Whenever I hear about the lifestyle of Queen Elizabeth, I am always appealed at the free ride of luxury she is given. I mean why should the royals get to live like the Granthams at Downton Abby, paid in full by the British people? Off with their heads I say.
But looking at it through the prism of American politics, at some point I realized the point of it all. The monarchy is the symbolic identity of the British. The actual government is run by the Prime Minister. The Queen is all bout dignity and image. The prime minister's job is to run country. The Brits have no problem disagreeing with the PM and calling bullshit when he tried to pull a fast one. The Queen is all about looking good and acting British, so when things go bad she uses Latin phrases like "Anus Horriblus." So much better than this year sucked, don't you think?
Here on the other side of the pond we have this uneasy image of our President because he is both the symbolic head of state and day to day manager of the executive. If you criticize the Prez during a war you run run risk of being called a traitor because he symbolizes America.
We also have a congressman shouting "you lie" to the president during the state of the union because he is treating him like the PM in England.
So every Presidents Day our greatest leaders are seen on TV and billboards selling cars, washing machines and especially mattresses. We have a schizophrenic attitude toward the President because he is 2 things at once.
So which is it?
Less filling or tastes great?
"Certs is a candy mint. Certs is a breath mint. Two, two, two mints in one."
Anyway...
For me the choice for King would be George Clooney and for Queen it would have to be Oprah, I mean she kind of already is.
Who would you pick.
But looking at it through the prism of American politics, at some point I realized the point of it all. The monarchy is the symbolic identity of the British. The actual government is run by the Prime Minister. The Queen is all bout dignity and image. The prime minister's job is to run country. The Brits have no problem disagreeing with the PM and calling bullshit when he tried to pull a fast one. The Queen is all about looking good and acting British, so when things go bad she uses Latin phrases like "Anus Horriblus." So much better than this year sucked, don't you think?
Here on the other side of the pond we have this uneasy image of our President because he is both the symbolic head of state and day to day manager of the executive. If you criticize the Prez during a war you run run risk of being called a traitor because he symbolizes America.
We also have a congressman shouting "you lie" to the president during the state of the union because he is treating him like the PM in England.
So every Presidents Day our greatest leaders are seen on TV and billboards selling cars, washing machines and especially mattresses. We have a schizophrenic attitude toward the President because he is 2 things at once.
So which is it?
Less filling or tastes great?
"Certs is a candy mint. Certs is a breath mint. Two, two, two mints in one."
Anyway...
For me the choice for King would be George Clooney and for Queen it would have to be Oprah, I mean she kind of already is.
Who would you pick.
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