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Originally Posted by Hood
I live near Manchester. Pick any country and if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time then you're in trouble. TV news rarely shows good news, and if you read the Daily Mail then the whole country is going to the dogs. I don't equate bad news on the TV with living in the UK in general.
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yeeeeeah, any other commonplaces to put down? The truth is that you can get a lot more news and information nowadays than 20 years ago, it's all about knowing where to get it. I think the Daily Mail is on par with Nuts Magazine et similar, you can get all the information you need from online news independent broadcasts etc.. I can provide you with link, but maybe you're too busy reading the Sun..
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As for defending my country, if I was conscripted then I'd pick up a gun. Not because it's what I want but because it's what my country expects of me. I don't need a gun to hand to do it - that's what the armed forces are for.
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yep, four days of burning and looting in the major UK cities were the perfect example of how ready our armed forces are.
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The monarchy - I like it because:
1. It's a constant in times of great change. The current queen has been a very worthwhile moral compass and a great example of public service - I really believe that she sees her role as serving the people of her country and the Commonwealth.
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this I can understand.
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2. The Crown Estates (ie the properties owned by the monarchy) give about £230 million to the revenue of which about £8m is returned to the Queen - good profit for the country I'd say.
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this I don't understand. It's like they're getting a share of a profit without doing anything, a bit mafia like
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3. The royal family are great ambassadors for the country, and they do it for duty not money (google Civil List to see hwo the monarchy is funded - might clear up some misconceptions commony held).
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mmmmhyeah, have to say that Prince Philip offers some comedy gems every now and then
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4. For me it makes the UK different from most other nations. Not better or worse, just different. Over time I think the monarchy will end up more like that of the Netherlands.
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That goes without saying. You
love being different.
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5. I just like it - no rationale logical reason.
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what is it that you like exactly? To be a commoner or the idea that there are people with no special skills, but that for chance/land owning/convenient wedding are entitled to a title of nobility and are somehow "better" than the average person?
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6. They're probably ever so slightly traditional British eccentrics (i.e. bonkers but nice with it).
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lol true
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There are a whole host of arguments against them, normally focused on their cost to the UK economy. I always wonder if it'll ever be possible to calculate their actual worth.
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Well other countries have other people that cover the same roles at the fraction of the salary, so their worth is kinda irrelevant.
The way I see it is that's just a neat, overpriced, anachronistic tradition to cling onto, but hey, it's part of your heritage, so why not? Maybe they could still do what they do cutting a bit on the unnecessary expenses, that might really show how they are "the people's royal family". But hey, again, just my opinion. I ask cos most people react really weird and tend to evade the question when I ask them what they think of the royal family.
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And I forgot that Luthier likes the banjo. Just so long as he doesn't start saying "Squeal...."
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