As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
Were there not some in antiquity in China and Japan around longer?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
As that shows no other sovereign monarch with verifiable date of reign lived longer than the Queen or Louis XIVth in world history.
There's six perfectly verifiable monarchs there who outdid her and whose claim is only in question because the British had quasi-stolen their countries from them. Take Sobhuza II of Swaziland: I hope you are not suggesting that anything other than protection is implied by the expression "British protectorate"? Asserting her supremacy is a bit like beating someone up with an umbrella and then billing them for repairs.
ETA and the sovereignty deficit between ERII and Sobhuza is about 1% of the gap between her and Louis. L'etat, c'etait lui.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
Were there not some in antiquity in China and Japan around longer?
After the cowardice shown by the Police in Cardiff & Leeds, they finally start arresting the violent protesters trying to shut down a peaceful rally….in Brighton:
What did the police do wrong in Cardiff ??? - a loud demonstration of a valid political view was conducted peacefully and lawfully. Nothing for police to do......
It’s impossible not to feel nervous for any of the participants in the procession (soldiers etc), all of which have to march and act perfectly. Imagine being a parent of one of them right now.
Ive got a sinking feelimg in my stomach that today is the day Russia decides to 'do' something
Overthrow Putin?
Random Russian colonel: 'We do things democratically in this country. The U.K. buries some random woman in a big stone building with a few Guests, we dangle our dead President from a lamppost below a bridge so all citizens of Moscow can piss on him.'
The sound of the bagpipes has inspired my youngest daughter to bring down her Sylvanian Families and Chase teddy (from Paw Patrol) so she can watch this with them. No longer saying its boring.
The sound of the bagpipes has inspired my youngest daughter to bring down her Sylvanian Families and Chase teddy (from Paw Patrol) so she can watch this with them. No longer saying its boring.
Yes, I did correct myself above… I had watched for a while and had only seen male faces…
I am a normal run of the mill person. We think most politicians are crap no bodies. I talk to people all over the world and they all seem to think the same. No one cares who gets elected anymore as they are all crap
Why, then, do you think that turnout at elections in most countries exceeds 50% - indeed over 80% in some? You, like most of us, extrapolate from the people you know, who by semi-conscious self-selection tend to be people like you.
because most people still turn out and vote tribally frankly. On the other hand you have people like me , I like politics , I follow politics who have now stopped bothering because there frankly is no longer any point voting because its arsehole A or arselhole b the only choice is how you want to be buggered. As tribal voting decreases and it is I expect turnout to fall.
But if, as you say, they feel that it doesn't matter who wins, why vote tribally, or at all? I don't care who wins Wimbledon, so I don't attend. Do you take sides in things you don't care about?
Over time, I don't think voting globally has gone up or down much. As HYUFD implies, it goes up a bit when there's a charismatic leader on the field (to love or hate), down a bit when they're all a bit colourless.
I havent cast a vote in a general election since 2010,I was implying turnout is upheld by tribal votes. As more and more general feeling becomes it doesnt matter who wins I still get shat on that tribal voting will decrease and I think more people will become like me non voters. It doesn't mean we dont care because we do. It means we dont think voting makes a difference under the current system.
Would you be more inclined to vote under a PR system?
No because under pr I cast a vote with no idea what I am voting for. PR would stop me voting altogether
Ever thought of changing your ID to Misanthrope?
What is misanthopic about saying I dont like the idea of pr? Under pr I cast a vote then the people I vote for get to decide what I voted for. Personally I prefer to vote for something rather than wait for politicians to decide what I voted for. Old fashioned views maybe but I dont understand why it makes me a misanthrope
There is no perfect electoral system: it is merely a question of which problems you find most acceptable.
For example, one of the problems with the UK's First Past the Post is that it is difficult for minority views to gain a foothold against entrenched parties. I think the UK might have avoided getting in so deep with the EU if there was an opportunity for a Eurosceptic party to gain seats. There is also the problem, which the US has right now, where in many constituencies gaining your party's nomination is much more important than gaining the broad support of your electorate.
On the other hand, single member FPTP constituencies bring with them a direct local link between representatives and voters.
At the absolute other end of the spectrum, with Party List PR, the problem you have is that not only in the local link severed, but the power to choose individual representatives is taken out of the hands of voters and handed to party bosses. Against that: if enough people care about animal welfare to get an animal welfare party into Parliament, well that's OK.
The older I get, the more attracted I get to small constituency, multi-member STV: it retains local representation, while allowing voters to choose which of (for example) the three Conservative candidates is elected. And by having relatively small constituencies, it means that majorities - while slightly less rare than under FPTP - are far from impossible. It also allows popular independents a decent shot.
Most forms of PR tend towards having no majority. That creates a major detriment to democracy, as the politicians can back out of manifesto pledges as the price of coalition and you the voter never know which ones they cynically will ditch. Single member ranked voting is the best system. If you desperately want more party power, you should have some form of PR squared to encourage majorities.
There is a feedback mechanism, as the Lib Dems discovered after the last Coalition: the next election.
