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British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

theguardian.com

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Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#11

Post by msla »

Not that it matters:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/29/the-crowd-we...

> Hill is a Christian, historian, pacifist, teacher, writer, activist and republican. At the start of the ceremony, which focused on the queen’s death, he was silent: “I wouldn’t interrupt somebody’s grief.” But when “they declared Charles rightful liege lord, and acknowledged our obedience to him as our only king”, Hill had heard enough. “I find this language very demeaning, and I called out ‘Who elected him?’” To his astonishment, he found himself surrounded by security, arrested and eventually charged under the Public Order Act 1986.

[snip]

> On the same day, a 22-year-old woman who allegedly held a placard reading “Fuck imperialism, abolish monarchy” was arrested in Edinburgh for breach of the peace.

[snip]

> Perhaps the most alarming story to emerge was that of a barrister threatened with arrest after holding up a blank piece of paper outside parliament.

My point is that public support is meaningless when expressing lack of support is criminalized. GOD SAVE THE KING on pains of imprisonment.

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#12

Post by jleyank »

cal85 wrote: post #7
jleyank wrote: post #5

Constitutional monarchs are a valid form of non political heads of state, and there’s a value in such heads of state. However, they should be citizens and residents of the country they “lead” - not residing over the seas. And they should dial the ostentation back to 4-5, in line with the other countries in Europe. Let Disney handle the Magic Princesses.

Why should they dial the ostentation back?

Their existence depends on the tolerance of the taxed. Burn that out and theyll have to work for a living.

Edit as I can’t reply…. Japan’s royalty has been around far longer but isn’t particularly fancy. Denmark’s is similar in duration to the post Norman uk, similarly “mild”. People don’t like seeing such behaviour in lean times.

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#13

Post by haunter »

Yet I somehow think constitutional monarchies work. There is a reason (I don't know what) that the european ones are in the western richer + generally strong and high functioning democratic countries (Spain, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg).

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#15

Post by msla »

mikestew wrote: post #9

“X% think the monarchy is ‘quite important’”, or summat. Next poll, please, please, please drill into why these folks think it is important. Because I’m trying to come up with something for which the monarchy is important, and I’m truly at a loss as a non-resident. EDIT: all great answers (except the snarky one) that gave me some insight, thanks.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/29/the-crowd-we...

Because they'll imprison you if you say it isn't.

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#16

Post by 988747 »

jleyank wrote: post #12
cal85 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why should they dial the ostentation back?

Their existence depends on the tolerance of the taxed. Burn that out and theyll have to work for a living. Edit as I can’t reply…. Japan’s royalty has been around far longer but isn’t particularly fancy. Denmark’s is similar in duration to the post Norman uk, similarly “mild”. People don’t like seeing such behaviour in lean times.

[dead]

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#17

Post by mellosouls »

This seems like rather a biased summary of an obscure finding - can anybody point to the exact details that they've drawn these conclusions from (I don't doubt they are there), I had a quick look at the underlying report but it is difficult to navigate and I couldn't see a mention of monarchy.

It's almost like The Guardian is trying really really hard to put the most anti monarchy spin on business-as-usual social attitudes surveying...

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#18

Post by michaelt »

mikestew wrote: post #9

“X% think the monarchy is ‘quite important’”, or summat. Next poll, please, please, please drill into why these folks think it is important. Because I’m trying to come up with something for which the monarchy is important, and I’m truly at a loss as a non-resident. EDIT: all great answers (except the snarky one) that gave me some insight, thanks.

The strongest argument for the monarchy, in my experience, is the alternative is someone elected - and have you seen the people who get elected?

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#19

Post by graeme »

mikestew wrote: post #9

“X% think the monarchy is ‘quite important’”, or summat. Next poll, please, please, please drill into why these folks think it is important. Because I’m trying to come up with something for which the monarchy is important, and I’m truly at a loss as a non-resident. EDIT: all great answers (except the snarky one) that gave me some insight, thanks.

I live in Canada. Some benefits of the monarchy vs the US system:

* Much of the pomp and prestige of the state gets vested in the Governor General. Whereas in the US the president gets treated like a monarch

* People swear allegiance to the monarchy and the state. They serve that rather than the leader

* In the event the prime minister goes truly insane, there is an outside check on their power.

People dismiss these but we have some pretty recent experience down south of someone who could have stood to have less than absolute authority.

(Much of the difference also comes down to parliamentary vs presidential system. Presidential system has had awful results everywhere it has been tried outside the USA)

Monarchical countries as a rule tend to be more stable than others.

Re: British public support for monarchy at historic low, poll reveals

#20

Post by epilys »

haunter wrote: post #13

Yet I somehow think constitutional monarchies work. There is a reason (I don't know what) that the european ones are in the western richer + generally strong and high functioning democratic countries (Spain, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg).

The reason is actually well known. It even has a name: imperialism.
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