Thanks but no thanks

[Ian Gills]

I got your letter. Call me and perhaps we can sort this out before things get a little out of hand?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Us_declaration_independence.jpg/505px-Us_declaration_independence.jpg

[Redwood]

Dear George III,
Stop by for tea sometime...
We'll have a chat...
The water of Boston Harbor lends it and excellent flavor...:D

10939

[Ian Gills]

Are those Indians throwing our tea in your harbor?

*Edit* Hang on a minute! They're funny looking Indians.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f5/Population_Density_in_the_American_Colonies_1775.g if/564px-Population_Density_in_the_American_Colonies_1775.g if

[Redwood]

I was just reading at Wikipedia and I think I see why the Brits lost...
They didn't want to fight...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War


General Thomas Gage, in command of British forces in North America when the rebellion started, was criticized for being too lenient (perhaps influenced by his American wife). General Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst turned down an appointment as commander in chief due to an unwillingness to take sides in the conflict. Similarly, Admiral Augustus Keppel turned down a command, saying "I cannot draw the sword in such a cause." The Earl of Effingham very publicly resigned his commission when his 22nd Regiment of foot was posted to America, and William Howe and John Burgoyne were both members of parliament who opposed military solutions to the American rebellion. Howe and Henry Clinton both made statements that they were not willing participants in the war, but were following orders.

I love learning about history...

[Ian Gills]

I think they were just politely saying that perhaps America was not worth fighting for. Hand guns. Overhead power cables. No public health care provision. Inadequate education funding. Failing infrastructure. It was all very primitive. Some might perhaps say it still is.

But seriously, we did have naval superiority at that time. It was on the land where things got tricky. If we had been playing you at 'home' we would have wiped the floor with you and everyone here would be sounding like the Geiko gecko. You could have scarcely won without French help.


You were a painful boil we so desperately needed to lance. I remain a loyalist through and through.

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/22/c6/87/loyalist-landing.jpg

[Redwood]

Ian I found a special song just for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HOc9WVZbts

I'll be watching some friends of mine march in the 4th parade...
I love the sound of their drums...
A small bunch of guys can sound like a whole army coming... :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOZQOZE9dOk

Musta scared the hell outta them brits...

[Ian Gills]

That ain't nothing compared to what we have in our back pocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozkez8wPfsU

All of this could have been avoided if you had just agreed to pay a little bit of tax.

Was that so much to ask?

A couple of dollars out of your pay checks to help the poor and needy.

And you could not even give them that.

I trust you received our reply to your "declaration"? We would like to return peace to our colonies and plantations. Come back to Papa.

http://chapin.williams.edu/graphics/British%20Reply2.jpg

[Redwood]

Thanks Ian I love those skirts they are wearing and those funny hats...
Is that a black bear riding on his head?:D

Today we will celebrate walking on ground once part of the declining empire and celebrate the running of the Brit's out of town by a group of hicks from Vermont...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqMryyZN4kE

Funny how we didn't just do it once either...;)

[Ian Gills]

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

Nothing could have afforded Me so much Satisfaction as to have been able to inform you, at the Opening of this Session, that the Troubles, which have so long distracted My Colonies in North America, were at an End; and that My unhappy People, recovered from their Delusion, had delivered themselves from the Oppression of their Leaders, and returned to their Duty. But so daring and desperate is the Spirit of those Leaders, whose Object has always been Dominion and Power, that they have now openly renounced all Allegiance to the Crown, and all political Connection with this Country. They have rejected, with Circumstances of Indignity and Insult, the Means of Conciliation held out to them under the Authority of Our Commission: and have presumed to set up their rebellious Confederacies for Independent States. If their Treason be suffered to take Root, much Mischief must grow from it, to the Safety of My loyal Colonies, to the Commerce of My Kingdoms, and indeed to the present System of all Europe.

One great Advantage, however, will be derived from the Object of the Rebels being openly avowed, and clearly understood. We shall have Unanimity at Home, founded in the general Conviction of the Justice and Necessity of Our Measures.

