Lately I've been seeing posts from a few different people I follow in the Rant, Complain, Talk community and since the opportunity to go on a rant is something I can rarely pass up, I had to drop in and join in the fun! If you've flipped over to the news anytime in the last little bit, you've probably noticed at least one story about the British royals, if not five or six different pieces. This begs the question of "why?"
Why does the media, particularly here in the states, devote so much space and attention to a ceremonial figurehead and their family? More generally, why does such things as royalty and monarchies continue to exist?
At it's most basic, royalty are the living embodiment of inequality, which is part of what makes the amount of attention Americans pay to the British royal family all the more baffling. This parasitic class exists by dint of having ancestor(s) that were the biggest, baddest bully on the block in their day, and in some cases still are (I'm looking at you MBS and the House of Saud).
Aside from some pomp and ceremony, does anybody get any benefit from this arrangement besides the royals? If not, then why does it continue to exist? I suspect that sentimental reasons have much to do with this but that scarcely seems sufficient justification, particularly in places where 'insulting the monarchy' is an actual crime.
I imagine it's good work if you can get it but it seems like a raw deal for everyone not in on the scheme. Growing up we called it putting on airs when somebody started acting entitled and better than the rest of us and it was looked upon with some disfavor (and usually earned you some ridicule). I'm not sure how being kin to a king makes this somehow more palatable but it appears to do the trick with a surprising number of people.
RANT OVER
I could go on but you get the idea :) So what are your thoughts in regards to kings, queens and other royals (and their continued existence)? Anybody got a counterargument in favor of monarchy?