Bill Cosby.....Regarding America

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:29 am

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Here's a copy of an email I recieved from a girl living in America.

Some of you may be interested in reading it if you haven't already done so.

BACK TO CASH AND CARRY WOULD HELP ALSO!

Bill Cosby has a great way of "distilling" things. Looks like he's done it again!

AMERICA NEEDS A CANDIDATE WITH THIS PLATFORM!!

I HAVE DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN THE YEAR 2012..

HERE IS MY PLATFORM:

(1). Any use of the phrase: 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait outside of our borders until you can.

(2). We will immediately go into a two year isolationist attitude in order to straighten out the greedy big business posture in this country. America will allow NO imports, and we'll do no exports. We will use the 'Wal-Mart 's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.' We'll make it here and sell it here!

(3). When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it coming in here.

(4). All retired military personnel will be required to man one of the many observation towers located on the southern border of the United States (six month tour). They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.

(5). Social Security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out. Neither the President nor any other politician will be able to touch it.

(6).. Welfare. -- Checks will be handed out on Fridays, at the end of the 40 hour school week, the successful completion of a urinalysis test for drugs, and passing grades.

(7). Professional Athletes -- Steroids? The FIRST time you check positive you're banned from sports ... for life.

(8). Crime - - We will adopt the Turkish method, i.e., the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more 'life sentences'. If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for the victim you killed: gun, knife, strangulation, etc.

(9). One export of ours will be allowed: wheat; because the world needs to eat. However, a bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.

(10). All foreign aid, using American taxpayer money, will immediately cease and the saved money will help to pay off the national debt and, ultimately, lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask The American People if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision as to whether, or not, it's a worthy cause.

(11). The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.

(12). The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

My apology is offered if I've stepped on anyone's toes .... nevertheless.....

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Sincerely, Bill Cosby

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:39 pm

Works for me especially 1,4 and 6.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:44 pm

He forgot bring home all the troops stationed abroad abroad and disband and any units whose only function is to attack other nations and scrap any ships/planes whose only function is to project military power and not solely to defend the nation. Keep the nuclear weapons if you want so you won't have to worry about another nation state attacking you. Apart from those additions I'd say go for it. What have you got to lose?

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:21 pm

Cosby did not write that e-mail.He said as much on his blog in 2009 :

from billcosby.com:

A viral email is appearing on the internet purporting to be a Bill Cosby statement that he is running for President of the United States in 2012 and outlinig his platform. This is a hoax, completely false and with no factual basis. Bill Cosby says, "False Bill Cosby statements are not funny nor fun and sometimes mean-spirited."

Posted by Bill Cosby on September 4, 2009 at 4:13 AM in News

LINK

Anybody who is familiar with the man from his many years of appearances on media would know that he doesn't write in the style or content of that e-mail.

The same e-mail has also been wrongly attributed to George Carlin, Andy Rooney, and Robin Williams.

snopes.com debunks it here:

snopes.com: Bill Cosby's Write-In Candidate Platform

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:56 pm

Does that mean the world is free from Coke Pepsi McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken ?

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:14 pm

Bruv;1352027 wrote: Does that mean the world is free from Coke Pepsi McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken ?

Oh please! They don't export that cr** - we make it here and just send them the money

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:38 pm

Bruv;1352027 wrote: Does that mean the world is free from Coke Pepsi McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken ?

Naw, man. that stuff is all yours, now.

Those guys all make mor money in Europe and China that they do in the US, anymore.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:50 pm

Richard Bell;1352023 wrote: Cosby did not write that e-mail

snopes.com debunks it here:

snopes.com: Bill Cosby's Write-In Candidate PlatformAch, I checked with snopes before I posted it. I used the email subject title "Cosby has done it again". and...."Bill Cosby has a great way of distilling things".

What a pity Richard Bell, I like it. If some of those points were adopted and introduced here in the UK, I think most of the nation would agree and cheer from the rooftops.

Wonder why Bill Cosby has been chosen as the author. Perhaps someone has a grudge against him, or perhaps his name was simply pulled out of hat.

