The U.S. should take a cue from the Queen..
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
United States
July 7, 2010 12:38pm CST
The Queen of England is setting a good example. Realizing that everyone has to make sacrifices to get the budget under control, she's consented to have the royal expenditures audited by the same department that audits the British government's spending. She is cutting back on staff--some of the more incredulous examples are a piper that plays under her window every morning and an official counter of swans--and her goal is to reduce royal spending by 25%. Renovations to Buckingham Palace will also be put on hold till things are better. Costly appearances have been cut back, too.
Wouldn't it be nice if our own government followed her example?
2 people like this
15 responses
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
8 Jul 10
I think you will find that it is the British government which forced her to audit her expenditures.
Just like it was the British government which forced her to start paying taxes 20 years ago.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Oh, really? Good for them!!
My point is, she's a highly visible public figure that is setting a good example no matter who made her set it. She's encouraging the people. We have nothing like that here and the government continues to spend, spend, spend. We will soon have even more income taxes and a VAT and more taxes on businesses--businesses aren't hiring, they don't know what will happen with taxes yet and won't hire. We're going bankrupt because even though we're getting additional taxes, the government won't cut back spending.
At least a drunken sailor stops spending when the money runs out. ("spending like a drunken sailor") Our government just prints more money.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
This country will not take a lesson from anyone, unfortunately. I don't agree with more taxes but Australia had the right idea with that $900 check. That's a quick and effective way to get the economy started, imo. My government continues to beat down businesses and slap more taxes on them, driving them overseas and down to Mexico because they can't afford to do business here, losing more jobs for Americans. Our pension system, Social Security, has been looted for so many years that I doubt I'll be able to take advantage of it in nine years. This government is so corrupt and we've let it be so. I hope things start changing starting with our November elections.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
7 Jul 10
I do not think any Royalist, and there are many of them, would agree with you. The tradition and the pride one can feel about our Royalty is something I still miss. I used to follow every move of the Princesses when I was growing up.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
7 Jul 10
The way I've heard it, the people truly like their royalty and want them to stay. She's a good ambassador for the country and she's the cement that holds it all together. That's worth something, although not as much as they have been spending on supporting the family--just my opinion, though.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
7 Jul 10
It certainly would be very good if our government cared how Americans feel when many are struggling pay their bills and our government is spending like drunken sailors.
The Queen obvious cares about her subjects. I know that some of her expenditures seen outrageous but many of them are traditions that have been around for hundreds of years. Obama and his greedy henchmen have only been around for one and a half years and have let the American people know they don't give a rat's azz about them.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
7 Jul 10
I'm convinced they only care about destroying the country so that they can build it into something they approve of. That, and power. The other nations laughed at Obama when he encouraged them to keep spending, they could not believe their ears from what I read. It's frightening that our reps aren't standing up for us and they are helping this country fall.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
7 Jul 10
Other nations recognize Obama for what he really is a no class upstart who only wants to destroy our country. You can be he has an ulterior method planned from which he will profit.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Dragon, we don't have any of the BS that you just mentioned the Queen is "cutting back". Lets all face it, Europe is an entirely different world than the United States, and they do stuff that we would NEVER do around here. Comparing the United States to Europe is like comparing a dog to a normal human being: They just aren't the same. We do need to cut back somethings around this country, but many refuse to do so. Look at all of the earmarks that continue to come out of Washington, and the amazing spending by the department of defense.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
You and I agree there. The pork is ridiculous. There are billions buried in the latest military bill to support the troops in that war that I don't think we should have started or continued.
I wish we could tie our rep's salaries to the amount the spent--the more they spend the less they get and the shorter their terms. And since so many are losing their pensions or having them cut drastically, with talk of Social Security going broke because Congress kept dipping its hand in--I think there should be no pensions for the Congress and the Senate. That would save us a lot right there. Hell, you can serve a term or two and have a fat pension, that's beyond ridiculous!
