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May 5, 2023Liked by Michael F. Bird

“ Give me a goofy, flappy-eared King Charles any day over a diabolic despot who tells us that paradise is just one violent purge away.”

This is a false dichotomy. As an American it sounds like a reference to Trump, but it just may be my context. The reality is that the choices are far greater and far more complex than a impotent king or political despot in the context of a republic. I think Americans are perhaps a little too utilitarian to ever understand the purpose of a king: “if they don’t do anything, why are they there?”

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Steve, this was not a swipe at Trump. That seminar is happenning in another room. Safe to say, Americans do have an allergy to kingship due to their history.

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Mr. Bird - no problem. I'm not a Trump-supporter anyway. The lens right now to see and interpret things here (America) is a challenge.

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Utilitarianism,egalitarianism, and the lack of an honour-shame culture are some of the reasons the monarchy seems misplaced in the contemporary world. Either or i still prefer the head of state to be non-partisan like in Canada, UK, Isreal, or Germany for the reasons stated here.

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The concept of authority without power is a new one to me. I thought authority was synonymous with power. Here’s the definition of authority: “the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.”

I’m going to be pondering this concept of a king with authority but no power.

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