Poll: UK honours system?

[Eddi]

A Question For UK Citizens:

In an ideal world, would the UK honours system be abolished?

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

I say yes

Please vote in the poll and explain why you voted how you did

I say yes because I think it is deeply corrupt

And it's literally feudal - Knighthoods and Lords! It's like something out of the Middle Ages!

It is very much a part of The Establishment and as such I very much disapprove of it

It is how The Establishment congratulate themselves and each other and celebrate their continued dominion over the plebs

I don't think that it is the place of the state to "honour" individuals, no matter how noble their achievements

Other nations don't have such a system in place

And things like the OBE, CBE, MBE (Order/Commander/Member of The British Empire) - is the British Empire really something one would want to be a part of??????

And it is ridiculous that people are awarded for serving The Establishment by being allowed to join the House of Lords

But all the politicians aspire to be made Lords so none of them ever do anything against it

I'm very much against it all

 

[Harel13]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but nowadays lords and knights don't receive land, right? So why is that feudal?

 

[Eddi]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but nowadays lords and knights don't receive land, right? So why is that feudal?

Yes, you are correct

But it's the whole mentality that's feudal

It began as a part of the feudal system, that's its origins

It's a relic

 

[JustGeorge]

I'm in the US and have never heard of this system.

Would you mind sharing some examples of how its corrupt? Can the average person be honored, or just people that are already somewhat in the spotlight?

 

[Rival]

I like the idea of particularly notable people gaining knighthoods out of recognition. It's nice to be able to recognise cultural and educational figures this way.

 

[Eddi]

I'm in the US and have never heard of this system.

Would you mind sharing some examples of how its corrupt? Can the average person be honored, or just people that are already somewhat in the spotlight?

The system is at once outrageously political and sickeningly populist

People are rewarded for giving loadsamoney to politicians and their campaigns or for supporting the Establishment - or simply for having been in certain jobs for a long time

It's the elites patting themselves on the back

And to try and make it seem relevant by honouring various vacuous celebrities

It's the Prime Minister who decides who gets what and they like to honour their fellow members of the political class, they do this on the understanding that when they leave office they themselves will be honoured

It's a scam

 

[Eddi]

I'm in the US and have never heard of this system.

Would you mind sharing some examples of how its corrupt? Can the average person be honored, or just people that are already somewhat in the spotlight?

They also give token awards to "ordinary people" like school crossing people to make the system seem less elitist

Here are some examples of it being corrupt: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/uk-news/954041/a-short-history-of-the-uks-honour-scandals

 

[ChristineM]

I voted yes though i agree that people who do good works should be honoured for their devotion.

But the system is riddled with cronyism and corruption that needs to be done away with.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I do think it's great that people like Dame Jane Goodall and Sir Elton John do get such recognition for their achievements. Sure, it can get wonky, but I'd fix that before scrapping it.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I voted "no." As a Canadian, I happen to like the fact that we have an "Order of Canada" with 3 levels (in increasing importance: Member, Officer and Companion) to honour Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation. The Order's motto is: Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (“They desire a better country”).

 

[Subduction Zone]

I voted yes though i agree that people who do good works should be honoured for their devotion.

But the system is riddled with cronyism and corruption that needs to be done away with.

It appears that the decision should go back to the king or queen. It is their country after all. <ducks and runs away>

 

[ChristineM]

It appears that the decision should go back to the king or queen. It is their country after all. <ducks and runs away>

For the most part the queen does what she is told. PM says you will approve my buddy for a nighthood because my buddy is good and gives me lots of money.

 

[Subduction Zone]

For the most part the queen does what she is told. PM says you will approve my buddy for a nighthood because my buddy is good and gives me lots of money.

There you go spoiling my joke by pointing out my ignorance.

There are definitely some Brits that have deserved that honor. And then there are those that are merely being paid off. Seriously it appears that it is either time to scrap it or reform it.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

For the most part the queen does what she is told. PM says you will approve my buddy for a nighthood because my buddy is good and gives me lots of money.

There you go spoiling my joke by pointing out my ignorance.

There are definitely some Brits that have deserved that honor. And then there are those that are merely being paid off. Seriously it appears that it is either time to scrap it or reform it.

Well, there was that time when the PM had advised George V to ennoble a crony who was a somewhat (in higher circles) known homosexual. King George responded, "I'll be damned if I'll knight buggers!" In the event, the King did, in fact, ennoble the bugger.

 

[HonestJoe]

In an ideal world, would the UK honours system be abolished?

The practically meaningful aspects should be eliminated (which I think is only Lordships these days) but I don't see any problem with the symbolic/ceremonial ones. Its like honorary degrees or ceremonial military ranks, a perfectly reasonable way to show appreciation to some people. Exactly who and how they're chosen can itself be problematic but I think that is distinct from the principle of having the awards at all.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

A Question For UK Citizens:

In an ideal world, would the UK honours system be abolished?

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

I say yes

Please vote in the poll and explain why you voted how you did

I say yes because I think it is deeply corrupt

And it's literally feudal - Knighthoods and Lords! It's like something out of the Middle Ages!

It is very much a part of The Establishment and as such I very much disapprove of it

It is how The Establishment congratulate themselves and each other and celebrate their continued dominion over the plebs

I don't think that it is the place of the state to "honour" individuals, no matter how noble their achievements

Other nations don't have such a system in place

And things like the OBE, CBE, MBE (Order/Commander/Member of The British Empire) - is the British Empire really something one would want to be a part of??????

And it is ridiculous that people are awarded for serving The Establishment by being allowed to join the House of Lords

But all the politicians aspire to be made Lords so none of them ever do anything against it

I'm very much against it all

I don't have an issue with government recognition of merit and service to one's country.

I have a big problem with hereditary titles and (including the monarchy) or special privileges granted based on religious office (e.g. the "Lords Spiritual").

 

[Stevicus]

A Question For UK Citizens:

In an ideal world, would the UK honours system be abolished?

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

I say yes

Please vote in the poll and explain why you voted how you did

I say yes because I think it is deeply corrupt

And it's literally feudal - Knighthoods and Lords! It's like something out of the Middle Ages!

It is very much a part of The Establishment and as such I very much disapprove of it

It is how The Establishment congratulate themselves and each other and celebrate their continued dominion over the plebs

I don't think that it is the place of the state to "honour" individuals, no matter how noble their achievements

Other nations don't have such a system in place

And things like the OBE, CBE, MBE (Order/Commander/Member of The British Empire) - is the British Empire really something one would want to be a part of??????

And it is ridiculous that people are awarded for serving The Establishment by being allowed to join the House of Lords

But all the politicians aspire to be made Lords so none of them ever do anything against it

I'm very much against it all

Well, they shouldn't just give it away. They should make them go on a quest before they become a knight, like find the Holy Grail or defeat the Knights Who Say Ni.

 

[Stevicus]

Oops, sorry, I should not have voted. It was only for UK citizens. It allows me to change my vote, but I can't un-vote.

 

[Augustus]

It is riddled with corruption and cronyism and always has been, so should certainly be reformed.

I doubt it is unique in this regard though, as if you let politicians award honours they will sometimes use this to feather their own nests.

Maybe they should be awarded though an independent body instead. Wouldn't be a panacea, but might remove some of the more egregious cronyism.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Perhaps a third option? So as to vote for something new (and more impartial), to enable those to be honoured for whatever they have achieved and/or the service they have provided, but not coming from the current system - and hence no vote.