Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack&Lube
I follow the philosophy of Edmund Burke in terms of valuing the conservative approach of preserving systems and institutions.
People often talk about Calvin, Hobbes, and Voltaire but Burke is often forgotten. His famous work, "Reflections on the Revolution in France" is an argument for preserving institutions, even if people don't necessarily see the immediate value for them but institutions are the foundation for the traditions and stability in our legal and political systems. Throwing out your institutions and trying to reinvent traditions that worked for hundreds of years results in chaos, inequity, and bloodshed like what was seen in the Reign of Terror in France or post-Soviet Russia (consequences of which we are seeing even today).
I fully support the continuation of the Monarchy as part of the institution of the 1000 year history of the political systems and legal systems Canada and other Commonwealth realms have inherited that follow much more historical convention than statute than people realize. People talk about the financial burden of maintaining the Monarchy but the entire system generates a return on investment in tourism and other factors for the UK that outweighs what is put in to support that one family. Preservation of some traditions are important, even if it flies in the face of some modern sensibilities.
|
I don't think too many people in countries that have abolished monarchies over the past two hundred years or so lament their loss. I think there is a good reason why most countries chose to abolish their monarchies in modern times. It's the embodiment of classism and nepotism, even if it is just symbolic.
Let's be honest, if the monarchy didn't already exist, no one would think it would be a good idea to have one. If having a monarch is really required as a check and balance against tyranny, then Canada should at least pick it's own. Having a foreign official head of state seems absurd.