Should we abolish the Royal family?

[BIG H]

At least they'd be cheap on our taxes seeing as they all live in caves

Well that's just the leaders and such like individuals. The rest live in Upton Park.

Isn't that basically the same thing?

Queue HMH

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

That sounds ominous

[HattonTheHammer]

Well that's just the leaders and such like individuals. The rest live in Upton Park.

Isn't that basically the same thing?

Queue HMH

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

[Master]

Isn't that basically the same thing?

Queue HMH

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

You dip stick nothing to do with Shariah law but about having a republic.

[Kev]

Queue HMH

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

You dip stick nothing to do with Shariah law but about having a republic.

Because of course republics have a much better reputation.....

It's not often me and Kirklaind Laing agree but I'm 100 percent with him, in that the Queen is the best head of state we can possibly have.

@ Miles

I just don't understand your logic really. First off, yes the queen gets money to upkeep her homes, but come on these stately buildings are part of the nation's heritage a bit different from your gran's house.

Think of all the fantastic royal buildings we have, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster, they are amazing, some of the finest and most famous buildings on earth with hundreds, even thousands of years of history.

They are the Queen's property but in a sense belong to the whole nation. They are all open to the public, we can all go and visit most days of the year so what is the problem with public funds going towards their upkeep?

If you abolished the Royal Family it would still be public funds paying for the repairs and upkeep anyway.

And your gran probably can get help with essential repairs anyway, there are plenty of benefits out there for those in need.

As for your, 'inherited wealth should be taxed to death', well firstly it already is, we have inheritance tax after all, which I personally think sucks, but you seem to want to go even further and forceably take money from the rich to give to the government.

So are you a communist?

It's a fucking horrible philosophy and just ends up with nobody having anything.

Anybody who has worked for something is entitled to it. When they pass on their children are entitled to it. If they still have their wealth into the next generation they are entitled to it, and so forth.

Wanting to force them to hand over their money for some egalitarian plan is just theft imo. What would be the incentive to work hard and be succesful if all of your reward is taken from you in taxes and given to others?

It's a ridiculous, evil idea imo.

As for the queen, she does a tremendous job for this country as a faithful and loyal ambassador.

You never responded to this before but I put it to you again, has her life been one of a rich socialite living the highlife, indulging in excess and aristocratic vices? I really don't think it has, her life has been one of tireless service to this country. Think of all the diplomatic functions and visits she has to carry out, all the engagements, the rituals etc.

It's not a role I'd want in a million years, her wealth is nothing like that of a rock star, a footballer or an actor. Her wealth comes with immense responsibility and she has had to live a life of service and devotion to her country.

I am proud to say I love my queen and country and would oppose to the fullest any attempts at turning this nation into a republic with a Brown or Blairesque figure looming large as out head of state.

[Fenster]

Yeah the Queen's life is pretty shit when you think about it.

She especially struggles in Royal Ascot and Cheltenham week, supping champange in her private box whilst cheering on her millions of pounds worth of horse flesh.

Fuck the Queen. And the horse she rode in on.

[HattonTheHammer]

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

You dip stick nothing to do with Shariah law but about having a republic.

Because of course republics have a much better reputation.....

It's not often me and Kirklaind Laing agree but I'm 100 percent with him, in that the Queen is the best head of state we can possibly have.

@ Miles

I just don't understand your logic really. First off, yes the queen gets money to upkeep her homes, but come on these stately buildings are part of the nation's heritage a bit different from your gran's house.

Think of all the fantastic royal buildings we have, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster, they are amazing, some of the finest and most famous buildings on earth with hundreds, even thousands of years of history.

They are the Queen's property but in a sense belong to the whole nation. They are all open to the public, we can all go and visit most days of the year so what is the problem with public funds going towards their upkeep?

If you abolished the Royal Family it would still be public funds paying for the repairs and upkeep anyway.

And your gran probably can get help with essential repairs anyway, there are plenty of benefits out there for those in need.

As for your, 'inherited wealth should be taxed to death', well firstly it already is, we have inheritance tax after all, which I personally think sucks, but you seem to want to go even further and forceably take money from the rich to give to the government.

So are you a communist?

It's a fucking horrible philosophy and just ends up with nobody having anything.

Anybody who has worked for something is entitled to it. When they pass on their children are entitled to it. If they still have their wealth into the next generation they are entitled to it, and so forth.

