Should we abolish the Royal family?

[Gandalf]

Personally, I feel that the monarchy has no relevance within a supposedly democratic model. The BBC has been pestering me with news about the Queens speech, and quite frankly, I couldn't give a shit about anything she has to say. I think all of her homes should be seized by the state and given to the homeless and needy.

So, a simple poll. Should they stay or should they go?

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Manic Street Preachers – Charles Windsor – Free listening at Last.fm


actually can't check if that'll work

[Gandalf]

Manic Street Preachers – Charles Windsor – Free listening at Last.fm


actually can't check if that'll work

I particularly like the refrain of "chop, chop, chop chop off their heads". It has a very catchy feel to it....

These buggers have all these privileges given to them from birth until the very last of them dies out. And there really is no justification for it, nor even any debate raised in the media about it. It's a farce, these people have no relevance. The Queen and her hubby should be forced to leave the palaces and cook their own soup in a bungalow in Worthing. I am quite serious.

[ryanman]

Yep, they should go.
Lots of people that say they should go point out the money they cost. People counter this by pointing out the money they bring to the economy.
But for me money is irrelevent here. The amounts involved make no difference to peoples lives. Sure, if the were costing every tax payer several hundred pounds a year, or bringing in billions to the economy then money would be relevent. But they don't.

For me, its simply a matter of being morally opposed to being the 'subject' of anybody. Id prefer to be a 'citizen' thanks.
Also, i hate the class system. For me the are the living embodiment of inequality and injustice. We will not be living in a truly 'classless' nation whilst they sit in their palaces, being served by 100s of people, simply due to their 'birth right'.
Basically, i hate the monster that is the class system. They represent the head of that monster.

[Gandalf]

Yep, they should go.
Lots of people that say they should go point out the money they cost. People counter this by pointing out the money they bring to the economy.
But for me money is irrelevent here. The amounts involved make no difference to peoples lives. Sure, if the were costing every tax payer several hundred pounds a year, or bringing in billions to the economy then money would be relevent. But they don't.

For me, its simply a matter of being morally opposed to being the 'subject' of anybody. Id prefer to be a 'citizen' thanks.
Also, i hate the class system. For me the are the living embodiment of inequality and injustice. We will not be living in a truly 'classless' nation whilst they sit in their palaces, being served by 100s of people, simply due to their 'birth right'.
Basically, i hate the monster that is the class system. They represent the head of that monster.

Well said.

I agree with pretty much everything you say here. We should have abolished the monarchy about the same time we surrendered most of the empire.

The Royal family doesn't bring in that much money IMO. People come to look at the buildings that these privileged people live in. It really isn't for the absurdity that is the Royal family themselves. Though I am sure there are some antiquated thinkers that are into that kind of thing.

The Royal family for me makes no sense in a supposedly democratic nation. They are there by default. You cannot vote them in, nor vote them out. They are there no matter what you do. On that principle they shouldn't be there at all.

[VictorCharlie]

Is the Royal family not independently wealthy?

[Gandalf]

Is the Royal family not independently wealthy?

At an earlier news conference, Queen Elizabeth II’s accountant, Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, pleaded with the British government for an extra £1 million a year, or about $2 million, to help fix the Windsors’ roof. “The annual cost per person in the country of funding the head of state amounts to 62 pence,” he said, somewhat apologetically. “There is good evidence that we continue to pursue value for money in running the royal household.”

This is from from the New York Times in 2007....apparently not so independant.

[Gandalf]

It is estimated that the Queen has an estimated wealth of $650, 000, 000....I don't think she has really earned all that in her life time of visiting countries trying to appease heads of state and making public speeches. She has all that wealth and she can still claim 62 pence per British person to fix her repairs and buy her gandchildren presents? It's a bit much for even any apologist of the Royal family.

[El Kabong]

NO! You have to keep the royal family....it helps us hate you and also when would we ever get to hear Sir Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind' if there was no Royal Family I simply didn't hear that song enough after Princess Di died.

....sorry for the rant, but I got a little fed up with the attention Americans pay to the British Royal family, we did fight 2 wars to have them NOT be any part of this country. That and when the US media dubbed the Kennedy's "America's Royal Family" got me a tad steamed too, it made me want to break out the fucking guillotine!!!

[BoxingGorilla]

I voted no.