Saintandy666

I think that was more because people didn't like AV. If there was a vote on PR, the result would be very different and Cameron knows it, hence why he only offered AV.

Well, that's just not true at all as you are looking at it through the prism of the current system. In places like the US and France, they certainly do not elect celebrities to become President. All it means is that we will elect our legislature separately to our executive, thus enhancing choice and democracy. Like I said, I don't mind our model so much that it is a priority, other things like lords reform and electoral reform need to come first... But it's really silly to have the if it ain't broke, don't fix it attitude. If we all had that attitude we'd still be living in the dark ages. What we must do is keep those bits which are good, but where improvement can be made, make it.

I think you meant 6th form debating society... but that's not really important, as it's a poor point to bring out the age card. The US recent paralysis was more to do with the tea party than the actual system. What Obama was trying to do, raise the debt ceiling, is actually totally uncontroversial and has been done countless times over the year with no protest. Suffice to say, the TEA party seems to be a fad to me, and I predict it'll start to die a death. But that's off topic. We have very few actual protections for our rights in this country... if it wanted to, parliament could technically abolish free speech tomorrow and that would be that because parliament holds sovereignty. In the US, the Supreme Court would bang down any try at it, as the constitution forbids it, and it is incredibly hard to change the constitution. I don't really understand your point re: secret police, are you suggesting that because we have a monarchy, we don't have secret police? Because there are many countries with a monarchy that do, and many without that do as well so I don't think you can draw that correlation. To be honest, why do you assume there would be a celebrity elected? Our system is already turning presidential as it is, at the last election it was Cameron, Clegg and Brown, but technically none of us actually vote for him. It's an odd situation to be in. And it's probably about time, we updated our system to match the reality. Though in all honestly, in my own little list in my head of 'things to do to our political system', it isn't ridiculously high. Electoral reform to AMS or STV needs to come first as well as Lords reform and a strengthening of the power of the Supreme Court.

It still works on the mobiles and stuff, but not on the desktop website I believe. Google has a link to anti-SOPA/PIPA stuff on its US and main front page.

The President of the US is not like the PM at all! As you rightly point out, the President is balanced by Congress, and then the Supreme court. The leaders within the upper and lower house are also very powerful. Our PM is the leader of our legislature and executive. Parliament holds sovereignty in this country and so can pretty much pass any law it wants anytime and that's it. In the US, that would be almost impossible because the constitution is where sovereignty lies. I think I prefer the protections of the US system.

I agree with you that Iran is beginning to flex its muscles a bit, and it can do so because Iraq is no longer powerful... to balance it out a bit, but anyways, the rhetoric still proves nothing of their actual intentions re: weapons.

I have to agree with all of this, perhaps with the exception of point 3 where I might favour something slightly different

Tbh, I don't think depriving an already rich and privileged lady of a Yacht is mean spirited!

It wasn't PR, it was AV which is not PR. If it was a PR referendum, PR would have won in my opinion which is why the conservatives were very clever in making it a vote on AV.

That was a ridiculous idea in itself. If there is one book that is plenty in schools, it is the Bible. Absolutely outrageous idea and I sincerely hope the article is not true. At my secondary school, we were using textbooks in some of my lessons, from before I was born(from the 80's)... how about buying some of those instead of ****ing around with a book that is in plenty and really holds little academic value to what is important.

So Republicans have a chip on their shoulder?! Nothing to do with actual criticism of the system itself?

Yep, I'm anti-antidisestablishmentarianism

It shows Gove is out of touch. I respect the Queen a lot, she has done a good job, even if that job need not be done. I used to be quite happy with us having a Royal Family, but I'm starting to lean the other way more and more recently. The first thing we need to do is dis-establish the Church of England.

The fuss is that Gove ever thought it was a good idea to use taxpayers money to fund this ship in the first place, but then again it is Michael Gove.

That's the proposal now, but Gove originally wanted it as a 'reward' to the Queen paid by taxpayers.

Mr. Gove proposed it would be originally. Cameron, a much more sensible man set the record straight.

That's not really fair though, as every country in Europe should deffos have a place for some point. While Rangers/Celtic may not be a big premiership club in quality at the moment, but they are in size. If introduced in the Premiership, they have the following to quickly become a big club and competitor for top 10.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html I know it is quite an old piece(2 and a half years), but it is very interesting! I'm sure our expat friends may wish to counter some of the stuff in here because Dubai isn't sounding that nice to me at the moment.

I don't like Iran's regime as much as the next person, I think that they are dangerous to the stability of the area as well as being extremely archaic in their social views. But I really do not get your link... this rhetoric(and that's what it is) does not mean Iran is building nukes(which they probably are by the sounds of it), but this isn't evidence of it.

3rd world status?! That is honestly the most stupid thing I have heard for a while. What a ridiculous point. If you think the UK is a third world country, perhaps you should go live in Sudan for a while... or Ethiopia.

To be honest, they ripped her quite a lot last week! But would have been interesting to see how she would have coped with it if she was there... not well at all if the last few times Neil went hard on her is anything to go by. I have a feeling they might have fallen out. And saying 'left-wing cowardice' just brings your point into the gutter.

She's withdrawn from This Week. She was meant to come back for a one off episode. No doubt worried about being destroyed by Andrew Neil... or at least her party is.

It's not an amazing league and that is why Celtic and Rangers aren't as good ad they should be for teams of their following. If they were allowed to compete in the premiership, they'd have the following and cash from premiership sponsoring to buy in better players and become a real competitor. At the moment though, with their current team they wouldn't be able to compete in the premiership.

I'm aware of that, but his post(unless I misunderstood, which is entirely possible) seemed to infer it was one or the other!

So the only other option to monarchy is a North Korean Style dictatorship? Which if you ask me is rather like a monarchy given the father son hand over of power that has happened now twice.