Word: kingdoms
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Tony Blair may no longer be the prime minister of the United Kingdom, but he is still making important news. Shortly before Christmas, Blair announced to the world that he is converting to the faith of his wife and children and becoming a Roman Catholic. While this may seem to be a personal matter of little relevance to us here in the United States, it is a historical event with many practical implications in Britain and in other countries around the world...
...have no place in modern democratic societies, much less a nation as multicultural and pluralistic as Britain, any amendment to the Act of Settlement will greatly exacerbate the fragile political and constitutional state that Britain is currently in and could conceivably result in the break-up of the United Kingdom and Canada as we know them today...
...evidenced by the 2007 election of Alex Salmond, the head of the Scottish National Party (a political party that advocates an independent Scotland), there has been a furor of nationalistic fervor in Scotland. The Kingdoms of England and Scotland were united in 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain under the provisions of the Act of Union. The Parliament of Scotland consented to the union in large part due to the guarantee of Protestant leadership provided for by the Act of Settlement. While neither Salmond nor the vast majority of present day Scots still harbor the anti-Catholic sentiments...
...Moreover, any amendment to the Act of Settlement would likely trigger political unrest among the militant Northern Irish nationalists. Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom following Irish independence in 1920 because of its significant Protestant majority, which wanted to be governed by the predominantly Protestant government of London, rather than the mostly Catholic government of Dublin. Amending the act could be viewed by the Protestants of Northern Ireland as betrayal on the part of London. Northern Irish Protestant extremists, who depended upon Downing Street to represent their interests, might conceivably throw their support behind radical groups such...
...International Monetary Fund published a paper on offshore tax havens, it included Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, the Bahamas and several other countries where the rich stash their money beyond the reach of grabby governments back home. But there was one surprising new entry on the list: the United Kingdom. The IMF was merely recognizing what wealthy foreigners in Britain have known for years. While British citizens shoulder taxes of up to 40%, residents who weren't born there can take advantage of the nondomicile - or nondom - rule, which means they're only taxed on income made in or brought...