Devil's Advocate
I remember reading that the deal brokered by George III for the procedes of the Crown Estates was a swap with parliment that he would give them the money from the Crown estates if they paid for the armed forces. Since the armed forces currently cost many billions it looks like even this famously mad monarch was able to out smart the politicans.
What's the point of being married to the Queen if you can't mouth off in public?
Carry on being rude to Australians. They like it really.
A monarchy is far cheaper than a republic.
"**If anyone mentions Paisley, I'm going to put my fingers in my ears and hum..."
What's wrong with West Glasgow?
How long have you got...? 
'Sides, you know damn well that I'm referring to the Reverend, you naughty man...
DK
Your feed updates randomly it seems, no idea why, but this post only showed up today on my reader. Ah well.
Anyway, as a former republican turned constitutional monarchist, on virtually all points I agree. Two exceptions. 1) powers; she's not a figurehead, she chooses to not use her powers, because that's not the done thing. But a lot of the stuff done in her name by prerogative. That and she has personally chosen one PM and sacked another. 2) Tourism benefits; genuinely, an own goal royalist argument, you (we) have to not use it, a) Paris has no monarchy, but has great tourism revenue; get rid of the monarchy, open the palaces, increase tourism. b) there are some seriously good studies out there that show it has little to no net benefit, and may actually be counter productive and create a net loss to tourism.
Like I said; I used to be a republican; when you change your mind substantially, then you tend to know the reasons prety well.
Fair enough.
What, then, made you change your mind?
DK
A study of history, a reading of Burke, and specifically, a study of the democratisation of post-Franco Spain. By accepting Juan Carlos as King, the republican/socialist opposition that became the next government forstalled a civil war. By insisting on democratic elections and effectively insisting on the British model, Juan Carlos ensured the Right would accept the socialist govt; they'd sworn to accept him as King. Juan Carlos pretty much made modern Spain; he could've taken absolute power, but instead became a great King.
I hate US-style Presidential systems of government; if you're going to have a ceremonial head of state with no real powers, you might as well accept a monarch where you have one and simply make sure the system is reformed to remove the legitimate grievances of the republicans. I plan to write it all up coherently at some point. I plan to write up a lot of things. Anyway, time to try and sleep...
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