Politics

[The Raven]

Talking of heads of state, I support the Royal Family, and can't see the problem with them. After all, they perform only a ceremonial role, and have devolved ALL of their ruling and political power to the Government.

And they carry out loads of charitable work, despite the press moaning that the Duchess of Cambridge's recent choices were "somewhat safe". How much charitable work do newspaper editors carry out? Not much I'd guess.

This political ranting stuff is good innit?

I thought about this recently and thought how much money the Royals make for UK tourism. I think less people would come visit London and the UK if we didn't have a royal family.

[MylesHSG]

People still visit France dont they?

I like to think this country has more to offer than Buckinham Place and the changing of the guard for visitors....

[The Raven]

People still visit France dont they?

I like to think this country has more to offer than Buckinham Place and the changing of the guard for visitors....

True, but imagine if the French tore down the Eiffel Tower? Do you think less people would go to Paris? It's working with what you have that no-one else has.

[MylesHSG]

I dont think we would tear down Buckingham Place if the royals were gone and would probably attract visitors.

The tower of london gets millions of visitors, but it hasn't been used in centurys....

[tubeguru]

I dont think we would tear down Buckingham Place if the royals were gone and would probably attract visitors.

The tower of london gets millions of visitors, but it hasn't been used in centurys....

Hasn't been used for WHAT in centuries? The Tower is a Royal Palace and a tourist attraction. It has been in constant use since William the Conqueror first built the White Tower. Just because it hasn't been used for what it was BUILT FOR, doesn't mean it doesn't have any functionality today.

By your argument, we should get rid of everything in this country that brings in tourists. Then we'll see how we fare.

[MylesHSG]

No no no, we shouldn't get rid of these places...they are historic and part of out history.

I just dont buy the arguement that if there was no royal family then we would get significantly less visitors.

[tubeguru]

No no no, we shouldn't get rid of these places...they are historic and part of out history.

I just dont buy the arguement that if there was no royal family then we would get significantly less visitors.

If there was no Royal Family, think about what we would lose that is pertinent to them. There is so much stuff that is interwoven into the Royal Family, that you simply can't get rid of it. And think of the history. We've gone too far down the road to abolish them now. And just how do you propose we should "abolish" them?

[Root]

We've gone too far down the road to abolish them now. And just how do you propose we should "abolish" them?

Pretty much every country in the world today was, at one stage, ruled by a monarch, or the equivalent of one. Now the majority are republics. It's never "too far down the road"!

I'm sure the Royal Family do have an economic benefit to the UK, but it's really impossible to say how much, and that alone is not a good enough reason to keep them. I'm sure the pandas in Scotland will bring tourists to the UK, but no-one is suggesting they should be the head of state. Saying that things have always been a certain way is also not a good enough reason. There has to be something else to justify the undemocratic and hugely unfair nature of the system.

[tubeguru]

OK, so let's approach it from the other direction - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Do we NEED to abolish the monarchy simply because other nations have? I don't see the Spanish rushing to abolish Juan Carlos.

[Root]

So you should just do what other countries do?

The IIABDFI argument is probably the most convincing one I've heard, but in my opinion, it is broke(n). People who happen to be born into, or marry into, a particular family have amazingly comfortable lives without ever having to work (I know lots of them do charity work, but so would I if I never had to earn a real living), and the head of state is decided hereditarily rather than democratically. I don't think that's right, but I know those views put me in a minority.

If the UK did have an election, and the Queen decided to stand, she'd definitely win, but do you think Charles would? I have a feeling he wouldn't, and that if someone like William (or, you know, David Attenborough) decided to stand against him, he'd probably lose. I'll be interested to see if the country's feelings towards the monarchy when Charles becomes King.

[tubeguru]

I think we already know the media's opinion on Charles as King.

They hate him because he divorced Diana and went off with Camilla, and they hate him because he's not William. And why on earth do the media keep printing stories about the succession skipping Charles and going straight to William? It's embarrassing.

[dudey]

People who happen to be born into, or marry into, a particular family have amazingly comfortable lives without ever having to work (I know lots of them do charity work, but so would I if I never had to earn a real living), and the head of state is decided hereditarily rather than democratically. I don't think that's right, but I know those views put me in a minority.

I don't really have a view on the future of the monarchy, but I would just like to point out that plenty of people are born into rich families and live privileged lives. Normally because of a successful business which they will take up and work in. In my eyes the royals aren't much different to this. Their family business is being the figureheads for our nation. Most of them aren't even that rich.

[Root]

That's true, and (one reason) why I support high taxes and redistribution of wealth, but that's a tangential topic.

If being the figurehead of a nation is a business, how do I apply?

[MylesHSG]

Anyone can go into business and be sucessful at it. Business can also fail and the owners go bankrupt.

Please, being a royal is not 'working' for a business. Yeah sure you might have to attend a few functions, but im sure the expensive bubbly is flowing and the food is fantastic. And yeah you might not get a private life, but does Richard Branson?

Personally I dont like the fact that we fund them (though your probably going to find a link that proves be wrong).

A new yacht to be paid for from the MoD budget...please.

[hopeful traveller]

A new yacht to be paid for from the MoD budget...please.

Let us remember that we are still legally governed by a Queen who has to approve all plans once they have been put through the Houses.