Monarchy the institution. Yes or no?

[clive gash]

Better get that type of imagination stamped down on then, a fucking Coan army.

[Andrews Sisters Conundrum]

And you have the audacity to say others are puerile?

Don't you need to post the latest KitKat advert?

[copehead]

I wouldn't want their life.

I would

"Off with their heads"-stylee or 'Butter my toast soldiers individually after you cut the bread, you nincompoop'-style?

Latter
easy life, no financial worries, nice house
The only hassle they get is usually due to individual stupidity or venality.
I would just sit back and eat the eggy soldiers
I'd be a bit worried about the few years compulsory military training but Prince Edward seems to have sidestepped that one

[KeithPratt]

As for the 'political imagination of this country" bit, you'll need to explain exactly what that means and how it's quantified because I've tried and I cannot make a single piece of sense of it.

And I'm looking at the statement and I still have not a single clue what it means. It looks, on reflection, to be high falluting froth with absolutely zero substance behind it. But I'm happy to be corrected.

A political imagination is just that, a political imagination. Just like political "landscape" is a term to determine the current state of politics.

Your political imagination, being a committed socialist, is one where the monarchy, because it is an anachronistic institution, is not part of the future that we should be moving to. Socialists and Communists have very colourful political imaginations because they generally forsee a utopia that can be achieved, if only it wasn't for all the annoying people who don't agree with them.

My political imagination, as a convinced pessimist, is that there are institutions and other forces and the like that often play unseen roles in our political process. Therefore there is a need for dialogue and pragmatism for fear of things that we cannot predict that might happen. You might say that I have no political imagination because I don't believe in utopias.

With regard to the context of the original use, no-one in 1688 would really conceive of a nation without a Monarch, especially when you had the Sun God just over the channel in France and the disaster of Cromwell so fresh in the mind for many (not all I might hasten). By the 19th century, with the establishment of Republics (and then Tyranny) in France and America, the political imagination of the country would have changed, because these were systems and institutions that Britain had been in direct conflict with, and the ideas that come from them would have been in the minds of our politicians.

So therefore the term "political imagination" is used to describe a state of mind where one conceives of political ideas and notions some of which might or might not exist, and that might influence someone.

[Diamond Dog]

So it's simply 'the State I desire'.

Right. That's doesn't sound nearly so complex and difficult, does it.

[KeithPratt]

No, that's your political persuasion.

A political imagination is not necessarily just what you desire - it's awareness of different systems, forces and everything else that makes up the possibilities of politics. In the 19th century not many British politicians would have had the desire to push for a Republic, but they may certainly have been aware of the situation in continental Europe and how different systems were shaping those countries, and certainly I suspect that would have begun to colour their political thought. Thus the rise of the Labour party towards the end of the 19th century.

[Diamond Dog]

Well actually that's "Awareness Of Political Climate".

[KeithPratt]

You can search for political imagination and you'll find plenty of results. It isn't froth and I'm a little bit insulted by your suggestion that it is.

[The Prof]

So nearly a week on, as far as I can see, the only viable reason for keeping the Monarchy is because the option may be worse. Nothing else apparently.

Though when it comes to remaining in the EU I assume you'll take that position?

Nearly a week on I've not seen a persuasive argument for 'getting rid' or how a future would look.

General question....
Do you still want a House of Lords? Titles? Honours? A Head of State?
Do you want to evict everyone who lives in a Stately Home?

[Moleskin]

Do you still want a House of Lords? No. A proportional, directly elected second chamber please.
Titles? No.
Honours? No.
A Head of State? An elected one.
Do you want to evict everyone who lives in a Stately Home? No. Execution will suffice.

[Diamond Dog]

So nearly a week on, as far as I can see, the only viable reason for keeping the Monarchy is because the option may be worse. Nothing else apparently.

Though when it comes to remaining in the EU I assume you'll take that position?

Nearly a week on I've not seen a persuasive argument for 'getting rid' or how a future would look.

General question....
Do you still want a House of Lords? Titles? Honours? A Head of State?
Do you want to evict everyone who lives in a Stately Home?

Do you want to grow up?

No I do not want a House Of Lords - in many ways, it's even more unsavoury than the Monarchy.
No I don;t want titles - all utter bollocks. Similarly honours.

Yes to a Head Of State - elected.
Evict all in a Stately Home? Do you live in one? If so, yes. If no, grow up.

[Diamond Dog]

So nearly a week on, as far as I can see, the only viable reason for keeping the Monarchy is because the option may be worse. Nothing else apparently.

Though when it comes to remaining in the EU I assume you'll take that position?

Nearly a week on I've not seen a persuasive argument for 'getting rid' or how a future would look.

That's because we aren;t debating the EU.

But, as you're asking - there are many reasons for keeping our place in the EU. Trade deals, migration, workers rights, citizens rights amongst others.

That's four more than any fucker has given for retaining the Monarchy , so stick that up your arse.

[Samoan]

[Diamond Dog]

[The Prof]

Calm down!

[Goat Boy]

DD doesn't want to grow up

[Diamond Dog]

DD doesn't want to grow up

If growing up means being like you and The Prof, no I don't.

[Diamond Dog]

Calm down!

Sod off Prof!

[Diamond Dog]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

New U2 lyric.

[Goat Boy]

Why are you so angry, DD?