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
9 Jul 10
Dragon, one of the things I have heard a lot of lately from the tea party people is complaining about the deficit. But, when asked what they want the government to do, they say lower our taxes, and give tax breaks and grants to corporations to create jobs. Don't these people know that tax breaks and grants to create jobs is SPENDING???? We don't want our representatives to spend money, but we want them to create jobs in our cities by spending money that we don't have. Until the American people understand that the money that we get from the US government COMES FROM SOMEWHERE, than we will NEVER lower our deficit.
I agree that we make pay our representatives on commission. If the government doesn't make money, than they don't get a pay check. They will be paid a percentage of the income that the government makes after all expenses are paid. You will never see a budget deficit ever again, and the country will have money flowing in from everywhere.
@manojt2 (179)
• India
8 Jul 10
Why U.S.? I think it will be more appropriate for the Government here in India. At least in U.S. the government thinks he is ruling humans and acts in that way. But in India, I feel the Government feel they are ruling donkeys or pigs and after collecting taxes in so many forms, there is little for the common man. No 24 hrs electricity, no proper water supply, no jobs for the right candidates, no proper transportation facilities for the commuter and the prices of essential commodities are rising everyday. On the contrary, all political leaders enjoy 5 star amenities and everywhere they need to go, there's always a chartered plane or copter waiting for them. They enjoy Z class securities and there are no security measures for the common man. All political parties are taken by criminals and if a honest person wants to stand of election he needs to collect trillions of money to stand against them, else he fails.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
We have the electricity and water, thank God, but as for jobs, public transportation and prices our government is a lot like yours. They enjoy all the good things, get lifetime pensions even if they serve just one term, and they spend millions getting elected to a job that pays about $170,000 per year. That tells you there's a lot more money to be made there than the salary, a lot of corruption.
Most of the spending our government does is "I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine" type of deals. I hope we can vote out our corrupt representatives in a couple of months and keep the very few that really want to help us.
@Joker25 (30)
•
8 Jul 10
There are those that regard the Queen as little more than an unnecessary (and expensive) figurehead who has little sway over the political life of the country she rules. That said, she undoubtedly brings in a great deal of tourist revenue. If she ditched the vast majority of her family and kept the Royal Family to just her and her direct descendants, she'd save the British public even more.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Welcome to myLot!! I hope you have a great time here!
I thought it was confined to the Queen and her children and grandchildren. If not, it needs to stop. I don't know any country that isn't in trouble and this kind of stuff should be re-evaluated. I do like the fact that she's setting an example, voluntary or not, that encourages the people and makes them feel a unity, like working together. We need that here in the States!
Make lots of friends here through friend requests, make lots of replies, start lots of interesting topics, do NOT post referral links and you'll have a great time. This is a wonderful place to talk to people from all over the world and get their points of view. I hope you like it here!
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
13 Jul 10
I think sometimes our government tries to prove itself more royal than the royals do. A good leader leads by example. Whether I like anything else in the Obama administration, I like the fact that Michelle has a garden. Having changes such as the Queen is making would be breath of fresh air at all levels of government.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
13 Jul 10
Yes, I like the example she is setting with her garden, too. However, the commission Mr. Obama put together on the economy has come out and said we are crashing toward economic apocalypse if we don't get back to some sort of fiscal sanity. What part of "stop spending" does Congress and the president not understand?!
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
We'll have the tax grabs but my government shows no signs of cutting spending. Our president was pressing other nations to keep spending more! For some reason he thinks going into more debt will make a healthy economy--that is insane.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Jul 10
hi dragon54u oh yes I am sure we could cut way back in our government like the tales of thousand dollar toilets and gold plated faucets, for'
goodness sakes we the people do not have these things or even want them' but our government have spent these sums on frivolous stuff when a fifty dollar item would have worked just as well. Yes it w ould be nice to see our government officials living like the rest of us,instead of in extra expensive clothes driving ultra expensive cars and haveing really expensive meals when dining out. Let them eat at a Dennys instead.he he.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
We were fat and happy for a lot of years and didn't pay attention to what our government was doing--there was plenty of money! Now we're paying the price. No matter which party is in, the spending doesn't stop and the taxes keep going up. Time to stop this and start being active in our government again!
