OT- The Queen's Christmas Day Message to the Commonwealth

[ramAnag]

The fox hunting one demonstrates how out of touch the Tory grandees were earlier this year, I’m surprised they didn’t go for the reintroduction of fagging.

I think the republicans missed the sweet spot for toppling the royal family 7 days after Diana’s death. Given the popularity of the latest addition the brand is secure beyond our lifetimes I reckon

On Brexit, you aren’t Teruo Nakamura yet but it’s getting close

Lol...once I’d looked him up! Sounds like another version of ramAnag.
My point was more about referenda in general rather than the Brexit one...it just seems to be becoming a little bit of a ‘separatist’ habit to claim to represent the ‘voice of the people’ when in fact little could be further from the truth.

Me support the ‘great unwashed’ Rog...that’s just bollux that you can’t substantiate. I support the idea of a Welfare system that supports those most in need. I don’t support the idea of providing for those who refuse to pull their weight and never have done, although I do acknowledge that there is a great deal of hypocrisy spouted by some who have found a way to do **** all for a living while castigating easier targets.

[roger_ramjet]

Im sorry we use the word "support" differently. Support in the context of my thread is to support by paying tax and thus we all do that. It has notbing to do with being pro or anti

[ramAnag]

Im sorry we use the word "support" differently. Support in the context of my thread is to support by paying tax and thus we all do that. It has notbing to do with being pro or anti

It’s actually the word ‘approval’ I object to RR...that and the notion of the ‘great unwashed’ being a fitting description of the ‘unemployed’.
To be clear...supporting those who, though able, make no attempt to stand on their own two feet has never been something I ‘approve’ of.
As regards the unemployed, or ‘great unwashed’ as you have seen fit to describe them, there are many reasons for people to be unemployed...amongst them are largely self inflicted causes and, conversely, some particularly tragic ones. I imagine we’re both bright enough and - on a better day - sensitive enough to be able to differentiate between them and avoid such stereotyping.

[MadAmster]

It’s actually the word ‘approval’ I object to RR...that and the notion of the ‘great unwashed’ being a fitting description of the ‘unemployed’.
To be clear...supporting those who, though able, make no attempt to stand on their own two feet has never been something I ‘approve’ of.
As regards the unemployed, or ‘great unwashed’ as you have seen fit to describe them, there are many reasons for people to be unemployed...amongst them are largely self inflicted causes and, conversely, some particularly tragic ones. I imagine we’re both bright enough and - on a better day - sensitive enough to be able to differentiate between them and avoid such stereotyping.

I am not employed. Took early retirement 3 years ago. A % of the UK state pension to kick in in the summer of 2019. A % of the Dutch state pension to kick in in November 2020. A few bob here and there for an English course or a communications course I give. A few bob here and there for my occasional DJ appearances. I spend far more on buying the records I play than I get in fees for playing them out.

Wrote 3 tenders for friend a couple of months ago, he got 2 of the contracts.

Not employed but still doing odd bits, which everybody can. I would be brain dead very quickly if I had absolutely nothing to do. I can't get my head round those who do little more than eat, sleep and drink and not necessarily in that order. It would have me climbing up the walls very quickly.

There are those who would have them doing volunteer work to qualify for their handouts. If there is work to be done pay people for it.....

On the subject of the Monarchy, I think any referendum qhile the Queen is still on the throne would see us keep the Monarchy. I also think the same is true of William. If it was taken with Charles on the throne it would be bye bye Monarchy.

[roger_ramjet]

It’s actually the word ‘approval’ I object to RR...that and the notion of the ‘great unwashed’ being a fitting description of the ‘unemployed’.
To be clear...supporting those who, though able, make no attempt to stand on their own two feet has never been something I ‘approve’ of.
As regards the unemployed, or ‘great unwashed’ as you have seen fit to describe them, there are many reasons for people to be unemployed...amongst them are largely self inflicted causes and, conversely, some particularly tragic ones. I imagine we’re both bright enough and - on a better day - sensitive enough to be able to differentiate between them and avoid such stereotyping.

I will let Jello Biafra have the final word on the matter rA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgpa...DMMzwgjM-teND8

..... or should this be on the "what song are you listening to" thread

[ramAnag]

I will let Jello Biafra have the final word on the matter rA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgpa...DMMzwgjM-teND8

..... or should this be on the "what song are you listening to" thread

Not biting...I know you and understand the context too well Mr.R.

Not a song I’ll be listening to today either.

[roger_ramjet]

ah well, in that case I had better repeat the lyrics!

Efficiency and progress is ours once more
Now that we have the Neutron bomb
It's nice and quick and clean and gets things done
Away with excess enemy
But no less value to property
No sense in war but perfect sense at home:

The sun beams down on a brand new day
No more welfare tax to pay
Unsightly slums gone up in flashing light
Jobless millions whisked away
At last we have more room to play
All systems go to kill the poor tonight

[Romanis]

For all those whining about The Queen. I know the Midlands is very much of a Labour persuasion, especially on socialism and republicanism, so comments calling for its end is to be expected around these parts, but I'm pretty sure it's not a sentiment shared by a majority of people residing in other ' not so Labour' parts.
Anyway tot he point I want to make: All those whining about the Queen, well can you give an example where she has fallen short of her duty? What example can you cite, clear and plain to all, where she has failed in her Constitutional role, and merits dispensing with her or the Monarchy?

[ramAnag]

For all those whining about The Queen. I know the Midlands is very much of a Labour persuasion, especially on socialism and republicanism, so comments calling for its end is to be expected around these parts, but I'm pretty sure it's not a sentiment shared by a majority of people residing in other ' not so Labour' parts.
Anyway tot he point I want to make: All those whining about the Queen, well can you give an example where she has fallen short of her duty? What example can you cite, clear and plain to all, where she has failed in her Constitutional role, and merits dispensing with her or the Monarchy?

‘Whining’? Who’s whining? Not sharing your view isn’t ‘whining’ or whinging...it’s just putting forward an alternative view.

No one has suggested that the Queen has ‘failed’ in her role, ‘constitutional’ or otherwise. The question that has been raised is whether, in a modern(ish) 21st Century democracy, there is a role for the monarchy. My own opinion is that the monarchy is an anachronistic irrelevance. They aren’t a tourist attraction although the buildings which they ‘own’ and inhabit, along with some of the ‘pageantry’ that surrounds them, undoubtedly are and I genuinely don’t understand their purpose.

Those of us who challenged your view are no more guilty of ‘whining’ than you are of over indulgent and nostalgic traditionalism.

[Romanis]

Ok substitute whining with disagreeing then.

Where has the Queen failed that warrants a change or removal? No, she's not a tourist attraction. She has an important Constitutional role and she has performed it admirably.
Of course there's some glamour, pageantry, pomp, tradition etc that goes with it, and this is also performed admirably, but the key issue is the role as Head of State.

What compelling need is there to change something that has worked hundreds of years (as a constitutional monarchy)?