"Are the Royals worth the tax?" poll discussion

JimmyTheOwl

I wouldn't get rid of them, they do bring in money, and it's a good tradition, but I'd deffinitely give them a massive paycut. They don't earn anywhere near the amount they get paid for what they do.

Also they should be completely powerless. Being born into a certain family isn't qualification enough to be involved in running a country (although I doubt they actually do much, if anything), and it's unfair.

GlynD

Given that they haven't had a pay increase since 1991 (I think) that's really the same as a pay cut - don't you think?

Anyway, as a comedian said on TV last night, they've done wonders for the teatowel industry recently and that needs a boost. It hasn't been the same since the passing of Yasser Arafat.

GlynD

PS: they are powerless. We are a "Constitutional Monarchy". Parliament (the people) rules the country. The Monarch is only a figurehead.

MSE_Martin

GlynD wrote: »

PS: they are powerless. We are a "Constitutional Monarchy". Parliament (the people) rules the country. The Monarch is only a figurehead.

Im afraid constitutionally that simply is not true. There is a big difference between chosing not to exercise power, and not having it.

GlynD

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Im afraid constitutionally that simply is not true. There is a big difference between chosing not to exercise power, and not having it.

It's perfectly true. The Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701) established that, although limits on the power of the monarch are older than that - right back to Magna Carta.

reevers

Are the Royals worth the tax?
Well there can be no argument regarding that issue, in my opinion, as mentioned recently tax payers only pay £1.33 A YEAR for them, half the price of a pint, and non tax payers get them for free!
So what do we get for £1.33, well a monarchy that is respected and loved worldwide, they embellish the 'Great' in Great Britain and it's history, the tourism they attract into this country must repay our £1.33 over and over again, not to mention the Queens influence in the business world. Economically I am sure that no one could dispute they are value for money.
The Queen has worked tirelessly for this country throughout her adult life and when most of us have retired for a well deserved rest, she is still carrying on serving her country, in her eighties!.
Let's also take a moment to consider the Royals plight here too, they don't ask to be born into the Royal Family, (some may equate it to winning the national lottery), they are born into a life in the spot light whether they like it or not, like pop stars or film stars, yet they haven't chosen that for themselves. They don't exercise any powers over us, they have given that responsibility to parliament, they are not a dictatorship, but I believe they help to bring political stability to this country.
I feel the republicans amongst us are maybe of a jealous tendency and are annoyed that Royalty fortune comes from birthright when the rest of us have to toil and labour to scratch a living.
I too have to scratch a living, but I am not bitter, I appreciate how beneficial the Royal Family and the Queen are to this country and believe it would be an act of the greatest vandalism to abolish them, and an act that could never be redeemed. Simply because they have more wealth than most of us, that does not make for a balanced argument to why they should go. It is important for us not to be blinded by resentment, we should be proud of one of our nations greatest assets.


PS I take my hat off to GlynD who has written far more eloquently on this subject than I have.

GlynD

That's very kind of you to say so Reevers. I feel strongly about the subject, for various reasons, some of which I've explained above. My point was that you don't even pay that £1.33pa because the royal family pays for itself through the Crown Estate and gives the balance (around £200,000,000) to the exchequer.

reevers

As you can tell from my last rantings, I am a die hard royalist both from a traditionalist and economic point of view. I just cannot see how anyone can come up with a coherent argument for England without a monarchy.
I would like however, to make clarification of GlynD's comments, who I am struck knows a little more than me on this subject.
What you are suggesting if I read you right, that not only do the Royals not cost us any tax, but they pay back £2.64 for each man woman and child in the UK. Playing devils advocate for a moment, because I like to play fair and see all sides, the money that is raised is from the crown estate, it has been questioned if the Royal Family actually own the estate in the first place, in which case it wouldn't be their money to give. I would like to here comments on this.

GlynD

I am a traditiionalist Revvers and I have taken an oath of loyalty to the Queen and her heirs and successors. I am also a realist however and if I thought the monarchy was no longer good for the country I would say so and not hold back. What I am most however is someone who hates hysteria created by media lies. That's why I've posted here on this subject. The information I have used is available here http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/about_us.htm perhaps you would like to read up on it?

reevers

Thanks GlynD, I will check it out.