Swear allegiance to who ?!

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by chrisch

As to the monarchy it retains its power, a power OVER the people. its henchmen (and henchwomen ) are armed and prepared to kill or to die for it.

Would it come to that? I doubt it very much. I hope not. But if it did there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.

Chris

That's a bit of a beat up IMHO, theoretically possible but, I think unlikely.

I haven't been to war but I have been in the military, even if it was only the Chocos. People in the military die or kill, by and large, for their mates. If it came to being ordered to overthrow a duly elected govt, I firmly believe that the Br Army and/or the Aust Army (institutionally they are virtually identical in ethos) would refuse, or at least a significant enough number to make the outcome very very uncertain for the perpetrators would.

There's such a thing as an unlawful order and where enough doubt exists, it's every soldier/sailor/airman's duty to refuse it or that's what I was taught in my Mil Law lessons.

And as we have a citizen military, an elite military but a citizen military, nonetheless, comprising ordinary men & women who for the most part have a fairly well inculcated sense of right & wrong, I see the chances of this happening in practice as rather remote. Same in the US forces too.

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

Fxxk me Mason, I'm not going to argue with you ever again. You have the power to get Rupert Murdoch to tinkle the ivories at some little shindig you dreamt up.

Respec'.

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by SoggyFox

yeah those nasty little Belgians!

Nothing wrong with Belgians. They make yummy chocolate

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

That's a bit of a beat up IMHO, theoretically possible but, I think unlikely.
......

Yes very very unlikely. Near impossible in fact. The EU would step in Hooray for the EU.

The issue is one of principle and of the attempt to have a recognised UK constitution.

The royal family represent inherited power (albeit symbolic if you like), inherited wealth (stolen from us), inherited privilege and the supremacy of the Protestant religion. The Queen is chosen by god not by the people.

Disconnect the royals from the state and you have a compromise that most people will accept. (Me too - its not worth the effort to go further)

Besides, the real heir to the throne is that Ozzie bloke and he too is a republican

Chris

[scuba g]

If you loose the royals, what will they put on the stamps and money?, maybe the Wombles or the cast of Rainbow!

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Scubee

Perhaps if people cared more about being british, it might be a better place to live.

Good luck defining "Britishness" .

Originally Posted by MarkP

However, the theoretical Britishness of tolerance and fair play is utterly laudable.

Tolerance and fair play are British? Well, we hope that they are British values (certain rather over-represented sections of society excepted), but they are certainly not uniquely British.

I'm not sure why Brown is being blamed for this farce. Seems more Goldsmith's fault to me, and he lest we forget is the man who conveniently changed his mind about the legality of our current war.

Did anyone spot another of his ideas?

"Creation of a new National Citizens' Corps, whose members could provide advice to others on training and development in citizenship." Link

Godwin anyone?

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by chrisch

Yes very very unlikely. Near impossible in fact. The EU would step in Hooray for the EU.

Err, isn't most of the core of the actual combat force of the pointy end of the so-called "EU Army" mainly British units? (As opposed to the "Hide in barracks at night and only come out in daylight if the bad guys are elsewhere" component - ie Germany & France)

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by MarkP

Fxxk me Mason, I'm not going to argue with you ever again. You have the power to get Rupert Murdoch to tinkle the ivories at some little shindig you dreamt up.

Respec'.

Yeah but he wasn't too happy about it. The canapes were crap for a start.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by scuba g

If you loose the royals, what will they put on the stamps and money?, maybe the Wombles or the cast of Rainbow!

Damn you man. My avatar has given away the plot

Chris

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by chrisch

The problem is what if, at some future point we get a right nutter?

In the final analysis, if it all goes to $hit??

Simple. The Govt of the day will flood the Lords with it's own people, then force an Act of Parliament through to abolish the monarchy, or else declare the incumbent mad or bad and appoint a successor. It's been done before, by a bloke called Cromwell, then again a few years later, which is how William III got the guernsey.