Monarchy, yes or no?

[Bhud]

America deserves a few kicks in the balls. Socially, it's in a decline phase. Quite chronic... However, they had a really good run. Everyone knows what they're all about. Everyone's seen American movies, heard American music and knows about American ideals. American soft culture has a lot of sway in the world, and people find it influential. That said, they've also got a lot wrong. There are many problems in their society and culture. However, historically, they have managed to overcome these problems. Take, for example, the segregationist policies in many American states right up through the 1960s. Eventually, they were able to overcome these divides at a systemic level.

Could we really state, in all sincerity, the American Republic to have been a failure? Or even the latest iteration of the French Republic? Is France a failure? France has an advanced civilisation, advanced technology, an old, resilient and well-liked culture, etc.

I don't doubt the resilience of parliamentary democracy / constitutional monarchy. It's a survivor. However, there's a point at which where you have to weigh up the benefits of the short-term patches and fixes you can effect with a House of Commons, and compare it with Republican responsiveness forced by fragility. In America, if the system as a whole isn't working for people, the ballot box has more power to effect systemic change than it does over here. The people can choose a President, who can choose judges and also have ultimate jurisdiction over military force. For example, George W Bush was a primary instigator of the American offensive against the Taleban, and Joe Biden was able to completely reverse that policy. If you compare this with the declining influence of British democracy and cultural outreach, the difference is striking. No prime minister here has sufficient autonomous power to will a military offensive in any foreign country. That would be a huge and impossible overreach. Rather, the purpose and purport of our democracy is to effect fixes and patches in a system, where there are failures. These fixes tend to work only to maintain a status quo in the structure of power. Result: even things like public transport (rail especially) are now well behind the rest of the western world. However, the power structure is intact. Even the reform of the House of Lords, or the courts, was a difficult task. We know these systems don't work, but all we can do is sustain, with a heavy reliance upon low-level bodge fixes, rather than overhaul. Republicanism most certainly is a better solution to systemic problems.

[Polarbear]

[chickenstrip]

What Mr. Ribenapoison doesn't understand is that you don't sell stuff by being negative, you don't win folks over that way.
So come on my little republican friend, sell us your republic. Tell us how life is going to be so much better in it. I could do with a laugh.
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THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[chickenstrip]

[Ribenapigeon]

[Ribenapigeon]

Wow, we're already down the rabbit hole of the "wedge issue" as i believe it's called in 'murican politics. I suspect if I'd put a poll up on fox hunting, hanging or bringing back grammar schools things would have become equally heated. I don't really recognise this state where apparently the UK is constantly under assault from some corruptive powerful groups seeking to undermine our sense of national identity or pride. But then maybe the algorithm isn't targeting me. I access mostly very mainstream media and just poke around internet for lightly amusing information, I'm not on twitter and barely access fbook for anything more than giving likes to friends cat and dog pics. Can we not defeat the algorithm for once?

[Easy-X]

Let's go back to the poll. "Hey guys, can we consider becoming a Republic?" certainly my friend, we have considered it and found the request wanting

The problem is that becoming a republic means fundamentally changing what the UK represents. TBF the 'U' seems to be going in the bin so why not the 'K' too but so far I've seen no tangible benefits laid out.

Converting to an Islamic state seems a stronger argument at this point
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[chickenstrip]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Would you, based on your experiences, recommend it?
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
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[chickenstrip]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Nah, because stabbing a blowup doll repeatedly with a carving knife is a fools game.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[chickenstrip]

[Ribenapigeon]

[Easy-X]

Ah now, the House of Lords. That's an entirely different argument. While the Senate doesn't work particularly well in the US I like the idea that a) it's democratic but b) it's geographic. (Congress being more analogous to our MPs, based on population density.)

It sets up needs of the people versus needs of the country nicely.
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[Polarbear]

[chickenstrip]

[Ribenapigeon]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

When you look at some of the ‘man/woman of the people’ buffoons or self-serving bastards who get democratically elected to the HoC the idea of hereditary peers with an independent review on proposed legislation doesn’t seem such a bad idea.

[Polarbear]

[chickenstrip]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Okay, how about fuedal lords, C of E high ranking clergy and Tory party donators?
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Ribenapigeon]

Polly Toynbe wrote this rather good article on why the monarchy should be retired. She makes the point that its not so much the power of the monarch but rather the lack of power of our monarch as head of state which allows for the excesses of a prime minister. That what power the monarch has is really used to obscure the wealth the royals have and their private activities.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/17/britain-monarchy-end-royal-jubilee

[chickenstrip]

[chickenstrip]

[Ribenapigeon]