The Crown

[Lunawalk]

I was just wondering if anybody watched the crown on Netflix. It tell the story of Queen Elizabeth from the beginning of her reign to the present in part latter seasons. How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication. I was thinking what if the head of government was separated from the duties of the office of the President.Instead he will perform the ceremonial duties as head of state. In this hyper partisanship where Democrats and Republicans think of each other's as ememies. This person can be a national symbol for all Americans.Can this system of government work out in the U.S.? I look forward the discussion on this topic.

 

[bilby]

I was just wondering if anybody watched the crown on Netflix. It tell the story of Queen Elizabeth from the beginning of her reign to the present in part latter seasons. How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication. I was thinking what if the head of government was separated from the duties of the office of the President.Instead he will perform the ceremonial duties as head of state. In this hyper partisanship where Democrats and Republicans think of each other's as ememies. This person can be a national symbol for all Americans.Can this system of government work out in the U.S.? I look forward the discussion on this topic.

The last time you had that system in the US, there was a war to bring it to an end.

It seems unlikely that the idea of bringing it back would be very popular.

If you want to live in a constitutional monarchy, it's easier to just move to Canada (or Australia, or the UK, or any number of Commonwealth countries - some of the Caribbean Islands are rather pleasant, I am told).

 

[RavenSky]

I have seen both seasons, and enjoyed it very much.

As to parallels with the U.S. system of government, no. I am sure there is nothing more that Trump would love than to be King of the U.S., but no. That is not what the position is, and making it a ceremonial head adds nothing to our system of government.

Frankly, the people in the U.K. seem to be questioning what it adds to theirs.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

I was just wondering if anybody watched the crown on Netflix. It tell the story of Queen Elizabeth from the beginning of her reign to the present in part latter seasons. How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication. I was thinking what if the head of government was separated from the duties of the office of the President.Instead he will perform the ceremonial duties as head of state. In this hyper partisanship where Democrats and Republicans think of each other's as ememies. This person can be a national symbol for all Americans.Can this system of government work out in the U.S.? I look forward the discussion on this topic.

The last time you had that system in the US, there was a war to bring it to an end.

It seems unlikely that the idea of bringing it back would be very popular.

If you want to live in a constitutional monarchy, it's easier to just move to Canada (or Australia, or the UK, or any number of Commonwealth countries - some of the Caribbean Islands are rather pleasant, I am told).

They're basically very expensive "good will ambassadors" and paparazzi targets. How would such a person even be selected?

People in the USA have all the benefits by following the British Royal Family, with none of the expense. No, it would never work here.

I've enjoyed the series also.

 

[bilby]

... How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication...

She was only 10 years old at the time of the abdication, so I doubt her desires or expectations in that regard were particularly well formed.

Her father, Edward's oldest brother Albert, was certainly not ready for the crown, but felt that he had a duty to take it; Edward had three brothers, Albert, Henry and George; Albert took the crown and in doing so became George VI, which must have been annoying as hell for the youngest of the four brothers, George, Duke of Kent. "I'm Edward's younger brother, George. No, not Edward's younger brother King George, just Edward's younger brother Duke George".

 

[J842P]

I was just wondering if anybody watched the crown on Netflix. It tell the story of Queen Elizabeth from the beginning of her reign to the present in part latter seasons. How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication. I was thinking what if the head of government was separated from the duties of the office of the President.Instead he will perform the ceremonial duties as head of state. In this hyper partisanship where Democrats and Republicans think of each other's as ememies. This person can be a national symbol for all Americans.Can this system of government work out in the U.S.? I look forward the discussion on this topic.

No, it wouldn't. And it shouldn't.

 

[gmbteach]

I haven’t, but would like to.

 

[bilby]

Hereditary monarchy has been becoming less and less popular for at least a thousand years; the idea of an unelected head of state has some small merit as long as the influence of that individual on government is vanishingly small, but that merit is usually strongly counterbalanced by the problems that arise from any 'job for life'.

A good king is one thing; but a bad king is quite another - and if you can't vote him out, you either have to suffer his rule, or suffer a civil war to depose him. Neither seem like a good thing to me.

