Sun Oct 24, 2021 11:48 am
#1878178
Loco parentis wrote:Our Monarchy has always been the abode of privilege.
Republicanism is a perfectly respectable position to support, and I know from years of experience that trying to persuade supporters of it that there is virtue in our system of constitutional monarchy is rarely fruitful. However, it is worth noting that it is supported happily by people on all sides of the political spectrum, as the huge politically and socially eclectic crowds that regularly turn out for Royal events demonstrate, in a way that a political head of state never would be. Politics is by definition divisive and in many countries, the USA being the most notable, the divisions are becoming ever deeper and more polarised. Whatever individual feelings towards the government of the day in the UK, the head of state here can still be a figure that everybody (less Republicans ) can unite behind precisely because it is not political. That is valuable. I was always mindful of the distinction as well that I served the Crown and not the government of the day, as do the armed services, and that is not just semantics but a valuable safeguard.
As for privilege, I am not at all sure that too many people would regard the level of scrutiny, lack of privacy, restricted freedoms and work schedule at the age of 95 as that, more of a burden they wouldn't choose to shoulder themselves.
As for looking around at various presidential countries for inspiration to follow, it might first be a good idea to investigate just how many elected presidents have been found to be involved in corruption or criminality of one sort or another in recent years. More than one French president, at least one German and another from Ireland, and that is just off the top of my head. I'm very happy to stay with what we have, thanks all the same. Fortunately I think that a large majority of the population agree with me.
PW