What will you be doing this Friday?

Well, here in Great Britain (or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland if you prefer) we have been granted an extra bank holiday (public holiday for those of you not from these islands). Some of you may ask why? Well... it seems that there are a couple of rich kids who are getting married, the groom's dad and grandparents are considered quite important in some circles and so our government have decided to give us all a day off work. What's more, that same government have agreed to pay for a big chunk of the festivities.

Put like that it sounds quite absurd doesn't it, however if you turn on the TV or read the newspapers you'll be well aware that the groom is the second in line to the throne and this wedding is apparently a source of joy and celebration for the nation. Good British subjects are expected to put up the bunting and party in the streets to celebrate their nuptials.

A growing number of Brits are starting to wake up and smell the coffee though. Although it is the British way to maintain the status quo there are many who at the time of the death of Diana Spencer started to question the nations love affair with the monarchy; in fact it has been said that during the days after that event Britain came closer to becoming a republic than at any time since the times of Oliver Cromwell. The image of royalty hasn't been particularly good in recent years with some sectors of the press actually starting to question the ludicrously lavish lifestyle of the British royal family and one organisation, Republic (www.republic.org.uk), are seeing an increase in their membership.

The current wedding seems to have been well orchestrated as a massive PR stunt for the monarchy and indeed there will be street parties. TV and radio coverage isn't being skimped on. Shops, pubs and other public places are putting up the bunting and cashing in on this event. However a growing number of people have seen the other side of this event. Ok so we're all being bribed with a day off work... but what about those who work as contractors or temps who are paid by the hour? What about small businesses who have been brow-beaten by their staff into closing down for the day so they can sit in front of their TV and drink beer for the day? What about the cost to manufacturing industry who will be closing down production lines for an extra day despite international orders that need to be filled? What about the cost to the tax payer of providing policing and other security; the cost of the participation of the armed forces who are already stretched to the limits by long term campaigns in the middle east and the new conflict in Libya? More to the point, why has the supposedly democratic government of this country agreed to foot even part of the bill so that the grandson of arguably one of the richest women in this country can have a lavish wedding?

In a time when we as a nation are being asked to tighten our belts and are being hit by tax increases and cut backs in order to pay the country's debts, going ahead and spending the nation's money on this wedding is quite frankly an insult to the people of this country.

What's more, part of the "establishment" has even said it will act against protests against the event. Although most people in Britain who regard themselves republicans are decent, law abiding, employed people, they are being portrayed by some sectors as anarchists and trouble makers, even comparing some of the "not the royal wedding" street parties as similar to recent civil actions that resulted in violence and criminal damage. Although obviously some will try to hijack peaceful protest I can see that on Saturday that the blame for any trouble will be firmly placed in our laps.

The thing is that we only want one thing... and that is to separate the monarchy from the day to day business of running our country. We want our head of state to be elected and not chosen by fate of birth. We want our government to be elected, not appointed by whoever happens to be running the show on a given day. We want an opportunity to hire and fire those who run our country democratically, not have them foisted on us because it's always been done that way. Is this too much to ask? The world has many very successful republics - and yes, a few despotic ones too - but I'm sure we could all point at monarchies who have been the same over the centuries. Just because ours works today it doesn't mean it will still work tomorrow!

So, what will I be doing this Friday?

Well... my rubbish is usually collected on Friday so first I'll be putting my bins out for collection. Since it is a public holiday I will probably have a lay in before heading to town and meet friends for lunch/coffee, if the iPad I want is in stock I'll probably go and buy that in the afternoon and will probably settle down for the evening with a DVD. I will try and have as normal a day as I possibly can.

What I will NOT be doing is sitting like a sheep watching a couple of rich kids getting married and I will NOT be participating in any form of celebration and I seriously doubt I will be watching much TV.

So what will you be doing?