Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / A question for any one living in the uk

Author
Message
Daniel wright 2311
User Banned
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 21:37
Link
I was wondering if the queen was more like a president like here in the usa or if the queen is more of some one you serve in subject to? I know people serve them in there magisty but I was wondering more of the common people, what role does she play to you, thanks.

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.
Back to top
Profile
Uncle Sam
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Jul 2005
Location: West Coast, USA
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 21:40
Link
I'm not living in the UK, but I understand that the Queen is a highly respected person of royalty, but does not actually engage in politics. Is that right or am I off?
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Interplanetary Funk
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Apr 2010
Location: Ipswich, United Kingdom
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 21:44
Link
The queen is simply a member of the royal family, they don't really have any political purpose and are more of a tourist attraction, though I believe the queen does have the power to refuse to pass laws etc, but she'll never use this power due to the political implications it would cause.

Although we are all technically subjects of the queen it doesn't seem to affect anyones lives.

Personally I think the royal family should be ridded of, they spend a vast amount of tax payers money and I don't want to end up paying some old woman to stand about and wave when I end up in full time employment.

Get on my level
Back to top
Profile PM
Zotoaster
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 21:46
Link
The Queen is the head of state, which I guess is like the president of the US, but doesn't really engage in politics (she does have some political power but not much and I don't even remember what it is). Technically she's just supposed to be the face of the country and to represent the people. It's more a diplomatic position than anything.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Daniel wright 2311
User Banned
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 21:51
Link
Ok, thanks guys, Its just odd to me that you guys have no president, not that you need one becouse you dont but I am just so used to some one being in power and was wandering how in the world you guys do it. run on sentence there lol, I think its odd how you have some one in power but does not use that said power.If her power would upset most people it sounds to me she is not realy needed.

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.
Back to top
Profile
Zotoaster
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 21:59
Link
We do have a Prime Minister (I'm sure you're heard of David Cameron), who has the lead political role, and generally makes similar decisions as your prez, but they're not the same thing.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Daniel wright 2311
User Banned
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:04
Link
@Zotoaster whats the diffrencess?

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.
Back to top
Profile
Bootlicker
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Mar 2009
Location: Germany
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:07
Link
as dont know much about the president but i do know that the prime minister cant just say something is going to happen, he normally has to agree in parliament or at least with the cabinet. although in a state of emergency he MAY be able to declare certain procedures on whim.


Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
PAGAN_old
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 28th Jan 2006
Location: Capital of the Evil Empire
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:09
Link
i thought the queen in UK is like the president in germany.

the prime minister in UK is like the chancelor of germany.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Diggsey
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Apr 2006
Location: On this web page.
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:22
Link
Quote: "Personally I think the royal family should be ridded of, they spend a vast amount of tax payers money and I don't want to end up paying some old woman to stand about and wave when I end up in full time employment."


I don't think your reasons are valid. The royal family cost 62p per person per year. That's not going to noticably affect your salary.

The benefits include:
- Generating income from tourists
- Tradition
- The queen provides a more human face to the country rather than some slimy politician
- The queen is far less likely to be motivated by personal gain. Many politicians will do almost anything to further their career. Sometimes what people want them to do is not the best thing for the country; usually when they haven't been given all the facts. No voting system is considered fair by everyone. Having the queen allows her to influence or delay immoral laws, while not having the power to make immoral laws herself.

[b]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Benjamin
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Nov 2002
Location: France
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:27
Link
Quote: "The royal family cost 62p per person per year."


Sounds like a huge waste of money to me.



Support a charitable indie game project!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Interplanetary Funk
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Apr 2010
Location: Ipswich, United Kingdom
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:32 Edited at: 28th Mar 2011 22:33
Link
I still don't see why she needs to be given so much money.

Here's a quick bit of math:
0.62 * Population of the uk = 0.62 * 61,838,154 = £38,339,655.48

I remember reading a news article about the royal family spending £250,000+ on a family members student apartment, which I think is horrific, that money could of funded about 10-20 people to go to university for 4 years.

