Today, I had a most interesting encounter. Going out, as routinely
happens with coworkers after hours, the issue of “hate” against a particular
business because of their supposed “business approach” and “unfair business
practices” came up. As I listened patiently to one individual voice heartfelt
complaints, I could not help but notice the individual’s actual passion behind
it. This person meant what he said. But, as the list of grievances ended, I
could not help myself from asking aloud if the individual in question would
feel that things would be that different, should the business in question be
removed from the picture altogether. The answer was not as certain and poignant
as the earlier accusations.
But then another coworker intervened; someone whom I
appreciate very much as a person, and I treasure as a coworker, but whose view
on reality could not be further from those of yours truly. The point raised by
this individual, was that this business, in addition to all the transgressions
to which was held responsible by the first individual, was also accused of
being involved in politics through lobbying. Then, I saw my opening.
“But of course!” I retorted. “What are you to expect from a
whole system in which he who has the most money, or makes the most noise, gets
to call the shots?”
“Then what would you rather have?” went the question.
“A monarchy,” I replied.
What ensued was something that I’ve encountered many a time
from inert defenders of republicanism. “You only have one dick in charge then!”
I was told. “As one does now?” I asked. “But it’s different!” went the answer. “People
were serfs!”
“It seems that you have a rather stereotypical view of what
a monarchy is,” I said. “You do know that there were monarchies across the
world but in the last two hundred years, and that they were not all feudal,
right?”
“You are measuring it wrong.”
At this point the first coworker, anxious to nip an ass-whooping
in the bud, cut in. “You each have ten seconds to wrap it up!” he says.
“As a fact,” I continue, “the worst series of genocides,
wars, and numbers of people living in poverty are occurring under governments
chosen by the “will of the people.”
“You are measuring it wrong,” I was told yet again. And
there the topic ended.
It seems that, some individuals (especially of leftist
leanings) just cannot cope when dealing with reality and facts based in actual
history. They have been so thoroughly trained to fight the “political right,”
that when the option of a monarchy is presented (and supported with evidence)
they freak out and shutdown.
The conversation tonight inspired me to resume my work here,
and roll out a section (coming soon) that deals with basic arguments against republicanism,
based on my own experience.
