Current Affairs

[Onelife]

Scraping the Monarchy would be a good way of saving money…an estimated £100 million could be saved on its upkeep + holidays…another £100 million + on security and several £100 million generated through tourist sightseeing visits… per annum.

[Frank Manning]

I think the BBC do a great job. They ask difficult question to all sides and quite rightly hold the government to account.

Thanks, and absolutely right. People are easily swayed by the "group think" propaganda of the other media who are not as free of bias as the BBC. people just dont like them asking pertinent questions of their favourites. Anyway despite what people think dumbing down or dispensing with the BBC is not a vote winner.

[Kendhni]

Scraping the Monarchy would be a good way of saving money…an estimated £100 million could be saved on its upkeep + holidays…another £100 million + on security and several £100 million generated through tourist sightseeing visits… per annum.

Not sure why we would want to 'scrape' the monarchy?

I suspect those numbers do not include a true reality. Very little would be saved in upkeep since the public would have to start paying for maintaining even more historical buildings (especially if you want the tourism); security would still be required; arguably, if anything, there would be less tourism, since much of the pomp and ceremony that attracts the tourists would go ... or do we deduct that from the proposed 'upkeep' savings? You then need to budget in the cost of president; his residences; private plane; security guards; security transport and a spouse with a fetish for shoes.

Even taking your suggested savings at face value ... it goes nowhere near filling the huge borrowing left by the previous incumbent or the budget hole created over the last few weeks ... it doesn't even come close to covering the cost of interest on government borrowing ... but I suppose it would almost cover 1 weeks promised payment towards the NHS.

[Kendhni]

I think the BBC do a great job. They ask difficult question to all sides and quite rightly hold the government to account.

Thanks, and absolutely right. People are easily swayed by the "group think" propaganda of the other media who are not as free of bias as the BBC. people just dont like them asking pertinent questions of their favourites. Anyway despite what people think dumbing down or dispensing with the BBC is not a vote winner.

I would tend to agree about their bias ... most complaints I hear from people claiming bias is down to their own bias and not a reflection on the BBC ... if somebody's favoured politician cannot provide answers to questions, it does not make the questions wrong.

However, while it would be a shame to lose the BBC, I think it is long overdue the tax that many are forced to pay for its services is removed ... it either stands on its own 2 feet or is allowed to disappear (like any other business).

[Onelife]

Hi Ken,

Not sure why we would want to 'scrape' the monarchy?

Well apart from the things I have already mentioned my biggest reason for wanting the abolition of the Monarchy is that it represents everything that you, me and others have complained about over many years…Inequality!

The hereditary institution is all about power, power which the Monarchy has shored up by surrounding itself with powerful people, people who by and large enjoy the power and privilege and status that/which ensures allegiance to the crown. This isn’t to say some recipients don’t deserve recognition but the whole process is geared up to keeping this outdated institution in place imo.

The question of inequality derives from the class system which this country still stealthily exploits. A prime example of this, is as you say, the failure of a workable trickledown system which is controlled by those with power.

So, in essence the whole system needs a rethink if we’re ever going to narrow the gaps between them and us.

If tampon Charlie and ---- Camilla want to stay King and Queen, we should shack them up on one of their country estates and give back to the country what hereditary nonsense has given them.

[Manoverboard]

There can never be equality.

Take everybody's assets away from them and then divide it out in equal shares to everybody would equate to equality on day 1 but by the end of the year the had nots will once again be have nots and those who had the assets will have accrued them again.

To achieve your ambition everybody would need to have the same levels of intelligence and aptitude rather than money.

So ... not a chance basically.

[david63]

Every country, whether they have a monarchy or not, has a class system many of which create far more inequality than we currently have.

[Onelife]

There is truth in what you say Mob but this is probably where things start to fall apart as a society. If there was a recognition that those in work contribute equally to society and were paid fairly for their contribution, they could then probably live a better standard of living than their intelligence and aptitude allow for?

[david63]

There is truth in what you say Mob but this is probably where things start to fall apart as a society. If there was a recognition that those in work contribute equally to society and were paid fairly for their contribution, they could then probably live a better standard of living than their intelligence and aptitude allow for?

