Huge Canadian Politics Scandal Involving Prime Minister! Christian nuttery involved

[Ben Kenobi]

South Africa, though, was not kicked out. Verweord, tired of the British criticisms of Apartheid, initiated a referendum, asking if South Africa should cease being a constitutional monarchy and should become a republic. The response was 52% "yes". Due to this change to Republic, South Africa was required to re-apply for admission to the Commonwealth. They knew that their application would be blocked by the African and Asian state members of the Commonwealth, so they never reapplied.

The actual process for becoming a republic (eliminating the queen as head of state) was relatively straight forward and didn't really require any 'permission' from the Queen, as far as I can see. I imagine there are other examples of this from Asia or perhaps even within Africa.

South Africa was in a strange situation. They were kicked out of the Commonwealth, in the sense that when the referendum went against the Queen, the Queen wanted no part of Apartheid in South Africa. They weren't re-admitted until 1994. Would you characterise the situation between 1960 to 1994 as the peaceful transfer of power?

Not really the best example.

A better example is India, but then again, the process of independence was approved by the King and Whitehall as part of decolonialisation. It's one thing to declare independence, quite another for the monarch to relinquish their authority voluntarily.

I'm surprised there wasn't more violence in South Africa given the plebescite. 52 percent is hardly a mandate.

[Zevico]

South Africa was in a strange situation. They were kicked out of the Commonwealth, in the sense that when the referendum went against the Queen, the Queen wanted no part of Apartheid in South Africa. They weren't re-admitted until 1994. Would you characterise the situation between 1960 to 1994 as the peaceful transfer of power?

Not really the best example.

A better example is India, but then again, the process of independence was approved by the King and Whitehall as part of decolonialisation. It's one thing to declare independence, quite another for the monarch to relinquish their authority voluntarily.

I'm surprised there wasn't more violence in South Africa given the plebescite. 52 percent is hardly a mandate.

You're right.

[Asher]

The problem, Ben, is that in the real world the monarch would relinquish power voluntarily because they are simply a figurehead.

Even more important, there's no real powers to relinquish. The Queen does not own or control Crown Lands or Crown Property.

Those numbers you cited earlier had nothing to do with the Queen.

[classical_hero]

How on earth did we get to be talking about the English Monarchy on a thread about a supposed faux pas by the Canadian Prime Minister? I don't want to get back to the original discussion, since this is so fascinating to watch.

[Japher]

What's really ironic is that last night's final Jeopardy question was on the British Royalty!

[Mint]

Malta

[rah]

Shh, what is obvious to anyone with a brain after just a few seconds reading that website (which he quoted), is too much for Ben to comprehend.

[Ben Kenobi]

The problem, Ben, is that in the real world the monarch would relinquish power voluntarily because they are simply a figurehead.

Nobody until now has mentioned a plebescite.

If they were to hold a vote here, and they had 52 percent as in South Africa, it would never fly. They would want a stronger mandate.

As for the Queen stepping down, I can see her doing so in the face of a clear plebescite, and then granting everything legally over to Canada. It's never happened yet, that a nation with a good relationship to the Crown has initiated the process.

WRT the Queen in England, I can't see her backing away without some guarantor of income wrt to the properties in her name. This is why I believe they would give her some sort of one time cash settlement. It's one thing to let go of the colonies, quite another to let go of the properties in England.

Also, unless you abolished the peerage, she would become the Duchess of Cornwall and Lancaster even after she stepped down from the Crown.

[Wezil]

So if Harper did actually consume the wafer...

Does that mean the body and blood of christ is now in the stomach of a heathen?

Perhaps a reverse exorcism is in order?

[Ben Kenobi]

He could die.

[Wezil]

I thought jebus was already dead?

[Jon Miller]

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

JM

[Ben Kenobi]

I thought jebus was already dead?

For he is not a God of the dead but of the living.

[BlackCat]

I thought jebus was already dead?

Maybe he is like Sæhrímnir

[RGBVideo]

troll thread for BK

troll succesful! asher, you are a god