This November, I'm not going to vote all the dems out. I'm going to look at each candidate carefully, at their voting record if they have one, at the other interests they have, etc. I'm keeping the good ones in (is there such a thing?!) and throwing the bad ones OUT--no matter which party they are!
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
7 Jul 10
not only that but i'll bet if people were sneaking into their country taking everything over it would not be allowed! my son watched 5 hrs long show about how we got our independence july 4th. and i said even then, we really might as well have stayed with Brittain. we'd probably be better off by now
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
7 Jul 10
first again, yay, im on it today.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
7 Jul 10
LOL, yeah you're first!
The Brits are very proud of their language and culture and I don't think they let it be trodden down in a show of political correctness. I wish we would be like that. They also have strict immigration rules while our government takes to court a state that wants to control the border the government refuses to protect. Everything is backwards here!
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
I'm sure there are a lot of things we pay for that we don't need. I wish one of our high officials would set an example and encourage everyone to spend less and save more.
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
8 Jul 10
That's really nice of her. I know lots of leaders wouldn't do that for their people. It's just right to cut off on those expenses because they are just luxuries that she can very well do without. I hope our government will do the same, but I know that's only wishful thinking. It will be a miracle if this country would have a leader like that.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Our government won't do a thing to cut expenses. Oh, they might cut some medical programs or reduce Social Security but they'll only do things that affect the people, not themselves. We'll see what happens come November and all the angry voters get to the polls!
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Good point!
The royal family makes a lot of appearances, represents the country at state functions, raises money for charities, etc. Of course they get a lot of good stuff when they're not doing all that! It's a shame all that money goes to something like that but the English revere their royalty and tradition must mean more than money, at least right now.
@Ezra710 (135)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Three cheers for the Queen of England. She does set the example. I would like to see and hear about more officials in government doing this. It is hard to find this kind of conservatism in the United States federal government. Spend, spend , spend in the motto of the USA.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
I do appreciate the Queen setting a good example. I wish we had someone like that here but the closest we come is Rick Santelli screaming, "Stop spending, stop spending, STOP SPENDING!!!" But Congress isn't listening. I'm throwing out everyone I can in November.
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
7 Jul 10
well, that is a good example for the Queen to do that but the U.S. problem is much worse then that because its a much bigger problem dealing with so many people. the U.S. debt problem needs more than just spending reduction in my opinion. i personally think that a law requiring that soda be taxed more would do well on top of that to reduce debt. i know how people don't like that but its needed not to mention the health problems soda can cause. the high amount of high fructose corn syrup in soda raises blood pressure upon consumption without even considering packing on more weight. even if such a tax law was passed the U.S. debt problem is still extremely serious and as a U.S. citizen i'm saying this debt problem is going to be around for decades and will get worse or get better depending on if the American People are ready for massive spending cuts as well as radical new ideas to the solution. Any new ideas to the debt problem could help with bringing about a better solution.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Jul 10
I don't agree with more taxes, we're already suffering with those. I do agree that soda is bad for your body but I don't want the government telling us what to do with our bodies--but then you get the increased health expenses that we all pay for. So you really have two questions here about how much the government should interfere. The constitution gives it NO right to dictate our diet. But that's for another day...
With Congress hiding billions in pork in the military support bill and spending, spending, spending on pet projects, we could save a lot that way. What if we lowered a rep's salary? Would power hungry narcissists want to be in Congress or the Senate if the salary was $42,000 per year with no pension and no benefits and a term limit of 4 years? No! Only people that truly wanted to better the country would go for a seat. Maybe that's the answer.
We need to cut back the spending more than anything.