Would getting rid of the monarchy give Britain a gr

[Jane_]

It was aimed at myron...he seems a little too full of himself today

[myron myron]

I am specifically talking about in practice: there's no question that America is more democratic, more meritocratic, and more free in practice.

The mere existence of an unelected hereditary monarchy and the unelected members of the House of Lords undermine both democracy and meritocracy in practice.

The British legal restrictions on freedom of speech -- i.e., criminalization of "hate speech" and of speech promoting terrorism -- render Britain less free in practice.

The British legal restrictions on freedom of the press -- i.e., Official Secrets Act -- render Britain less free in practice.

The present British 28 day legally permissible period of detention without charge, which I understand may be extended to 42 days, is the longest period of all industrialized countries and, as compared to the 3 days maximum period under American law, renders Britain less free in practice.

The British laws permitting searches and seizures without a warrant issued by a court after a showing of probable cause, render Britain less free in practice.

The British laws permitting surveillance and wiretapping without a warrant issued by a court after a showing of probable cause, render Britain less free in practice.

The ubiquitous security cameras in British public spaces render Britain less free in practice.

The existence of a state religion, the Church of England, renders Britain less free from religion, in practice.

And the proposed British national ID cards and required personal information British citizens will be required to provide in order to enter or leave Britain, will render Britain even less free in practice.

This may explain why there is an unprecedented outflow of British citizens from Britain.

[Jane_]

Aah I see. So you still love us bloodthirsty, Monarch loving, democracy starved, wildly gorgeous English muffins then, even though we are obviously deluded and politically naive?

[myron myron]

Sioux
Cheyenne
Commanche
Mexico
Canada
Mexico again
Panama
Cuba
Nicargua
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Nicaragua again
Cuba again
Panama again
El Salvidor
Grenada
Iraq

Chuck in the Civil War and Slavery.

Stones, glass houses, sins.

I'm not sure either of us come out of a historical review well and I don't think you can lay the blame for all of Britain's internal troubles and foreign policy (mis)-adventures on the monarchy any more than you can blame your flag or your constitution for your own.

GM

You're not serious.

Here's an abbreviated list off the top of my head:

Scotland (for centuries -- how many heads rolled?)
Ireland (for centuries -- how many heads rolled?)
Wales (for centuries -- how many heads rolled?)
China
India
virtually the entire Middle East
Africa (a good half of the entire continent)
America
Ottoman . (post WWI)
Cyprus
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
South . Islands

You can make a long list about America, but what's on it?

Recall for how long the sun never set on the British ..

Who are you kidding?

The U.S. was crap globally before World War I, and only became a superpower after World War II.

Brits were cutting heads off all over the world and subjugating entire continents for hundreds of years before America was even a notion.

Americans are choir boys compared to the Brits.

[Jane_]

Step up Gibbous...wwwoooop his ass

[myron myron]

Aah I see. So you still love us bloodthirsty, Monarch loving, democracy starved, wildly gorgeous English muffins then, even though we are obviously deluded and politically naive?

It's the bloodlust concealed under a patina of propriety that does me in.

[Jane_]

oh give it a rest... Im going down the pub with Zia, fancy coming?

[myron myron]

Yeah, why not.

[Jane_]

and Gibbous of course. You and he can get very very drunk and start fighting. 'K?

[myron myron]

I argue for a living. It's like an on/off switch. I don't fight when it's off. Who's got the blunts?

[cosmicB]

Sioux
Cheyenne
Commanche
Mexico
Canada
Mexico again
Panama
Cuba
Nicargua
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Nicaragua again
Cuba again
Panama again
El Salvidor
Grenada
Iraq

Chuck in the Civil War and Slavery.

Stones, glass houses, sins.

I'm not sure either of us come out of a historical review well and I don't think you can lay the blame for all of Britain's internal troubles and foreign policy (mis)-adventures on the monarchy any more than you can blame your flag or your constitution for your own.

GM

How many in that list were under British rule until recently..?

[Jane_]

I argue for a living. It's like an on/off switch. I don't fight when it's off. Who's got the blunts?

that would be you

btw we may have a "state religion" (actually do we? Im so godless I really dont know - or care...bbllaaaa Church of England..) but The US is still the most religious western country on the planet. Which obviously makes you worse than us...somehow. I will get my brain in gear soon dont worry, just had a loooong day....

The British legal restrictions on freedom of speech -- i.e., criminalization of "hate speech" and of speech promoting terrorism -- render Britain less free in practice.

Less free for Terrorists....YES..which is not a bad thing in my book. Now throw some lawyer-speak back at me and I'll throw some at you.

[myron myron]

You can say virtually any hate speech you want to say in the U.S. -- legally -- but you can't forget people have guns.

And as to "religious," have you been to NYC? I think you have. Any religion in your face? I think not.

[myron myron]

You know, even the United States -- that "evil superpower" -- is a creature of Britain.

If there was no Britain, there would be no United States.

So America's sins go on your list too.

[cosmicB]

"the United States -- that "evil superpower" -- is a creature of Britain."

Is what it is...



People don't so much have guns, as guns have people to make them work...