Democracy's Biggest Fan Speaks

Democracy's Biggest Fan Speaks

Democracy effectively means that we, the people, get to choose who

runs our country on our behalf. The role of a monarch as Head of

State, embodying rule by inheritance, is, therefore, anathema to the

purest concept of democracy. So, with this in mind, events in June

2003 caused a certain degree of amusement to me.

Democracy

'The worst form of government-except for all the others.'

Winston Churchill

Increasing democracy is by far the most important and powerful reason

to ditch the monarchy. All other reasons either follow on from it or

pale in comparison to the strength of the argument.

The word democracy is ultimately derived from the Greek demokratia

which is a term comprised of demos - 'the people' - and kratos -

'strength, power.' So, democracy basically means that power lies in

the hands of the people. In most developed countries, this entails the

direct election of a legislative (Parliament) and an elected Head of

State (whether ceremonial or with a full range of executive powers).

Unfortunately, Britain has lagged behind other developed countries in

both these areas. Our Head of State (the Queen) and, until recently,

the majority of the House of Lords assumed power and influence solely

because of which families they were born in to. This makes Britain a

relatively undemocratic country in an increasingly democratic world.

Rule by inheritance in general makes no sense and cannot be justified

nowadays. To have the title of Head of State passed on through

heridity is just ridiculous. The Monarchy is unaccountable, insular,

secretive, unrepresentative, illogical, and anachronistic. ...

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...dismissed the dictator Antonescu and

transferred his country from Axis to the Allies, for which he was

decorated by the Great Powers, and in Bulgaria King Boris III

(although obliged to enter the war on the side of the Axis), bravely

refused to persecute Bulgarian Jews and would not commit his forces

outside his country's borders. As we have seen in Spain and Thailand,

monarchs have succeeded in defending democracy against the threat of

permanent military take-over.

Even Royal Families which are not reigning are dedicated to the

service of their people, and continue to be regarded as the symbol of

the nation. Prominent examples are H.R.H. the Duke of Braganza in

Portugal and H.R.H. the Count of Paris in France. Royal Families

forced to live in exile are often promoters of charities formed to

help their countries.