The Prince is right

The Spectator ^ | 5/010/02 | Simon Heffer

[Desdemona]

Ping

[rogerthedodger]

Restrain the monarch. Abolish the power of the Lords. What you have left is an unrestrained tyranny of the majority in Commons. Naturally, the Socialists who pander to the majority will come to power, and go about ruining your country. So GIVE 'EM HELL, CHARLIE. It's your job to speak up.

[2banana]

Socialist Wasteland, it's only Socialist Wasteland -they're all wasted! (with apologies to the WHO)

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Roger that Roger.

[ffrancone]

HOWDY PARTNER!
THERE'S ONLY 32 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION.

PLEASE HELP ME TAKE BACK THE SENATE!

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican Senate

[MadIvan]

Thank you. One thing it doesn't mention is that His Highness is also one of the few leaders in the world who stands on principle when it comes to foreign affairs. He refused to meet with Jiang Xemin.

It's too bad he will assume the throne, likely, in the autumn of his years.

Regards, Ivan

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

If history is any guide, it always the most decent rulers who are deposed. In France, Louis XVI was, by any set of metrics, superior to Louis XIII through XV, yet it was he who had his head cut off. Charles I attempted to introduce religious tolerance in Great Britain and also lost his head. George III, surely the most moral member of the deplorable house of Hannover, lost America. Pedro II of Brazil was deposed (partially with the help of American business interests) because of his abolition of slavery. The idealistic and tolerant Karl I was chased out of Vienna by the Communists.

While the Prince of Wales may be no saint in his personal life, his concern for the good of his future subjects is in the best traditions of monarchy. And for this reason, he stands a good chance of being the last reigning Windsor.

[Abcdefg]

The royal figurehead formerly known as "Prince".

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Although I have never said this before, I would like to state that I have the greatest respect for your imput.

Keep smiling,

Philip.

[Desdemona]

While the Prince of Wales may be no saint in his personal life, his concern for the good of his future subjects is in the best traditions of monarchy.

Bump.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

I wouldn't exactly call Charles I decent. The reason he was overthrown was for his corruption and his consipiring with France to overthrow Parliament.

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

Of course, not all good monarchs have been deposed. And not all monarchs who have been deposed were good. But recent history (the last two hundred years is my time frame) suggests that being a good monarch is a practical liability. Too many vested interests.

One historian has suggested that successful revolutions do not usually occur when things are at their worst (e.g. Louis XIV), but when things are actually improving (Louis XVI, Tsar Nicholas II) because the situation is not improving fast enough for radical elements. And one of the hallmarks of an "improving" situation is the allowance of greater latitude in expression and association, thus permitting violent and subversive elements greater ability to communicate, organise, and rabble-rouse.

[rogerthedodger]

Another big mistake on our part. Why even have a Senate?

[rogerthedodger]

British mottos

Prince of Wales: Ich dien
Labour Party: Ich Dieb

[Billthedrill]

What the "political class" is deathly afraid of here is that a wealthy, blue-blooded aristocratic, hereditary elitist who is despicable by any class definition, shows not only a more accurate appreciation of the view of the middle class than they, but resonates better emotionally as well. The manipulation of economic class envy toward the ends of political power is a characteristic of popular democracy not only in modern Western societies but going back to Athens as well; demagogues are typically better communicators than royalists. That is, in fact, their only real lever to political power, and a prince who shows any sign of being able to employ it is a deadly threat.