I am happy to Inform you, that, by the Blessing of Divine Providence on the good Conduct and Valour of My Officers and Forces by Sea and Land, and on the Zeal and Bravery of the Auxiliary Troops in My Service, Canada is recovered; and although, from unavoidable Delays, the Operations at New York could not begin before the Month of August, the Success in that Province has been so important as to give the strongest Hopes of the most decisive good Consequences. But, notwithstanding this fair Prospect, We must, at all Events, prepare for another Campaign.

[Terry]

Where's my tea bags?
Oh, that's right, I drink coffee. Most of my relatives left Englund for good reasons.
One reason it the tradition that Englund is steeped in. We like new ideas and run with them.

This thread is just a nother example of beating a dead horse. Get over it Ian.
We left the "OLD" world for a reason.

I realize that this new world seems futuristic, but it's just people getting ideas and running with them.
A king or queen? why?
Are they that hard up for someone to look up to?
Around here, we have parents as role models. We don't need goofy people in a castle.
I would go there to visit, but live there?

Thank God I'm an American.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMRMW1FXSHw

[hj]

The reason those Indians look funny, is that YOUR Indians come from India, ours come from the New World, soon to be called the United States.

[Redwood]

I'd rather Pledge My Allegiance to a Flag than a King anyway...:D

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/jeannerene/American%20Flag%20and%20other%20patriotic%20images/StarsonStrips-1.jpg

[Ian Gills]

We like new ideas and run with them.


We left the "OLD" world for a reason.

Yep. And look where it got us. Thanks America.

http://www.rd.com/images/tfhimport/2003/20031001_Ask_Handyman_page002img001_size2.jpg



The reason those Indians look funny, is that YOUR Indians come from India, ours come from the New World, soon to be called the United States.

Rumour has it they were not Indians at all. But Americans who dressed up. I hope this is not true else I will be most displeased.

God Save the Queen.

[Redwood]

Lots better'n these eh?

http://davidkearns.co.uk/showers_files/power%20shower.gif

[Redwood]

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer Jill Lawless, LONDON – Like millions of her subjects, Queen Elizabeth II is going to have to make do and mend — cutting spending and putting off palace repairs as royal finances are squeezed by Britain's budget crisis.

Accounts published Monday by Buckingham Palace reveal the total public cost of supporting the monarchy was 38.2 million pounds ($57.8 million) in the year to March 31, the equivalent of 62 pence (94 cents) per person. The total is more than 3 million pounds less than in 2008-2009.

Britain's public sector is facing cuts as the government tries to eliminate a record deficit, and Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the royal household "is acutely aware of the difficult economic climate" and will be cutting costs and putting off essential maintenance.

The 84-year-old queen receives 7.9 million pounds of public money each year to pay for staff and other costs, an amount that has not risen in 20 years. The accounts show also drew an extra 6.5 million pounds from a reserve fund built up over the years by saving portions of her allocated budget.

If the queen continues to use money from her reserve at the current rate, the fund will run out by 2012 — the year she celebrates her 60th year on the throne.

She had been expected to ask for an increase in basic funding this year, but the government — which is bringing in deep cuts to welfare payments and spending programs — imposed a freeze until at least next year.

The accounts show the government spent more than 15 million pounds on the upkeep of royal residences including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and almost 4 million pounds on royal travel. Both amounts were down from the previous year.

News of the royal cost-cutting did not satisfy the anti-monarchy group Republic, which held a protest outside Buckingham Palace on Monday.

Campaign manager Graham Smith said Britain's monarchy was the most expensive in Europe, and "continues to waste many millions of pounds of taxpayers' money when front line services are being threatened."

"It's time to slash the budgets without reservation or sentiment," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_royal_costs



Looks like the queen better listen...
These things have a way of getting out of hand...

[Furd]

Ian, you seem to love coming on this forum bashing all things American, BUT you continue to live here. Why?

