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Syndicate
Fmrsldr, if you want to troll around a thread where I haven't posted for more than three months just so you can launch a childish personal attack, that says far more about you than it does about me.
You have consistently failed to make the case that the abolition of the monarchy is of sufficient importance to justify the effort involved. Instead, you have resorted to lies. That really is your problem, not mine.
Now do grow up.
Are those pot leaves she's wearing on her head?
Any chance they'll stop by Quebec City or Montreal? I'm sure they'd get a REALLY warm welcome in those royalist strongholds.
It's strange how any discussion of Charles killing Diana didn't go very far. Or...maybe not...
Long live the KING!
Oh, you're breaking my heart. Yeah, go ahead avoid the issue by playing the sympathy/innocent victim card.
Oh, I see. It's my fault that you are unable to answer my questions. Yeah fine. Walk away. It's a free country. If you can't win, go ahead and pout all you like.
Yeah o.k. pops, keep talking down toward others in your arrogant and condescending tone.
And while you're at it keep avoiding the issue, blowing smoke in our faces and hiding behind your chimeras and shiboleths.
I take it this is your way of telling me you're not going to answer my questions.
You sure don't know how to exit a discussion gracefully, do you?
I just love the hypocrisy of it all.
One report says they're being 'thrifty and economical' another says it will make Chuck and Di's look like a 'little get together'
A national holiday on the wedding day, just great, why collect the taxes on a day your spending them all for a party. Such a shame that those paying the bill aren't invited to the actual party.
Did I need to file a request somewhere to get a national holiday on my wedding day...can you download that form somewhere...
Best part of all is while 'posh spice' and hubby are invited the Obama's aren't!
Yeah, as a citizen living in a libertarian, representative, egalitarian democracy, how do I get such a cush gig?
I mean, if I get married, how do I get an all expense paid honeymoon vacation to (another Commonwealth limited monarchy country - say,) Australia? On the Australian taxpayer's dime, no less?
Only the (British) Battenburg family, you say?
Now what makes them think they're so damn special?
Aren't they equals, just like the rest of us?
Fmrsldr, I've set forth the issue quite succinctly more than a dozen times.
1. Under the current settlement, the Crown (and its delegate the GG) has virtually no de facto power.
2. The reason the office has no de facto power despite having almost absolute de jure power has to do with democratic legitimacy. Therefore, replacing the Crown with an elected official would create a one person absolute dictatorship unless accompanied by significant constitutional revisions.
3. Abolishing the Crown and rejigging the constitutional powers of the head of state (despite your fabrications and delusions) is a complicated constitutional issue which requires the consent of the federal parliament and every provincial legislature.
4. The amount of effort and energy involved in abolishing a powerless remnant is not worth the expenditure. It is like ordering invasive surgery to remove a non-infected appendix.
That is the case that you refuse to acknowledge - either because you are too stupid to grasp it, or too dishonest to admit it.
Instead, you troll around dead threads looking to make personal attacks.
You'd really do us all a service if you'd just go back to getting drunk and passing out.
Might I suggest.
1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
1 tsp brown sugar
6 ozhot coffee
heavy cream
Combine whiskey, sugar and coffee in a mug and stir to dissolve. Float cold cream gently on top. Do not mix.
Read more: Irish Coffee recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink4414.html#ixzz1GYhxFANR
That's one way of looking at it.
Here's another:
Imagine you have a bunch of useless, broken, unfixable, ancient garbage cluttering your garage and creating a potential fire hazard. The sensible thing to do is to clean it up, even though it may require a little effort.
So these are your "lots of sensible arguments for abolishing the monarchy"?
You're a pro-monarchist, got it. Thank you for answering that question.
Like I said, reminds me of an agnostic who tries to convince oneself that one is not an atheist by only coming up with arguments against the existence of god. Yeah, it's got me convinced.
Careful, Malcolm. Those are personal attacks.
Careful, Malcolm. As you may recall, I got my first warning from a mod. when I made a comment like that.
I have to agree with Frmrsldr on this one. The reference to him being a 'drunk' is quite offensive and demeaning. Some people on here should really reread the policy about such language and rethink how their words give true light to their character.
I know! Also, same thing with discussion of her being killed by a lion.
I wonder if that's because both ideas are childish and nonsensical?
Please keep the tiresome arguments about abolishing the monarchy out of this thread. Start a new thread elsewhere if you'd like to continue that canard. Also, the personal attacks between Malcolm and Frmrsldr have got to stop. If you can't stand each other, ignore each other's posts. If you can't do that, don't call each other stupid, ignorant, dishonest, drunk or whatever. It's your choice.
RP, I take your criticism about the Kate photos--although the entire Royal wedding setup is already pretty misogynist, and while the criticism we see about Kate and William tends to be gendered, I find that Kate generally seems to come out on top as much less of a bore than Billy. But again, your point is well taken.
Catchfire, I just clicked on the link you posted above, with all the photos of Kate Middleton and I just have to point out that a lot of it is really offensive. One picture shows a tiny bit of her (not fat at all belly) with the caption "and I'm certain your diet is going well as well".