It is the same feedback mechanism that works to incentivise politicians to keep manifesto pledges in majorities as well.
Why the Biden/Truss meeting was postponed - according to the LA Times:
He plans to return to Washington Monday afternoon, departing immediately after the funeral. Biden’s first meeting with new British Prime Minister Liz Truss was put off until later in the week, when both leaders will be in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly.
The wreath on top of the Queen’s coffin contains myrtle - the ancient symbol of a happy marriage. It was cut from a plant that was grown from a sprig of myrtle from Her Majesty’s wedding bouquet in 1947. https://twitter.com/sarahhewsonTV/status/1571801398882275336
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Switch it on, but do the ironing or a jigsaw...
Do stuff with the telly on in the background. Classy.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Switch it on, but do the ironing or a jigsaw...
Do stuff with the telly on in the background. Classy.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Switch it on, but do the ironing or a jigsaw...
Do stuff with the telly on in the background. Classy.
Isn't that what everyone writing here is doing?
I’m in a hotel room looking up future city breaks.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Switch it on, but do the ironing or a jigsaw...
Do stuff with the telly on in the background. Classy.
Isn't that what everyone writing here is doing?
I’m in a hotel room looking up future city breaks.
I wonder if anyone has spotted the irony of a hymn that includes 'Thy throne shall never, like Earth's proud empires, pass away?'
Not sure I see the irony. The Queen was devout. And almost certainly chose that hymn.
I was thinking that this is, very literally, the passing of the last vestige of an Empire, but the implication could almost be the Throne will endure beyond it.
I wonder if anyone has spotted the irony of a hymn that includes 'Thy throne shall never, like Earth's proud empires, pass away?'
We really need to change the honours system. Get rid of the empire references.
When enough people care, we can just change the word Empire to Excellence. Job done. No need for anyone to reprint their business cards or update their Linkedin profiles.
The problem is Wikipedia spells out MBE etc in words, where everyone else just uses the initials, and Wikipedia has a hell of a lot of readers who see the word Empire.
At The King's request, the wreath contains foliage of Rosemary, English Oak and Myrtle (cut from a plant grown from Myrtle in The Queen's wedding bouquet) and flowers, in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, cut from the gardens of Royal Residences.
Those choristers are good (not that I am an expert). And what an event to be part of, so young; and BBC2 has the service signed. It's funny seeing the signing guy signing the hymns...
At The King's request, the wreath contains foliage of Rosemary, English Oak and Myrtle (cut from a plant grown from Myrtle in The Queen's wedding bouquet) and flowers, in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, cut from the gardens of Royal Residences.
Made it aboard my Pendolino with no probs. Tube surprisingly lightly loaded this morning. Slumming it in Manchester this week. Planned the trip long before 'Er Majesty's passing, natch. More later
Comments
ETA and the sovereignty deficit between ERII and Sobhuza is about 1% of the gap between her and Louis. L'etat, c'etait lui.
In all seriousness, I expect embassies are busy in this diplomatic occasion.
https://twitter.com/RobDunsmore/status/1571787471784116227?s=20&t=6a1Q2JS4cb-js-kIa8O7lA
Funeral procession now underway
I think it started with the Wrath of Khan.
Edit: there may be a couple just ahead of the gun carriage… my apology
It has been noted by others previously that I am touched anyway.
The sound of the bagpipes has inspired my youngest daughter to bring down her Sylvanian Families and Chase teddy (from Paw Patrol) so she can watch this with them. No longer saying its boring.
Some Commonwealth leaders are arriving now - we can see Canadian President Justin Trudeau among them.
It is the same feedback mechanism that works to incentivise politicians to keep manifesto pledges in majorities as well.
In fact the pipes are our gift to the world, not always gratefully received.
https://bagpipe.news/2019/08/23/grampian-corby-recruiting/
He plans to return to Washington Monday afternoon, departing immediately after the funeral. Biden’s first meeting with new British Prime Minister Liz Truss was put off until later in the week, when both leaders will be in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly.
https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1571800366064500736
https://youtu.be/K-Op1Mng4oY
https://twitter.com/sarahhewsonTV/status/1571801398882275336
https://twitter.com/STVNews/status/1571794373112635393?s=20&t=6a1Q2JS4cb-js-kIa8O7lA
ROFL Keir Starmer was right again!
*tickles Dynamo under the chin*
Some of the hymns have great chords,
But the lyrics are dodgy.
The problem is Wikipedia spells out MBE etc in words, where everyone else just uses the initials, and Wikipedia has a hell of a lot of readers who see the word Empire.
https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1571805807196655617
You enjoy the funeral, I can post what I like assuming the moderation team is okay with it.
Those choristers are good (not that I am an expert). And what an event to be part of, so young;
and BBC2 has the service signed. It's funny seeing the signing guy signing the hymns...
Thoughts and prayers for Boris Johnson.
I can't help picturing the director saying 'I want a top shot'.
And the rigger replying 'You've gotta be joking!'
'.....Ok but you better bloody use it!'
.....And have they used it! Every third shot looks like a chess board