[Cookie]

There is no place in this world like the USA. God Bless the USA!

[Ian Gills]

Ian, you seem to love coming on this forum bashing all things American, BUT you continue to live here. Why?

I like the place. I just question the ownership.

Are you sure it's not still the Colonies?

[Redwood]

Ian, How is the Queen doing on her budget cutting...

She's not going to risk another uprising is she?

[Ian Gills]

Redwood, I would prefer that you refer to Her Majesty the Queen as "Her Majesty".

And, for the record, Her Majesty's finances are doing just fine.

Although a little tea tax would help.

[wmills]

Redwood, I would prefer that you refer to Her Majesty the Queen as "Her Majesty".

And, for the record, Her Majesty's finances are doing just fine.

Although a little tea tax would help.

Guess you are still talking about queen lizzie.

[Ian Gills]

Look. Elizabeth has held titles throughout her life, as a granddaughter of the monarch, as a daughter of the monarch, through her husband's titles, and eventually as Sovereign. In common parlance, she is The Queen or Her Majesty. Officially, she has a distinct title in each of her realms: Queen of Canada in Canada, Queen of Australia in Australia, etc. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies rather than separate realms, she is known as Duke of Normandy and Lord of Man respectively. Additional styles include Defender of the Faith and Duke of Lancaster.

When in conversation with the Queen, the practice is to initially address her as Your Majesty and thereafter as Ma'am.

Even in the Colonies. And in the plantations.

[Terry]

And in the US, we use the word queen in a much different way.
That's kind of funny.

Now we call our top dog, Mr or Mrs President, seems much more casual, but then we didn't really want a ruling class that would hand the job down to their kids.
The opportunity to change leadership to keep it honest and fresh was a new idea. Tradition is fine and all, but it's better to find the best man or woman for the job.
But then Queen or King isn't really a job, what is it really? So many countries have progressed past the need for momma or a poppa to look up to. It's beyond me why we would need someone wearing a crown to look up to, sort of like a miss Universe contestant that reigns for a year. At least they reign over an entire universe. That's way bigger.

[Redwood]

Look. Elizabeth has held titles throughout her life, as a granddaughter of the monarch, as a daughter of the monarch, through her husband's titles, and eventually as Sovereign. In common parlance, she is The Queen or Her Majesty. Officially, she has a distinct title in each of her realms: Queen of Canada in Canada, Queen of Australia in Australia, etc. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies rather than separate realms, she is known as Duke of Normandy and Lord of Man respectively. Additional styles include Defender of the Faith and Duke of Lancaster.

When in conversation with the Queen, the practice is to initially address her as Your Majesty and thereafter as Ma'am.

Even in the Colonies. And in the plantations.

Look Ian This is some serious stuff I was hoping for an answer to...

In this post http://www.terrylove.com/forums/showthread.php?37015-Thanks-but-no-thanks&p=263154&viewfull=1#post263154 I put up and article where rabble rouser's where protesting what it costs to keep Queen Lizzie or, any of those nonsense names you have listed where she is called funny names in places I haven't heard of before...

Is that all that is left of the once mighty British Empire?

Anyway I just wanted to be sure that your Queen Lizzie was cutting expenses in her house hold and not going to infuriate any angry mobs...

We know what happens when royalty snubs its subjects don't we...

[Ian Gills]

Redwood. It's not that simple. The Queen actually does a lot of work for the country as an Ambassador, courting foreign investors, tourism, advising the Americans etc. So in pure cost-benefit terms the calculation is tight. Most of the time she benefits the country more than she "costs". But the "cost" issue is also very difficult to define. She owns a lot of wealth personally, but also holds a lot in trust for the State. Her Crown jewels for example. Some of the castles. They're not hers, she just looks after them for us, so it's only right that we contribute to their maintenance. The tax contribution is also only part of her income.

