Are there pro-republic British?

[Slaninar]

How strong would we be if the Empire still existed said someone, a bloody sight stronger than we are now.  I had the privilege(?) of visiting India last year (and, unfortunately, have to go back again this year).  Someone was saying how it seemed odd that we had to apply for a visa to visit a country that we used to own, the reply to this was that it was probably a better place when we did own it, it looks like the last time the streets were swept was when we owned it too.  I was asked what my first impressions were and all adjectives began with S, shithole, stench, squalor, smog, slums.  Personally I think we should have kept hold of what we had rather than give it to the locals to fuck up.

My province was ruled by Austria (Austria-Hungary later). It was prosperous time, but often hard oppression was used. So mixed feelings on this. Good technical and cultural advance, but little freedom. After being reunited with "motherland", all autonomy was lost. So it was a lot of freedom of speech, waving flags etc, but less industrial, scientific and economy progress.

All in all, good things that happen to a country occupied by foreign country are not for the occupied country's sake. Swept streets you're talking about, infrastructure etc. were made so the occupied colony could more easily be exploited, not in order to do good to the "locals".

And the only reason colonies were "set free" is because it is easier and more efficient to give a country a loan, with high interest, and let locals whip themselves to pay it off (which they never will), instead of occupying with force, army etc, since that is a lot more expensive.

My country was bombed by NATO (i.e. UK and USA). The thing I most hated was cynical tirade on foreign TV: "we're here to stop genocide, to humanitarian aid..." Nazis were more honest when they bombed us.

Me, I'm British and proud of it. 

Most nations say this.

Politicians come and go, try to leave their mark but in the main are forgotten, the monarchy has always been here and hopefully always will.  And as for the comment that they could take power and overrule the Government, could they do a worse job?

Couldn't agree more.