'Upgrade your CBE? We can help you…' | Letters

J

JoltEcho

New Year's Honours: A Lucrative Alternative?

A recent offer I received about attaining a higher order of chivalry has left me pondering the lucrative side of Britain's most prestigious awards. Twenty years ago, I had been awarded a CBE, but it seems my status can be upgraded – for a price.

I was surprised to receive an email from a company claiming to facilitate the process of attaining a higher honour. When I provided evidence of my previous award, their response was straightforward: "Your CBE was awarded nearly 20 years ago, so surely you deserve an upgrade." The offer included assistance in upgrading my title – for a fee.

While I haven't pursued the offer, it has sparked thoughts on the value of the honours system. With a socialist government facing funding constraints, some are questioning why we can no longer rely on the sale of honours to supplement public spending. Instead, what if these prestigious awards were sold more equitably?

Imagine an MBE available for 1% of one's wealth and a knighthood costing a mere 10%. The revenue generated could be used to support our beleaguered NHS and help those in need. Moreover, this new system would provide an opportunity for more people to meet the royal family – a privilege currently reserved for those who can afford it.

The notion may seem far-fetched, but it's worth considering. Who knows? Perhaps a more democratic approach to selling honours could lead to a fairer distribution of wealth and a chance for everyone to rub shoulders with royalty.
 
I mean, think about it... 20 years ago, getting a CBE was already kinda like throwing money at the system 🤑... but now they're offering to sell 'em out? Like, if I wanted an upgrade that badly, wouldn't I just buy one myself? 🤔 And what's up with these new prices – 1% of wealth for an MBE? That's still pretty steep. I dunno about this idea... it sounds like they're trying to turn the honours system into some kinda high-end shopping experience 🛍️. But hey, if it means more cash for the NHS and stuff... I suppose it's worth considering. Maybe we can just have a 'honour lottery' or something – whoever wins gets a free knighthood? 🎉😂
 
🤔 I'm low-key skeptical about this idea, tbh 🤑. I mean, have you seen the queues for those royal events? It's like trying to get tickets to a sold-out gig 🎟️. And what if it becomes just another way for rich people to network and boost their social status? 💼 Not saying it couldn't work, but we'd have to make sure it's not just another way for the elite to line their pockets 💸.

Plus, what about the authenticity of the honours system? I mean, a CBE is supposed to be a recognition of your hard work and contributions, not something you can buy or sell 🤷‍♀️. Would we lose that integrity if it became more about generating revenue? 😕
 
I'm low-key thinking that this is a genius move 🤑. Like, who wouldn't want to splurge on an MBE or a knighthood? And the idea that it could actually fund our struggling NHS is a total game-changer 💸. I mean, think about it - if we can get people to part with their hard-earned cash for these titles, maybe that's actually a good thing? It's like, the royal family gets to keep on living large while we get some much-needed funding for our public services 🙏. Not saying it's the most noble of motives, but let's be real... who doesn't love a good title? 😂
 
💸 I get where you're coming from, mate! 🤔 I've thought about this too, especially with the UK's funding issues. It makes sense that if we can make it more accessible, people who genuinely deserve an upgrade could get one without breaking the bank. But, have you considered how it might affect the actual process of awarding honours? Would it still be based on merit or just a pay-to-play system?

What about those who've been awarded their honours for years and can't afford to upgrade? It's not all about making it more democratic, but also ensuring that everyone has an equal chance. And let's not forget the royal family's involvement – would they still want to be associated with something that feels so... commercial?

I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but we need to think this through and make sure we're not just adding another layer of bureaucracy or creating inequality in our system. What do you reckon, mate? 🤝
 
🤔 I think the idea of selling honours more equitably is actually quite genius 🤑. It'd be dope if the NHS & other public services got some much-needed funding 💸 from these high-stakes awards 🎉. And, can you imagine the Brits' social scene getting a major boost with more people rubbing shoulders with royalty 👑? It's a win-win! Maybe we could even see a 'Honour-for-a-Price' YouTube series 📹 where people share their experiences trying to cop a higher title 💪. The royal family could get some fresh new faces, and the public would love the drama 😂💅🔥
 
🤔 I think this idea of making honours awards more accessible and affordable is actually kinda genius 🤑. If we're gonna be charging people for these things, it should at least be so they can feel good about supporting their country in a way that benefits the community 🌎. Not just lining some rich folks' pockets 💸. And can you imagine how cool it'd be if someone from a lower-income background got to meet the royal family? Game-changer for mental health and all that 😊. Plus, think of the revenue we could raise to help those in need – NHS funding, food banks, homelessness support... 🤝 It's about time we rethink this whole honours system and make it more inclusive 💖 #MakeHonoursMoreInclusive #FairnessForAll #RoyalMeetAndGreet
 
I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... 🐟 think this is just an excuse to make the honours system more "streamlined" but really it's just a way to rake in some serious cash from those looking to upgrade their status. 1% of one's wealth for an MBE? that's outrageous! and what's with the royal family getting to benefit from this new system too? I mean, can't they get their own awards without having to shell out? it's all about lining pockets, if you ask me... 💸
 
💸😒 I'm all for exploring ways to make the honours system more equitable, but let's not get carried away here. Anyone can claim they can "facilitate" the process of getting a higher honour for a fee... where's the proof? What's the actual protocol behind selling these prestigious awards?