I would understand if she was been given a reasonable amount, but I would much rather see that much money somewhere else such as in the education system or the NHS.

Anyway, we should not let this get too flamed otherwise it will be locked according to the A.U.P.

Get on my level
Back to top
Profile PM
Daniel wright 2311
User Banned
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 22:32
Link
@Diggsey

that's a real good answer, thanks for your time,So then The queen does not make any new laws but she enforces them? I do agree with politisions being greedy. Its funny how us americans think we need a president and all of us vote for one man to be one every 4 to 8 years but your country is proof we really never needed one.

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.
Back to top
Profile
Ocho Geek
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 16th Aug 2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 23:21 Edited at: 28th Mar 2011 23:23
Link
Quote: "i thought the queen in UK is like the president in germany.
the prime minister in UK is like the chancelor of germany.
"


loving the political numbness, the queens the head of the commonwealth, so head of state australia, over the last century, many countries (I think pakistan is the only one I can remember ) were given independence, which was an informal end to the british empire

I assume it was simply for the reason that the world is grown out of the fashion of monarchy, the royal family chooses not to enforce its power, I'm entirely sure how long this has been, but queen victoria was under similar restraints.

now, comedians have a lot of a go at the americans for being politically unaware, so avoid asking questions that are obvious to us

Ocho Geek - Pretending to be a useful contribution to the forums since 2005
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
BatVink
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Apr 2003
Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 28th Mar 2011 23:50
Link
There are other options for dealing with our Royal family and their assets, especially in these times of austerity:

1. Let out the spare bedrooms in the palace to the homeless. There are 240 in total.

2. If they don't like the idea of sharing with the homeless, turn it into a state Travel Inn. That way we can recuperate some of the millions we pay out. It's been calculated they cost us more than we gain in tourist revenue.

Back to top
Profile PM Email
xplosys
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jan 2006
Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 00:40
Link
Quote: "1. Let out the spare bedrooms in the palace to the homeless. There are 240 in total."


Homeless or rooms?

... and the band played on.
Back to top
Profile PM
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 00:44
Link
Also:

Elections are different. The US has a 2 party system, so Conservative vs Democrat. In the UK we have a multi-party system, for example: Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green Party, British Nationalist Party and so on. However, for several years it has been basically Labour vs Conservative and created the mentality that you're voting for one or the other (at least, I was raised with that mentality), but the last election created an interesting result that lead to a Coalition government, not with the two main parties (Conservative and Labour) but Conservative and Liberal Democrat, the latter of which has sat on the sidelines for decades.

We also have a district and county councils, where different parties may be elected to be in power, for example - my district council is Conservative.

Back to top
Profile PM Website
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 00:47
Link
I think they're here purely because of tradition.

Now they're a stop gap measure against new laws, and a standing face of the nation. Whereas Prime Ministers change every term or two, the Monarchy's often in place for decades.

Back to top
Profile PM Email
xplosys
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jan 2006
Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 00:55
Link
Though our system is mainly "two party", there is no limit and there are currently three: Republican, Democrat and Independent. We also have State and local governments which may differ in ideology from the federal government party currently in the power position. Though the third party (Independent)is small, recent elections have caused a sway in the party they follow or align with, and they can make a difference.

We basically have the same system of checks and balances with three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive so no one branch can create, execute and enforce laws.

The names of positions are different, but the process is much the same, except that we have no Queen-like position. Unless you want to count Elvis.

Brian.

... and the band played on.
Back to top
Profile PM
jrowe
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 12th Oct 2002
Location: Here
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 01:36 Edited at: 29th Mar 2011 02:09
Link
Parliament (our elected officials) passes laws, which are effectively signed off by the queen, or a subordinate; this is called royal assent. Theoretically, I suppose she could refuse to grant royal assent, but this has never happened and I think it would be unconstitutional.

