Monarchy, Yay or Nay?

[veloper]

Then comes the old saying "Do you know how stupid the average person is? Well, half of them are even dumber than that!" As for those who use the counter-argument that the people are stupid and don't know what's good for them, I would respond that that assertion makes no difference. The decisions aren't good because they are the right thing (although I'm not sure how you could define 'the right thing' and which values you'd use); they are good because we, the citizens, made them.

That is absurd. The will of the majority doesn't make something right. Else gang rape would be OK. Genocide of a minority would be right.

Democracy isn't about making good decisions, democracy is about representation.

Democracy is about the constitution.
That is a constitution that protects the rights and freedom of the individual (not the majority).

Representation is there just to balance the power. Representation is the weakest link: a balance act that may fail any time when the majority votes for the next fascist.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

God save the Queen.


Oh, wait, do I have to argue? Damned bunch of republicans and colonials, you lot. Well, if one compares the total spent on the British monarchy, it may seem like a lot, but if one then realises that each one of those foriegners standing around outside Buckingham palace needs to be fed, watered, entertained and sleep somewhere, one quickly realises that Her Majesty earns far more than she costs. Thus the cost argument is negated in Britain's case.

Secondly, we have the diplomacy factor.

Thirdly, we have the awesome factor. It has been proven that having a monarch makes one's state all the more awesome. For example, Australia is, due to being ruled by the Queen, sixteen times more awesome than Burma.

Fourthly, we have the historical correlation in the later half of the twentieth centuary between stability and monarchy. To be precise- Monarchic states such as Norway, Britain, Japan etc- through constituional monarchy- are much more socially stable that their Republican counterparts.

 

[Nivag the Owl]

I'm fine with our Monarchy! Only because it makes me happy to have a Queen that I can dedicate my actions to!

In case any of you get the wrong idea, I mean like shoutting "FOR THE QUEEN" and battle-axing someone in the face.

 

[oliveira8]

Monarchy is so dark ages...What we need is a new Roman Empire! So the world can be civilized again and have proper roads.

 

[fedpayne]

Don't think for a minute that if the majority of the people really didn't want the Queen around, then she'd still be in 'power'.

She doesn't do any harm, and, as Fondant said, she probably makes more money from tourism than she costs the country.

Obviously I don't want an absolute ruler, elected or not, but the current European systems with a powerless figurehead are fine.

EDIT: It also makes our money nicer. Anyone who has seen that episode of Peep Show... will now probably hate me.

 

[H.R.Shovenstuff]

I am completley against the monarchy.
I shan't divulge in my reasons unless someone who likes being bored on the internet wants me to, but suffice to say I consider myself socialist.

 

[littlelacysurprisepageant]

Well, the British Royal Family are pretty much a part of our background and they've done more good then harm over here.

So I guess I'm fine with it in the UK at the moment.

 

[Lord George]

I see nothing wrong with the British royal family as they don't do anything bad and they bring us in a load of money through the tourist trade, also they keep giant mutated corgis in there palace.

 

[new_age_reject]

Well it helps bring in revenue from tourists, the British economy would b fucked without it... wait.
The only problem is that they are a bunch of inbred bigots so meh.

 

[TheDean]

I live in Sweden, officially called "The Kingdom of Sweden", as you've probably guessed, It's one of many European monarchies, we have a king and a royal family. The royal family does not have to work, they live on tax-payer money, and they do live like... well... kings, sporting many expensive cars, expensive clothes, expensive trips etc.

Additionally, the royal family is also above the law, they can not be arrested or prosecuted. And all these rights are something you receive by being born in the right family, or perhaps marrying the right person.

As a trade-off, the royal family do not possess any official political power, despite the king/queen being head of state.


So what do you people think about monarchy? Does it fit in well in a democratic system, or is it just a remain of the olden days that stains our society?

I live in the UK, we also have a monarchy, to which i am utterly opposed. As you said, they don't work, and they are a huge waste of money. You aren't more important than anyone else because of your familoy- you had no control over that. You jsut happened to be in that family.

 

[new_age_reject]

Well it helps bring in revenue from tourists, the British economy would b fucked without it... wait.
The only problem is that they are a bunch of inbred bigots so meh.

They cost far more then they bring in through tourism.

Actually that is true.
With Harry borrowing helicopters at a whim and all the rest of it.
Though the government isn't a great deal better in that respect.

 

[countrysteaksauce]

3 Pages and no one has yet mentioned Hegel.
Go check out his views on monarchy. They make a lot of sense and he believed it was better than democracy.

 

[Splyth]

Well Plato once said that the best government he could come up with was one ruled by a virtuous leader. But that's the problem, where do you find someone you know to be a virtuous leader? I can see how a monarchy is a good government if ruled by the correct people. Only problem is you can get really screwed over if your leader is a bad one.

Isn't having a King or Queen with no power and all the perks kind of self defeating in govt. organization. I think it's a tradition though so good luck with ever trying to get rid of it. I do really think it's a hold over and probably needs to go away

 

[Arachon]

Well Plato once said that the best government he could come up with was one ruled by a virtuous leader. But that's the problem, where do you find someone you know to be a virtuous leader? I can see how a monarchy is a good government if ruled by the correct people. Only problem is you can get really screwed over if your leader is a bad one.

Well, there's always the problem of "what if we get a bad leader", but I also think that a bigger problem is the fact that power corrupts, some of the worst crimes in history has been commited by people and leaders who thought they did "the right thing".

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Nayeth say I. Nay to anything which puts any human being "above" another in the pecking chain of life.