Should China bring back its monarch?

[Taiwan Luthiers]

I think he cut down an apple tree and told his father about it, however I've read somewhere that the story was actually not true.

[Steviebike]

I don't know but there seems to be a talk in Germany about reinstating its Monarchs, or at least the German people seems to have a romanticism about monarchs... I think its more of a morale booster than anything else as in most European countries with constitutional monarchy, the king/queen has little legal power. I have heard in some constitutional monarchies, the King can take control of the country in the event of a national emergency. Thailand seems to be an exception with respect to constitutional monarchy not having legal power, as insulting the monarch in Thailand can land you in jail...

Germany?! Wow really? It's hard to imagine it would really give such a moral boost.

Technically you can end in jail for insulting the monarchy in the U.K. so Thailand isn't alone there but it rarely happens in the U.K.

[finley]

The thing about the British monarchy is that the Queen is still (technically) the head of state and the government is referred to as "Her Majesty's Government". The implication, even if it's not actually true in practice, is that political power is devolved from the monarch. If China had an emperor, he would have no status as a figurehead unless some similar psychological prop existed. If such a thing were manufactured, then the government would have to pretend it was doing the bidding of the Emperor, who in turn would have to pretend he was part of the Confucian ideal which (in theory) makes the Emperor responsible for the happiness and well-being of his citizens. Can't see that happening, because it would get in the way of making shitloads of money for the elites.

[bohica]

No doubt the CCP would get to choose who the monarch is(as well as all his successor), just like they will do with the Dalai Lama. Don't think this is going to work.

[RealityBites]

No modern country is gonna be stupid enough to go back to a monarchy system. Those govt have already proved that they fail and fail hard. The real issue is that a democratic country is even more prone to corruption because you'll always have those guys on the side buying votes to win the elections. If laws are put in place and heavily enforced with a wide net cast over who gets punished for trying to cut through the red tape then it should be fine but so far no govt has done that yet. You can see three of the worst ones in modern times from Bush Jr winning in 2000 by screwing with the Florida vote totals, Chen Shui Bian shooting himself for sympathy votes to win the relection, and Putin buying votes to get voted back into office. I don't think we can count all the "free elections" going on in the Middle East right now. Those are just ridiculously transparent staged elections.

[urodacus]

Those govt have already proved that they fail and fail hard.

Nonsense. Many monarchies are the oldest and most stable countries in the world, and with a British or similar parliamentary system, they're also democratic. to all intents and purposes.

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The real issue is that a democratic country is even more prone to corruption because you'll always have those guys on the side buying votes to win the elections.

Crap. Totalitarian regimes like in China at the moment are far far more prone to corruption, and the bigger they are, the more levels there are for corruption to fester away.

you really should change the stuff you're smoking.

[RealityBites]

I think I should be saying that to you. You should check the news more and not just the propaganda media. All these new democracies that have sprung up in recent years are corrupt. The elections are questionable, the regimes in power are questionable, the basic foundations of the new govt are to take a word from you crap.

Britain isn't a monarchy buddy. Britain is just a democratic parliamentary system with a figurehead monarch. The Queen has no power. Just to have all my ts crossed and is dotted neither are any of the commonwealth countries in Europe. You can't really have a monarchy and then have a democracy where officials in govt need to be elected by the people. How would that even work? If Queen Elizabeth died can the British and Canadian people vote for their next King or Queen? No and that's also why it doesn't matter that they can't vote for it because the next King or Queen isn't in charge. The Parliament elected Prime Minister is in charge. Who elects the Parliament? The people. I mean I guess you can call a technicality and say these places have a monarch head of state but that's very different than what a monarchy really is a govt that's ruled under a single person even a constitutional monarchy.

The countries like in the middle east or like Malaysia or Thailand where they do have a monarch aren't very stable. Old yes but definitely not stable.

[tommy525]

A chinese monarchy would end up being like todays NOrth Korea. NO thank you.

Actually what i wanted to say was "ya gotta be shittin me" .

[Zla'od]

I have often held that Taiwan ought to have a queen, in order to attract tourism. (Journalists would absolutely eat this up.) I think A-mei would be a good candidate--she's youngish, photogenic, articulate, and aboriginal. They could make her go on parade down the streets of Taipei every day at noon, waving to the crowds, just like Disneyland.

Failing that, I'm preparing a campaign to run for emperor of Taiwan. My plan is to walk around in my emperor clothes (have to get some made) and ask people "Hi, can I be your emperor?" and get them to sign a petition (like Danny Wallace). If more than half of them sign, then I am the emperor!

(The funny thing is--China would take this seriously, and blacklist me, etc.)