That has been tried, it was called Communism - and that did not work either

[Gill W]

The hereditary institution is all about power, power which the Monarchy has shored up by surrounding itself with powerful people, people who by and large enjoy the power and privilege and status that/which ensures allegiance to the crown. This isn’t to say some recipients don’t deserve recognition but the whole process is geared up to keeping this outdated institution in place imo.

Before we throw the monarchy away, perhaps we should decide what form of constitution would replace it. Preferably one that doesn't result in a President Boris Johnson or President Tony Blair being elected as head of state.

[Onelife]

You might call it communism David; I would call it a much-needed change of attitude by those who have neglected their responsibilities for a fairer distribution of wealth.

No need to take things to the extreme we just need to change our perspective of how we go forward.

[Manoverboard]

What sort of incentive would it offer a potential high earner to work their butt off in order to feather the nest of an uneducated lay-a-bout?

[Onelife]

The hereditary institution is all about power, power which the Monarchy has shored up by surrounding itself with powerful people, people who by and large enjoy the power and privilege and status that/which ensures allegiance to the crown. This isn’t to say some recipients don’t deserve recognition but the whole process is geared up to keeping this outdated institution in place imo.

Before we throw the monarchy away, perhaps we should decide what form of constitution would replace it. Preferably one that doesn't result in a President Boris Johnson or President Tony Blair being elected as head of state.

I don’t see that there would be much difference between presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy other than doing away with most if not all of the pom and ceremony that attaches its self to the present parliamentary system.

I think President Onelife has a nice ring to i t

[Onelife]

What sort of incentive would it offer a potential high earner to work their butt off in order to feather the nest of an uneducated lay-a-bout?

Please don't speak to me like that Mob

[barney]

You might call it communism David; I would call it a much-needed change of attitude by those who have neglected their responsibilities for a fairer distribution of wealth.

No need to take things to the extreme we just need to change our perspective of how we go forward.

As a lefty, I actually don’t mind the Royals.
I do object to paying for them given their personal wealth.
They could easily finance their living costs themselves and not even notice it.
King Charles raked in about £23 million a year from the Duchy.
I don’t believe we have a class issue.
We have a wealth issue.
There are too many struggling.

[Happydays]

There can never be equality.

Take everybody's assets away from them and then divide it out in equal shares to everybody would equate to equality on day 1 but by the end of the year the had nots will once again be have nots and those who had the assets will have accrued them again.

To achieve your ambition everybody would need to have the same levels of intelligence and aptitude rather than money.

So ... not a chance basically.

You should watch a film called "Idiocracy" it's funny but we sometimes think it's predicting the future!

[Manoverboard]

You should watch a film called "Idiocracy" it's funny but we sometimes think it's predicting the future!

Where would I find it, please ?

[Happydays]

We would have used either Netflix or Amazon prime

That's what we watch all the time

[Kendhni]

I don’t see that there would be much difference between presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy other than doing away with most if not all of the pom and ceremony that attaches its self to the present parliamentary system.

Am I the only one that read that as all the PORN and ceremony ... now I think of it, in reference to parliament, that could be more accurate

[Kendhni]

A society where everyone is equal is not achievable ... all the evidence suggests one of two things
1. there will always be those more equal than others
2. it will dumb itself down to the lowest common denominator

To me the panacea is not about equality it is about a truly cashless society where people only took what they needed ... like that is ever going to happen.

[Kendhni]

Before we throw the monarchy away, perhaps we should decide what form of constitution would replace it. Preferably one that doesn't result in a President Boris Johnson or President Tony Blair being elected as head of state.

Rinse your mouth out young woman .. what a horrendous thought ... that would effectively put Carrie or Cherie in charge.

[Onelife]

I don’t see that there would be much difference between presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy other than doing away with most if not all of the pom and ceremony that attaches its self to the present parliamentary system.

Am I the only one that read that as all the PORN and ceremony ... now I think of it, in reference to parliament, that could be more accurate

Leaving my posts open to personal interpretation often lead to the seedy corridors of Westminster

[oldbluefox]

Some countries haven't done so well with their presidents - Putin, Trump and there's a fair few countries which have got rid of their monarchy and may now be living to regret it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think Gill has correctly identified the front runners. So ve careful what you wish for anti Monarchists.

[Onelife]

Some countries haven't done so well with their presidents - Putin, Trump and there's a fair few countries which have got rid of their monarchy and may now be living to regret it.

They are/were dictators.