Wanting to force them to hand over their money for some egalitarian plan is just theft imo. What would be the incentive to work hard and be succesful if all of your reward is taken from you in taxes and given to others?

It's a ridiculous, evil idea imo.

As for the queen, she does a tremendous job for this country as a faithful and loyal ambassador.

You never responded to this before but I put it to you again, has her life been one of a rich socialite living the highlife, indulging in excess and aristocratic vices? I really don't think it has, her life has been one of tireless service to this country. Think of all the diplomatic functions and visits she has to carry out, all the engagements, the rituals etc.

It's not a role I'd want in a million years, her wealth is nothing like that of a rock star, a footballer or an actor. Her wealth comes with immense responsibility and she has had to live a life of service and devotion to her country.

I am proud to say I love my queen and country and would oppose to the fullest any attempts at turning this nation into a republic with a Brown or Blairesque figure looming large as out head of state.

Once again completely bang on the mark

[Gandalf]

I happen to think some of the architecture is quite wonderful too, but if they are her homes then surely she is responsible for the upkeep. As it is, these homes are open to the public and at a cost. Surely this money would suffice for the upkeep of the properties. I don't understand why she should have any claim over taxpayers money. It was estimated that the Royal family cost the tax payer over 40 milllion pounds last year. Now look at the following article to see where this money went....

BBC NEWS | UK | Cost of Royal Family rises £1.5m

I see no way to justify it. I much prefer the idea of Graham Smith who suggested a cap on the Queens income at 200, 000 pounds a year. That's a mighty fine yearly salary for anyone! Surely, no one could have any complaints about that being better than what we currently have?

As for me possibly being a communist. Well, I wouldn't quite go that far. I am pretty left wing though in quite a bit of my thinking. Personally, I think the systems that we have in place today are becoming ever more evil and twisted too. The room for opportunity has seldom been this bad. The rich at the top are sucking it all dry and the banks are being handed over billions of pounds of hard working tax payers money just to keep the bubble afloat. The entire system is criminal. But at least we have the right to say what we want and be ignored by everyone!

I don't think keeping most of the wealth in society in the hands of a limited number of families who are free to manipulate the system through cronyism is a very good idea. It's best to funnel that wealth away from them and to stimulate the areas of society which suffer most. The 'have not's' deserve the opportunity to try and make something of themselves too. But I am digressing here away from talking specifically about the Royal family and going into a bit of a diatribe at what is taking place right now before our very eyes. But, no I'm not a communist. I'm more a humanist with strong socialist leanings.

In response to your final point, the Queen has a standard of living far beyond the reach of most ordinary people. If anybody was able to command millions of pounds for performing her duties, I'm sure they would jump at the chance too! But as it is, unless you are in the bloodline then you haven't a chance. It doesn't matter to me that she hasn't been galivanting and living it up in expensive clubs and collecting airplanes as a hobby. She does though have private cooks who cook her the finest food she desires all paid for by the humble old taxpayer. Why can't she cook her own tin of soup like I am most other people have to?

I'm not really into the salaries of top football players either, but they are paid by the people who are willing to pay money to watch games. Nobody is forcing people to buy tickets or watch football. There is a demand and the market stipulates that top players earn a lot more than the lowly minnions in the lesser leagues. I don't like that, but the taxpayers are not funding it so it doesn't matter so much. I can choose not to watch a game, but I am unable to stipulate who the head of state should be. The market does not respond to the Royal family in quite the same way.

The country is pretty much a republic anyway. Gordon Brown is the leader and what he wants generally gets passed as long as the house agrees. The Queen is head of state in name only.

[HattonTheHammer]

I happen to think some of the architecture is quite wonderful too, but if they are her homes then surely she is responsible for the upkeep. As it is, these homes are open to the public and at a cost. Surely this money would suffice for the upkeep of the properties. I don't understand why she should have any claim over taxpayers money. It was estimated that the Royal family cost the tax payer over 40 milllion pounds last year. Now look at the following article to see where this money went....

BBC NEWS | UK | Cost of Royal Family rises �1.5m

I see no way to justify it. I much prefer the idea of Graham Smith who suggested a cap on the Queens income at 200, 000 pounds a year. That's a mighty fine yearly salary for anyone! Surely, no one could have any complaints about that being better than what we currently have?