I mean, if we're talking about supplementing public spending, why not just allocate funds to the NHS and other essential services instead of relying on dubious revenue streams? And what's with the idea that only the wealthy can afford an MBE or knighthood? How will this actually help people in need?

It sounds like a fancy way to privatize something that's meant to be a public honour. 🤔 Let's see some concrete evidence and official sources before we start brainstorming ways to sell off our honours system...
 
😂 I mean, think about it... they're basically saying the royal family is like "hey, if you wanna be part of our squad, pay us $10k". That's not right! The whole point of an honour is supposed to be a recognition of service or achievement, not a way to make cash. And what about all those people who've already worked hard and earned their honours? Do they get to upgrade just because the rules changed? 🤷‍♂️ It's a weird world we live in where a bunch of royals are making money off our prestige.
 
I think this is kinda genius 💡. Selling honors isn't new, but the idea of making them more accessible & affordable is pure gold 🏰💸. If we can get people to fork out cash for these awards, it could def help alleviate funding issues in key areas like healthcare. It's also a great way to level the playing field - who gets to meet royalty now only has to have deep pockets 💸. Maybe it's time to rethink this whole honor system & make it more inclusive 🤝.
 
Ugh 🤯, just think about it - the royal family's lavish lifestyle getting funded by basically paying for people's titles... it's wild how much money is at play here 💸. I mean, an MBE for 1% of your wealth? That's just a fancy way of saying "we'll take all your savings" 🤑. And what about the 'equitable' distribution of revenue - does that even exist in this system? 🤔
 
🤔 just think about all the politicians and celebrities who have been bought out... like 50k for an MBE or a knighthood? 🤑 then we're already talking price is right for who gets what honor lol
 
I totally get why someone would want to upgrade their honour status 🤑👑... but isn't that kind of for sale on eBay or something? I mean, if the government is struggling financially, shouldn't we be looking at ways to make our public services better rather than selling off our most prestigious awards?

And what about all the 'facilitators' like the company that offered me a deal? Are they legit? How do you even verify who's getting an honour and who's not paying for it? It just doesn't seem right 🤔

I love the idea of using the revenue to support our NHS and help those in need, but shouldn't we be working on ways to make healthcare more accessible and affordable anyway? Let's focus on making sure everyone has a good quality life rather than selling off some fancy titles 💸
 
I mean think about it, if you're gonna give out honors to whoever throws enough cash at the table, then what's the point of even having them? Its like, just a way for the rich to get richer 🤑. And yeah, our NHS could really use some extra cash, but I'm not sure selling out our nobility is the answer... maybe we should just find other ways to make that happen, you feel?
 
can you imagine if the royal family started selling out to the highest bidder 🤑👑 like some fancy auction house? "Oh, I'll give you an OBE for £500k, it's a steal!" Meanwhile, I'm just over here trying to get by on my meager pension 💸😒
 
OMG 🤯 u gotta think about this!!! the idea of makin money off our nobility & royal fam is like 2 faced. on one hand, it's all about doin' good & helpin out tho 😊 but on the other hand, its just exploitin people's privilege & status 4 profit 💸

i mean, imagine if a 1% fee for an MBE or somethin was actually used 2 support those in need. that's like the whole point of doin good 4 others, right? 🤔 but then u got these big shots who can afford 2 shell out thousands & get all the perks & recognition... it just doesn't feel right 🙅‍♀️

and what about ppl who cant afford it?! its just not fair. we should be lookin at ways 2 make honours more accessible 4 everyone, not makin money off people's hard work & status 💪
 
just thinkin', the whole point of new year's honours is supposed to be recognizin' achievements, not makin' a quick buck 🤑... but i gotta say, the idea of sellin' 'em more equitably does have some merit 🤔. imagine it, an mbe for like £10k or somethin', and a knighthood for a cool hundred grand 🤑 that'd be one way to fund the nhs and help out those in need... and who knows, maybe it'd even encourage more peeps to get involved in their communities 🌟
 
🤔💸👑 The way they're trying to monetize those prestigious awards is pretty wild. I mean, imagine being able to buy your way into the royal family 🎉! It's not exactly what it means to receive an honour, you know? 🤷‍♀️ And can you imagine the awkward conversations when you're all sipping tea with the Queen and someone asks about your "purchase" of your title 😳. Not exactly the kind of thing that makes you feel like a true honour recipient. 👎
 
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