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

[MadAmster]

You also change things when the change is an improvement.........

[ramAnag]

Its probably a life peerage so if he hadnt stayed alive he wouldnt have got it? But Nick Clegg: that ones a joke. A total failure in his chosen profession and destroyed his party at a stroke one night.

I am no fan of the honours system in that they make celebrities even more self important, but the recent developments that have allowed "ordinary people" to be recognised for their life work seem laudable. When it was just a matter of honouring a stream of retiring civil servants it was dismal.

HOWEVER this system seems to work in primary schools to boost the self esteem of 6 year olds as "star of the week", "golden work boards" etc. So maybe we are all kids at heart.

I was listening to something on the radio this morning about how, for a fee, there are companies out there that will nominate individuals for honours list and "manage the process". They claim a 60% success rate. The fees range up to £ 20,000! Its a sad society we live in.

Shall we all chip in and nominate Rattea CBE for services to interpersonal skill development.

...and there you have it. The system is so juvenile. Yes such rewards work for infants and kids in school but for adults who have already been well remunerated for what is, at the end of the day, their work...why? John Lennon will be spinning in his grave.
Save public recognition for those who go above and beyond imo, not ‘vanity projects’...does that include the elusive Rats? Best left for others to decide.

[roger_ramjet]

"...and there you have it. The system is so juvenile. Yes such rewards work for infants and kids in school but for adults who have already been well remunerated for what is, at the end of the day, their work"

I bet the bin men get great Christmas tips off you too!

[MadAmster]

"...and there you have it. The system is so juvenile. Yes such rewards work for infants and kids in school but for adults who have already been well remunerated for what is, at the end of the day, their work"

I bet the bin men get great Christmas tips off you too!

.... of course they do. He wants his bin emptying next year too.

[roger_ramjet]

I did not tip them one year - 6 weeks later I took 8 bin bags of unsorted rubbish, including the remains of a Christmas turkey, to Merton Council Offices and threw them into their reception. They seemed too startled to do anything......

Thereafter I have never given the lazy *******s a penny in their "Christmas Box" despite the occasional knock on the door just before Christmas from people saying they were my bin men. When asked for proof of this, they beat a hasty retreat so I guess they were random chancers!

[Romanis]

RamAnag I think you don't get it. The Queen while not being actively involved herself in determining the Govt, does not do nothing at all. Her PPS is the one that will communicate to the Leaders and express HM's position if need be. The whole idea for the leaders is to try to revolve the matter without putting HM into a position where she must be the tie breaker. Something they strive to avoid, they do not want to put her in a difficult position. That's the effect she has on them and thus far it has prevented a breakdown in Govt.

[ramAnag]

RamAnag I think you don't get it. The Queen while not being actively involved herself in determining the Govt, does not do nothing at all. Her PPS is the one that will communicate to the Leaders and express HM's position if need be. The whole idea for the leaders is to try to revolve the matter without putting HM into a position where she must be the tie breaker. Something they strive to avoid, they do not want to put her in a difficult position. That's the effect she has on them and thus far it has prevented a breakdown in Govt.

So...we keep the Queen because her PPS has a word with the politicos in an effort not to put her Maj in a ‘difficult position’...and you think I ‘don’t get it’. Really?
Take 2010 Rom...nowt to do with the Queen...the outcome was just a question of numbers and who Sir Cleggy opted to befriend.
Likewise...this year...the fact that the British Government can now do sfa without the approval of a few eccentrics from NI was not prevented by the Queen...it just comes down to political wheeler dealing.

[Andy_Faber]

Just as a matter of interest, does anyone know what a commoner's annual income would be if he/she owned a business with an annual profit of £328m and operated within normal CT and IT regs? I'm really addressing this at Mr Ramjet, I know the answer within a few million but can't be bothered with the usual retorts

[roger_ramjet]

Define profits and is the figure gross or net of the business owners own salary/ies?

[Romanis]

RamAnag..

Before you blame her for coalition govt consider this:

Can a President do something better?
Anywhere in the world, after an election coalitions have to be found to provide stable govt. No President can dictate to any leader as to which party they can or cannot combine with.
The whole idea is to prod them along an avoid a case like Belgium's.
The Queen's duty is to ensure a Govt is in place. It's not her duty to dictate who should be the Govt.
Her job is to ensure an MP enjoys the confidence of the Commons in forming that Govt.
If the voters do not give a party a majority, the Queen cannot simply invite a leader to form Govt until they can prove to her they enjoy the confidence of the House.
In 1974 she allowed Labour to take over until October before agreeing to fresh elections.
I think the behind the scenes roles is understated but successive PM's have spoken about the crucial role she plays in many matters including this.

The fact remains in 2010 she did not sanction another commission for Gordon Brown to continue as her PM.
He was unable to provide majority govt and duly advised her to send for Cameron.

Look up the Lascelles Principles that describe HM's roles