After an election, the queen also asks the leader of a parliamentary party to form a government (the body that does the day to day running of the country), but there isn't much power attached to this. When the government presents its agenda for parliament (the queen's speech) it must gain the approval by a vote of confidence in parliament. So the queen can only really ask a party who has received a majority of the vote.

The prime minister has to report to the queen once a week, and he has to keep her informed of events and decisions. She can advise him, but he runs the country (with the cabinet) and she cannot order him to do anything.

It's complicated and she has theoretical veto but this is, by the acts and conventions of parliament, useless.

For Fathers and Sons who enjoy wholy spirits.
Back to top
Profile PM
jrowe
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 12th Oct 2002
Location: Here
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 01:57 Edited at: 29th Mar 2011 01:59
Link
EDIT: sorry for the double post, but new stuff appeared whilst I was writing the first.

Quote: "Though our system is mainly "two party", there is no limit and there are currently three: Republican, Democrat and Independent. We also have State and local governments which may differ in ideology from the federal government party currently in the power position. Though the third party (Independent)is small, recent elections have caused a sway in the party they follow or align with, and they can make a difference.

We basically have the same system of checks and balances with three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive so no one branch can create, execute and enforce laws"


In Britain, like the USA, we have a first past the post voting system, that leads to a two party system most of the time, although at the moment we have a coalition.

There is however a difference in how the branches of our government work. Whilst we have an independent judiciary, our legislative (parliament) and executive (government) authorities are not entirely separate. The Government is run by the cabinet, a committee which is comprised of members of Parliament. The head of the cabinet is the Prime Minister, who selects the other members. But decisions in the cabinet are voted on by its members, who then are obliged to follow this line.

So the cabinet may decide things that its members (including the prime minister) do not personally agree with, but they should not voice this publicly. I would argue that the prime minister and the cabinet are our equivalent of your president.

For Fathers and Sons who enjoy wholy spirits.
Back to top
Profile PM
crispex
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Jun 2007
Location:
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 02:15
Link
Doesn't the queen own all the swans? This could be a common misconception.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
Back to top
Profile PM
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 02:29
Link
Yes, it's technically illegal to harm a swan. Noone really gives one unless you kill it, and even then it's hardly an in-depth witch hunt.

Back to top
Profile PM Email
MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 07:05
Link
just wanted to add to here, only read about half the posts so far...

just wanted to say... how happy I am for us to have this NONE-ELECTED GOVERNMENT ... oh happy days... ^^

(for those a little .... unpolitical.. this means we didnt choose this current government)

TGC Products: Dark Game Studio–DarkCLOUDS-Enhancement Pack-3D WorldStudio-Animated Sprite Pack-FPS Creator X9 free upgraded to build-Dark Data-DarkNet-Unity-EZRotate
Back to top
Profile PM
BlueKlayman
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Jun 2009
Location: Near that actor guy
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 08:27
Link
She has a lot of influence in Australia too. You should see it when she visits

It's almost as bad as when Oprah came here.

Back to top
Profile PM
Interplanetary Funk
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Apr 2010
Location: Ipswich, United Kingdom
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 15:54
Link
@MrValentine
Conservatives got the majority of votes though, they didn't get over 50% of them, but they got more than any other party.

Get on my level
Back to top
Profile PM
MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 15:59
Link
I know but thats only because they lied to everybody ^^

TGC Products: Dark Game Studio–DarkCLOUDS-Enhancement Pack-3D WorldStudio-Animated Sprite Pack-FPS Creator X9 free upgraded to build-Dark Data-DarkNet-Unity-EZRotate
Back to top
Profile PM
Interplanetary Funk
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Apr 2010
Location: Ipswich, United Kingdom
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 16:03
Link
I suppose. I wish we still had a labour government, Mr. Brown wasn't to bad, even though he was unelected.
Though if labour won I reckon someone else would've been put in charge.

