushy gig that costs a lot of money (official residence, staff, etc.) and really does nothing at all. Not so unlike how you describe the Queen above. Did the Royal’s amass their wealth from shrewd investment in the markets using their hard-earned money slugging it out in a British Steel Mill? I’m thinking not so much. No doubt they would have great investment strategies now as they can afford it but that money came from the working citizens. Or farther into British history by colonizing poor countries and profiting off their natural resources. There’s almost certainly a lot of very dirty money in that vault.
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 28, 2022 11:02:01 GMT -5
The Crown Estate, which forms the largest part of the Queen's so-called wealth, is mostly based on vast swathes of the British countryside which she owns. She inherited it from her father who inherited it from his and so on. Your countries are relatively young, and you decided on your own methods of sharing out the land after you had slaughtered all the natives.
I think I prefer our method. I would doubt very much that there is much 'dirty money' sloshing about Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 28, 2022 12:27:42 GMT -5
There’s a big difference between not understanding and actually not caring.
Yet you said "that is a lot of power for one person who has no direct accountability for it". Why would you say that if you don't care?
Yes, they were. So were many other forms of governance.
You could say the same about most of the world's super rich.
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 28, 2022 16:41:33 GMT -5
There’s a big difference between not understanding and actually not caring.
Yet you said "that is a lot of power for one person who has no direct accountability for it". Why would you say that if you don't care?
Yes, they were. So were many other forms of governance.
You could say the same about most of the world's super rich.
1) Substitute “no vested interest” for “care.” Happy to opine but not interested enough to get all uppity about it. 2) Yes they were. Does this make it OK for anyone? 3) Yes you could. Again does this make it OK for everyone?
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 28, 2022 16:42:48 GMT -5
The Crown Estate, which forms the largest part of the Queen's so-called wealth, is mostly based on vast swathes of the British countryside which she owns. She inherited it from her father who inherited it from his and so on. Your countries are relatively young, and you decided on your own methods of sharing out the land after you had slaughtered all the natives. I think I prefer our method. I would doubt very much that there is much 'dirty money' sloshing about Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. We are indeed learning that our Canadian forefathers were probably alot worse to the natives than any of us previously learned or could have believed. I can’t fix the past but I can contribute towards a better future.
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graham
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Post by graham on Apr 28, 2022 18:22:19 GMT -5
1) Substitute “no vested interest” for “care.” Happy to opine but not interested enough to get all uppity about it. Which is answer enough.
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Post by mollypop on Apr 30, 2022 10:41:37 GMT -5
FRODI
Guess I'm not checking in as often these days but thanks Frodi for the drink - I'll be having a half and half (Guinness and HARP (not Bass) from my local Irish pub - 'The Celtic Ray' here in Punta Gorda, FL. They all know my name there and I know all of them. Love the place...
Lots of stuff has happened since I dropped out - Got Covid, in hospital for 6 weeks, could not use legs for 8 months and used crutches and walker. Wife died from Covid 2 days after I was discharged and 2 weeks after her diagnosis. Lost 1 dog to cancer and the other one just barely survived from cancer. I had a large squamous cell carcinoma on my left and now half of that ear has been removed. Right eye cataract surgery last week and left eye to be done in two weeks. Good news to follow...
- L -
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 30, 2022 10:55:22 GMT -5
Sorry to hear all that, mollypop, but good to see you back. Please don't ruin good Guinness by mixing it with anything but more Guinness.
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Post by mollypop on Apr 30, 2022 11:38:36 GMT -5
Malcolm,
You know that you don't actually MIX the drink as the Guinness stays on top of the ale, right? I guess it mixes on the way down? You knew of course the Black and Tan and the Half and Half beer mixes reflect distinct opposing Political and Religious views, right? NEVER order a 'Black and Tan' while in Ireland I learned.
In Ireland, you're either Catholic or Protestant - Southern Ireland (Catholic) [Green] or Northern Ireland (Protestant [Orange] choose your drinks carefully...
Ask Frodi to tell us how it works in the real world...
Thanks for the condolences Malcolm. I'll be back soon.
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 30, 2022 12:06:27 GMT -5
I have 25%c Irish heritage, and have spent enough time in pubs and bars in Ireland to know to take their drinks seriously. My relatives are from the south, but are Protestant. When someone daubed "Join the IRA" on a wall near my uncle's farm, he changed it to "Join the RAF".
I also know who the Black and Tans were, not remembered with much favour over there.
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frodi
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Post by frodi on Apr 30, 2022 14:17:35 GMT -5
Guinness and Harp Don't ever ask for that in an Irish pub, you'll be laughed at and then lynched on the spot. Harp used to be the only lager available on tap until it was invoked in the song DTs by Christy Moore who called it Hapric. Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. I'll buy you another drink as long as it's not Guinness and Harp.
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 30, 2022 15:28:53 GMT -5
FRODI Guess I'm not checking in as often these days but thanks Frodi for the drink - I'll be having a half and half (Guinness and HARP (not Bass) from my local Irish pub - 'The Celtic Ray' here in Punta Gorda, FL. They all know my name there and I know all of them. Love the place... Lots of stuff has happened since I dropped out - Got Covid, in hospital for 6 weeks, could not use legs for 8 months and used crutches and walker. Wife died from Covid 2 days after I was discharged and 2 weeks after her diagnosis. Lost 1 dog to cancer and the other one just barely survived from cancer. I had a large squamous cell carcinoma on my left and now half of that ear has been removed. Right eye cataract surgery last week and left eye to be done in two weeks. Good news to follow... - L - Jesus MP that’s quite a lot to hav gone through!
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Post by mollypop on Apr 30, 2022 19:44:00 GMT -5
Frodi - thanks for the drink, but this time it'll be Guinness and Bass - that ok?
Yeah Marty. Life can sometimes be a bitch but after all I've been through during my first 75 years, it's just gotta get easier, ya think?
-L-
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mank
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Post by mank on Apr 30, 2022 21:09:21 GMT -5
Thoughts and prayers for you Mollypop.
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frodi
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Post by frodi on May 1, 2022 11:53:13 GMT -5
Guinness and Bass, just about acceptable. Although you might find it a bit hard to find Bass in Irish pubs now. It's all been replace with craft ales.
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on May 1, 2022 12:08:36 GMT -5
Whatever happened to Beamish, frodi? That was all the rage when I used to go over in the 70s.
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