As for me possibly being a communist. Well, I wouldn't quite go that far. I am pretty left wing though in quite a bit of my thinking. Personally, I think the systems that we have in place today are becoming ever more evil and twisted too. The room for opportunity has seldom been this bad. The rich at the top are sucking it all dry and the banks are being handed over billions of pounds of hard working tax payers money just to keep the bubble afloat. The entire system is criminal. But at least we have the right to say what we want and be ignored by everyone!

I don't think keeping most of the wealth in society in the hands of a limited number of families who are free to manipulate the system through cronyism is a very good idea. It's best to funnel that wealth away from them and to stimulate the areas of society which suffer most. The 'have not's' deserve the opportunity to try and make something of themselves too. But I am digressing here away from talking specifically about the Royal family and going into a bit of a diatribe at what is taking place right now before our very eyes. But, no I'm not a communist. I'm more a humanist with strong socialist leanings.

In response to your final point, the Queen has a standard of living far beyond the reach of most ordinary people. If anybody was able to command millions of pounds for performing her duties, I'm sure they would jump at the chance too! But as it is, unless you are in the bloodline then you haven't a chance. It doesn't matter to me that she hasn't been galivanting and living it up in expensive clubs and collecting airplanes as a hobby. She does though have private cooks who cook her the finest food she desires all paid for by the humble old taxpayer. Why can't she cook her own tin of soup like I am most other people have to?

I'm not really into the salaries of top football players either, but they are paid by the people who are willing to pay money to watch games. Nobody is forcing people to buy tickets or watch football. There is a demand and the market stipulates that top players earn a lot more than the lowly minnions in the lesser leagues. I don't like that, but the taxpayers are not funding it so it doesn't matter so much. I can choose not to watch a game, but I am unable to stipulate who the head of state should be. The market does not respond to the Royal family in quite the same way.

The country is pretty much a republic anyway. Gordon Brown is the leader and what he wants generally gets passed as long as the house agrees. The Queen is head of state in name only.

worth every penny!!

[Kev]

I happen to think some of the architecture is quite wonderful too, but if they are her homes then surely she is responsible for the upkeep. As it is, these homes are open to the public and at a cost. Surely this money would suffice for the upkeep of the properties. I don't understand why she should have any claim over taxpayers money. It was estimated that the Royal family cost the tax payer over 40 milllion pounds last year. Now look at the following article to see where this money went....

BBC NEWS | UK | Cost of Royal Family rises �1.5m

I see no way to justify it. I much prefer the idea of Graham Smith who suggested a cap on the Queens income at 200, 000 pounds a year. That's a mighty fine yearly salary for anyone! Surely, no one could have any complaints about that being better than what we currently have?

As for me possibly being a communist. Well, I wouldn't quite go that far. I am pretty left wing though in quite a bit of my thinking. Personally, I think the systems that we have in place today are becoming ever more evil and twisted too. The room for opportunity has seldom been this bad. The rich at the top are sucking it all dry and the banks are being handed over billions of pounds of hard working tax payers money just to keep the bubble afloat. The entire system is criminal. But at least we have the right to say what we want and be ignored by everyone!

I don't think keeping most of the wealth in society in the hands of a limited number of families who are free to manipulate the system through cronyism is a very good idea. It's best to funnel that wealth away from them and to stimulate the areas of society which suffer most. The 'have not's' deserve the opportunity to try and make something of themselves too. But I am digressing here away from talking specifically about the Royal family and going into a bit of a diatribe at what is taking place right now before our very eyes. But, no I'm not a communist. I'm more a humanist with strong socialist leanings.

In response to your final point, the Queen has a standard of living far beyond the reach of most ordinary people. If anybody was able to command millions of pounds for performing her duties, I'm sure they would jump at the chance too! But as it is, unless you are in the bloodline then you haven't a chance. It doesn't matter to me that she hasn't been galivanting and living it up in expensive clubs and collecting airplanes as a hobby. She does though have private cooks who cook her the finest food she desires all paid for by the humble old taxpayer. Why can't she cook her own tin of soup like I am most other people have to?

I'm not really into the salaries of top football players either, but they are paid by the people who are willing to pay money to watch games. Nobody is forcing people to buy tickets or watch football. There is a demand and the market stipulates that top players earn a lot more than the lowly minnions in the lesser leagues. I don't like that, but the taxpayers are not funding it so it doesn't matter so much. I can choose not to watch a game, but I am unable to stipulate who the head of state should be. The market does not respond to the Royal family in quite the same way.