 

[Lunawalk]

I was just wondering if anybody watched the crown on Netflix. It tell the story of Queen Elizabeth from the beginning of her reign to the present in part latter seasons. How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication. I was thinking what if the head of government was separated from the duties of the office of the President.Instead he will perform the ceremonial duties as head of state. In this hyper partisanship where Democrats and Republicans think of each other's as ememies. This person can be a national symbol for all Americans.Can this system of government work out in the U.S.? I look forward the discussion on this topic.

The last time you had that system in the US, there was a war to bring it to an end.

It seems unlikely that the idea of bringing it back would be very popular.

If you want to live in a constitutional monarchy, it's easier to just move to Canada (or Australia, or the UK, or any number of Commonwealth countries - some of the Caribbean Islands are rather pleasant, I am told).

Doesn't have to be a monarchy,but a president with only ceremonial duties. Who can be a symbol to all Americans.

 

[Lunawalk]

I have seen both seasons, and enjoyed it very much.

As to parallels with the U.S. system of government, no. I am sure there is nothing more that Trump would love than to be King of the U.S., but no. That is not what the position is, and making it a ceremonial head adds nothing to our system of government.

Frankly, the people in the U.K. seem to be questioning what it adds to theirs.

Let's face our president is an embarrassment. He lost the popular vote and highly unpopular. Congress has not a major piece of legislation since he took office. I don't think we need a monarchy but a president under the parliamentary system.

 

[Angry Floof]

Just saw that season 2 is on Netflix and started watching. I really enjoyed season 1. Turns out, I still hate Prince Philip even with a beloved Dr. Who playing him.

As for a national figurehead, I don't see how Americans could ever come to agreement on who it should be. Existing royal figureheads did not get there by choice of the people. Without our Revolutionary War, we'd now be a constitutional monarchy along with the UK and Canada, etc. But we had to do things our own way, as usual.

I rather like the idea of having Queen Elizabeth on our money and as a national symbol. Not that I'm especially attached to her, nor am I a big fan of royalty in general, but for the reasons mentioned in the OP. She has so little political power that everyone is free to love her (or not) regardless of politics. I agree that serves as a unifying force for the people. I think it would be nice to have something like that here.

 

[Lunawalk]

... How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication...

She was only 10 years old at the time of the abdication, so I doubt her desires or expectations in that regard were particularly well formed.

Her father, Edward's oldest brother Albert, was certainly not ready for the crown, but felt that he had a duty to take it; Edward had three brothers, Albert, Henry and George; Albert took the crown and in doing so became George VI, which must have been annoying as hell for the youngest of the four brothers, George, Duke of Kent. "I'm Edward's younger brother, George. No, not Edward's younger brother King George, just Edward's younger brother Duke George".

.
I just get the sense from the series she didn't want to become queen in her heart of hearts

 

[bilby]

Just saw that season 2 is on Netflix and started watching. I really enjoyed season 1. Turns out, I still hate Prince Philip even with a beloved Dr. Who playing him.

As for a national figurehead, I don't see how Americans could ever come to agreement on who it should be. Existing royal figureheads did not get there by choice of the people. Without our Revolutionary War, we'd now be a constitutional monarchy along with the UK and Canada, etc. But we had to do things our own way, as usual.

I rather like the idea of having Queen Elizabeth on our money and as a national symbol. Not that I'm especially attached to her, nor am I a big fan of royalty in general, but for the reasons mentioned in the OP. She has so little political power that everyone is free to love her (or not) regardless of politics. I agree that serves as a unifying force for the people. I think it would be nice to have something like that here.

You have Uncle Sam, who is not only a beloved figurehead and symbol of your nation, but also fictional - so he is highly unlikely ever to be caught sleeping with anyone he shouldn't.

 

[James Brown]

I am sure there is nothing more that Trump would love than to be King of the U.S., but no.

Jimmy Kimmel suggested that very thing.

[YOUTUBE]t16xYMSyMXU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[bilby]

... How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication...

She was only 10 years old at the time of the abdication, so I doubt her desires or expectations in that regard were particularly well formed.

Her father, Edward's oldest brother Albert, was certainly not ready for the crown, but felt that he had a duty to take it; Edward had three brothers, Albert, Henry and George; Albert took the crown and in doing so became George VI, which must have been annoying as hell for the youngest of the four brothers, George, Duke of Kent. "I'm Edward's younger brother, George. No, not Edward's younger brother King George, just Edward's younger brother Duke George".

