Do we live in a democracy or a demockracy?

[snooky]

As it says on the tin.


Seconds out! :tin hat:

[One Day Soon]

As it says on the tin.


Seconds out! :tin hat:


You'll need to elaborate a bit further I think.

[Stranraer]

We don't live in a democracy. Britain has an UNELECTED head of state who I wish all the very worst.

So...no we don't.

[over the line]

Surely we have just had the ultimate in democratic opportunities haven't we? A chance to actually vote yourself out of the very system that governs you. I'm not sure you can get more democratic than that can you?

[hibsbollah]

From the Greek; Demos 'the mob' Kratos 'power'. So literally speaking true democracy comes only from violent rebellion anyway :stirrer:

An impossible question, because in modern political discourse 'democracy' is just a label for 'our political system' or 'a nation state we agree with'. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea is a good example.

[over the line]

From the Greek; Demos 'the mob' Kratos 'power'. So literally speaking true democracy comes only from violent rebellion anyway :stirrer:

An impossible question, because in modern political discourse 'democracy' is just a label for 'our political system' or 'a nation state we agree with'. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea is a good example.

Well 'The Mob' definitely have the power in North Korea!

They had a 99.97% turnout in their last GE, they must f****** love their democracy there! ;)

[Sir David Gray]

Well 'The Mob' definitely have the power in North Korea!

They had a 99.97% turnout in their last GE, they must f****** love their democracy there! ;)

I wonder what's happened to the other 0.03%!

[over the line]

I wonder what's happened to the other 0.03%!

I imagine they were all on foreign holidays or something and just forgot to do their postal or proxy votes? :eek:

[Sir David Gray]

I imagine they were all on foreign holidays or something and just forgot to do their postal or proxy votes? :eek:

Or rather they've been sent to one of the country's many "re-education camps" to do a few years' hard labour and learn all about the Glorious Leader.

[schinkenotto]

Surely we have just had the ultimate in democratic opportunities haven't we? A chance to actually vote yourself out of the very system that governs you. I'm not sure you can get more democratic than that can you?

Well said,sir,but what is the relevance of tthis thread?

[over the line]

Or rather they've been sent to one of the country's many "re-education camps" to do a few years' hard labour and learn all about the Glorious Leader.

I imagine Alex Salmond had similar plans for all the No voters, if he had won?!?!?! ;):)

[over the line]

Well said,sir,but what is the relevance of tthis thread?

Dunno, summit to do maybe? :confused:

[snooky]

I wonder what's happened to the other 0.03%!

They were left to watch the voting cards when the fire alarm went off :wink:

[Phil D. Rolls]

Compared to Zimbabwe, or Saudi Arabia, the answer is Yes.

[snooky]

Compared to Zimbabwe, or Saudi Arabia, the answer is Yes.

Agreed.
However, I'm tall (5-'9") compared to Ronnie Corbett. :cb

[Phil D. Rolls]

Agreed.
However, I'm tall (5-'9") compared to Ronnie Corbett. :cb

What is the minimum height to ride "Democracy"?

[hibsbollah]

What is the minimum height to ride "Democracy"?

If you were a slave or a woman, no dice. Otherwise all the Athenians got to join in, even if they were small in stature like a Greek Zemmama or Jamie McCluskey.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Yes .... to a point.

We do have an unelected head of state and second chamber, where an accident of birth can get you in ...... If anything is undemocratic that is.

IMO the UK first past the post system is not a fair representation of every voter. I like Holyrood's idea of list MSPs based on proportion of the national vote, ensuring that even small parties have a chance of representation.

I'm aware that the downside is that in a UK election that could give you a list BNP member ..... but that's proper democracy for you.

Mind ...... when you look at the current make up of the UK cabinet its not exactly a microcosm of British society.

[snooky]

Well said,sir,but what is the relevance of tthis thread?
Work it out - it's easy.

[Sergio sledge]

What powers does the Queen as head of state actually have?

Am I right in thinking that she's not a head of state in the same way that Barack Obama is, in that she just effectively does what parliament tells her?

Sent from my Venue 8 Pro 5830 using Tapatalk

[NAE NOOKIE]

What powers does the Queen as head of state actually have?

Am I right in thinking that she's not a head of state in the same way that Barack Obama is, in that she just effectively does what parliament tells her?

