Nothing ticks me off more than positions you can’t hold because of your birth. It’s right up there with slavery.
People wept over Princess Di, well I say what a waste. You talk about somebody who lived the good life on the backs of the people. Her only mark in life was gained by marrying some guy who’s only mark in life was gained by being the great-great…grandson of somebody who actually accomplished something. This Prince Wilhelm or whatever is just another in a long line of wastage.
In some countries, Monarchs actually add value, provide leadership, run things, etc. Oh, not in Britain.
I might agree with your post as it applies to the royal family in general, but you dont know much about Di, do you? (not that I’m a rabid fan or anything…)
Actually, I always felt that the United States has always gotten the best value from British royalty. After all, we get all the good things; entertaining gossip, public appearances, memorabilia, Prince Charles jokes, occasional knighthoods, etc., but don’t have to put up with any of the bad things; tax burden lifestyle, interference in government, embarassing reminders of fuedal past, gloomy realization that someday we will be ruled by King Charles, corgi poop, etc.
Excellent question. When you find out, give me a call.
I suppose it was set off by the recent Brit troll. I really shouldn’t admit this, but I think I was secretly hoping someone would yell at me. The world’s just been too kind lately.
billehunt, shut your Imperialistic pie hole about monarchies you know fuck all about! Your colonial ignorance is revolting and grotesque! Show some goddamn respect towards those who founded your so-called Land of the Free! Ha!
Couldn’t agree more with the OP. I’m Scottish and I’m no-one’s fucking “subject”. Sooner they all perish in some carefully engineered “accident” the better it’ll be for us all. Better still, strip them of every asset paid for by the British public’s taxes and see how long they last. Perhaps not the response the OP was after but there ya go.
OK, return all the costs of a monarchy but subtract the cost of a president and the (however misguided) tourists’ revenue. Still a tax burden?
Exactly which examples of interference in government are you talking about? I mean if the Queen wasn’t able to stop the government scrapping the Royal Yacht, what effect do you think she is having on the day to day running of the country?
So you selectively use the word British when it suits you, right. So, the Royal Family, paid for predominantly by the English taxpayers would be more correct. The sooner the Scottish declare themselves an independant republic, the better as far as I, a temporarily exiled taxpaying Englishman, am concerned. They have never and never will be any use to the English, except for keeping us afloat for a while with the oil. Now it costs us too much. Please, please leave us
Incidentally, I use the word “Britain” to refer to a group of countries for convenience. I can’t be bothered to type the list in full. My previous comments regarding the perceived nationality that is “British” still stand.
Despite the jocular nature of the post, it strikes me as a frighteningly accurate summary of parliamentary attitude towards Scotland. Arf arf
Not only do Scots vote on English matters, their votes count more than English votes because their Parliamentary constituencies are, on average, 30 per cent smaller than ours.
Well, the Kennedys stole their money much more recently and they pay any taxes that are cheaper to pay than paying a lawyer to get out of. They don’t actually have a stipend.
Regarding public adulation/scorn? They appear to be about even, although I see no one in the upcoming generation to replace John John, so the Kennedys may, ultimately, fade in the manner of the Rockefellers, Astors, Vanderbilts, etc. that preceded them.
I’m not fond of them either. Maybe that’ll be my next flame-thread.
But there is a big difference: the Kennedy kids get money from their family and their work; the royal family gets their money from the people. And don’t get me started about all the “charitable deeds” done by the royal family. I suspect they suck up far more than they create. More importantly, if I work hard I can create my own Kennedy-like dynasty. There’s no way I can become a King without some unnecessary violence.
Also, though I’m almost diametrically opposed to the political leanings of the Kennedy family, I respect that they have actively participated in political leadership, and continue to. I mean actual leadership, requiring work and accountability (electability). Not so with the royal family.
