While Fuck Trump, there is something deeply disturbing and creepy about constitutional monarchs.
You don’t think that amongst their families in quiet hushed tones, they discuss and yearn for the prospect of returning to real power someday? They’re basically tyrants-in-waiting. They’re just quietly hanging out in the background, waiting for some crisis in democracy, some loss of confidence in the system, etc. Then, when confidence in democracy is at some historical nadir, they can sweep in and restore themselves to power and glory.
They’re vultures. They’re just biding their time, living the high life, pretending to be kind, benevolent, and harmless. Yet deep in their heart of hearts, they yearn for the power they know was taken from them. They know their ancestors had it. And they want it back.
You don’t think it could happen? Democracy hasn’t existed in European countries for all that long. There are many examples historically of royal restorations where royal houses returned to power, after periods out of power far longer than the existence of many European constitutional monarchies. The idea of a royal restoration returning the King of Norway to real power seems absurd. But by historical standards it’s really not that absurd. Monarchy in Europe existed as a tradition for over a thousand years. Constitutional monarchy is just 1-2 centuries old, or less, in most European countries. Rome’s Republic lasted half a millennia before it collapsed into an absolute monarchy. Don’t dismiss the idea that the monarchs could return to power. I have little doubt that most of today’s constitutional monarchs secretly dream and fantasize about the idea.
And that’s what’s so creepy about them. They may claim to truly believe in democracy. But if they really did, they would give up their crowns entirely. No one who really believes in democracy could accept a position that puts them as a monarch, someone entrusted by power from right of birth. Democracy begins with the proposition that all human beings are created equal. A monarch, however limited in power, is anathema to this. I don’t care how constrained that power is. You cannot truly believe in democracy while serving as a monarch. In their hearts, every “constitutional monarch” dreams of the slim chance that they might see a royal restoration. They are vultures, simply waiting for democracy to get sick and stumble.
Truly, the French and the Soviets had the right idea on how to deal with royalty. Give up your crown or give up your head. That is how you deal with kings properly.
In December 2022, German authorities foiled a far-right coup attempt orchestrated by members of the Reichsbürger (Citizens of the Reich) movement, a group that denies the legitimacy of modern Germany and seeks to restore the German Empire. The plot involved plans to overthrow the federal government, storm the Bundestag (parliament), and install Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, a descendant of the former German aristocracy, as the new head of state. The conspirators envisioned a monarchist government modeled on the pre-World War I German Reich
While Fuck Trump, there is something deeply disturbing and creepy about constitutional monarchs.
You don’t think that amongst their families in quiet hushed tones, they discuss and yearn for the prospect of returning to real power someday? They’re basically tyrants-in-waiting. They’re just quietly hanging out in the background, waiting for some crisis in democracy, some loss of confidence in the system, etc. Then, when confidence in democracy is at some historical nadir, they can sweep in and restore themselves to power and glory.
They’re vultures. They’re just biding their time, living the high life, pretending to be kind, benevolent, and harmless. Yet deep in their heart of hearts, they yearn for the power they know was taken from them. They know their ancestors had it. And they want it back.
You don’t think it could happen? Democracy hasn’t existed in European countries for all that long. There are many examples historically of royal restorations where royal houses returned to power, after periods out of power far longer than the existence of many European constitutional monarchies. The idea of a royal restoration returning the King of Norway to real power seems absurd. But by historical standards it’s really not that absurd. Monarchy in Europe existed as a tradition for over a thousand years. Constitutional monarchy is just 1-2 centuries old, or less, in most European countries. Rome’s Republic lasted half a millennia before it collapsed into an absolute monarchy. Don’t dismiss the idea that the monarchs could return to power. I have little doubt that most of today’s constitutional monarchs secretly dream and fantasize about the idea.
And that’s what’s so creepy about them. They may claim to truly believe in democracy. But if they really did, they would give up their crowns entirely. No one who really believes in democracy could accept a position that puts them as a monarch, someone entrusted by power from right of birth. Democracy begins with the proposition that all human beings are created equal. A monarch, however limited in power, is anathema to this. I don’t care how constrained that power is. You cannot truly believe in democracy while serving as a monarch. In their hearts, every “constitutional monarch” dreams of the slim chance that they might see a royal restoration. They are vultures, simply waiting for democracy to get sick and stumble.
Truly, the French and the Soviets had the right idea on how to deal with royalty. Give up your crown or give up your head. That is how you deal with kings properly.
2022 German coup d’état plot