Very sexist messaging; body image issues are not funny. Anyways, did not expect a link like that on rabble.
All of that said, Will and Kate are coming to here to PEI on their trip. I am thinking of booking that time as my vacation, as I can imagine the trip to work will be a nightmare with Royal security and crowds.
I apologize for having responded in kind to Fmrsldr's personal attacks. I should not have done that.
Fmrsldr, those are not arguments to abolish the monarchy. Those are arguments why it should not be a priority.
Despite your protestations, there is no compelling reason to make it a priority, and there is no simple way to accomplish it. If either of those facts were otherwise, you would have my full throated support. As it is, it is a significant waste of progressive energy to accomplish something of minimal value.
If "they aren't worth abolishing" makes me a monarchist in your eyes, then so be it. Sensible people will be able to see through that canard.
double post - clicked "quote" vice "edit."
Again, this is not the thread about abolishing the monarchy. Please start another thread if you wish to discuss that. Malcolm's will be the last word in this thread.
While I'm sensitive to Ghislaine and RP's critique, I see the photos at poking fun at the vacuity of the English Upper Crust. I take the point that the jokes in the link I posted are gender specific, but maybe it's hard for North Americans to fully understand the ridiculous wealth and lifestyle the leisure classes enjoy in England. I see the photos as highlighting the utter disconnect Kate, William and their entourage have with the rest of Britain. Kate doesn't have to be rude to waiters in order to exploit them.
I guess I started this thread because I think the combination of the gross inequality which separate the classes (economically, politically and socially) in Britain, and the spectacular, crass degree to which the nation is encouraged to celebrate it (cf. commemorative plate), is positively criminal. Humour is a good way to combat that cognitive gap--although apparently it has its own pitfalls.
No personal animosity on my part.
Indeed. Hence your claim that you have "lots of sensible arguments for abolishing the monarchy" was either an empty one or wasn't about abolishing the monarchy at all but rather, was a sarcastic putdown toward those who value libertarian, egalitarian, representative democracy and justice or pro-republicanism/anti-monarchism.
Reminds me of my uncle (who was overweight and was warned by his doctor) who always said, "I'm going to start excersizing and lose some weight." but who always came up with excuses not to and rationalizations why he didn't.
Also reminds me of my grandfather who always said, "I'm going to quit smoking." but who always came up with excuses, rationalizations and explanations as to why he hadn't.
They recognized what the problem was but sadly were unable to bring themselves around to committing themselves to beneficial actions that would bring improvement to their lives.
CF, you're floating on an island. Come together bro!
You take our words? What the fuck is that sidesteppping? I guess I have to react vociferously.
I don't have a problem with satire against the rich, but the point is well taken that whenever it is a woman who is involved her gender is usually fair game as part of the attack.
Long before the French had their revolution the people took their anger out on Marie Antoinette (because she was a foreigner, and because she did not immediately become pregnant) to the point of slander and ridicule that were openly pornographic.
I have to point out....
Who really cares about this?
Fmrsldr, please stop lying.
Catchfire,
If I was to point out to you:
That my approach to the problem posed by monarchy, or specifically the British royals, and the fact that it is an institution/family/sovereign that is unelected, unrepresentative, hereditary, antidemocratic, inegalitarian (the focal aspect you mention by name) reactionary throwback to a feudal era, is to abolish its suzerainty in Canada.
And
Your approach (in this thread) to the gross inequality that the British monarch/family/institution has invested in, represents and flaunts, is to poke fun at it (resulting in complaints that this encourages some posters to make uncalled for ad hominem remarks toward individuals of the royal family), in other words - to just laugh at it.
What would your response be?
Tell me. What do you think is more profitable:
Spending time discussing ending the gross inequality (the British) monarchy represents, engages in and reinforces in British and Canadian society (by having the British monarch head of state of Canada, Canadians effectively tacitly support the continuation of this source of inequality) by abolishing the source (monarchy) of this inequality.
Or merely making fun and laughing at it?
This (in my opinion) is a self-defeating, "If we can't end it/get rid of it, then we might as well mock and make light of it" attitude.
I have no issue with mocking Mrs. Battenburg and her family.
I do have an issue with blatantly sexist comments about young Mr. Battenburg's fiancée.
got it...
OK to bash the german/greek who will be king of England one day.
Not OK to bash the pretty english girl he's marrying.
Close. Ms Middleton is a fair target for mockery, provided that the mockery is not sexist.
You don't find that threatening?
Yet you find the prospect of ending the Battenburg's unearned/hereditary title, rights, priviledges, powers, entitlements, etc., threatening and you either do not or intentionally fail to understand how the source of this (monarchy) is offensive?
Fascinating.
Please stop lying.
I do not find the prospect of abolishing the monarchy "offensive." I find it a waste of time dealing in constitutional trifles.
I do, however, find your constant lies and your e-stalking quite offensive.
You sure do get emotional about it, though.
Not a personal issue with me,
but just a hint, it's not polite to brand people as "liars" (without providing evidence to establish your claim.)