Thanks but no thanks

**Furd** · 07-18-2010, 06:50 PM

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

**Cookie** · 07-18-2010, 07:20 PM

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

**Ian Gills** · 07-19-2010, 07:07 AM

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** · 07-19-2010, 09:30 AM

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

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

**Ian Gills** · 07-19-2010, 10:59 AM

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** · 07-19-2010, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

Guess you are still talking about queen lizzie.

**Ian Gills** · 07-19-2010, 01:57 PM

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** · 07-19-2010, 02:57 PM

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** · 07-19-2010, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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

In this post http://www.terrylove.com/forums/show...l=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** · 07-19-2010, 04:45 PM

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** · 07-19-2010, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Ian Gills

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** · 07-19-2010, 05:01 PM

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

**Redwood** · 07-19-2010, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ian Gills

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** · 07-19-2010, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.