To me Britain would be imeasurably impoverished if it ever became a republic.
Agreed, and I think that if the US had remained a monarchy, it would be just as embedded in the American identity.
To me Britain would be imeasurably impoverished if it ever became a republic.
Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if George Washington or another founding father installed an American monarchy?
Agreed- I wonder if there is a book about it, as I also recall that it was considered at the time. I'd guess that it would have been like the British system, but more democratic (for the day).
In a way I'd have liked that better (as we've had some real duds as President, and I like having a nonpartisan head of state), but then again, I do like the "liberty or else" streak in the US, with the sense that all power comes from the people, not from the government.
If the US did have a monarchy, I'd want the electorate to vote to install it- even kings should be aware that their power comes from the people, and not the reverse.
Well, we'd probably have a Prime Minister if we were a monarchy and you;d have had those same duds in that office. Plus, let's face it, if we don'[t like the President, we can always vote him out- a little harder to do that with a king. I love to read about the royals, but I don't want one of them heading my country
CSENYC: That would be interesting. A elected US monarchy. Very unique. Of course this would only be good if the monarchy had political clout.
I may not have been clear enough- the electorate should vote to create the institution of a monarchy, although once the monarchy existed, it would be like any other. (Same in every country where there is the possibility of restoring a monarchy- it should be done only if the people want it.) No government should be imposed from above on the people.
But that is, exactly, what monarchy is. It is imposed by the guy with the biggest sword, telling the little peoeple that God ordained him to rule over them and their children, talent or not will inherit the lot All the rest is democracy.
But that is, exactly, what monarchy is. It is imposed by the guy with the biggest sword, telling the little peoeple that God ordained him to rule over them and their children, talent or not will inherit the lot All the rest is democracy.
But that is, exactly, what monarchy is. It is imposed by the guy with the biggest sword, telling the little peoeple that God ordained him to rule over them and their children, talent or not will inherit the lot All the rest is democracy.
That kind of monarchy is long gone, at least in Western Europe.
See below for how monarchy in Norway was established, for example. This is exactly how it should work: the people vote for it.
Norwegian monarchy plebiscite, 1905 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And "All the rest is democracy"? Libya, for example, is "the rest"; it's not a democracy. Same for China and lots of other countries.
CSENYC said:Sorry but I can't agree.
In most every Western European country, while the monarch isn't directly elected by the people, the monarch obtains the position following rules of succession which are usually in the country's constitution or are determined by the country's legislature. That is democratic. (Even in the US, the President isn't directly elected- the Electoral College casts ballots for the President and, as the 2000 election showed, doesn't have to follow the popular vote.)
And true, the monarch inherits the throne, but monarchs in Western European countries don't have much if any real political power. The prime minister in a monarchy is elected, and that's where the power lies.
Democracies also have plenty of leaders who are not elected but who have a lot of power- much more than a Western European king or queen. For example, Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, has a huge influence on the US and world economy. He isn't elected; he's picked by the President and Congress.
And which countries in the world are the most democratic and free? Disproportionately constitutional monarchies:
Democracy Index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Of the 10 most free and most democratic countries, 7 are monarchies. (Note: the US ranks 17th.)
i am, in spite living in democratic country now and being born in the USSR-)
My grandmother's family came from Lativia (escaped from the Czar's troops). Let's just say that they weren't fans of the Czar or his army. When he was overthrown they didn't feel sorry for him (they didn't wish he or his family dead but believed that his actions over the years contributed to him being ousted from power).