Diamond Jubilee

[Honeybadger]

Cool to have an excuse for a national day off.

Not really in a time when businesses and the whole country are struggling enough as it is.

Even a small business like mine suffers. 24 employees all of whom have to be paid this extra day off.

I wouldn't mind so much but the government takes all the credit for giving you a day off and still charge you income tax for your "free day off". Doesn't cost them one penny in lost revenue, wipes billions off the value of company's and morons who have no clue of the bigger picture thank them for it.

Such a massive sigh.

Despite it being lovely to have a day off and street party, I agree with all this.

18 months or so ago I remember some public sector workers went on strike for the day over getting shafted on pay and conditions. I don't want to argue about the rights and wrongs of their case, or the rights and wrongs of strike action. But what I do want to say is that at the time the government said it was irresponsible for these guys to strike at a time of national recession, that it would cost the economy, that we couldn't afford strikes, that we all had to work together etc. Then 6 months later we were all granted a day off because two people got married (Kate and William). Suddenly things changed and, in the middle of a recession, it was now perfectly ok for EVERYONE to have an extra bank holiday, and for loads of public money to be spent as well. What made these two so special? As far as I am concerned they are no better than me or you... yet they had a posh wedding paid for, and everyone was told to have a day off to celebrate. Meanwhile some poor nurse who is trying her best to serve society is criticised for protesting about her terrible working conditions and pay, whilst William who has been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and spends his life as a drain on society is allowed... oh fuck it, you know what I am saying!

And with regard to the jubilee the same thing applies. Nice to have a party etc. But all these businesses that are struggling are told they have to give their workforce an extra day off just because some old biddy who has lived her whole life in privilege paid for by everyone else, wants a celebration of the fact that she has 'ruled' us for a long time. It's just another example of the upper class taking the piss out of everyone else.

[outragous76]

I love the "life of privaledge" stuff

You couldnt pay me to be  a royal

[Honeybadger]

I love the "life of privaledge" stuff

You couldnt pay me to be  a royal

I used to agree that this was a reasonable counter argument. But I have changed my mind for several reasons:

1. If any of them decide they don't want to live in the public eye, perhaps because their public duties are too stressful and onerous, they are quite able to renounce their position. They would still end up living in massive comfort as a drain on society. They have a choice that you and me don't.

2. These guys get whatever they want. They want the best seat at the World Cup Final... they get it, and they get to meet the players too. They want to go and see such and such an artist perform... they get it, and they get backstage too if they choose. I'd love to get an opportunity to... I don't know... jam with Slash from Guns N Roses. No chance. But if William decided he liked playing guitar and fancied jamming with Slash... well guaranteed it would happen. What makes him better than you or me?

3. Even if somehow I could be convinced that the royals have it oh so very hard due to their strenuous public duties and life in the public eye... I would still think they suck, because they are a SYMBOL of inequality, a SYMBOL of privilege and social divison. Noone really thinks they are anything other than a symbol anyway tbh, I just think they symbolise all that is wrong with this country, not all that is right.

4. Others say "well look at how they were treated growing up, so much coldness and no love from their parents. Did you know that Charles was made to stand silently in the corner for hours on end to practice how to act in public. Did you see the King's Speech?" etc etc.  Well there are thousands of kids around the country that are beaten up or abused by their parents, or at least shown little love and warmth - it's not like the royals are the only ones. And if they really are such shitty parents, prepared to treat their own kids so badly, well why on earth have we got them 'representing' our country?

Tbh, I wouldn't want to be in the royal family either! But that doesn't make them a good thing. I think they should cease to exist. They stand for all that is fucked up in our country.

[Woodsey]

Fuck the lefty haters 

[Honeybadger]

Fuck the lefty haters 

Lol, well that's my arguments quashed then!

[Woodsey]

Fuck the lefty haters 

Lol, well that's my arguments quashed then!

No point writing a lengthy argument mate, I know haters are haters and wasting an hour of my time writing out a reply won't change your mind anyway 

[Honeybadger]

It's still fun to debate though, and I like having intelligent people challenging me and giving the other side of the argument. It's good to have your views challenged, forces you to examine your opinions.

[Claw75]

It's still fun to debate though, and I like having intelligent people challenging me and giving the other side of the argument. It's good to have your views challenged, forces you to examine your opinions.

I don't really do intelligent debate, but used to have opinions much like yours when I was younger - it wasn't cool to like the royal family and everything they stand for and I definitely would have been in the 'banish the monarcy' camp.  I've definitely changed my opinion with age though - I don't think they're a bad bunch really.  I can't say they particularly make me 'proud to be british' or anything like that but I reckon the good they do for our country far outweighs their cost to the taxpayer.  I don't envy their position either.  My anonymity is pretty important to me and I wouldn't swap it for all the privileges.

[mondatoo]

Cool to have an excuse for a national day off.

Not really in a time when businesses and the whole country are struggling enough as it is.

Even a small business like mine suffers. 24 employees all of whom have to be paid this extra day off.

I wouldn't mind so much but the government takes all the credit for giving you a day off and still charge you income tax for your "free day off". Doesn't cost them one penny in lost revenue, wipes billions off the value of company's and morons who have no clue of the bigger picture thank them for it.

Such a massive sigh.

It does seem absolutely absurd that the economy is in such a state; so lets spend millions/lose millions to celebrate this, jokes.

[Jon MW]

... I reckon the good they do for our country far outweighs their cost to the taxpayer. ....

Their good particularly outweighs their cost when most of the Royal family don't take any money from the Civil List anymore - a lot of anti-monarchists have arguments against hereditary privilege which aren't actually anything to do with having a Monarchy, they're just because some people are rich and some people are poor.

It's fair enough if you believe in socialism and/or communism - but it would carry more weight if people knew exactly what they were fighting for and fighting against.

[Graham C]

I like them! Like the Pie, I could do without the two day bank holidays. I don't ,imd once every sixty years but let it become a habit please. 

[redarmi]

It's fair enough if you believe in socialism and/or communism - but it would carry more weight if people knew exactly what they were fighting for and fighting against.

Do you have to be left wing to be anti monarchy or a republican?   The presence of the Queen as the head of state in the UK precludes the UK from having an elected head of state that could serve as a proper check and balance on the power of the government and that would be my major objection.  I also don't think that any powers of executive or government should be hereditary but that isn't a particularly left wing perspective.  I just think that the people would be better off electing a head of state that we can decide whther they are the best people for the job.  I don't have anything against the Queen or other royals and they all seem decent enough people but that alone isn't a reason for the monarchy as an institution to be head of state.  

[AndrewT]

LOL at elected head of state.

I like the fact that the HoS is not a position that can be campaigned for, or taken by the personally ambitious. Pretty sure we don't need another politician in charge, someone who panders to opinion polls and focus groups every 5 minutes.

[Woodsey]

It's fair enough if you believe in socialism and/or communism - but it would carry more weight if people knew exactly what they were fighting for and fighting against.

Do you have to be left wing to be anti monarchy or a republican?  The presence of the Queen as the head of state in the UK precludes the UK from having an elected head of state that could serve as a proper check and balance on the power of the government and that would be my major objection.  I also don't think that any powers of executive or government should be hereditary but that isn't a particularly left wing perspective.  I just think that the people would be better off electing a head of state that we can decide whther they are the best people for the job.  I don't have anything against the Queen or other royals and they all seem decent enough people but that alone isn't a reason for the monarchy as an institution to be head of state.  

No but they usually are.

[taximan007]

Bloody love the Queen

Might be nice to live in North Korea tho