Storm the palace/Turn it into a bar/Let them work in spar/Storm the palace/Turn it into flats/Make them all ex-pats/Storm the palace/You can stick your OBE/I’ll sort out your bad feng shui…
All sentiments with which I wholeheartedly approve. As far as I am concerned, the Royal Family stand for everything I despise. Nepotism, greed, one rule for us and another for them, greed, an antiquated and pointless system of governance, greed…and did I mention GREED? Just to quantify what I mean – the Queen is estimated to have a personal net worth of $500million, as well as sitting on $15 BILLION worth of real estate, oh and getting pocket money of $12.9 million. That’s an obscene amount of cash. O.B.S.C.E.N.E.
But it’s OK, right, because they are good for tourism? TOURISM? What the WHAT? Do people REALLY think that if the whole lot of them fell into a sinkhole, we’d run out of visitors? People, in its busiest year so far, Buck House had 413,000 visitors. As opposed to the Acropolis, which gets TWO MILLION annually and a)it’s pretty much a pile of rubble and b) the bloke that built it (Pericles, thank you wikipedia) shuffled off this mortal coil back in 429BC. Yeah, not really sure that people will stop coming to the UK just because there’s no Royal Family any more.
But I digress. What I really wanted to write about before I got sidetracked into a mini-rant was the lady who wrote the lyrics above – Cerys Matthews. I’ve always really liked Cerys. I was a fan of Catatonia since their Way Beyond Blue days; I quite like her solo stuff; I reckon she’d be a laugh in the pub, AND she wrote a song (admittedly, not her finest) called Storm the Palace. She’s officially passed my Good Egg test.
But this morning I wake up to the news that she’s been offered an MBE and not only that, she’s de-frigging-lighted to accept! I mean what’s that all about?
Yes, they’re a bunch of greedy rich bastards who include a cheerleader for the Arms industry, who don’t even bother to meet local affordable housing targets when they build on their (our) land, and who seem to think that taxation is just for the little people, but that’s all ok, because if you’re good and work hard and grow out of your youthful rebelliousness then one day you might get a dodgy medal and an invite to some crappy garden party? Really? REALLY? And that makes it all ok, does it?
I don’t care about the fact that these awards are chosen by independent committees and experts. I don’t care that they are supposedly open to all. I don’t care about the token lollipop ladies and nurses and street cleaners that are trotted out year after year to attempt to give these awards some legitimacy. None of this changes the fact that they are basically scraps thrown from the table of a fundamentally unfair system -and by obsequiously accepting the scraps, you’re becoming part of it.
Storm the Palace my arse.
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Most “get” how the world works eventually and appreciate rewards for their work- which is what this is. I never understand why people so fundamentally opposed to the society they live don’t move elsewhere? Britain is never going to be socialist, socialism only thrives in economically failing countries where few have a vested interest.
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I ‘get’ how the system works, I just fundamentally disagree with it. I don’t move elsewhere because this is my home and as such I have a right to disagree with the system, and I have a right to express my dissatisfaction in any way I choose. And I would say that this post is more about my being republican than my being socialist, (though I sport a healthy smattering of socialism too) and there are plenty of republican success stories out there.
I don’t really have much of an opinion on the royal family if I’m being completely honest. In some ways I quite like having it as I think they are part of what makes us British!
It does seem odd that someone who wrote a song like that would be offered an MBE, let along accept it!
Mummy of Two recently posted…F is for… #alphabetphoto
to be very honest i have no opinion on politics or Royal Family, there always will be those you agree with something or disagree with it, i try to stay neutral in this instance
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Such an interesting post. You’re right that it certainly does seem contradictory for Cerys Matthews to accept the gong. How interesting that, when it came down to it, she couldn’t bring herself to say no (unlike Danny Boyle, who turned down the knighthood!)
Sarah Ebner recently posted…A Delicious Breakfast in London By Jess
This post is brilliant and is just what I needed today. She so should have turned it down. Surely she is bad egg now x
you baby me mummy recently posted…Damaging Body Image
My husband makes a valid point ” One thing that’s worse than someone being born into power is someone who actively wants the job”
mellissa williams recently posted…Top Tropical Destinations to Top Up Your Tan in 2014
I am neither here nor there about the royals. But my SIL deserves an MBE for all the work she does for the community and charity, not a singer, who does what?
Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…Child Safety Week
I generally think that perhaps people who truly deserve the awards get overlooked unless they have stood out for some reason in the past.
Angela Spicer recently posted…Fruit Bowl Snacks and Cookies
I’m not really for or against the royals, it’s just a part of our country.
Polly recently posted…Changing Rhythms
I actually really like the royal family. I had no clue about what money they get, and it is a bit excessive really. I think it is very hypocritical of Cerys to accept it x
Keri-Anne recently posted…Lately
I like having a royal family and I do think it’s good for the country! It’s just part of our history and it fascinates the hell out of me! Oh and I absolutely love Wills and Kate lol. The Carys Matthews thing is annoying though I agree!!!
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To be honest I don’t really follow the royal family and who gets an OBE or not…….but from what you are saying it does seem a bit hypocritical of her accepting it.
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I personally am pro Royal. They are part of our rich cultural heritage. What would the alternative be? An unelected president as head of state to stand along side our prime minister? I’m all for honouring those who deserve it but Cerys is a huge hypocrite for accepting this award.
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I rather like the Royal Family. I know they cost us money but I like them all the same. But it does seem strange that Cerys would accept that award – especially as one of the lines in Storm the Palace was ‘You can stick your OBE’.
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I’m not really that fussed about the royals being here or not but I know a friend who can’t stand them and i’m totally forwarding this post to her! x
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Great post, I too wondered why she had accepted when others have refused in the past. I would be a republican if I thought having a President would make me any less irritable – they would still demand the same sort of housing and pomp and ceremony no doubt. Lets have no formal head of state at all, and let whoever is the elected Prime Minister when foreign dignitaries visit take them down the nearest chip shop!
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