The country is pretty much a republic anyway. Gordon Brown is the leader and what he wants generally gets passed as long as the house agrees. The Queen is head of state in name only.

Out of interest Miles how far does your desire to see the 'have nots' empowered extend?

You seem to have no problem with the Royal family and other rich families having their inherited wealth taken from them but what about yours?

Are you not, purely by virtue of birth a beneficiary of being born into glorious first world country, which in comparison with most of the most is fabulously wealthy beyond compare?

As you, I and all the rest of us inherited this land purely by birthright is it really fair that we get to enjoy it rather than those in struggling third world countries?

I presume you support not only uncontrolled immigration but also a compulsary repatriation process whereby British citizens are selected to trade places with those from Africa, Indian and the Arab countries so as to redisperse the wealth in as fair a way as possible?

Do you feel this way? Does our great wealth as a first world country also rightly belong to our cousins in the second and third worlds?

Or do you think Britain's wealth, in which we partake soley as a result of heredity birthright is for the people of Britain only?

[Kirkland Laing]

Yeah the Queen's life is pretty shit when you think about it.

She especially struggles in Royal Ascot and Cheltenham week, supping champange in her private box whilst cheering on her millions of pounds worth of horse flesh.

Fuck the Queen. And the horse she rode in on.

Where would the horse-racing industry be without royal patronage over the years? The Saudis definitely wouldn't have come here if they couldn't have got the opportunity of drinkies with the royals, they'd be based in France or America. There isn't aanything they touch that doesn't disproportionately benefit the thing. If you boot them out you get a cunt like Blair doing the same things, costing far more money, and bringing to every occasion he graces all the class and glamour of an unconvicted war criminal.

I happen to think some of the architecture is quite wonderful too, but if they are her homes then surely she is responsible for the upkeep. As it is, these homes are open to the public and at a cost. Surely this money would suffice for the upkeep of the properties. I don't understand why she should have any claim over taxpayers money. It was estimated that the Royal family cost the tax payer over 40 milllion pounds last year. Now look at the following article to see where this money went....

BBC NEWS | UK | Cost of Royal Family rises �1.5m

I see no way to justify it. I much prefer the idea of Graham Smith who suggested a cap on the Queens income at 200, 000 pounds a year. That's a mighty fine yearly salary for anyone! Surely, no one could have any complaints about that being better than what we currently have?

As for me possibly being a communist. Well, I wouldn't quite go that far. I am pretty left wing though in quite a bit of my thinking. Personally, I think the systems that we have in place today are becoming ever more evil and twisted too. The room for opportunity has seldom been this bad. The rich at the top are sucking it all dry and the banks are being handed over billions of pounds of hard working tax payers money just to keep the bubble afloat. The entire system is criminal. But at least we have the right to say what we want and be ignored by everyone!

I don't think keeping most of the wealth in society in the hands of a limited number of families who are free to manipulate the system through cronyism is a very good idea. It's best to funnel that wealth away from them and to stimulate the areas of society which suffer most. The 'have not's' deserve the opportunity to try and make something of themselves too. But I am digressing here away from talking specifically about the Royal family and going into a bit of a diatribe at what is taking place right now before our very eyes. But, no I'm not a communist. I'm more a humanist with strong socialist leanings.

In response to your final point, the Queen has a standard of living far beyond the reach of most ordinary people. If anybody was able to command millions of pounds for performing her duties, I'm sure they would jump at the chance too! But as it is, unless you are in the bloodline then you haven't a chance. It doesn't matter to me that she hasn't been galivanting and living it up in expensive clubs and collecting airplanes as a hobby. She does though have private cooks who cook her the finest food she desires all paid for by the humble old taxpayer. Why can't she cook her own tin of soup like I am most other people have to?

I'm not really into the salaries of top football players either, but they are paid by the people who are willing to pay money to watch games. Nobody is forcing people to buy tickets or watch football. There is a demand and the market stipulates that top players earn a lot more than the lowly minnions in the lesser leagues. I don't like that, but the taxpayers are not funding it so it doesn't matter so much. I can choose not to watch a game, but I am unable to stipulate who the head of state should be. The market does not respond to the Royal family in quite the same way.

The country is pretty much a republic anyway. Gordon Brown is the leader and what he wants generally gets passed as long as the house agrees. The Queen is head of state in name only.

From your article :

The total cost to the public of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5m to £41.5m in the 2008/9 financial year.

