Brits, what do you think of your monarch government?

Question

I'm a Yank, and I honestly I don't see how you guys put up will it.

I would absolutely hate it if my leaders, were Kings and Queens who weren't elected but rather born into a life of power and fame.
I would absolutely hate it if I had to refer to my leaders, as "Your Highness" or "Your Majesty", as if they are superior to me, just because of whom they were born to. This something that should offend all free-humanists.

How do you guys put up it with it century after century? How have after so many years you guys not rebelled yet, like the French? Is it that you guys are conformists?

Honestly, I feel bad for you guys.

"God Save the Queen"?! Seriously?! Yeah, forget about myself, forget about my family, I want God to focus on the Queen, because she is far more superior than me, and more important than I will ever be.

And yeah, I know the royal family has very little real political power, and that the real political power rests with the elected members of parliament, but still, absolute monarchy or not, I have a problem with this perverted system of government. Why don't you guys?

Answer 1

We never really talk about the Queen as if she were our leader, even though she is the official head of state.



In fact, constitutionally speaking, the UK prime minister has far more power over his country than the US president does over his. He has the power to make his cabinet draft the legislation he wants and MP's from his own party who rebel against it by defying the Party Whip put their careers on the line.



I must concede though, it's an outdated institution. The main problem is the House of Lords, a chamber which performs checks and balances on any act of Parliament from the House of Commons. It is made up of hereditary peers and people who buy/bribe/blag their way in by knowing the right people such as Alan Sugar and Lord Browne (Captain BP Oil Spill). Attempts to reform the chamber have only made it worse as now that it is no longer a hereditary body, anybody rich enough or well-connected enough can obtain parliamentary priviledges.



It's not feasible to bring the aristocracy back to the state it was in before so it's only fair that we have an elected head of state and an elected Senate to replace the Lords.

Answer 2

The monarch doesn't have "very little political power", she has absolutely no power whatsoever. The monarchy is entirely a figurehead. She can't create laws, block anything the parliament does, or in any way overrule them.



There is a lot of support for the monarchy in the UK mainly because of tradition and because royalty is, well, a bit of fun. People just like their traditions, more than anything else. You might as well ask why Americans celebrate independence day- it's a simply of American identity and culture. The UK populace support the monarchy for much the same reason- it's a British symbol.



There was never a rebellion or revolution because the monarchy quite sensible handed all their power to the Parliament a long time ago. The other monarchies were overturned because the population had simply had enough of an unelected institution wielding all the power. An unelected institution that doesn't have any power at all doesn't quite attract the same level of opposition.



The UK system of government simply isn't a monarchy, and few UK citizens support a monarchistic system of government. They do support a symbol of UK identity, which is all the monarchy is.

Answer 3

In some ways it is pretty ridiculous - I mean, obviously it's really just the luck of the draw as to who is royalty, and then everyone has to live with it.

However, the Monarchy represent the history of the country, and the Empire, and everything it has been through. It is a nice way of showing now that we appreciate everything that the people who lived before us did 'for their country', and it shows that we still value some of the same things. It also shows a sense of culture, and makes Britain stand out above others, including the US, attracting huge numbers of Tourists who often love the idea of the tradition that has been carried through. Furthermore, the Monarchy offers a reason for British people to have patriotic celebrations, which can be fun (just look at the feeling of happiness due to the Royal Wedding!)

I would also like to point out that not all British people are the same, as you seem to suggest in an almost racist way, and many people DO disagree with the so-called "benefits" of keeping the Monarchy - especially because it costs an extortionate amount of money to maintain, and doesn't really do all that much. I guess the benefits outweigh the negative points right now, or it WOULD be changed.

To be honest, I went to an American high school where they sang the National Anthem with their hands on their hearts every morning, which I, personally, was repulsed by...and that's kind of the same thing. At least in the UK most people don't even know the words to 'God Save the Queen'.

Finally, the Queen is actually a very considerate person who does good things for Britain, and represents Britain (through no choice of her own), and so it is fun to address her as 'Her Royal Highness', and no-one really minds!

Hope that sorts out some of your problems.

Answer 4

The first thing you have to understand is that the US has a Presidential system whereas the UK has a parliamentary system. On the whole, it appears that parliamentary systems work better than presidential ones, which is probably why most new democracies adopt parliamentary systems. You may want to argue that a presidential system has served the US well, but the success of the US could actually be in spite of its presidential system rather than because of it. If you look at other countries which copied the US presidential system (most of them in Latin America) you would not find such a happy history.



OK, having understood that, you next have to understand that it is necessary for a parliamentary system to have a head of state who is not the Prime Minister and who will seek to uphold the constitution without political bias. If we did not have a monarch, we would have to elect a President to perform this role. You may think that this would be a contradiction for a non-presidential system to have a President, but this is actually what has been adopted in many new democracies. For example, the Republic of Ireland has a parliamentary system closely modelled on the UK system, but they have an elected ceremonial president to perform the roles that the Queen performs in the UK.



So, therefore, the choice is between having an elected President to act in a non-political way or having a non-elected figure. You have to ask yourself how likely it is that an elected President would be prepared to be completely unbiased and non-political. The danger is that such a figure would feel that he has democratic legitimacy resulting from his election which would give him the right to act politically in certain circumstances. the great advantage of hereditary monarchs is that they obviously have no democratic mandate whatsoever and so generally avoid acting politically at all costs.



So the British will probably stick with the monarchy for as long as the monarch behaves in a way that does not embarrass us (the present Queen is dignity and duty personified). As soon as we end up, thanks to an accident of birth, with someone who is less appealing (possibly like the current Prince of Wales) we may ditch the monarchy and elect a head of state, but we will not want to do that unless there is no alternative because it involves risk and unpredictability. The great thing about the present monarch is that she is almost completely predictable and risk-free.