Either way, I like the message within the email. :wah:

Thanks for letting me know.

bb

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:38 pm

binbag;1352040 wrote: Ach, I checked with snopes before I posted it. I used the email subject title "Cosby has done it again". and...."Bill Cosby has a great way of distilling things".

What a pity Richard Bell, I like it. If some of those points were adopted and introduced here in the UK, I think most of the nation would agree and cheer from the rooftops.

Wonder why Bill Cosby has been chosen as the author. Perhaps someone has a grudge against him, or perhaps his name was simply pulled out of hat.

Either way, I like the message within the email. :wah:

Thanks for letting me know.

bb

I think it was written by an angry, discontented individual.

I don't blame Cosby for being annoyed that his name was attached to it.He is a much more compassionate and progressive person than the letter writer.

It gives me the creeps, and I'm glad it wasn't written by somebody from my country.

Post by **spot** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:47 pm

binbag;1352040 wrote: Either way, I like the message within the email. :wah:Unlike Mr Cosby, whoever he may be, who evidently didn't. I don't blame him at all, it's vomit-inducing.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 9:17 pm

Richard Bell;1352111 wrote: I think it was written by an angry, discontented individual.

I don't blame Cosby for being annoyed that his name was attached to it.He is a much more compassionate and progressive person than the letter writer.

It gives me the creeps, and I'm glad it wasn't written by somebody from my country.spot;1352119 wrote: Unlike Mr Cosby, whoever he may be, who evidently didn't. I don't blame him at all, it's vomit-inducing.

..................................................

binbag;1352040 wrote: Either way, I like the message within the email. :wah:

There's a comment with my wicked sense of humour getting me into trouble again.

I shall need to think of a way of making it obvious when I send in or reply to a post, with tongue in cheek. :yh_think

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:55 am

spot;1352119 wrote: Unlike Mr Cosby, whoever he may be, who evidently didn't. I don't blame him at all, it's vomit-inducing.

You don't know who Mr Cosby is?

It didn't really induce vomiting did it?

And what folks need to do when they get these stupid emails is to look at them for a reference date or event and then google that information.

If Bill Cosby had stood anywhere and said that or even offered it in an OPED, the email would have pointed to it, IMO

Post by **LarsMac** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:19 am

The letter might be amusing to some, but I live in a region where many folks think such reactionary drivel should be national policy.

Rush is too liberal for many of my neighbors.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:17 am

LarsMac;1352160 wrote: The letter might be amusing to some, but I live in a region where many folks think such reactionary drivel should be national policy.

Rush is too liberal for many of my neighbors.

I think the pledge and national anthem is overkill. I also think the trade stuff is a bit of a stretch - we don't even buy american, I don't know why the rest of the world would want it. I think we need to stop foreign aid and take care of folks here, if we are not giving the money back. I think we need to pull our military home and put them at our borders. I think pot should be legalized and taxed - treat it just like alcohol. I agree with the stand on Pro atheletes.... than again, I'm not athletic at all, so it's a lot easier for me to sit in judgment:p We don't need to keep locking up folks up for white collar crimes, just take their stuff away from them and sell it, proceeds to the victim...not a percentage of their stuff, all their stuff..plus, they become indentured to the victim at minimum wage for any balance due. Save the prisons for crimes that do physical harm.

I agree 150% with the welfare statement and don't see how any reasonable person could object to it. I also think that after that first child, any additional children should be placed in foster care until the parent is capable of taking care of themselves and their children...in other words, no raise for having more children. I'd probably allow working families to qualify instead, for emergency limited time spans - without having to lose it all first.

I don't need anyone to be able to speak English to get in the door. My fav grocer speaks spanish-his kids are fluent in English. He tries, but to be honest - his smile and his eyes communicate for him when I'm there......and we do have hand gestures down to an art form..lol But if it ensures that when he calls the hospital or fire department, he'll be understood and protected - I have no problem with 'pressing 1 for english'. What I object to is pressing 1 for english and getting someone who spends the first 15 minutes of a tech call trying to convey their name and understand how to spell my name and my email.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:13 am

You sure do have a lot of rules.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:35 am

Nomad;1352167 wrote: You sure do have a lot of rules.