Get on my level
Back to top
Profile PM
MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 16:05 Edited at: 29th Mar 2011 16:32
Link
yup

EDIT

brown was more a finance guy... not really born to lead... lol funny when they made him smile rofl

TGC Products: Dark Game Studio–DarkCLOUDS-Enhancement Pack-3D WorldStudio-Animated Sprite Pack-FPS Creator X9 free upgraded to build-Dark Data-DarkNet-Unity-EZRotate
Back to top
Profile PM
Fallout
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 17:52
Link
Easy dudes. You're getting into political discussion which is against the AUP.

Regarding the royal family, I am cynical, but I do recognise the fact they are very powerful diplomats, great charity workers, important for tourism and also do a good job for country morale. If they cost 62p, I think that's money well spent. We get all that back and more from American tourists alone, who come to see bucking-HAM-palace.

Back to top
Profile PM
Daniel wright 2311
User Banned
Posted: 29th Mar 2011 20:39
Link
the queen own all the swans?, Honestly this is pretty cool, just to think, people can own whole flocks of birds.

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.
Back to top
Profile
Ocho Geek
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 16th Aug 2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Posted: 30th Mar 2011 01:18
Link
only one type (which escapes me). Only her and some cambridge (i think) students usually get to eat them (stephen fry got to )

Ocho Geek - Pretending to be a useful contribution to the forums since 2005
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
PrimalBeans
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2010
Location: The sewer.... hunting alligatiors.
Posted: 30th Mar 2011 09:18
Link
the difference is the queen wears a crown and our president sinks us deeper into the abyss..

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Fallout
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 30th Mar 2011 09:54
Link
I believe you're allowed to eat a swan if you find it dead. Obviously, eating carrion doesn't make the best supper, so your best bet is to accidentally shoot one dead with a shotgun, and accidentally find the carcass and accidentally put it in your oven.

Back to top
Profile PM
PrimalBeans
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2010
Location: The sewer.... hunting alligatiors.
Posted: 30th Mar 2011 10:45
Link
lol

All you have to add to your explanation is accident.... ahhaahahha... "err sorry i didnt mean to shoot clean set the oven to slow roast and stuff this magnificent creature officer... it was an accident. I can just imagine how that will go over. Just like, officer... i didnt mean to drive my car into the front of this elderly families house drunk.. it was an accident... i at a friends house and i accidently drunk this bottle of booze and fell asleep in my car, next thing i know im laying here asleep and you showed up. Someone framed me...

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 30th Mar 2011 10:46 Edited at: 30th Mar 2011 10:53
Link
The queen is just the head of state. A symbol to the rest of the world really. She has no real power. She may technically hold some power but she never uses it. Every prime minister has to ask her for the job once he has been voted for, but if I remember rightly it's been decades since she refused anybody (like 1950s). At the end of the day if she ever tried to do anything medieval then we would all be asking the French to get those nice sharp things out of their cellars and putting them to good use. And they know this.

I watched a program a while back and they said that proper upper class people look down on the Royals, as they don't come from the same stock or somesuch. Plus only about 100 years ago they were close to bankrupt. If I remember rightly they sorted it all out on the stock market. Sure they could sell palaces and make billions (Buckingham palace alone surely is worth a stupid amount) but can they really?

So no, most people don't really think of her as running the country (PM does), or even really as the head of state. Just some ancient tradition that makes us a bit different and brings in the tourists. My mum, for example, loves them, my wife hates them like nothing else (even to the stage where she didn't want a red carpet on the pier where we got married until I convinced her it was more like Holywood than royalty), and I couldn't give a monkeys (like the vast majority I would imagine). The castles and palaces are pretty impressive to walk around though.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 00:42
Link
The Queen is also our head of state in Canada, and I find it ridiculous. The only time we see her is on the back of all our coins, yet Canada gives them a lot of money every year (I heard it's around $1 billion). For what? And when Prince Charles or whoever visits Canada, people go crazy. I guess you could say I have a problem with dynasties. We elect our Prime Minister here and we have a Governor General who is technically the Queen's representative. What's crazy is we pay this General a lot of money to wine and dine reps from other countries, and they are treated like royalty (and unelected, to boot). They also technically have more power than our own Prime Minister (whom we rightfully elect). It's nonsense and I think Canada needs to "separate" from the UK


