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

[ramAnag]

Mm for someone who is keen on verification of facts you seem happy to accept so classed viewing figures - you might want to look at how they compile ratings for TV but even then 7 million out of the total population is not that impressive, though of course there may be another few million who will watch at a later time!

Indeed why not have a referendum, (but not on personalities, nothing against the current incumbent other than she is no
higher up the strata of mankind than you or I) but on the principle that its time to banish the anachronism that is the royal family.

It’s a referendum Swale, you know what happens...whether you, or I, like it or not the ‘great British public’ are infatuated with the culture of personality...they won’t ‘vote’ against a monarch who has been on the throne since Adam was a lad. Wait until she’s ‘retired’ if you want a more objective verdict on what I agree is the ultimate anachronism.
The fact that she’s still doing the ‘job’ almost certainly reflects the fact that the establishment recognises this.

[roger_ramjet]

I have often thought that Liz might be our last monarch given the horses arses that she has given birth to.

On balance I think that would be a shame since I think there is a symbiotic relationship there - not just parasitic.

Despite Romanis' long diatribe I dont perceive a political role for a monarch, other than symbollic.

[roger_ramjet]

PS i would sooner subsidise the royal family than subsidise the EU.....

[MadAmster]

If the palaces belong to Lizzie why do the taxpayers have to pay for having them spruced up?

I did not intend, and didn't give IMO, any notion of Lizzie having to sell palaces to feed the poor. My point was and is why do we use taxpayers money to spruce up Lizzie's palaces when we have homeless and underfed people? Let her pay for the upkeep of buildings she only owns because a) someone kissed ass hundreds of years ago b) some floozy had *** with the then Monarch and gave birth to an illegitimate child who became a prince c) somebody murdered the Monarch of the day and took over the crown or some other act that was neither virtuous nor worthy of getting all that power and land and more...... certainly not in perpetuity.

[roger_ramjet]

Suspect you’re right on the fox hunting one which makes Maggie May’s rapid retreat on the ‘free vote’ promise understandable but the initial promise pretty stupid.
The majority might be with the Queen but not necessarily with the Royals once she goes...interesting that one.
Be very surprised if the Brexiteers could drum up support from anything like 51% of the electorate...even less if it was simply advisory (which legally it was) and included those aged sixteen upwards.

Queenie would survive that referendum I'm sure - especially when the stats come out showing how little in comparative terms she costs - eg compare it to foreign aid budget, cohesion payments or unenployment handouts. She is still working at 90, which is maybe 75 years more work for the good of the country than some that we support, with your approval, have done in their lives.

Last para: Yawn yawn yawn

[ramAnag]

Queenie would survive that referendum I'm sure - especially when the stats come out showing how little in comparative terms she costs - eg compare it to foreign aid budget, cohesion payments or unenployment handouts. She is still working at 90, which is maybe 75 years more work for the good of the country than some that we support, with your approval, have done in their lives.

Last para: Yawn yawn yawn

See you’re still under the weather Rog.

Who exactly are the ‘some we support, with my approval’?
Why ‘yawn, yawn, yawn’...if a question is never satisfactorily answered why shouldn’t it be asked again...and if we’re talking about a decision which has huge implications for years to come why shouldn’t young people have a vote on something which would only be advisory?

[swaledale]

Queenie would survive that referendum I'm sure - especially when the stats come out showing how little in comparative terms she costs - eg compare it to foreign aid budget, cohesion payments or unenployment handouts. She is still working at 90, which is maybe 75 years more work for the good of the country than some that we support, with your approval, have done in their lives.

Last para: Yawn yawn yawn

Mm the point isn't really about what the Monarchy costs but the fact that a mature democracy and we (or at lest some in the UK do) seem to pride themselves on being the "father/mother of democracy but still support a hereditary head of state? Whats democratic about that - as for her "work" quite what function she undertakes which is so essential to the running and good of the UK?

I do agree that any referendum would need to be after she has shuffled off the planet and also that the knuckleheads who shored up the Brexit vote would more than likely swing a referendum, but then thats the great UK public for you and why we haven't had a revolution and the French did, those us not fortunate to be born in the right level of society just love to doff our caps to our "betters".

[Andy_Faber]

the knuckleheads who shored up the Brexit vote

lol at your enduring bitterness, you come over as a Will Self tribute act

[swaledale]

lol at your enduring bitterness, you come over as a Will Self tribute act

As always you miss the point and are completely wrong. Surprised you even understand Will Self, thought his irony would be too subtle for you!

There is no bitterness, just an observation! Brexit for me personally as I've said before (and been attacked for saying it by you amongst others) is paying nicely into my pension pot. As the pro brexit forces crow about blue passports and "taking back control" whilst presiding over a change which will not improve the lives of the majority of those who voted for it one bit it amuses me that Turkeys still vote for Christmas, as the serfs vote for the pleasure of doffing their caps to those born into a "higher strata of society".

Still its good to see you as smug and self satisfied as ever truly in the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is King!

[roger_ramjet]

The some who we (the taxpayers that is) support are "the great unwashed" : the unemployed who, like HMQ, live on handouts - but HMQ has worked tirelessly for her country for 75 odd years.

You can ask all you like about EU referendum - its your breath you are wasting and until oxygen becomes a scarce resource: go ahead. But if you think its going to change the outcome fo something 18 months ago.....