I would prefer a republic but the majority of the country still love the Royal family. Personally I am very fond of our queen who has done a brilliant job, the rest of her family not so much.

The problem we republicans have is what do you replace the monarchy with, there is no consensus as the Australians discovered. Do you want a President like the USA / France or a figure head like Ireland. If you go for a figure head you may end up with the human equivalent of boaty mcboat face e.g. President Lilly Allen.

For now I say leave things as they are. There are constitutional changes that should be made after our queen departs this mortal coil. Before Charles III is enthroned we should disestablish the Church of England the only other countries that have a state religion you would probably not want to live in. Currently the monarch cannot be catholic that needs to be changed. Personally I don't care what they are it is a matter of conscience but the head of the Church of England should not be the monarch but the Archbishop of Canterbury and that role should be selected by the church and not the Prime Minister. There are probably other technical changes as well including for instance a term limit. In Scandinavia the monarchs abdicate when they feel no longer up to the job and this is no big deal. Our queen in her coronation oath took this as a job for life her successors should not be lumbered with that.

L

I think Britain has a better track record on freedom of speech than does America:

1950s anticommunism purge impacted the civil rights of all Americans. Free speech was not so important then, apparently (despite a written consitiution).
The concept of being “Unamerican” being used to stifle debate that criticises the actions of American leaders. We have a long history of political satire that criticises in a more subtle way.
The prevalence of political lobbying in America I don’t believe helps free speech either. Big business wins out over democratic process.

The 50s??? Really?

How you can point to the McCarthy era as an attack on civil rights when major conservative voices are being silenced all over the Internet by 'progressive' left wing companies in Silicon Valley....that simply astounds me.....Indeed it's only that 'written constitution' that stops them from deleting all of them.

It's only that 'written constitution' that enables them to face prosecution.

Perhaps you don't realise but the black list and then McCarthy era came not long after WW2 where communists were most definitely within Hollywood and using it for propaganda.....for example, making 'Mission to Moscow' (1943) an obvious pro-Stalin propaganda made directly by Hollywood.

[Link]

While I think....as always seems to happen...things went too far.....Watch that clip and tell me that nothing should have been done.

In the UK we have eroded and damaged free speech laws massively.....we have sent Police to the door of thousands of people for expressing non PC thoughts on the Internet....We have sent people to jail over expressing opinions....How on earth can you seriously talk about us as being better on free speech when we prosecute people for poor taste jokes and rap lyrics.

So no, you are wrong.

Edited by Stirlingsays (12 Oct 2018 10.39am)