So over fifty years the monarchy costs the country two billion, the same as one elected German president cleared (and he cleared it in 1980s money, £3.5 billion adjusted for inflation) in an eight year term. Or one-twentieth of the money the Russian prez has made over the last decade. Putin's stash of cash made over the last decade since being a KGB employee on a state wage would pay for the monarchy for 1000 years. And those earnings come from interfering in government legislation to award multibillion contracts at uncompetetive terms to the bribers who them make billions by (now legally) gouging their customers in line with the crooked terms of their crooked contracts. If the Queen cost ten times more than she did she'd still be ten times cheaper for the British public than the alternative.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

You dip stick nothing to do with Shariah law but about having a republic.

Because of course republics have a much better reputation.....

It's not often me and Kirklaind Laing agree but I'm 100 percent with him, in that the Queen is the best head of state we can possibly have.

@ Miles

I just don't understand your logic really. First off, yes the queen gets money to upkeep her homes, but come on these stately buildings are part of the nation's heritage a bit different from your gran's house.

Think of all the fantastic royal buildings we have, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster, they are amazing, some of the finest and most famous buildings on earth with hundreds, even thousands of years of history.

They are the Queen's property but in a sense belong to the whole nation. They are all open to the public, we can all go and visit most days of the year so what is the problem with public funds going towards their upkeep?

If you abolished the Royal Family it would still be public funds paying for the repairs and upkeep anyway.

And your gran probably can get help with essential repairs anyway, there are plenty of benefits out there for those in need.

As for your, 'inherited wealth should be taxed to death', well firstly it already is, we have inheritance tax after all, which I personally think sucks, but you seem to want to go even further and forceably take money from the rich to give to the government.

So are you a communist?

It's a fucking horrible philosophy and just ends up with nobody having anything.

Anybody who has worked for something is entitled to it. When they pass on their children are entitled to it. If they still have their wealth into the next generation they are entitled to it, and so forth.

Wanting to force them to hand over their money for some egalitarian plan is just theft imo. What would be the incentive to work hard and be succesful if all of your reward is taken from you in taxes and given to others?

It's a ridiculous, evil idea imo.

As for the queen, she does a tremendous job for this country as a faithful and loyal ambassador.

You never responded to this before but I put it to you again, has her life been one of a rich socialite living the highlife, indulging in excess and aristocratic vices? I really don't think it has, her life has been one of tireless service to this country. Think of all the diplomatic functions and visits she has to carry out, all the engagements, the rituals etc.

It's not a role I'd want in a million years, her wealth is nothing like that of a rock star, a footballer or an actor. Her wealth comes with immense responsibility and she has had to live a life of service and devotion to her country.

I am proud to say I love my queen and country and would oppose to the fullest any attempts at turning this nation into a republic with a Brown or Blairesque figure looming large as out head of state.

Once again completely bang on the mark

[JazMerkin]

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

What brilliant logic. Abolish the class divide & have no royal family & there would somehow be Shariah Law in Britain, because obviously the Royal Family are battling Al-Qaeda under the cover of darkness.

I can't believe you guys are arguing about the topic still, when there's a post of this sheer awesomeness on here.

Although Hammer, if its going to take 50 years, it probably won't affect you given your levels of alcohol consumption

[ono]

Isn't that basically the same thing?

Queue HMH

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

I can't figure out if this is stupid or genuis. It's a belter of a post that only Jaz has picked up on.

Sharia already exists in Britain is Muslim communities. I'm assuming your not a Muslim so i see no reason why this bothers you.

Jewish courts are also widely used in Jewish communities within the UK and have been for centuries.

I don't understand your problem.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Queue HMH

get rid of the royals
abolish the class divide
=
shariah law throughout the country within 50years!!

I can't figure out if this is stupid or genuis. It's a belter of a post that only Jaz has picked up on.

Sharia already exists in Britain is Muslim communities. I'm assuming your not a Muslim so i see no reason why this bothers you.

Jewish courts are also widely used in Jewish communities within the UK and have been for centuries.

I don't understand your problem.

Because, I can't believe I'm about to say this, I agree - sort of with HMH. There should NOT be a separate body deciding the fate of British subjects. I don't care if it's jewish or islamic. The issue that concerns many and I presume this is what HMH is getting his knickers in a knot is that there is a vocal minority who see Islam as a progressive religion who do want to see sharia law throughout the UK and for the UK to become an Islamic nation.