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Would someone explain to me what the big deal is with the Royal Family? All I've heard all day is Prince William getting engaged to his new fiancee. OK, congrats but ENOUGH!!! I suppose our own media isn't helping.
Also, why is it that England spends so much money on the Royal family when it has very little real power?
It's a silly tradition. I'd love to mention an American one that would be similar, but sadly I can't really think of one:P
But meh, it's lovely to read in the news papers how the government is cutting down pay offs to the royal family every year. The reductions are not that great, but at least even they feel the recession.
Because we're a constitutional Monarchy, so we, the tax payers, fund them. Until such time as the people go all revolutionary and force a vote to get rid of them, they're here.
Like you say Doc, its your media making a big deal of it, they lap all that royal stuff up.
As for England and the royal family having no power, they have built up a commonwealth,
take a look at the sterling, it has the queens head on it! "Rule Britannia"
They're simply a relic of a past that America (as most people know it today) never had.
I don't really think Royals have much point unless they have power, as the idea of a Constitutional Monarchy is based upon the idea that the King/Queen has power, as they did in the 17th century, when the current British system of government was founded.
And I think the whole concept of Monarchy is outdated, as it revolves around the idea that a country is in constant need of a dictator, which is only necessary when a country is at war on a regular basis, or for extended periods of time (as in war, a Dictatorship, if well run, is far far better than a Democracy). And the world today is in a peaceful state (compared to that of a few centuries back, and almost all human history before that), so there is no need for a system of government that is designed for conflict.
As things stand, because the Royal Family serves no purpose, I (as a Brit) would be perfectly happy getting rid of them. However, if the world devolved into a state of chaos, with omnipresent war, then a Royal Family, with power over the government, and the skill to lead, would be a very great asset.
' Wrote:Would someone explain to me what the big deal is with the Royal Family? All I've heard all day is Prince William getting engaged to his new fiancee. OK, congrats but ENOUGH!!! I suppose our own media isn't helping.
Also, why is it that England spends so much money on the Royal family when it has very little real power?
Its a British Symbol and a link to the past and their traditions etc.
The Queen btw is also the head of State of Australia and Canada.