Re: New Years Honours.
 

Idem -though i do love the idea of the chivalrous knights of old.:o:D

As to Republics i only have first hand experience of one and as far as I can see Italy's Second Republic is far worse than the UK's Constitutional Monarchy in most ways. (The first was short-lived during Napolean's time)

There is far more bureaucracy = more Civil Servants, some of whom retire after 15 yrs service on fat pensions.

The political system is less democratic eg Mario Monti a Prime Minister who has never been elected by the people.

There are more politicians at every level from local - national, and they are some of the highest paid in Europe.

They effectively have a "House of Lords" in the form of the Senate.

There is an Honours system which rarely includes ordinary people -The Cavalieri del Lavoro (Knights of Work) are mainly industrialists and to become a Life Senator is a really great meal ticket - they get something like 9,000 euros a month for doing nothing.

Successive governments from 1945 on have served to feather the beds of the new aristocracy who effectively are the political class. So at the end of the day it's just more of the same - and probably worse.

As an interesting footnote :There was another Republic during the war started by Mussolini - known as the Republic of Salò it was based in Gargnano on Lake Garda where Mussolini resided between 1943-45 in the Villa Feltrinelli -a beautiful place which witnessed much madness in those years.(See photo).:)

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Funnily enough, this Christmas I watched Pasolini's infamous, and until recently banned film, Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma.

Ok, I'll wear it.

Present me with your A.S.S.C.

In honour of another shared spooky coincidence.

:D

Re: New Years Honours.
 

By the way, I've nothing against people like Marg P's Ma being recognised for her good work in the community.

It's the Sir Eltons and Micks, and Whitehall mandarins, who debase the current system, in my opinion.

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Have never seen the film (only seen Il Bel Antonio of his -which is good) it hasn't ever aired on Italian TV because of censorship even now.
If it's as graphic as the story is portrayed I'm not sure I'd stomach all of it - even though artistically it's been recognised and is a metaphor of the orgy of madness which occured here under facism.

Am honoured to share the spooky coincidence also -was the use of Honour intentional here I wonder;):D

(Still think you'd make a cool Knight though!:rolleyes::cool:)

Re: New Years Honours.
 

I can only imagine that for your average person it's the high-point of a lifetime.

Mum sent off for my Grand-parent's Diamond wedding Anniversary to get a card from The Queen, while they were not particularly royalist I remember it was appreciated!

The only people I've met who had "gongs" were my old boss at Uni., Prof. Sir David Smith - for his work at the Royal Society. A very unassuming man, typical academic.

And Lord Anthony Quinton of Holwell -President of Trinity College, who was one of Thatcher's economic advisors as well as an academic. On the surface a bit pompous but actually a very nice man one to one. (Well, I did go for dinner at the House of Lords with him once:D)

Re: New Years Honours.
 

I remember Anthony Quinton on Round Britain Quiz on Radio 4, along with my quiz heroine, Irene Thomas.

Irene Thomas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Spelt his title wrong -should read Holywell -after Holywell Street, where the Holywell Music Rooms are in Oxford!

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Watched David Cameron's live presentation of the StartUp Britain campaign on SKY earlier. Interesting question from a journalist about the possibility of Sir Fred Goodwin's Knighthood being revoked.

Cameron said it was in the hands of the committee which deliberates such matters and that it was a possibility.

I didn't realise that you could be stripped of these kind of honours but in his case I'm sure a lot of people would be glad to see him demoted to "commoner" again.:rolleyes::D

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Well he would say that cos its non commital,Whats the betting he keeps it?:rolleyes:

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Well, there have been others who have had their honours removed.......the boxer Prince Naseem Hamid had his honour withdrawn after a driving offence.

Re: New Years Honours.
 

True Margaret but he was n ordinary oik, Money tends to look after money! n yeh say your cynical?:DPlus he wasn't made a sir.

Re: New Years Honours.
 

No, you are right Cashy. I guess we will just have to wait and see....the groundswell of opinion is against Fred the Shred, and it would do David Cameron no harm at all if he did get his knighthood removed....and it might happen just for that reason, and that reason only. See....I am still cynical.

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Lester Piggott was stripped of his O.B.E., after being found guilty of tax fraud.

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Roger Casement, a distinguished diplomat in the Belgian Congo, who was convicted of spying in the First World War because of his involvement in the 1916 Irish Easter Rising, forfeited his knighthood and was executed.

Maybe we should look for some parallels there.....:(

Re: New Years Honours.
 

Yeh mean execute "Fred The Shread"? what a good idea gynn.:D