No

Bill Cosby does/doesn't.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:46 am

LarsMac;1352160 wrote: The letter might be amusing to some, but I live in a region where many folks think such reactionary drivel should be national policy.

Rush is too liberal for many of my neighbors.

Live dangerously, become famous in your neighbourhood, tell them you are a gay atheist.

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:36 pm

I'm glad you'll stop exporting those horrible oranges ...god their awful I wouldn't put my name on them ...and your cars are shockers. But hey! you guys keep thinking they're classics (shrugs)

No foreign Aid eh? Along with an army it's what stops others from invading you .....An I'll tell all my friends the next time you guys have a disaster not to donate money .

And I think you'll find that most people around the world can speak english. It's you guys who don't speak a second language.

the welfare statement? God I'm glad I live in a socialist country ........seems to be less homeless people around here.

But then again whoever wrote this tripe obviously knows what they are on about ........... if you guys had or did all of that you'd all go broke....yes broker than you are now lol lol

Post by **LarsMac** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:55 pm

gmc;1352184 wrote: Live dangerously, become famous in your neighbourhood, tell them you are a gay atheist.

Thanks, but I get in enough trouble, already.

Most haven't talked to me since I put a campaign sign up for the Democratic candidate for re-election to the house. I thought she was a bit on the right of my way of thinking, but these folks called her a Socialist, and voter her out.

I am known as the neighborhood Commie.

My trip to China last year has them claiming I am trying to sell us out to the maoists.

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:03 pm

Ha ha ha ah ah haaaaa that's funny.........You wouldn't be entirely a maoist because maoism comes from marxism .....works okay in my country. You'd be a marxist/maoist

Post by **spot** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:46 pm

flopstock;1352154 wrote: You don't know who Mr Cosby is?Not a clue, flopster. What's more, I haven't looked him up either. The idea that people can believe he wrote that claptrap is enough to put me off.

Post by **LarsMac** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:55 pm

spot;1352210 wrote: Not a clue, flopster. What's more, I haven't looked him up either. The idea that people can believe he wrote that claptrap is enough to put me off.

Cosby was once a stand-up comic, and then got into TV.

He had a lot of stories about growing up in the ghetto, that was later turned into a TV cartoon series. (Fat Albert)

He then hit mainstream television, and made a lot of money playing a rather likeable black doctor in a sitcom.

Once, hed had the audacity to suggest that not all the problems the Blacks in America faced were caused by white folks.

This made him the darling of the right wing media, while causing quite a stir among the leftists.

He actually is a failry reasonable sort, and the first time I saw that supposed email, it was obviously not his work.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:34 pm

spot;1352210 wrote: Not a clue, flopster. What's more, I haven't looked him up either. The idea that people can believe he wrote that claptrap is enough to put me off.

dr huxtable? scotty from the original i spy series?

Post by **spot** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:06 am

flopstock;1352225 wrote: dr huxtable? scotty from the original i spy series?

Neither of those, no. I Spy, to the best of my knowledge, was a set of British children's books related to collecting created by, possibly, a Mr Hargreaves, who designated himself Big Chief Wampum or something similar. I suspect that whenever an American uses the word "series" they imply a television production.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:25 am

BILL COSBY, IN HIS OWN WORDS

On Healthcare:

On nutrition:

On religion:

On responsibility:

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:24 am

fat albert..

hey hey hey

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:29 pm

spot;1352229 wrote: Neither of those, no. I Spy, to the best of my knowledge, was a set of British children's books related to collecting created by, possibly, a Mr Hargreaves, who designated himself Big Chief Wampum or something similar. I suspect that whenever an American uses the word "series" they imply a television production.

Have you ever thought you may be the only inhabitant of the world in which you live in ?

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:40 pm

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.I've been looking at these rules on and off all day; I've come to the conclusion that, on reflection, I reckon the following points could legitimately be adopted in the States and the UK. In fact I think I'll send these proposals off to our Prime Minister David Cameron for his perusal. :sneaky:

(1)

Any use of the phrase: 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait outside of our borders until you can.

