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0 pointseesmith4y ago0 comments

> The class system is overblown

How do you judge that? Germany doesn't have an official nobility class. The UK ... does.

I don't like that.

Perhaps you're referring to economic classes? I believe Germany has lower economic disparity than the UK (eg, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_eq... says Germany's after taxes Gini coefficient after taxes is 0.295 vs UK's 0.345), so again, I prefer Germany.

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mytailorisrich4y ago

Sure, a monarchy has a nobility class... but that's irrelevant for 99% of the population and in a republic this is usually replaced by an equivalent dominating upper class but without hereditary titles (which are pretty much all that 'nobles' have over us commoners).

The class system means social classes in society as a whole: Working class, middle class, upper class, mostly, with people staying within their class. In real life nowadays that translates pretty much in what happens in all countries: If you're rich and educated you tend to live in an area where people are also rich and educated and you interact socially with similar people most.

Despite being a monarchy with a nobility class the UK have actually historically been front runners in Europe when it comes to the rule of law and protection of individual rights, which is what matters above ideology. For example, is there still a "church tax" in Germany? Well even if the Queen is head of the Church of England that would be perceived as an unacceptable breach of individual freedom this side of the Channel.

Bottom line regarding the discussion at hands: none of this makes any practical difference to individuals and people thinking of moving to the UK.

eesmithOP4y ago

If it's irrelevant to the 99%, why haven't they voted it out? How much could they save by getting rid of an irrelevant House of Lords, for example?

> equivalent dominating upper class

Which is why I pointed to the Gini coefficient as a hand-waving argument that it isn't equivalent.

Perhaps I should have used the term "aristocracy"?

> unacceptable breach of individual freedom

When will they get rid of the law which requires the monarch to Anglican? (Or at the very least, not Catholic?)

How come school uniforms, so common in the UK but almost non-existent where I grew up in the US, aren't seen as a breach of individual freedom?

In England, "schools are also required by law to provide a daily act of collective worship, of which at least 51% must be Christian in basis over the course of an academic year." - https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/religious-educ... . How is that acceptable?

If you grow up with it, you're used to it, and it's acceptable. If it's different, it's often not.

> none of this makes any practical difference to individuals and people thinking of moving to the UK.

It's important enough to me, which I added after writing "requires knowing more of your preferences" and "I don't like".

iExploder4y ago

church tax only for those who declare they are part of religion, this is voluntary and you get some benefits, as additional holidays I believe. I always left the religion option empty and never had to pay church tax.

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