Democracy and Monarchy

[Joseph K]

Speaking of changes of programme, once the BBC has finished with its sycophantic DPRK-like treatment of the Queen's death, lying in state and funeral, perhaps they can cancel a few more programmes to make space for a discussion on the future of the monarchy now that she's gone! - given that a sizeable proportion of younger people reckon it might as well be abolished, even though this viewpoint is more or less absent from public discourse.

[teamsaint]

Speaking of changes of programme, once the BBC has finished with its sycophantic DPRK-like treatment of the Queen's death, lying in state and funeral, perhaps they can cancel a few more programmes to make space for a discussion on the future of the monarchy now that she's gone! - given that a sizeable proportion of younger people reckon it might as well be abolished, even though this viewpoint is more or less absent from public discourse.

Snap poll in our office showed a significant proportion of people who didnt watch any or much of the coverage yesterday.

As you suggest, if this kind of coverage was happening in certain other countries, we would dismiss it out of hand as state propaganda.

[Serial_Apologist]

Speaking of changes of programme, once the BBC has finished with its sycophantic DPRK-like treatment of the Queen's death, lying in state and funeral, perhaps they can cancel a few more programmes to make space for a discussion on the future of the monarchy now that she's gone! - given that a sizeable proportion of younger people reckon it might as well be abolished, even though this viewpoint is more or less absent from public discourse.

On the BBC1 news just now they had calculated that 95% of the potential TV viewing public in the UK had been watching yesterday, which, the newsreader stated without stopping for a moment to think or any tone of irony, represented 95% of viewers watching the same thing!

[Maclintick]

Speaking of changes of programme, once the BBC has finished with its sycophantic DPRK-like treatment of the Queen's death, lying in state and funeral, perhaps they can cancel a few more programmes to make space for a discussion on the future of the monarchy now that she's gone! - given that a sizeable proportion of younger people reckon it might as well be abolished, even though this viewpoint is more or less absent from public discourse.

Not entirely absent, though understandably it does take quite a bit of digging around to find anything less-than-laudatory in the current climate, however that may be described -- not mass hysteria, certainly, but as in the case of Princess Diana's death, perhaps a mass "complex" triggering repressed desires and memories resulting in the hyper-emotional crowd scenes we've all witnessed in the last 2 weeks.

It'll be interesting to see how polling on the monarchy develops under the new Carolinian dispensation. Support for retention always hovers above 50 %, and abolition polling 20 - 30 %, with a substantial proportion apathetic. I've not seen one which includes demographics, but I wouldn't be surprised if more younger respondents favoured abolition.

[teamsaint]

Still, the monarchy has the state broadcaster in its pocket, so their good times look set to continue rolling for a while

And look, previously unexplored heights of self congratulation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62972221

The BBC may like to tell us we are all in thrall to the monarchy, but the actual indifference of any young people, and many older folk, tells me a different story.

[french frank]

And look, previously unexplored heights of self congratulation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62972221

Well, I admit I didn't see more than the odd two or three glimpses and some still pictures, so I can't judge. But it did seem a huge undertaking, managed faultlessly by all concerned. So relief and pride seem understandable. Especially relief.

[cat]

The BBC may like to tell us we are all in thrall to the monarchy, but the actual indifference of any young people, and many older folk, tells me a different story.

I'm not sure that most people much care about the indifference some people hold. It is after all, indifference.

The small minority of actually rabid republicans don't seem to have put forward anything better than "perhaps we should do it a bit like the Irish" which isn't exactly going to inspire a groundswell of change - replace that epic living museum we saw enacted with Joanna Lumley or Danny Dyer giving an affirmation?

[teamsaint]

I'm not sure that most people much care about the indifference some people hold. It is after all, indifference.

The small minority of actually rabid republicans don't seem to have put forward anything better than "perhaps we should do it a bit like the Irish" which isn't exactly going to inspire a groundswell of change - replace that epic living museum we saw enacted with Joanna Lumley or Danny Dyer giving an affirmation?

Monarchy and the system of inherited privilege that it holds together is simply wrong in principle.
Supporting that system on the basis that there is apparently no better alternative strikes me as a desperately weak argument.

Signed

A Rabid Republican.
Apparently.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Still, the monarchy has the state broadcaster in its pocket, so their good times look set to continue rolling for a while

And look, previously unexplored heights of self congratulation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62972221

The BBC may like to tell us we are all in thrall to the monarchy, but the actual indifference of any young people, and many older folk, tells me a different story.

On this issue that seems to have so many worked up I have no strong feelings one way or another . I can say though that by the standards of BBC self-congrats this article isn’t in the top decile.
Good to see the peerless Bob Nettles get a credit - 60 outside sources but only ten fingers . How does he do it?

[cat]

Monarchy and the system of inherited privilege that it holds together is simply wrong in principle.
Supporting that system on the basis that there is apparently no better alternative strikes me as a desperately weak argument.

You speak like we’re living in an absolute monarchy.We had the Glorious Revolution, monarchy is now in its proper place as a museum piece. What better thing to have as a notional head of state than a historical one? Would you rip down all our oppressive castles and replace them with Bovis homes?

[teamsaint]

You speak like we’re living in an absolute monarchy.We had the Glorious Revolution, monarchy is now in its proper place as a museum piece. What better thing to have as a notional head of state than a historical one? Would you rip down all our oppressive castles and replace them with Bovis homes?

We live in a society where a system of inherited privilege, wealth and power are held together and justified by the existence of the monarchy.

The power of that system has been clear for all to see in the media over the last couple of weeks.

Nothing wrong with Bovis homes, the aristocrats can have one each after the next revolution.

[cat]

We live in a society where a system of inherited privilege, wealth and power are held together and justified by the existence of the monarchy.

The power of that system has been clear for all to see in the media over the last couple of weeks.

The monarchy is inconsequential to societal inequality. Other monarchies in Europe include Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, so go figure.

[muzzer]

The British are essentially feudal in outlook. It depresses me deeply but I cannot see how this could ever be changed. Too many people are seduced by the vanities of class affluence for an effective alternative ever to take hold.

[french frank]

We live in a society where a system of inherited privilege, wealth and power are held together and justified by the existence of the monarchy.

Is that the case with all monarchies, or just the British one?

[Serial_Apologist]

Is that the case with all monarchies, or just the British one?

Certainly this one - by dint of its size and the character of its status in so many people's minds. I can't see King Charles out on a push bike; were that to happen I think we could speak of a different attitudinal pose being adopted.