Marky B

Thanks,Steve
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

ShirlGirl

Sorry Ted, I didn't express myself very well. I didn't mean that hard-working women are unappreciated by their husbands. I was just comparing their situation to the Queen's.

Btw, you sound like a terrific husband - hope she appreciates you! (I'm sure she would!)

homeguard

Thanks Shirlgirl for bothering to post the facts concerning the origins of the Queen's contribution to our exchequer. In this case Wikipaedia got it right-ish (for a change). The other benefit of course is to tourism. I've seen various assessments of the effect our monarchy has on that industry, between one and one and a half billion. Who knows? We won't until we get rid of it! But how fantastic it must be to live in your country at the moment. I have friends there (all old I'm afraid) who can't wait to get up in the morning. A little as it was here around fifty years ago. New Queen, the first jet airliner, the biggest ship-building programme in the world, new council house estates replacing slums, etc. etc.. So keep an eye on your potential replacement for Her Majesty. With the wrong person sitting on a new throne down under, you'll have to watch them like a hawk (no pun intended). I don't think Mr.Rudd will get rid of her as quickly as you think - if ever. He will probably have to wait until she is gone. Then you'll be juggling names like Fortescue or Packer, or even Murdoch (if he goes Oz again). But as one who is dying for his youngest daughter to choose Melbourne over Durham university, I wish you the prosperity that we have enjoyed in the past due primarily to a stable system of government headed by a person who doesn't have to earn her living doing it.
God Bless the Queen, followed by
Australia fair!
I'm finished.
Regards,
HG

Greyandwhite

As an dual-citizen of UK and Australia I thoguht I'd add my bit. I'm sure that a few members of the Royals earn lots of Tourist Pounds. I used to work in London Hotels and people from all over the world do love the pagentry and spend a great deal to witness it. BUT, do we (you) need the 3rd lord of Humpty-Dumpty getting a slice of the pie? I don't think so. The fact that it's still a living, developing monarchy is an attraction. I like the Dutch, Danish type idea that they are still Royal, still a head of State, but really don't seem to need too much upkeep.

I'm prepared for all sorts of facts and figures to come my way but ultimately I think that a vastly trimmed down Royal Family (i.e children and grandchildren only) would just suit better. I seems that they are held accountable for vast tracts of land held in Trust for the British people..it's just that they (Brits) can't go on to most of it. Certainly the Royal youngsters are trying to fit in responsibly by doing the military thing. It's a pity that they then do the "binge drinking and joyriding thing". The days of the Monarch being a representative of God on Earth, and so faultless , have long gone so lets get real and keep it to the bare minimum.

Australia tried to vote out the Monarchy but the choice was that the Head of State would be (as suggested above) a mate of the Pollies. It didn't pass and the suggested HoS will have to be a pretty popular figure to get the vote through.

Just a last point to "Homeguard". He says that Socialist scum governments sell off the family silver. Wasn't that quote by (Tory) Macmillan to Thatcher in the 1980's? Other than that I think he's argued his case well if a bit excitably.

Yeah, that's me. Billy Balthorpe, the man with no name.

ShirlGirl

Yes, we had a referendum in 1999. 45% of Australians voted for a republic. A significant number of those who voted 'no' only did so because we were not given the option of voting for a directly elected president.

homeguard

Yes, I can get too excited about this, so sorry. But it annoys me that as a country we keep trying to criticise everything from before year Zero (May 1997).
Anyway, as I said, I'm done with this. Getting too old for 'firey' crosses outside the house.
regards,
HG

Marky B

I agree,HG. Points have been made from both sides and no argument will be resolved. Sometimes,arguments go on that long,you forget what the argument was about.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

ShirlGirl

I haven't seen any of this as arguing, as far as I'm concerned it's merely been a civil discussion between folk with differing opinions.

I always respect others' opinions and If I have offended anyone, I apologise sincerely. No offence intended, I assure you.

Fellwanderer

Whereas, you seem quite happy to criticise everything since.

Jackdaw

For what it's worth, my belief is that the system of hierarchy in our country resembles an iceberg, with the top 10 per cent visible above the water, and most of the rest of us poor buggers drowning in the cold, wet stuff at the bottom.
I have no feeling of allegiance to our royalty or nobility whatsoever - they are merely the descendants of the worst elements of our antecedence, and now they have the advantage of their ill-gotten gains being enshrined in law - which their forefathers enacted!
As to the Queen being hardworking, I found that utterly insulting to the millions of our fellow country people who literally died of overwork.
I half remember a quotation, which states that, "if hard work were such a blessing, why did the ruling classes claim so little of it for themselves."


Yours
Lefty Jack

Steve Crook

What advantage? Would you want to do their job? Would you even wish their job on your worst enemy?

Steve

Jackdaw

The ruling classes stole the lands and rights of the ordinary people, and then over time brought in laws to prevent those acquisitions being taken back.
I'm sure that there would be a huge queue to take over the Royals' "jobs" should they ever become available, which is most unlikely given the deference which the British people exhibit towards their superiors.
I am always amused by the egalitarian concept of Charles paying taxes to the Exchequer on his lands.
Who, pray, "gave" him the lands in the first place?
Very gracious of him and his mum to volunteer to pay taxes on property that was acquired from its previous owners, whatever their entitlement, in the mists of time.

Outside left
Jack

Steve Crook

I disagree that there would be a long queue. Most people complain about the slightest press intrusion. How would you survive living under the gaze of the world's press 24/7?

And what deference do the British people exhibit towards their superiors?
British people have no superiors

Steve

Jackdaw

I think people like Jordan and her peers would be very happy to assume the mantle, since they spend most of their lives forcing their way into the spotlight.
I used the word "superiors" in an ironic way, since I believe that nobody, not just the British, has a superior.
I'm sure you'll agree with me on that, just this once!

billy bentley

ShirlGirl, I don't think the Royal Family got their present situation by "an accident of birth". All kinds of plots, marriages, murders, murky deeds, shenanigans, wars and worse have gone into putting this particular firm at the end of The Mall. Having said that I think the lady in charge deserves a great deal of credit (no pun intended) for behaving with such class as she has done for so many years. I am neither a Cavalier nor a Roundhead, but I do know when respect has been earned and she has earned it !