Amateur Politicians, Please
The annual report on spending by the British royal family came out today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/monarchy/story/0,2763,1512088,00.html), and the total is £36.7 million, or about $67 million in the last year. The money was spent on staff, maintenance of palaces, travel, insurance, and parties. Leaving aside my un-American hatred of monarchies, the question still must be asked: why do taxpayers need to pay so much money to keep them up? Couldn't the royals be held to a more modest salary, say, the profits from their enormous farms, if not completely eliminated? My own side of the Atlantic isn't blameless in this respect either. The Congress, a rich man's club because of the need to finance campaigns, is nevertheless paid tens of millions annually, and the Executive Mansion and other presidential perks are very, very expensive. Also, after they leave office, American politicians simply roll in it, with book deals, speaking engagements, and cushy advisory jobs.
Do we need our leaders to be richer than us, to live in extravagant luxury actually, for them to seem legitimate? If so, that is a very frightening thought. And if not, I propose cutting their pay. Let's say the average salary in your constituency, and nothing if you're already rich.
Do we need our leaders to be richer than us, to live in extravagant luxury actually, for them to seem legitimate? If so, that is a very frightening thought. And if not, I propose cutting their pay. Let's say the average salary in your constituency, and nothing if you're already rich.
posted by Meesher at 10:12 PM
7 Comments:
I think politicians should be quarantined while they serve their terms and make laws, so they make them without bias.
The evolution of politics has rendered the monarchy obsolete.
Generally speaking, leaders should be successful - to show that they are the most capable individuals society possible. People who can not succeed will never be able to lead.
Why do you say that hating monarchies is un-American. The whole birth of America as a nation was predicated upon hatred of monarchies, or, at least, one particular monarchy, the British one.
As for the continuation of the Monarchy in Britain, well, that is up to the Brits to decide if supporting the Royals is worth it. I don't think it will change any time soon, though.
Can you explain how this quarantine would work, Enigma America?
That was a bit of a joke, Craig, because royalty are far more popular in America than in any country that has their own.
Speaking as a Brit, on the one hand it's a bloody travesty, lazy buggers, taking our taxes, historical anachronism, first against the wall when the revolution comes etc etc. On the other hand, this actually works out as about £1 each per year, and they are so much entertainment it's almost worth it. It always amuses me that as soon as the monarchy got interesting, the monarchists were all up in arms about it. He he.
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Americans love dynasties more than monarchies. We need rich people who use their money to buy power, like the Kennedys, the Bush, the Rockerfellers, etc.
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