Tuesday 25 May 2010

Dieu et Mon droit!

What right has any person, through accident of birth, to own great riches, to be venerated or hold constitutional powers?

What right has any person, just by being famous, to own great riches, to be venerated or influence the process of government?

The answers, in case you are in any doubt, are none and none.

The cult of ‘celebrity’ is a strange beast. Many think of it as a modern phenomenon but in essence it’s been around since time immemorial. Nowadays the machine that creates this superficial infamy uses the technology of the digital age to full effect. Celebrities wax and wane at the blink of an eye, and in their droves. The limelight life of the latter-day celebrity tends to be quite ephemeral. Most fall by the wayside quickly, but occasionally some manage a near permanence. Nouveau celebs are no doubt frowned upon by those that have been practising the mystical art of celebrity status for generations; namely the aristocracy, and in particular the monarchy.

It is hard to understand why in an age of supposed equal rights we still have a monarchy and an unelected second chamber. Whilst it’s conceivable that the new Con-Dem government might actually do something about the House of Lords, one thing that’s for certain is that they are not likely to call a referendum on the UK becoming a federal republic. No Tory would ever support the abolition of the monarchy, and I suspect if there were a referendum tomorrow a vote in favour of abolition would be highly unlikely. The ruling classes never let up in their propaganda war and the populace continue to fall for it, as a result the status quo is maintained. If we are ever to build a fair and just society this can only ever be carried through if we have a fair and just form of government. Power should only ever be bestowed upon an individual or groups of individuals via the ballot box. Political power and vast wealth gained through birthright is unfair, undemocratic and immoral. The monarchy is morally indefensible. A democratic republic is the only form of fair and just government. Principles and practicalities need to go hand in hand. Without both we can never transform society into an equal and cohesive collective.

2 comments:

  1. Exactly. I agree with you completely here.

    It's not only the political side of it, though, because the very existence of the Monarchy proves that we have yet to eliminate a class based society. No man is born greater than another.

    It's time we started to practice the democracy that we preach. Electoral reform will always lead mixed results until we tackle the core problems in British society and political culture. Electoral reform to PR is a luxury, and one we deserve, however full reformation of the house of lords to an elected body is step one.
    Step two is to remove the birthright of the Royal Family. We don't need to experience complete constitutional upheaval, it could be as simple as having the constitutional role currently filled by the queen instead taken over by an elected official with clear checks and balances.

    Britain is, as the tories toot,on the verge of breaking. But it's not our society and common culture. It's the upper reaches of class and political culture that's about to be broken.

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  2. Mutual admiration abounds as I agree with what you say. I actually subscribe to the idea of broken Britain as with such vast differences in wealth it seems pretty broken to me!

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