reply to post by FollowTheWhiteRabbit
You crack me up - you read a few articles on the internet and a few textbooks and you arrogantly assume that you know more than the people who
actually live here.
Yes. While under your monarchy's rule, we too had to adhere to traditions and laws. But things changed, we broke away, and our president doesn't
have to kiss the hand of an old Queen for permission to hold executive office.
But they still bow to her, out of respect and tradition - regardless of what some may have you believe your President does not answer to The Queen yet
he still respects tradition and culture.
As I said before, how could we expect you to understand anything about tradition and heritage - you simply don't get it at all do you?
We elect him, and he begins working.
And we in effect elect our Prime Minister.
There is much that is wrong with both our electoral and Parliamentary processes but I'm afraid you're barking up the wrong tree here.
The PM asking the Queen if he can hold office might be a tradition, but why do you think it's there? Just for giggles?
Yes - and so that silly Americans etc come over and spend an absolute fortune taking in the pomp and pageantry of it all - our monarch is an
irrelevance to the vast majority of people in the UK and she has no impact whatsoever on our lives.
It seems to me that Americans are far more obsessed with our royal family than us Brits - I wonder why?
As for Royal Prerogative - it's extent is quite ambiguous and the final say on the legality of it's useage depend's solely on judicial
judgement.
- Do you really think that would happen? The public would overthrow the Queen?
Well, we've done it before so history would suggest that we would.
If a monarch ever tried to overrule Parliament and enforce their will then one way or another that monarch would be removed.
But then again you with your infinite and superior knowledge of the UK, it's people, it's history, it's laws and it's customs etc have a far
better qualified opinion on this matter than those of us who live here.
People are shaking in their boots to even mention the Royal Family in magazines and newspapers in even a mildly negative light, much less downright
implying certain things.
Go into any pub, club or other place where we Brits tend to meet and discuss things and you'll openly here countless conversations etc with people
freely expressing whatever opinion they like.
Many publications and organisations are openly anti-monarchy and discuss their dislike and discontent.
Then again, I'm seeing a lot of stories out of England involving people being arrested for insulting one another.
Where?
Examples please.
You boys and girls across the pond seem to have a big problem with Lizzy being insulted.
Plenty of magazines etc take the piss out of The Queen and her family - but there are boundaries, same as anyone else - or do you suggest that she
should be treat differently to everyone else?
- Sure. But capital punishment didn't end in the UK until 1965, and it was only until 2004 that your government was finally able to prohibit its
restoration. At last you're making some progress,
Unlike the USA, between 2007 and 2011 only China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia executed more people than the USA - exalted company and something to be
proud of.
Of the 50 US States only 17states do not enforce capital punishment - some progress.
now all you need is absolute freedom of the press (love that your Royal Family is trying to shut down magazines for nude photos) and to stop treating
a queen as an untouchable goddess.
Do you think that MSM in the USA would publish topless figures of The First Lady or The Presidents daughters?
The Press in the UK is rotten to the core - exactly the same as the USA - but there are still some ethical and professional reporters out there.
A Head of State that can declare war,
Technically yes, but in practice no.
Some of the best explanations of this are given here.
answers.yahoo.com...
I assure you, if I thought for one minute that the monarch was dictating or even unduly influincing government policy then I would do everything
possible to make sure she went the same way as some of her predecessors.
There is much that is wrong with the UK's electoral and parliamentary systems - Liz's involvement and powers are the least of our worries.