Nice People 13: Nice Save

Nikkster

Generali wrote: »

Royals don't really bother me these days. They're cheap and not corrupt so that'll do. Imagine President Kinnock or President Foot or President Hague. Hell's bells.

Having spent the evening watching Strictly and now X Factor (though I'm about to switch over for Homeland), I quite like the idea of a non-elected head of state. We'd probably end up with Simon Cowell as president or something like that.

Masomnia

There are some examples of elected monarchs, like the Holy Roman Empire (neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire ), and Poland. Poland was quite nice as all the nobility and their sons had a vote, which meant that a heck of a lot of people could vote for the monarch. OK you had to be noble (and a man, naturally), but throughout the middle ages people had far more power to choose their sovereign there than anywhere else in Europe.

vivatifosi

Generali wrote: »

Isn't the point of a monarchy, in part, that support is required for the institution itself. You don't get to pick and choose which ones you do and don't like. If you like Brenda then you have to accept Charlie too.

Royals don't really bother me these days. They're cheap and not corrupt so that'll do. Imagine President Kinnock or President Foot or President Hague. Hell's bells.

The thing is, for most of us, our opinion of monarchy is shaped largely by QE2. Purely because we've known nothing else. Ardent monarchists will always support the monarchy. Ardent republicans will always oppose it. For wishy-washy middle grounders like me, I may feel different if Charles intervenes politically and changes the status quo. It's not a big deal presently, but I do see the role purely as one of figurehead. I wouldn't like it if he started sticking his oar in.

Masomnia

vivatifosi wrote: »

The thing is, for most of us, our opinion of monarchy is shaped largely by QE2. Purely because we've known nothing else. Ardent monarchists will always support the monarchy. Ardent republicans will always oppose it. For wishy-washy middle grounders like me, I may feel different if Charles intervenes politically and changes the status quo. It's not a big deal presently, but I do see the role purely as one of figurehead. I wouldn't like it if he started sticking his oar in.

Totally agree.

I think if he did start causing problems it would lead to calls for a referendum on the monarchy, though. It would become untenable if people stopped supporting him. I imagine he'd abdicate in favour of William if that happened.

zagubov

If we were organised like Belgium or Spain we'd have both. The UK would have the queen, and England would have a president who we elected.

As I said I've no real problem about constitutional monarchs.
Aristocrats, however, don't get me started.

Doozergirl

I got yelled at today.

Last year sometime I learned that we all have control of our feelings and it is a matter of choosing, not reacting. Nobody makes you feel a certain way, it's how you react to it. Feelings are inside us, not outside of us and handed to us. Sometimes (or a lot of the time) we don't choose and the feelings happen to us instead.

I have also learned that if you think someone is against you for some reason, it's more than likely to have absolutely nothing to do with you. People have enough trouble dealing with their own plate than to dabble with anyone elses.

It has changed my perspective and gone as far as changing me. For the better.

My old signature was a bit cheeky but talked about walking a mile in another persons shoes before judging. I would like to show that person the shoes that I have worn for three years. I've sent them an email apologising and describing those shoes.

Now, I'm trying to remember to choose how I feel.

How do family sometimes end up being the people that know you least?

Slightly weird message ends.

Doozergirl

Nikkster wrote: »

Having spent the evening watching Strictly and now X Factor (though I'm about to switch over for Homeland), I quite like the idea of a non-elected head of state. We'd probably end up with Simon Cowell as president or something like that.

This made me laugh. You're so right.

Yorkie1

DG, I feel you might need a dodgy :grouphug: ?

Doozergirl

Yorkie1 wrote: »

DG, I feel you might need a dodgy :grouphug: ?

Thank you

zagubov

Nikkster wrote: »

Having spent the evening watching Strictly and now X Factor (though I'm about to switch over for Homeland), I quite like the idea of a non-elected head of state. We'd probably end up with Simon Cowell as president or something like that.

I've no doubt that for no very good reason it would involve, instead of one election, a game show setup where the presis deal with faked trumped-up "crises" after which the judges would pause endlessly then announce that ..................such-and-such wouldn't be coming back to next week's show/caucus/election.