(2)

Social Security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out. Neither the President nor any other politician will be able to touch it.

(3)

Welfare. -- Checks will be handed out on Fridays, at the end of the 40 hour school week, the successful completion of a urinalysis test for drugs, and passing grades.

(4)

Professional Athletes -- Steroids? The FIRST time you check positive you're banned from sports ... for life.

(5)

One export of ours will be allowed: wheat; because the world needs to eat. However, a bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.

(6)

All foreign aid, using taxpayer's money, will immediately cease and the saved money will help to pay off the national debt and, ultimately, lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask The American / UK People if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision as to whether, or not, it's a worthy cause.

(7)

And now, one of my own...

As the UK is still a Christian country, the Lord's Prayer should be said in all schools every morning at assembly. However, non Christians may, if they so wish, decline from from actually saying the Lord's Prayer. They must however, continue to attend morning assembly.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:24 am

I disagree with yours. Much better that they all have to do a minute of jumping jacks.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:13 am

flopstock;1352302 wrote: I disagree with yours. Much better that they all have to do a minute of jumping jacks.My dear madam flopstock, it would be so uncommonly decent if one would be so kind as to explain why one should disagree with my proposal, preferring instead, having the nice little kiddie winkles performing jumping jacks whilst/instead of being present whilst the Lord's Prayer was being said during morning assembly.

whisper what's "jumping jacks"

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:27 am

While I like the Lord's Prayer and can recite it from memory, I don't see why it should be a requirement in a public school of a nation that espouses freedom of religion.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:40 am

binbag;1352346 wrote: My dear madam flopstock, it would be so uncommonly decent if one would be so kind as to explain why one should disagree with my proposal, preferring instead, having the nice little kiddie winkles performing jumping jacks whilst/instead of being present whilst the Lord's Prayer was being said during morning assembly.

whisper what's "jumping jacks"

Would that be the catholic lords prayer or the protestant lords prayer?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:53 am

gmc;1352348 wrote: Would that be the catholic lords prayer or the protestant lords prayer?
What's the diff?

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:07 am

binbag;1352346 wrote: My dear madam flopstock, it would be so uncommonly decent if one would be so kind as to explain why one should disagree with my proposal, preferring instead, having the nice little kiddie winkles performing jumping jacks whilst/instead of being present whilst the Lord's Prayer was being said during morning assembly.

whisper what's "jumping jacks"

I guess a better question would be why the parents of the christian kids don't start their day off at home with prayer? Every morning I tell my daughter I love her on her way out the door. She tells me the same. I tell her to learn something for me and she promises to. Every morning, before school. Why can't the christian do the same with their child, regarding prayer?

Illinois tried for moment of silence/reflection/prayer here and have wasted untold amounts of money and time on the issue while our school system remains underfunded in its day to day needs.

Illinois Moment of Silence in Schools Ruled Unconstitutional - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:30 am

Accountable;1352349 wrote: What's the diff?

Spectacles testicles wallet and watch.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:29 am

flopstock;1352353 wrote: I guess a better question would be why the parents of the christian kids don't start their day off at home with prayer? Every morning I tell my daughter I love her on her way out the door. She tells me the same. I tell her to learn something for me and she promises to. Every morning, before school. Why can't the christian do the same with their child, regarding prayer?

Illinois tried for moment of silence/reflection/prayer here and have wasted untold amounts of money and time on the issue while our school system remains underfunded in its day to day needs.

Illinois Moment of Silence in Schools Ruled Unconstitutional - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.comPerhaps the school system will collapse, that would be the best thing to happen, in my view.

The money is better spent in the courts anyway, since what's being taught to the kids is wrongheaded, not to mention the regiment and environment they're forced to deal with on a daily basis.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:30 am

gmc;1352356 wrote: Spectacles testicles wallet and watch.
:yh_rotfl

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:18 pm

Accountable;1352347 wrote: While I like the Lord's Prayer and can recite it from memory, I don't see why it should be a requirement in a public school of a nation that espouses freedom of religion.Because Accountable, Britain is first and foremost a Christian country however, Christianity, much to the delight of millions, is rather rapidly flowing down the pan, has been for years actually, in this island and the leaders of the diffirent Christian churches are too mealy mouthed, too afraid, to stand up for their convictions in an attempt to stop the decline of Christianity.

