NACRO

Like bad teeth?

Holy Ghost

**

i can recommend you a good private dentist old chap.

22BUK

Isn't it something like £1000 each per year that we pay to the EU?

shamrock

I don't have a problem paying 66p for the Queen and her immediate family. It's all the hangers on in her extended family that live rent free having a life of luxury that get up my nose.

NACRO

I've got great teeth, I was of course referring to the rotten, stained and mishapen teeth of the majority of the British public.

lozgti

I saw that too.

PeteBrant

No.

Nowhere near.

The Net UK contribution to the EU is around £3.8Billion. Equating to around £150 per tax payer.

But yes, significantly more than the Royal Family.

PeteBrant

Where? At madeupstatsrus.com? Or was it the UKIP site? (which amounts to the same thing).

Holy Ghost

**

in 1960.

PeteBrant

Even if the sterotype of having unkempt teeth were true, I am more comfortable with other nations having that opinion of the British than being regarded as Red-Necked, racist, warmongering ***** with an IQ just slightly below that of a TUC sandwich.

lozgti

Times

Anyway,long live the Queen.She's ok in my book ever since we had a lovely street party in 1977

PeteBrant

God knows how they arrived at the figure.


I coloured in about a million Union Jacks in 1977, and every single one of them was done the right way up too.

Jerome

Compared to North America, us Brits do have appalling teeth.

lozgti

*cough* confession ...it was a letter to the times so not their figures .

Only downside to our Royal family (and this applies to our MP's too) how come (IMO) we get the ones that fell out of the fugly tree

PeteBrant

This doesn't paint a particularly good picture, mind.

BBC NEWS | UK | Prince Charles's income up by 7%

And then...

So, his revenue increased by a million, but his tax bill dropped by £5K.

I want the number of his accountant.


Also...
WHat the **** has this got to do with anything?

Klaatu

Regarding CO2 emissions, it's to set an example for the unthinking and unwashed masses that there is a "point" to "fighting climate change" by reducing your "carbon footprint". Thought you had an open mind?

PeteBrant

You don't say

Leslie

Whatever anyone thinks about the rest of her family, the Queen has been a model monarch for the whole of her reign and has set an example for all to follow in her private life. She has been instrumental in maintaining the traditions and ideals of the majority of the British people and is looked up to by all foreign leaders.

We have been very lucky to have someone like her heading the country.

Nacro,

On another tack, have you ever known anyone in the world who is not several steps beneath you in the World order?

Les

NACRO

Yes and there are even one or two who post on here although they rarely contribute these days.

Regarding the queen the only role model she has set is one of subserviant obeyance and obsession with duty to an anachronistic institution. Quite honestly I'd have the entire royal family shot against a wall for crimes against decency and the people. They are a bunch of sponging leeches who rely on craven, pathetic, kowtowing forelock tuggers to pay their bills and give them the deference they so obviously crave. Monarchy are scum whichever way you look at it,given privilege merely by an accident of birth. I'm an elitist myself but I believe in a meritocracy rather than some throwback to feudal despotism.

Also look at the state of them:- mishapen, inbred and they aren't even really British.

They take a **** like the rest of us, as far as I'm concerned they deserve a lot less respect than really useful people like binmen, toilet cleaners or doctors.

PeteBrant

The problem is, NACRO, who do you replace them with for head of state?

Presumably some elected President? With all the self serving, short termist, party political issues that will involve?

The one thing that the Royal family has that reformists hate the most happens is thier biggest advantage; They are born into it, they do not have a choice, they do not aspire to it.

Let's face it, the one person that should never be allowed near a presidency is the person that actually wants the job.

NACRO

Some much loved public figure would do just as well as they wield no real executive power.

Regarding being born into it there are numerous examples of royals declining to take up 'their duties', they do have a choice.

Leslie

You should not forget that she has the power to dissolve Parliament, about time she did too!

Jolly glad to hear you say that there are some who stand above you.

Les

PeteBrant

But how do you convince them to take the job? And which "Much loved public figure??" I can just imagine the heads of state for the commonwealth nations being address by Jonathon Ross...

As for Royals not taking up thier positions, I cannnot think of a single hier to the throne rejecting the duty.

The only one that springs to mind that abdicated is Edward VIII


The reality is that the Queen has no executive powers at all. It is ceremony and tradition.

Which is good and proper.

NACRO

I didn't say that, I merely said there are very few who aren't several steps beneath me.

As for much loved public figure I was thinking of people like David Jason, Judi Dench, Basil Brush, Dale Winton, that sort of thing.

My comments about royals declining their rank was world wide rather than just limited to the now rather insignificant little backwater 'ruled' by liz.

PeteBrant

Not convinced that

(i)They would take up the job

(ii)They would stick in the job when the going got tough.

(iii)Other heads of state would treat them, and therefore Britain with the same respect. I cannot see Dale Winton being accepted as head of the commonwealth.



Right, but then, that's hardly applicable to the British Monarchy, is it. Any more than countries that have dictatorships mirror the British political system.


I can see why republicans and reformists want change, but I am yet to see a solution that does not involve replacing like with like - In that it is a elected head of state, with all those inherent problems - Or an appointent person, with all those inherent problems.

THe Modern Monarchy really is the perfect solution. Not involved in politics (indeed absolutely discouraged from getting involved) not open to corrupt practises, not doing things to make sure they stay in the job, not self serving.

NACRO

Regarding the other heads of state of the commonwealth and respect. Office would give the 'chosen one' the level of respect required.

As for your contention that monarchy worldwide have little to do with the British royal family. I disagree, the analogy of comparing a dictatorship to the UK's lip service brand of democracy isn't a good one in this context. There are plenty of countries with royalty serving as heads of 'democratic' states with little or no executive power.

I don't agree it's a perfect solution- it's ideologically repugnant. Just because you can make an argument that it works on some levels doesn't mean it's acceptable.

Luan Pra bang

That is a ridiculous figure we pay 7 billion to the EU and their regulations cost us 10's of billions each year so the cost to us of being in the EU is Massive. The Royal family figure is a lie as well they admit that it does not include any security costs.

PeteBrant

The Net Figure is £3.8Billion - We get a rebate.

Any other figures are heresay and the province of anti EU propaganda.

I'm not sure I agree, still, no way of telling either way until it happens.
Well, the point I was trying to make is that the scandal of various Monarchies around the world need not affect the British one.

Indeed, There has been no abdication or rejection of the throne in centuries prior to Edward VIII

Not sure I agree we have "lip service" Democracy - Ultimately, the encumberant party can be removed from office.

Of course, but if you accept we need some form of Head of State, then coming up with a viable alternative that gives you the same quality if very difficult.

lozgti

I've always thought the Queen must inwardly cringe as to what the country has turned into.Doesn't/hasn't stopped her rubber stamping the mad Bills that go through.

People can smirk at Charles too but I think he has some great views on certain things

Luan Pra bang

No we don't. our taxes arre given to europe a massive percentage lost in admin costs and then the rest given to private companies who live it up under the guise of spending it in a way that is good for the country. How on earth is that system effective ? A rebate would be giving it straight back as cash to the government or tax payer.