Saying all that, I'd rather have a thoroughbred than some of the less distinguished families you Americans decide to have rule them.


we didn't really want a ruling class that would hand the job down to their kids.

Hmmmm. The Bushes? The Clintons? The Kennedys? At least Reagon was a one hit wonder. Thank God. Hardly blue blood among this bunch of comedians though hey? I would have hoped the yanks could do better.

This is not what we envisioned with this experiment in "independence". I would like to take back control.

One Nation, under one God and one Queen.

At least give us back what was ours soon after America was "discovered". You can keep the West Coast. No disrespect. It's just too far away.

Very little would change. A little tax on tea perhaps and a little less for the greedy churches. Free healthcare for all. A decent edcuation for kids. And dignified unemployment benefits if you fall on hard times through no fault of your own.

[Redwood]

Redwood. It's not that simple. The Queen actually does a lot of work for the country as an Ambassador, advising the Americans etc.

Saying all that, I'd rather have a thoroughbred than some of the less distinguished families you Americans decide to have rule them.

Yea I bet we pay a lot of attention to that advice....

I'd rather have a hardworking Irishman any day...
At least they work...

[Ian Gills]

I cannot remember the last time I saw an Irishman work.

[Redwood]

I cannot remember the last time I saw an Irishman work.

Looks like they worked over your nose a fair bit...

Say is that a wee bit o bloody nose ya got....

[wmills]

Look. Elizabeth has held titles throughout her life, as a granddaughter of the monarch, as a daughter of the monarch, through her husband's titles, and eventually as Sovereign. In common parlance, she is The Queen or Her Majesty. Officially, she has a distinct title in each of her realms: Queen of Canada in Canada, Queen of Australia in Australia, etc. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies rather than separate realms, she is known as Duke of Normandy and Lord of Man respectively. Additional styles include Defender of the Faith and Duke of Lancaster.

When in conversation with the Queen, the practice is to initially address her as Your Majesty and thereafter as Ma'am.

Even in the Colonies. And in the plantations.

Good thing that we are Americans and not a colony. WE DO NOT WORSHIP ROYALTY. We respect that which earns our respect, and lizzie has not earned it.

[Cookie]

I cannot remember the last time I saw an Irishman work.

It's alot of work caring for that pot of gold, mate. :)

[Rehabber]

I haven't posted in a while, just had to comment. This may be news to you Ian, but the signers of 'that letter' were unique to the world. They were not a bunch of wild pirates or lunatics, They were wealthy, powerful, peace loving men. The 'letter' they signed was a document of treason - of which the punishment was a hangmens rope. Why would these men risk everything (their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor) The only thing I can think of is that they considered LIBERTY more important than security. Americans donate more to charity than any other country in the world. We just don't want to be forced to do it by a government we may or may not agree with. That is what has made America great,, unlike the 2nd world country you come from.

[Ian Gills]

They were traitors to the King and the states were in rebellion. The war was not so much about liberty but more that the Parliament of Great Britain governed them without representation. They claimed that this violated their Rights as Englishmen. Boo hoo.

Fast forward 230 years and another Englishman (me) sits in DC, where (and well I never) he together with his American neighbors, are also being governed without representation.

Not much has changed then.

[Redwood]

There is an option which you could take which would allow you to have representation...

However you have chosen not to exercise that option by your own choice...

Quit Cherbtchen!

[Ian Gills]

There is an option which you could take which would allow you to have representation...

As could the founding fathers.

We could have all just gone home.

[Redwood]

Oh it's easier than that...

Click Here To Find Out How... (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=480ccac09aa5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR D&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD)

[Ian Gills]

Wow, that was easy. Now just sit and wait.

The Oath section is a little difficult for Loyalists to stomach though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhIFfasz6Ec&feature=related

[Redwood]

See how easy that was...

My Irish Great-Grandfather had no problems so why should you...

With hard work he prospered and ended up owning a very large potato farm up in Aroostook County, Maine...

When you become a citizen I'll come down to cheer for ya....