Our last Prime Minister, one Tony Blair, claimed, when he was in power, "I am a Christian". Thus offering assurances that his leadership would be a fair, honest and a just one. The faith of the citizens in Tony Blair however, declined rapidly when his then Director of Communications, Alastair Campbell stated in a television interview "We don't do God in Downing Street".

Not one Christian leader, that I heard of, stood up and took Mr Blair to task over that one. The rot was finally highlighted in the government and, so sadly, the Christian leaders in the UK due to their lack of responce.

When Christianity does eventually peter out, and it most assuredly will (unless that is, there is a spiritual change) the promotion of Christianity, for the sake of future generations, must start in our schools.

God only knows what will happen to the nation if some other religion takes over.

Whatever anyone thinks of Christianity, if it finally goes!!!!...God help those poor souls who are still alive at that time.

I honestly fear for my children and my children's children's safety, if Christianity disappears from the British Isles.

Like it or not, believe it or believe not, laugh it off the stage if you like, but I tell you , Christianity holds the fabric of society together.

In saying that however, it must be said that, like many sectors in society there are many many bad apples in the world of Christianity. That is something urgently needing to be addressed by Christian leaders.

Here endeth the first lesson.

Thank you for including a great example of jumping jacks btw, I'm still learning new things every other day.

flopstock;1352353 wrote: I guess a better question would be why the parents of the christian kids don't start their day

off at home with prayer? Every morning I tell my daughter I love her on her way out the door. She tells me the same.

I tell her to learn something for me and she promises to. Every morning, before school. Why can't the christian do the

same with their child, regarding prayer?

Illinois Moment of Silence in Schools Ruled Unconstitutional - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

flopstock,

How do you know Christian parents do not already do that very thing?

I don't know how many Christian parents do or do not do that very thing.

Is there anything wrong with saying more than one prayer per day?

flopstock;1352353 wrote: Illinois tried for moment of silence/reflection/prayer here and have wasted untold amounts of money and time on the issue

while our school system remains underfunded in its day to day needs.I guess the untold amounts of money being wasted was caused by those opposed to prayer in schools.

(I haven't read the article you kindly included in your link yet)

bb

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:09 pm

binbag;1352384 wrote: When Christianity does eventually peter out, and it most assuredly will (unless that is, there is a spiritual change) the promotion of Christianity, for the sake of future generations, must start in our schools.
Gee, I'm a Christian and couldn't disagree more. ............

I had a mini-rant typed up, but then remembered that the British gov't is the Church of England, so I deleted it. In the US, religion is a personal thing and must be left to the mercy of families to promote or not. Promoting a given religion is not a role of government, and so not a function of the school.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:28 am

The UK can hardly be called a Christian country. We live in a largely secular society even though Christianity may be the largest of the religions.

I happen to believe that school isn't the place for any type of worship. That's what churches are for. I'm hardly a fan of faith school's either

Seperation of Church and State means just that and includes schools, surely

Post by **spot** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:56 am

Snowfire;1352409 wrote: Seperation of Church and State means just that and includes schools, surelyIt would if we had it but so far nobody's legislated to that effect. It's been talked about since Disraeli's time but the antidisestablishmentarianists keep winning whenever it's brought to the attention of parliament.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:14 pm

spot;1352419 wrote: It would if we had it but so far nobody's legislated to that effect. It's been talked about since Disraeli's time but the antidisestablishmentarianists keep winning whenever it's brought to the attention of parliament.

I'd always thought that they were the folks in the sixteenth century objecting to the dissolution of the monasteries so thanks for enlightening me.

Certainly, there is no separation of Church and State - the Queen rules both .

