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?

[Redwood]

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

[Ian Gills]

Are those Indians throwing our tea in your harbor?

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

[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.

[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...

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.

[Redwood]

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

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.

[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...

[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.

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?

[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...