Senior Web Developer - Nokia
Back to top
Profile PM Website
PrimalBeans
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2010
Location: The sewer.... hunting alligatiors.
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 09:02
Link
i thought canada was french... lol

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Fatal Berserker
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Jul 2010
Location:
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 15:25 Edited at: 1st Apr 2011 15:30
Link
The royal family lost all their power in 1651.
Parliament prevailed and executed the king and exiled his son, they left the rest of the royal family there as a figure head to still keep morale of the people up and to make the remaining royalists slightly more happy.
There was more wars that followed from Scotland and Ireland to reinstate the royalists, but they failed.

The royal family does carry some weight in what they say due to their position, and i did read somewhere that there is a loophole that the royal family can pass some decisions, but they don't due to the political implications (and the fact that they shouldnt actually have the right).

The royal family is the figurehead of UK (and other countries) and the people will usually look up to them instead of the government (but blame the government, the royal family is like the countries parents).

It seems, people respect the royal family alot more than parliament because the royal family doesn't actually do anything wrong.

Back to top
Profile PM
Quik
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2008
Location: Equestria!
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 15:33
Link
Quote: "Ok, thanks guys, Its just odd to me that you guys have no president, not that you need one becouse you dont but I am just so used to some one being in power and was wandering how in the world you guys do it. run on sentence there lol, I think its odd how you have some one in power but does not use that said power.If her power would upset most people it sounds to me she is not realy needed.
"



well here in sweden, we have a king and a queen, however they too dont engage politics, instead we vote for different political "parties" dunno if thats what it would be called.
anyway, the one that we vote for later on decides what will happen and so on, usually parties team up too.
Laws are also voted for^^


[Q]uik, Quiker than most
Back to top
Profile PM
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 15:35
Link
Quote: "yet Canada gives them a lot of money every year (I heard it's around $1 billion)"
You give the royal family that every year? Are you sure? Even *we* don't give them anywhere near that much, especially since they started paying taxes!

Quote: "It seems, people respect the royal family a lot more than parliament because the royal family doesn't actually do anything wrong"
Hmm, dunno. Most people I know don't give a monkeys about the royals. They just don't really register. This is living right next to Ascot, and Windsor. As for the government they are all just corrupt whatevers (past and current). Honestly I always thought it was part of the job to be corrupt at that job. Now it seems everyone is waking up to that idea...

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
BiggAdd
Retired Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Aug 2004
Location: != null
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 15:45
Link
I would defend keeping the Royal Family until I was blue in the face, just like I would defend keeping the Pound Sterling.

Why? Well its what keeps us from becoming part of the homogeneous blob that is Europe.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being part of Europe, just as long as I can keep my British heritage.

Back to top
Profile PM
Zotoaster
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 18:14
Link
Quote: "Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being part of Europe, just as long as I can keep my British heritage."


What politicians decide or what others vote for doesn't affect your heritage.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Ocho Geek
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 16th Aug 2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Posted: 1st Apr 2011 19:16
Link
changing from the pound to the euro certainly would have affected our heritage

Ocho Geek - Pretending to be a useful contribution to the forums since 2005
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 4th Apr 2011 00:27
Link
Quote: "You give the royal family that every year? Are you sure? Even *we* don't give them anywhere near that much, especially since they started paying taxes!"


Oops, I'm very wrong. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Canada Canada gave $50 million to the monarchy in 2008. The average cost per Canadian is more than the average cost per UK citizen, however. That's funny.


Senior Web Developer - Nokia
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-21 21:44:21
Your offset time is: 2025-05-21 21:44:21