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:35 pm

Yeah I should clarify that it was my intention to suggest that the seperation would desirable. Its what many have been asking for. The natural conclusion of that being no hymns and hallelujas in school

Post by **spot** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:50 pm

So what would become the supreme earthly authority within the Church of England if you remove the monarch from that role?

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:12 pm

spot;1352442 wrote: So what would become the supreme earthly authority within the Church of England if you remove the monarch from that role?

Does it need one ? What does Her Madge bring to the process of Christian authority that the Archbishop of Canterbury cant muster ?

I'm speaking purely from an Athiestic point of view so I'm not clear on the importance of such an issue to Christians

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:13 pm

spot;1352442 wrote: So what would become the supreme earthly authority within the Church of England if you remove the monarch from that role?

Does it need one ? What does Her Madge bring to the process of Christian authority that the Archbishop of Canterbury cant muster ?

I'm speaking purely from an Athiestic point of view so I'm not clear on the importance of such an issue to Christians

Post by **spot** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:28 pm

Snowfire;1352444 wrote: Does it need one ? What does Her Madge bring to the process of Christian authority that the Archbishop of Canterbury cant muster ?

I'm speaking purely from an Athiestic point of view so I'm not clear on the importance of such an issue to Christians
It's vital, just as the constitutional position of the monarchy is in relation to Parliament, the armed forces and the judiciary. If the Archbishop of Canterbury held supreme earthly authority over the Church of England then there's no point in a Synod, is there. If Synod held it then why does the church have bishops? Removing it to a place where it exists but never gets exercised is a workable fudge, it's the smoke and occasional glitz which enables the constitution.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:51 pm

spot;1352448 wrote: It's vital, just as the constitutional position of the monarchy is in relation to Parliament, the armed forces and the judiciary. If the Archbishop of Canterbury held supreme earthly authority over the Church of England then there's no point in a Synod, is there. If Synod held it then why does the church have bishops? Removing it to a place where it exists but never gets exercised is a workable fudge, it's the smoke and occasional glitz which enables the constitution.

But each of those (Parliament, Armed Forces, Judiciary) would work independant of the monarchy, should the country decide to desolve it and like wise, The Church of England would still operate nicely without HM at the head of the table. We still get our laws legislated by Parliament and Christians will still look to the Almighty. Constitutional changes but not unworkable, "grenade in a china shop" ones

Post by **spot** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:00 pm

So, what do lesser nations do when it comes to supreme authority? Dissolve the monarchy by all means - what position then becomes Head of State and how is the holder appointed? By election? That, surely, gives the Head of State political authority.

Who becomes supreme commander of the armed forces? A professional officer, unconstrained by an oath of obedience to a greater power? Someone with authority to direct the top professional officer? What limits the orders the higher authority can give? The top judges, perhaps? Are they elected or appointed to office?

You're opening this entire huge can of worms the moment you disestablish the Church of England, because you're redefining the function of the monarch which can only continue if it's left alone and theoretical.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:38 am

In practical terms we already have disestablishment we just keep the form and pretence as a convenience that functions well enough. Being scots of course it is a matter of little import but it is peculiarly English and does little, if any, harm nowadays. I would be sad to see it go. During the pope's visit when he was rabbiting on about the UK being the most anti-catholic country in europe I did think someone should have asked him which part of the protestant reformation did he misunderstand. He stirs up sectarianism at a point when we seem to be leaving it behind.

I think it would be good if America adopted isolationist policies. The world economy would adapt quite quickly to losing one of it's export markets and trade would boom. The mass unemployment and social unrest that would result might restore democracy but that would depend on what the army decided to do. Wouldn't have to bother manning the southern border to keep Mexicans out but Canada would probably need to build a wall to keep out americans.

Actually has this kind of scenario not been suggested in fiction, Was the postman ( a film with Kevin Costner) not based on such a change? There's also the handmaids tale by Margaret Attwood and given the feminisation of the American male population due to all the growth hormones used in American cattle maybe that's not so far fetched either. A lot of american apocalyptic science fiction seems to have americans fleeing north to freedom, bit bizarre actually as if there's a bastion of common sense and decency somewhere up north.