.
I just get the sense from the series she didn't want to become queen in her heart of hearts

That seems to be a common claim; And I guess that, given the choice, most people would rather be an anonymous hugely wealthy person with little political power, than a hugely wealthy person with little political power who is constantly in the public eye.

But if the option was to be queen, or to live on a sink estate, with no net assets, as an Income Support claimant, I imagine most people (including Liz Windsor) would pick the throne.

 

[Lunawalk]

I was just wondering if anybody watched the crown on Netflix. It tell the story of Queen Elizabeth from the beginning of her reign to the present in part latter seasons. How Elizabeth really didn't want to became queen but had because of her uncle's abdication. I was thinking what if the head of government was separated from the duties of the office of the President.Instead he will perform the ceremonial duties as head of state. In this hyper partisanship where Democrats and Republicans think of each other's as ememies. This person can be a national symbol for all Americans.Can this system of government work out in the U.S.? I look forward the discussion on this topic.

The last time you had that system in the US, there was a war to bring it to an end.

It seems unlikely that the idea of bringing it back would be very popular.

If you want to live in a constitutional monarchy, it's easier to just move to Canada (or Australia, or the UK, or any number of Commonwealth countries - some of the Caribbean Islands are rather pleasant, I am told).

They're basically very expensive "good will ambassadors" and paparazzi targets. How would such a person even be selected?

People in the USA have all the benefits by following the British Royal Family, with none of the expense. No, it would never work here.

I've enjoyed the series also.

The head of state can be chosen by Congress for a single term by a large majority. Someone respected by both sides. The modern presidency now costs just as much as the royal family

 

[RavenSky]

They're basically very expensive "good will ambassadors" and paparazzi targets. How would such a person even be selected?

People in the USA have all the benefits by following the British Royal Family, with none of the expense. No, it would never work here.

I've enjoyed the series also.

The head of state can be chosen by Congress for a single term by a large majority. Someone respected by both sides. The modern presidency now costs just as much as the royal family

You are simply ignoring the fact that the U.S.A. has a three-part governing system: Legislative (Congress), Judicial (the courts) and Executive (President); and you have not given any sort of reason why we should eliminate one of those branches

 

[marc]

I caught some of it as my wife was watching. The one scene that stood out for me was the queen's mother commenting on some newspaper story about Einstein, and the queen realizing neither her, nor her mother, had any real idea what the story was talking about. She then asked shouldn't her education have included more science and other subjects? So she got a tutor to help fill in some of those gaps.

 

[RavenSky]

Just saw that season 2 is on Netflix and started watching. I really enjoyed season 1. Turns out, I still hate Prince Philip even with a beloved Dr. Who playing him.

Spoiler alert! You will love him a little bit again about mid-way through season 2

I do like how the series has made the characters 3 dimensional. Even though they are all real people, the Royals are also portrayed so often in a one-dimensional, almost cartoonish, way. This series does seem to be making the effort to show the good and the bad and all of the nuance in between.

 

[DolphinDynasty]

They're basically very expensive "good will ambassadors" and paparazzi targets. How would such a person even be selected?

People in the USA have all the benefits by following the British Royal Family, with none of the expense. No, it would never work here.

I've enjoyed the series also.

The head of state can be chosen by Congress for a single term by a large majority. Someone respected by both sides. The modern presidency now costs just as much as the royal family

I like the show, not been watching on Netflix, but elsewhere as it is cheaper.

I do not like or think we could ever support or need the style of government. Not to say that we don't already support already wealthy figurehead types who get some power in how our government is run, but we have checks and balances altho little used that a constitutional monarchy does not have.

This works out slightly better in that it would not take an assassination, an uprising, or all out revolution to unseat the reigning leader. Because even if the people were stupid and immoral enough to vote Trump to stay in after first term he can only get one more go at fucking us all over.

Also, no one is respected by both sides right no, and there hasn't been somebody like since the early decades of our government aside from perhaps the Roosevelts or Truman maybe. So a vote in Congress for such a thing would never even take on let alone remain, not mention the risk that we'd turn this figure head of state into either an illusory archetype or else a pigeon holed scapegoat depending on our warped opinion of them.