re: #98 Mardukhai

Now you’re getting into a real historical conundrum. You are absolutely right, the abolition of monarchies was a uniform disaster, everywhere except possibly China.

The succeeding regimes were unstable, considered illegitimate by vast sections of the populace. Most were followed by destructive tyrannies that were much worse than the crowns they replaced. Germany, Austria, Russia, Serbia, Ethiopia and France are obvious examples. Iran goes without saying.

Others, such as in Greece and India were replaced by unstable pseudo-democratic tyrannies. It took a long time for those countries to find their center. Brazil is one country that has recognized this, and recently had a plebiscite on a restoration. It lost, but the action finally made the republic a legitimate choice of the people.

Unlike Charles’ unnamed poster, I am not in favor of a monarchy in the US. It isn’t needed. I’m just a journalist and historian, I report what I observe.

Agreed. But we were founded so as not to need a king. In many places a royal family can lend a sense of stability.