The Benefits of Monarchy
27th July 2013
British interests have been represented for decades by the same person who embodies the non-political customs and traditions of the U.K. In the U.S., every four years America could be represented by someone who has a different sense of what it means to be an American than whoever previously lived in the White House.
And far too often they get it wrong: Woodrow Wilson. Teddy Roosevelt. Franklin Roosevelt. Lyndon Johnson. Bill Clinton. Barakc Obama. ‘Nuff said….
Although not granted their position in virtue of their birth, American presidents enjoy some lifestyle perks that are similar, if not superior, to the perks the British royal family enjoys. The White House is a mansion that resembles a palace, yet the British prime minister, the most powerful politician in the U.K. and the American president’s counterpart, gets to live in the comparatively modest 10 Downing Street, an attached office and living area that does not have the absurd amenities that the president enjoys in the White House, such as a bowling alley, swimming pool, tennis court, and cinema. Neither the Queen nor her prime minister get a security detail anywhere near as large as the American Secret Service.
One of the chief benefits of monarchy is perspective — Queen Elizabeth has seen every political fad cone and go for over 60 years, and probably isn’t impressed by any of them. There’s an amusing story that in her final days Queen Victoria was presented by the War Office with proposals that were characterized as ‘entirely new’. After reviewing them, she allegedly responded, ‘No, Mr Bannerman. Lord Palmerston presented me with these exact same proposals in 1852. And Lord Palmerston was wrong.’ That’s the sort of perspective the American government has always lacked at the top.