Republic in the UK?

[Minimalist]

Yeah that's true.
But that not what the UK government is in support of. Whether or not those counties have democracy, democracy is what the UK (among others) is promoting to them.

What we really want is another dictator who will make them obey as long as he doesn't shoot too many of them in the streets. That looks bad on the 6 O'clock News.

[Tiberius]

Agreed. But what can you say against tradition?? Hmm?

Erm...a lot. Tradition doesn't make something right...

[Anomalocaris]

Agreed. But what can you say against tradition?? Hmm?

Erm...a lot. Tradition doesn't make something right...

No, but it often has the horrifying power of making something appear right.

[kılıç_mehmet]

Any of my fellow Brits out here keen to stop the unwarranted hypocrisy of our support for democracy in Lybia, Iraq, Afghan and so on, whilst our head of state is unelected, along with about of third of our parliament?

Lected by who?
You? Would it really matter if you had elected a president, instead of having a queen? The queen is of symbolic importance anyways, she doesn't even involve herself in politics, I wish she did, as a ruler who has nothing to lose(as like, an election), and doesn't serve a limited term will obviously do a better job on taking decisions, be they bad or good, but he will definately go with it without fear of what the public thinks.

[soitgoes]

Any of my fellow Brits out here keen to stop the unwarranted hypocrisy of our support for democracy in Lybia, Iraq, Afghan and so on, whilst our head of state is unelected, along with about of third of our parliament?

Lected by who?
You? Would it really matter if you had elected a president, instead of having a queen? The queen is of symbolic importance anyways, she doesn't even involve herself in politics, I wish she did, as a ruler who has nothing to lose(as like, an election), and doesn't serve a limited term will obviously do a better job on taking decisions, be they bad or good, but he will definately go with it without fear of what the public thinks.

Yes it would matter to me if I elected a president rather than a queen.

Accountability my friend, is what citizens need over their rulers. If a King or Queen makes, as you say they can, bad decisions consistently, what the hell could anyone do about it? Hitler and Stalin (just to name the Big Two) were not held accountable for their decisions. Didn't work out too well for the German and Russian people did it.

Elections create, at least, a deal of accountability. Preventing shit like the purges from happening.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Does the UK Republican movement favour beheading HRH Charles and his spawn, plus diverse hangers-on? What about abolishing all hereditary titles?

PS foreign policy is based on perceived national interest not moral principle. The US is a Republic.

[Autumnlicious]

PS foreign policy is based on perceived national interest not moral principle. The US is a Republic.

Redefine "national interest" to be "powerful interests that are moneyed and occasionally react to public pressure".

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Redefine "national interest" to be "powerful interests that are moneyed and occasionally react to public pressure".

No need;I said "perceived national interest" I did not say WHOSE perception,because I really don't know. The great unwashed are too ignorant or too stupid to grasp what is their best interest even at the micro level.


George Carlin expressed my views on realpolitik,albeit in a simplistic way.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GseyaEibb_4

[Tiberius]

Does the UK Republican movement favour beheading HRH Charles and his spawn, plus diverse hangers-on? What about abolishing all hereditary titles?

No, we don't want to behead people. I'm not entirely sure why you even had to ask that question.

Yes, we are in favour of abolishing all hereditary titles. Republicanism is about fairness and equality.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

No, we don't want to behead people. I'm not entirely sure why you even had to ask that question.

It was a joke,hence the emoticon.

Republicanism is about fairness and equality.

Oh,like the US? Fine if it makes you happy to think so..