A compressed election cycle

[tabibito]

someone is paying for the queen and her family to live the life of luxury in Buckingham Palace and have 24/7 servants and guards.

As I recall, the TOTAL cost to the country for the queen and the assorted entourage members who get paid from the public purse is lower than the cost of supporting the American president and his assorted entourage.

[Roy]

As I recall, the TOTAL cost to the country for the queen and the assorted entourage members who get paid from the public purse is lower than the cost of supporting the American president and his assorted entourage.

It's also debatable whether the total cost for the queen etc is more or less than the income they do not receive from their various private property holdings.

[tabibito]

Well - yes. The monarchy do return money to the system from their profit making ventures, but that only reduces the total sums paid out (or maybe eliminates them). And certainly the tourist income would be lower if the monarchy wasn't there.

[Sparko]

As I recall, the TOTAL cost to the country for the queen and the assorted entourage members who get paid from the public purse is lower than the cost of supporting the American president and his assorted entourage.

doesn't she get something like 45M pounds per year from the treasury? That's a lot to go on parades and wave. No idea what her staff gets paid.

The US President gets $400K US. The White house staff altogether makes $38M which is still lower than the Crown makes alone.

[Meh Gerbil]

doesn't she get something like 45M pounds per year from the treasury? That's a lot to go on parades and wave. No idea what her staff gets paid.

The US President gets $400K US. The White house staff altogether makes $38M which is still lower than the Crown makes alone.

She needs the money to pay wizards and to buy 2 ton bags of dragon chow.

[Sparko]

She needs the money to pay wizards and to buy 2 ton bags of dragon chow.

reading more it seems she has to pay her own staff from that money. And the dragons.

[tabibito]

Her staff gets paid from that money good sir - 45 million represents the equivalent of pay for all the white house staff including the president. Against that, the crown (2007-8 financial year) paid 211 million pounds into treasury.

[Sparko]

Her staff gets paid from that money good sir - 45 million represents the equivalent of pay for all the white house staff including the president. Against that, the crown (2007-8 financial year) paid 211 million pounds into treasury.

I read about the staff after I posted.

But then the President and White House are actually part of the government that actually DO something, where the Queen and staff are basically just figure heads that go on parades and wave at people.

[JonathanL]

where the Queen and staff are basically just figure heads that go on parades and wave at people.

That seems like a job that would fit my qualifications. How do I apply?

[Starlight]

someone is paying for the queen and her family to live the life of luxury in Buckingham Palace and have 24/7 servants and guards.

The UK. That's their business and their problem. We don't pay a dime.

[Sparko]

The UK. That's their business and their problem. We don't pay a dime.

So your country gives nothing at all to the UK for being part of the Empire (or Kingdom or whatever you call it?)

[Starlight]

So your country gives nothing at all to the UK for being part of the Empire (or Kingdom or whatever you call it?)

Correct. And the title is "commonwealth".

[Meh Gerbil]

Correct. And the title is "commonwealth".

SOCIALIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sparko]

Correct. And the title is "commonwealth".

so if it is a commonwealth doesn't NZ contribute to it?

[Carrikature]

Correct. And the title is "commonwealth".

Fun fact: the U.S. 'state' of Virginia is actually a commonwealth (as are three others). It doesn't mean anything here, though.