Answer 5

Monarch Government? You really need to do a little more research. The Monarch and the Government are totally separate - the monarch has no power and is no more than a figure-head. Our leaders are elected, and anyway a lot of the idea of the monarch being superior comes from religion, which you Americans are far more into than we are.



We did have a revolution, then we brought them monarchy back, because the people who ruled during the republic were even more authoritarian, and even more murderous than their royal predecessors. As to the 'God Save the Queen' well it's just a national anthem. No country's national anthem (including the American anthem) says 'please save me and my family' - they all ask for the monarch, or the country to be prosperous, not the individual. After all, a country is not about individuals.



You wonder why we put up with a monarch, we wonder why you all stand around pledging allegiance to a flag - something that would have you locked up for insanity in any other country.





At the end of the day, we like our system, and it works well for us. If you don't like it, don't ever come and life here. We don't have to justify it to anyone, just as no other country has to justify the method of government they have chosen. There are a huge number of benefits to our system, such as consistency and the prevention of dictatorship, but it's more of a cultural thing, which you are clearly never going to understand.

Answer 6

But then again the United States is owned by a few bankers who created a debt system of money. The National Debt stands at 13 plus trillion. There is not resources in the US to pay for that kind of money. If the Banks created this system and then pay-off all politicians, control the television, newspaper, and radio.........what choice do any votes have but to choose, the bankers pick. If you get to own all the TV channels, you will only present those candidates that dont know anything about monetary reform, or are bought in to work for them like woodrow wilson, FDR, Bush and Obama.

Answer 7

I am confused at these reply's the Queen has lot of power she is the Head of the military and can appoint commanders she can dissolve parliaments if they cannot reach an agreement on a political issue she can engage in treaty's with other nations But the UK is a constitutional monarchy the Queen can never become the government or directly inact legislation she cannot become a "ruler"

Answer 8

To be honest we live no differently to you. The only time you call them 'your highness' or 'your majesty' is if you're face to face with them, and to be quite frank the vast majority of us will never meet any royal family anyway. Also, nowadays the royal family have very little say in how out country is ruled, and that is left for our government; and our government is voted into power.



In regards to the national anthem, it is not something we sing everyday. And the younger population don't tend to even know it, as they are not generally taught it schools anymore. But seriously, watch the beginning of an international football match with England playing. You won' see any of them singing it properly, and they are meant to be representing our country.



Overall, the royal family has very little effect on any of us 'commoners', and to be honest I think that a lot of them are very down to earth nowadays e.g. Prince Will, Prince Harry etc



Hope this broadened your understanding of our culture :)

Answer 9

The monarch and the government are separate. All countries have a figurehead of some sort. Someone who can unite the nation. Even if they are not well known. Countries like Italy and Germany have presidents, but you never hear about them except when there is a crisis. The Spanish monarch became popular when he stood up to a coup. Both Presidents and monarchs have their faults and weaknesses, but just occasionally they come into their own so I don't think you can criticise either system.

Answer 10

You're under a misapprehension, the monarchy doesn't run our country, a democratically elected government in parliament does. I'm not a royalist, but they probably pay for themselves with the amount of revenue created through tourism. Some of them also do a lot of good, Princess Anne and the Queen especially.

Answer 11

Parliament rules Britain. The Royal family does not. you should do a little reading.... and to be honest with you Parliament has proved to be the most dangerous and destructive force that Britain will ever face. In the last ten years our own parliament has done more lasting damage to this country than both world wars.

Answer 12

You say you are a Yank



That is sharpe pull on something



Or do you mean you are an american?



What ever



We are fighting race



Any place in world needs bombing you lot lead line and we come behind, to support you guy's and clear up the mess!



Why



Because we have history of conflict and believing in fair play



This has come from the ages of Britain and all of the years of conflict and revolution we have ruled over and suffered



But always

we have had regional leadership

which came to be Royalty



This born out of our History

As nation we love pageantry tradition the eccentric way of life and tradition of being English



At top of all that is Royal family



I love America

I love fact that you are proud as a nation to be Americans

Fly your Flag's on house in schools on public buildings



Sing your national anthem



We have lost all of that



Except pride in Monarchy



We will not have it for much longer but we teaser it while we may



How would you address Nelson Mandela?



President Obama?

correct

With respect and use of Title

Mr President



No more or less of human being then you are but they represent something



Read words of National Anthem

All of verses

Then you will see it is song of Nation

About strength of this nation



As I said

we are nation in Moral decline and last bastian we have is Royal family (warts and all )





Our Government is based on 1 man 1 vote (sound familiar)

Vote for party who wins most seats



But may not win most votes



Not perfect



But you could do lot worse

Answer 13

ill take 2, talk about being an ***, why are you filled with so much hate? Believe there is not one American that cares how much you hate them, in fact, If you got a job and washed up a little, you could get out and meet people. And maybe become human

Answer 14

silly american



you should try learning and excepting the truth of your own country before you come on the internet and make a complete @ss of yourself



http://www.redcoat.me.uk/



edit

larry

ha ha ha oooh the truth hurts, i don't hate anyone nor do i care what anyone thinks and im even less interested in your bullshite, your a halfwit completely lacking in value and usefulness slow to think Intellectually weak just a blowhard with no grasp whatsoever of reality factually absurd, so dense your even more f.uck-witted than scooby do, incapable of thinking too stupid to understand anything weak feeble and ineffectual, a slimy cowardly little liar and the simple fact is your to slow witted and feeble minded to be anything else, now shoo you silly little boy!

Answer 15

To many gutless brown noses in england.