Why Does Royalty Still Exist in the 21st Century?

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THe concepts of brotherhood and equalty versus royalty and aristocracy have been a fact of life in society and civilization for humanity and the animal kingdom as well...and certainly will not change soon....our school systems are loaded with students who want tobe better educated than their parents or friends.....competition in sports and scholarship leads to excellence in achievement of goals and responsibilities.....royalty and aristocracy are not on the way out.....caste systems are obvious in all cultures and are necessary.....up to a point.......

Steve S. Roisman of CA 10:34PM April 05, 2009

What are the best selling newspapers in the UK? Tabloids. What do the tabloids love to cover in nausiating detal? Royality (and of course sex, best when combined). Royality still exists to fill the tabloids and keep the peasants happy, or at least distracted.

Brad of TX 5:47PM April 05, 2009

Manifest Destiny and other religiously justified doctrines and dogma has helped to bring order to early civilization and to create stable governments to replace anarchy and warring tribes. While the concept, acceptance and practice of royalty appears somewhat archaic in modern times, it fulfills several functions among which are national pride, the need for common people to admire people who are better than the lot, the need to look up to authority (psychologically tied to parental models, etc.) and because most people are conditioned to identify with group think, culture, tradition and rituals. Where royalty is more symbolic than governance, why not? The Queen of England, the Emperor of Japan and King of Saudia Arabia add a civilized and respectful aura to their cultures. Where monarch actually rule, if they are benevolent as in Dubai, why not? Would we want to substitute political strife and all the other "isms" for a peaceful well-oiled functional nation under a monarch just because we want to force our twisted idea of democracy on other cultures and nations? In the extreme, democracy is similar to anarchy - mob rule. In it's republican form - democracy becomes the rule of the rich who control the minds of its seemingly mindless masses. Where is true free will? Only free-thinking individuals are capable of free will, not as a reaction to politics or culture but as an independently thoughtful process that assesses reality for its truths without color blinders of social norms and values. Otherwise, as a past Queen allegedly proclaimed... "Let them eat cake." Or as a past President (Reagan) had proclaimed -ketchup should be considered a food item in poverty programs for the poor. The reality is the poor and working masses prop up the wealthy - who historically in turn have used the masses for warfare, conquest, and pillaging. Little has changed except the names.

Tony Lee of CA 4:34PM April 03, 2009

A Saudi prince made the point that a monarchy must be more responsive to the people than a democracy because an unpopular elected official merely loses an election, whereas an unpopular monarch might lose his head.
Certainly no government can exist without some support of the people, and democracies may not be particularly responsive to the people. Our government in Washington is more of a LICO (Lobbyist Influenced and Corrupt Organization) than a servant of the people. Here in Chicago we have a hereditary dictatorship under one party rule that gets elected again and again. We have ersatz royal families like the Kennedys and Bushes, so apparently voters are not averse to rule by heredity.

Luther of IL 3:59PM April 03, 2009

It not only exists in England but here in the good old USA! We as voters re-elect time and time again the same politicians that continue to give us the same old crap. To confirm this just take a look at the Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes and many others on State and Local levels, generation after generation of the same family being elected to political office.
Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way we run our country?

mbeeler of OH 3:50PM April 03, 2009

We are self rigtheous in our democratic values. What is more important, how we choose our leaders or how our leaders choose to lead? Believing whatever we do is right so long as we have chosen to do it, we tout democracy as the proof of our progress, morally regressing all the while. "When the wicked rule the people groan", whether the ruler is one man or many.
A democratic system cannot save us from ourselves. If we have proved willing to sacrifice morality and personal responsibility in times of plenty, what will stop us from readily sacrificing democracy in times of want and need? Though America will never elect a king, it is quite probable we will one day elect a dictator.

Mark of TX 2:19PM April 03, 2009

Sometimes traditionas are nice to fall back on. Like sitting at a table for the famly meal and everyone using a knife and fork. It's sad that there is such vitriol - hint hint. Extremist nut jobs/ freaks? I remember a time when we could all have a difference of opinion without foaming at the mouth or name calling. Sometimes going back to traditional decorum and courtesy can go a long way in respecting another's opinion.

stitchathome of VA 8:10AM April 03, 2009

Someone has to rule over the serfs that Americans are about to become.
It would be more fitting that that Royalty rules over these new serfs.
At least it would make sense.
Much like the Right Wing Nut Jobs and Left Wing Freaks don't.
Oh how I hate the Extremists. They are ruining the USA.

Dave H. of NC 7:35AM April 03, 2009