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I'm talking about the class system in the UK not communism!

"you can't see what the Queen has to do with the class system then it is pointless discussing this topic..."

If you cant give any facts to back up your argument that the Queen heads up the class system and that she has more power than a cabinet minister then it is pointless discussing this topic with you.



Cheers
D

[quote]Give me one example of a power that the Queen can use even if the government of the day, object to it.[/quote]

Don't various regiments of our armed forces actually swear allegiance to the monarchy, and for a PM to send them to war he/she needs to ask permission? I'm not 100% on this and can't be bothered to check.

Unlike the USA we don't have as much of a right to bear arms (and I don't want the UK to go down that road). This means that it's possible for a dictatorial leader to be elected into power and become overly aggressive and tyrannical (see Vladimir Putin). Having a monarchy with armies at it's disposal brings a healthy balance to our system and, I think, helps support democracy.

Any overly aggressive parliament would surely force the monarchy to act in their own interest and have half the nation behind them, making it harder for any side to actually get absolute power.

From Wikipedia:

"Armed forces

All persons enlisting in the British Army and the Royal Marines are required by the Army Act 1955 to attest to the following oath or equivalent affirmation:
I... swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the generals and officers set over me. So help me God.
The same oath is made by recruits to the Royal Air Force under the Air Force Act 1955, with the substitution of the words "air officers" for "generals". No oath of allegiance is sworn by members of the Royal Navy, which is not maintained under an Act of Parliament but by the royal prerogative, or by Royal Marines officers, who unlike their Army counterparts are not enlisted before they are commissioned."

I think you have misunderstood my point.

The power of the monarchy in theory is large.

The power of the monarchy in practice appears to be largely ceremonial.

Hence my question to Mike elsewhere in this thread about giving me an example of the monarchy using their political power against the wishes of the government of the day.

Cheers
D

Reread the question I replied to. You never mentioned 'in practice'. Maybe you did to Mike in another post (I've not read all posts), but I just answered that one question because I thought it relevant.

I might suddenly get the right to piss in your pint once a week and force you to drink it. In practice I wouldn't do it cos I'm a good lad; in theory you'd be pissed off I was allowed to if I so chose.

Your post wasn't relevant. Obviously....

If you had bothered to read the thread, you would have understood that the whole point of the thread is Mike suggesting that the Queen has a great deal of power, heads up a class system and should be replaced by a President.

Feel free to piss in your own pint.

CHeers
D

Getting on and having greater wealth does not necessarily move one up the class system. In most cases it merely makes someone an arriviste.