Is a head of state necessary?

[ska invita]

I've never lived with a presidency but from what I can tell the presidential system looks terrible.

A powerless and performative head of state who cuts ribbons on shopping centers serms harmless, but is it even necessary?

That we need to abolish the monarchy and seize their land and assets is a given...

Is there any good case for having a "head of state"?

 

[mx wcfc]

I’m interested too. The standard response I get from people opposed to abolishing the monarchy is “we’d have ended up with Tony Blair as president” which is hard to argue with.

Why would we need a president?

 

[platinumsage]

I think we'd need one otherwise our unwritten constitution wouldn't work.

However an inanimate object should do the trick, as it could automatically approve whatever it is that government ministers etc lawfully require it to approve.

 

[MickiQ]

Depends what you mean by head of state, If you mean the head of the executive as in the Prime Minister or the President of the US then clearly yes someone needs to be in charge but as in ceremonial head of state like Brenda or the Irish president then no we can probably manage without them. If practical considerations mean that we do actually need someone to do the signing, waving and ribbon cutting because the chief executive is busy running stuff, then it should definitely be an elected office rather than an inherited one. Setting aside all issues of equality and fairness, the Royal Family is shite value for money for what they actually do governing wise as set against the cost of them.

 

[killer b]

The standard response I get from people opposed to abolishing the monarchy is “we’d have ended up with Tony Blair as president” which is hard to argue with.

Is it though?

 

[chilango]

Not if we get rid of the State

 

[RainbowTown]

Is it though?

Well considering he is a war criminal in all but name, I think that would be of major concern to many people. Though I at least get the point he would've been elected as opposed to Charlie Boy et al who are there purely through birthright, privilege and an hereditary, morally repugnant class system, which cannot be justified in any way whatsoever.

 

[emanymton]

Is it though?

Which bit? It is a common reply but not hard to argue with no.

 

[emanymton]

Well considering he is a war criminal in all but name, I think that would be of major concern to many people. Though I at least get the point he would've been elected as opposed to Charlie Boy et al who are there purely through birthright, privilege and an hereditary, morally repugnant class system, which cannot be justified in any way whatsoever.

If it was just ceremonial who cares better that than PM, of not what is the difference between that and him being PM?

 

[killer b]

Which bit? It is a common reply but not hard to argue with no.

It's definitely a common reply. It's really easy to argue with though - a democratically elected head of state can be removed

 

[lefteri]

Depends what you mean by head of state, If you mean the head of the executive as in the Prime Minister or the President of the US then clearly yes someone needs to be in charge but as in ceremonial head of state like Brenda or the Irish president then no we can probably manage without them. If practical considerations mean that we do actually need someone to do the signing, waving and ribbon cutting because the chief executive is busy running stuff, then it should definitely be an elected office rather than an inherited one. Setting aside all issues of equality and fairness, the Royal Family is shite value for money for what they actually do governing wise as set against the cost of them.

 

[Pickman's model]

no, you don't need a president. if you look back to eg the roman republic you can have two people who for a year exercise power. if you have to have power exercised at all. there's loads of ways any republic can be organised - see, for example, the way the venetian republic operated. it's not one size fits all republics

 

[danny la rouge]

Not if we get rid of the State

Well, exactly.

However, since an argument for keeping the Royals is that “it’s purely ceremonial” and “they don’t actually have any powers”, I’d suggest a head of state is unnecessary.

 

[Karl Masks]

I’m interested too. The standard response I get from people opposed to abolishing the monarchy is “we’d have ended up with Tony Blair as president” which is hard to argue with.

Why would we need a president?

Not that hard to argue with. Just a) don't vote for Tony Blair, if, b) he somehow stands for election in a republic.

Just seems like a false dichotomy. It's not Monarch or President Blair.

And these days we pronounce it 'Starmer'

 

[Pickman's model]

Not that hard to argue with. Just a) don't vote for Tony Blair, if, b) he somehow stands for election in a republic.

Just seems like a false dichotomy. It's not Monarch or President Blair.

And these days we pronounce it 'Starmer'

shammer

 

[danny la rouge]

I’m interested too. The standard response I get from people opposed to abolishing the monarchy is “we’d have ended up with Tony Blair as president” which is hard to argue with.

It’s easy to argue with. The people who say it, however, are not.

 

[Pickman's model]

I’m interested too. The standard response I get from people opposed to abolishing the monarchy is “we’d have ended up with Tony Blair as president” which is hard to argue with.

Why would we need a president?

if the monarchy were abolished i don't think tony blair would have lived to see the next day let alone become president

 

[Chilli.s]

Is there any good case for having a "head of state"?

Tourism and opening hospitals are the only reasons

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

If we must have a head of state then the PM should be it.

 

[danny la rouge]

Tourism and opening hospitals are the only reasons

A). Tourists do the tourist things. When in France, they go to things that aren’t royal. People don’t avoid Paris because there’s no monarchy!
B). I believe Jedward can handle scissors.

 

[Pickman's model]

If we must have a head of state then the PM should be it.

i think your 'the' is superfluous. and if you're going to abbreviate it should be Pm

 

[Elpenor]

Irish model. Get some old poet to do it, I suggest Benjamin Zephaniah

 

[ska invita]

I think we'd need one otherwise our unwritten constitution wouldn't work.

However an inanimate object should do the trick, as it could automatically approve whatever it is that government ministers etc lawfully require it to approve.

We'd need a constitution for sure... Or this

 

[planetgeli]

A). Tourists do the tourist things. When in France, they go to things that aren’t royal. People don’t avoid Paris because there’s no monarchy!

Plus France receives over twice as many tourists as the U.K. This “the Queen brings in tourism“ thing has always been based on rubbish.

 

[Pickman's model]

Plus France receives over twice as many tourists as the U.K. This “the Queen brings in tourism“ thing has always been based on rubbish.

when she really drove tourists away

 

[Puddy_Tat]

We'd need a constitution for sure... Or this

but is it a democratically elected aspidistra?

 

[ska invita]

but is it a democratically elected aspidistra?

I'm happy with hereditary plant life

 

[danny la rouge]

but is it a democratically elected aspidistra?

Keep it flying.

 

[A380]

We should all take turns acting as a sort of executive officer of the week*.



(* But all decisions of that officer would have to be ratified by a simple majority in the case of purely internal matters, but a two thirds majority in the case of external ones…)

 

[Chilli.s]

A). Tourists do the tourist things. When in France, they go to things that aren’t royal. People don’t avoid Paris because there’s no monarchy!

I would of course, up the workload and downsize the workforce, like a good manager.
King Charles would be waiving to the grockles regularly and to a tightly timed schedule. he would have to wave right up to the point of r.s.i. but not to exceed it. The bus tickets to drive past the palace with a sight of KC in all his regalia including crown, and get waved at... you cant put a price on that kind of tourist satisfaction.