Constitutional Monarchy vs. "Republic"

 

The Royal Coat of Arms

The British royal institution evolved from that age old barbaric governmental model of the aristocratic protection racket. And yet in the UK it has accumulated change & learned from the wisdom of long evolutionary centuries to such an extent that it has become an important part of the UK's democratic constitution and government....but only in terms of its symbolism and the eloquent ritual of statecraft.

Outside oppressive dictatorships (Yes Putin and Xi, I'm looking at you) the natural state of human governmental affairs is debate, argument, contention and dissent. But those arguing politicians are answerable to something higher than themselves, something above the sleazy world of flawed human politics and this is well symbolized by the timeless aloof, wise and impeccable monarch to whom they symbolically go for permission to rule & form a government. "My government" says the monarch in their speech to parliament. Yes, you wretched lot of arguing, grubby, very human politicians you only rule at the monarch's permission.

It is an irony that the privileged hereditary monarchy, with its manifest ups and downs of family life (they are only human after all), is easier for "we-the-people" to identify with than those careerist, go-getting, ambitious, popularity & vote seeking politicians. Politicians, naturally enough, are sometimes tempted to serve self, but their job, in theory, is that of serving "we-the-people" (and let's concede many actually do their best to do a good job). But the monarchy personifies government and brings a human face to the complexities of constitution. And of Queen Elizabeth II we can say this: As an exemplar to politicians and to us all as she showed us what it means to serve. In that sense she followed in the footsteps of her heavenly Lord & King who also lived to serve. She was an excellent symbolic stand in for "we-the-people".

In my opinion no elected politician deserves to be called head-of-state and therefore that post is best taken out of the hands of a meritocracy of careerists with vested interests and submitted to a constitutional monarchy that cannot make proud claim to being there on merit but only on the basis of the vicissitudes of hereditary selection. In one sense that applies to us all: few of us get to choose our lot in life or get our role by popular support.; its selection rather than election for most of us.

Sorry John Wayne, (in "The Alamo") the word "republic" doesn't bring a tear to my eye, but instead fills me foreboding; good idea but the term is so easily abused and it's become too associated with dictatorships: Viz: "banana republics" and "banana republics without bananas" and "The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics". I also recall ominously the Trump supporter who said to me on social media not long after the the disorganized Trump rabble had attempted to seize Capitol Hill "I believe the republic is being rebirthed"; under Trump, or his successor, it would likely be rebirthed as a "A banana republic without bananas".

***

Thank you Queen Elizabeth for your servant heart and being an exemplar of those higher divine values against which all (wo)men must measure themselves and being a worthy stand-in for "we-the-people". (Philippians 2:1-11) God Save King Charles III. Long live the King.