Sent from my Venue 8 Pro 5830 using Tapatalk

Though the queen does have certain powers she cannot exercise them alone as such, though government ministers can use these those powers though the queen to circumvent parliament ... see 'order in council'

The queen's power is neither here nor there for us republicans .... the fact that she is head of state through birth is enough.

Example ......... If prince Charles visited your place of work next week a minion would make it known that you should not speak to him unless he speaks first and that he should be addressed initially as your royal highness and then sir.

They will be playing snowballs in hell the day I call someone sir just because his ancestors were better at murder than mine and he's got a big hoose ................ so there :aok:

[Stranraer]

Though the queen does have certain powers she cannot exercise them alone as such, though government ministers can use these those powers though the queen to circumvent parliament ... see 'order in council'

The queen's power is neither here nor there for us republicans .... the fact that she is head of state through birth is enough.

Example ......... If prince Charles visited your place of work next week a minion would make it known that you should not speak to him unless he speaks first and that he should be addressed initially as your royal highness and then sir.

They will be playing snowballs in hell the day I call someone sir just because his ancestors were better at murder than mine and he's got a big hoose ................ so there :aok:

:top marksspot on.

[Beefster]

The queen's power is neither here nor there for us republicans .... the fact that she is head of state through birth is enough.

I'd agree with that. To the extent that, had Salmond promised we'd have been a republic, I'd have been far more likely to vote yes.

[snooky]

It is noted that the US of A were in favour of a No vote and promoted it well.

I just wonder what a latter day Paul Revere would have done when he heard the 'Brits' (i.e. The 3 Stoogies) were coming.
Would Obama order him to turn around & ride the other way? :wink:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere

[NAE NOOKIE]

It is noted that the US of A were in favour of a No vote and promoted it well.

I just wonder what a latter day Paul Revere would have done when he heard the 'Brits' (i.e. The 3 Stoogies) were coming.
Would Obama order him to turn around & ride the other way? :wink:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere

Thats the thing with the USA ..... they love all that royal crap and sook up the weddings & births like a Dyson in overload. But if Obama turned round tomorrow and said ... 'hey guys, why don't we have a king' .... they would shoot him.

[Sir David Gray]

I'd agree with that. To the extent that, had Salmond promised we'd have been a republic, I'd have been far more likely to vote yes.

I reckon the gap between yes and no would have been a lot bigger than 10% if he had put forward this proposal.

[Mr White]

They will be playing snowballs in hell the day I call someone sir just because his ancestors were better at murder than mine and he's got a big hoose ................ so there :aok:

:not worth

[over the line]

Though the queen does have certain powers she cannot exercise them alone as such, though government ministers can use these those powers though the queen to circumvent parliament ... see 'order in council'

The queen's power is neither here nor there for us republicans .... the fact that she is head of state through birth is enough.

Example ......... If prince Charles visited your place of work next week a minion would make it known that you should not speak to him unless he speaks first and that he should be addressed initially as your royal highness and then sir.

They will be playing snowballs in hell the day I call someone sir just because his ancestors were better at murder than mine and he's got a big hoose ................ so there :aok:

Just out of interest, under what circumstances (if any) would you call someone sir?

[stoneyburn hibs]

Just out of interest, under what circumstances (if any) would you call someone sir?

None, the poster you asked said as much without saying it.

[over the line]

None, the poster you asked said as much without saying it.

Did they?

[Lucius Apuleius]

Though the queen does have certain powers she cannot exercise them alone as such, though government ministers can use these those powers though the queen to circumvent parliament ... see 'order in council'

The queen's power is neither here nor there for us republicans .... the fact that she is head of state through birth is enough.

Example ......... If prince Charles visited your place of work next week a minion would make it known that you should not speak to him unless he speaks first and that he should be addressed initially as your royal highness and then sir.

They will be playing snowballs in hell the day I call someone sir just because his ancestors were better at murder than mine and he's got a big hoose ................ so there :aok:

Guess you would never be in the forces then. :-)

[GreenLake]

Thats the thing with the USA ..... they love all that royal crap and sook up the weddings & births like a Dyson in overload. But if Obama turned round tomorrow and said ... 'hey guys, why don't we have a king' .... they would shoot him.

They already have a King in America - "cash is King". :wink:

[NAE NOOKIE]

Guess you would never be in the forces then. :-)

The French Foreign Legion :greengrin