Is Promethia a developed country? Just because it’s similar to Switzerland doesn’t mean that the Promethian economy isn’t based on guano mining or some sort of tropical fruit agriculture.
I think it the country’s some kind of Singapore-esque nation, then I’d be down with being a practicing King. If it’s some sort of developing country with serious problems, I don’t know that I want to dedicate my life and that of my descendants to trying to drag them into being a developed country.
The OP says it’s of a similar size, population, and GDP to Switzerland, with a government similar to the United States’ except that the chief executive is hereditary. To me, that strongly implies that it’s a developed country, though I’m sure others may disagree and I do not contend that my writing the OP makes my interpretation privileged.
I’d prefer to be the power behind the throne… under the right circumstances anyway.
Well, the youngest does need a job.
I’d do it in a heart beat. I’d love to be a semi-benevolent dictator and this offer is the closest that I’m likely to get. While being president seems to be a job that shortens your life span I think with out the pressure of being reelected would take a lot of the burden off as well as being a minor power so much of state craft would pass you by.
Because if you look around, you see that, despite our having been an early and especially notable adopter of democratic government, essentially nobody has followed our example of a bicameral legislature.
We wound up there by virtue of particular circumstances of history, and we’re stuck with it. But any other country that decided a bicameral legislature was for them would be frickin’ crazy.
So what?
I was asking Prof. Pepperwinkle why s/he thought his/her opinion of the best form of government was better for them than that which they have thrice endorsed in free elections.
I thought about that, but the OP says they really want a monarch, so I’d go along with that, and simply make sure they had means to eliminate the position based on the will of the people in the future should they so choose. No need to be divisive if I act on a rational basis as ruler just as if I’d been elected to the position.
I don’t believe I mentioned a “bicameral legislature” at all. Some checks-and-balances are good, but the government ought to be developed around the needs of the people, which I’d spend a year-or-so studying before opting any changes. OTOH, just because the people have voted to keep their government for three elections doesn’t mean they’re enlightened voters, and may be keeping the status quo out of uncertainty or tradition.
I wasn’t sure until the bit about the alternate choice came up. I don’t think I’d be a particularly good ruler. I’d try to surround myself with People Who Know Stuff. But I think, no matter how unwittingly incompetent I manage to be, I’m still a better choice than an outright hostile looter.
I’d get my son into training toot suite, though. He’s 20, so I only expect to be Queen for 10 years or so, and then I’ll willingly abdicate to him and spend my golden years in the gardens and beaches. I expect he’d actually be a better ruler than I, once he learns the ins and outs of the thing.
How are you defining “enlightened”?
Well, under the terms described, I guess I could give it a shot. Might not hurt to ask the dean at U. of Promethia to arrange an intensive Executive Master’s course in Promethian Studies.
I would however immediately start meetings with the major legislative parties and the Law and Poli Sci schools at UProm to draft some amendments to preclude this sort of situation in the future, including one to get convicted felons excluded from succession. And because I have no children of my own yet, I may have to make sure it includes a provision for Roman-style adoption of an heir/ess (all the while of course interviewing the daughters of Promethia’s best families).
BTW I’d have my Ambassador in DC talk to the proper people in Congress to make sure there’s no problem with American members of my until-now putative family receiving many graces and favors from the now king of Promethia. 'Cause I’d like to show appreciation for all this time, y’know.
BTW nobody mentioned bicameral. What I got was that this was a government that functions similarly to a constitutional Presidential, rather than parliamentary, republic, only with a hereditary head-for-life, and there being constitutional rule of law and judiciary independence, the other two branches can check and balance the King appropriately.
It’s good to be king.
Let my coronation commence!
By this I mean repeated exposure to information and debate concerning how life in general would be changed (and possibly improved) if things were done differently, with several different possibilities put forward. IMHO, fear of the new and different provokes inertia, and a this-is-how-we’ve-always-done-it mentality. If all the cases are clearly stated and the populace then keeps what they’ve always had, then they’re making an enlightened choice to keep it.
Sounds like The Man Who Would Be King.
Aslan would point out that being certain you are the right person for the throne is evidence that you are NOT the right person for the throne. (Athena, of course, would counter that the reverse is not true.)
As for all the work … well, that’s what advisors are for. “And a woman cannot lead Glome’s armies in war,” anyway.
No. Last king, entrails, yadda yadda.
And if these Promethian sheep need to have their coffers looted by my alternate to realise that bending too easily at the knee is a design flaw in humans, so be it.
Can I have a Royal Yacht? If so, sure. I’ve already got the future heirs lined up.
Do you mean that literally? Because it seems rather at odds with your pacifism.
Have I mentioned lately that you are the very image of virtue, sir, and surely your nursemaid fed you the milk of human kindness?
Given the choice between ruling or allowing an ethically inadequate person to do so, I would accept the role. I wouldn’t want to do so, as my life is quite pleasant at present. But, I like a challenge. I believe I would rise to the occasion.
ETA:
Humbly Presented For Your Review,
Gagundathar The Inexplicable