Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

From Vienna:

WRU Unplugger of the Year

Inspired by the Western Confucian, who has named Ron Paul the “Western confucian of the Year,” a WRU Unplugger of the Year is named.

The WRU Unplugger of the Year need not be a monarchist, nor regret the fall of the Old European Order. The WRU Unplugger of the Year is simply the one who is considered to have done most in bringing about the unplugging of the Wilson Revolution.

The awardee has done an excellent job at promoting ending:

• American policing of the world
• the Federal Reserve
• government managing society and the economy

All of which are major components of the Wilson legacy, and hence of the Wilson Revolution. Ending American policing of the world is an important presupposition for the Wilsonian World Order to yield for something better.

The 2008 WRU Unplugger of the Year is:

The Honorable United States Representative Ronald Ernest Paul, M.D.

Quote of the Month

Wrote Mr. Gerald Warner:

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg rules a country which claims to be overwhelmingly Catholic. There is little evidence of popular support for legalised murder, but parliament has passed this neo-Nazi legislation by 30 votes to 26. That so few people should make life-and-death decisions for so many is striking testimony to how democracy has become the slickest form of tyranny.

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Plans for Berlin

Fellow monarchist Andrew Cusack reports on reconstruction plans for Berlin.

Vendée to Be Termed Genocide?

The Daily Telegraph reports on an issue of the Vendée.

Royal World and the Western Confucian has more and more respectively.

Nepal Future

Kamal Thapa believes the Nepalese monarchy has become more relevant. So the Telegraph Nepal reports.

Where's My Bailout?

Inflationary Language

Via Karen De Coster at the LRC Blog:

Peter Schiff

Peter Schiff now has his own YouTube channel.

Here are a couple of recent videos on the trouble ahead:





Over at the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Schiff has a column.

Here are a couple of videos from earlier this month (another channel):





Update: It's not an official Peter Schiff channel.

Selected Stossel

John Stossel's Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics (in 6 parts, all in one player):



Stossel's Stupid in America:



Stossel's Sick in America (in 6 parts, all in one player):

Bête Noire Born

152 years ago today, the Persona Non Grata of this weblog was born.

For his 61^st birthday, he gave to himself and his nation nationalization of U.S. railroads. On this day four score and eleven years ago today, the United States Railroad Administration came into effect.

Was this part of the concept of spreading freedom?

While this particular measure ended i 1920, we are in general stuck today with a legacy of managing society and the economy from above. Just look at the Federal Reserve and the common belief that the economy can be managed by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. We are in the age of pervasive government, and it was with the Great War we entered it. There is still a lot of mess left from the end of the Progressive Era.

Please feel free also to read here, here, and here.

Spanish Democracy Sanctioned

3 decades ago today, King Juan Carlos I of Spain gave his assent to the democratic constitution, after a referendum 3 weeks earlier.

Washington Triumph

Eight years short of a dozen score years ago today, General Washington triumphed at Trenton, New Jersey.

The Christmas Story

Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn had a lesson, amongst others, for Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. Rockwell has some for us too.

Christmas Truce

The Christmas Truce took place 94 years ago.



Via the Western Confucian:

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Enjoy from Vienna:

Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary

On this day, Christmas Eve, 171 years ago, Elisabeth of Bavaria was born.

The Fed 95

95 years ago today, the bête noire of this weblog signed the Federal Reserve Act into law, giving us the trouble we have today.

BTW, if petitions help...

The Lost Canadian Way

Over at The Shotgun Blog of the Western Standard, Michael Cust sees the current Canadian situation in light of the relation between mixed government and liberty.

Liechtenstein Style at Buck House?

Blogger John Seiler recommends the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein as a role model for Her Britannic Majesty.

Interview of Hans-Adam II

Christine Ockrent of factualTV interviewed “absolute ruler” His Serene Highness the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein back in 2003.



The complete 43-minute interview can be found here.

Gerald Warner Backs the Grand Duke

Over at the Telegraph, the great High Scots Tory Gerald Warner defends the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

By the way, Gerald Warner's Scotsman Sunday column has been revived. Whereas 4 columns totally ran from late June to October. Gerald Warner's column has been running for the Scotsman every Sunday since November 16.

Support the Grand Duke!

Support for the Grand Duke of Luxembourg has been all over the blogosphere lately.

Now there is a petition up for support to His Royal Highness.

You may even add your own personal message.

Of course, you may choose to state whether your support is for the Grand Duke's stand against euthanasia, the threatened Grand Ducal prerogative, or both.

Apparently, the petition is for persons of all nations.

By all means, please do feel free to sign.

By the way, even though the Parliament of the Grand Duchy has voted on a constitutional amendment, I hear there has to be another vote in a few months, or a referendum.

A Reply to The Economist

Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Deputy Prime Minister, responds in the Bangkok Post to the recent coverage of the Siamese monarchy in The Economist.

The Cradle of Democracy on Fire

Prof. David Flint reflects on the situation in Greece.


H/T: Royal World

Recent Portuguese Anniversary

The Duke of Bragança spoke recently and was given a standing ovation. So the Anglo Portuguese Press Associates reports.

Iceland Caves In?

Apparently, the “solution” to the financial crisis in Iceland is EU membership, as the BBC reports. Is Frankfurt fiat money better? Where will this world end?

Prorogue and Deny Assent

Over at The Monarchist, yours truly reflects on recent events in Canada and Luxembourg.

Sark Election Upcoming

The New York Times reports on the election on the island of Sark the upcoming week.

The Grand Duke

As was reported earlier this month, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg stood up against an euthanasia bill. The Prime Minister was quite quick in responding that the Constitution had to be amended.

Constitutional democracy is a joke. We are told in wonderful speeches how democracy is “something more than majority rule” and that constitutional democracy is a democracy where a constitution limits the powers of the majority. But, once a real check on majority rule materializes, apparently that check has to be removed.

Now, the Parliament has passed the constitutional amendment just this week. So the Independent reports.

Such an important issue, and a constitutional amendment is passed in less than two weeks.

The Economist and the Siamese Monarchy

The Economist has an analysis of the Siamese monarchy, saying:

Other countries, from Spain to Brazil, have overcome dictatorial pasts to grow into strong democracies whose politics is mostly conducted in parliament, not on the streets. Thailand’s failure to follow suit is partly because “Father” has always been willing to step in and sort things out: his children have never quite had to grow up.

It is interesting how they can tag subjects of a monarchy as not having grown up, whilst the adolescence of modern democratic politics is right before their eyes.

The Financial Trouble

Jim Rogers was this week on the Lew Rockwell Show.

Peter Schiff with some brilliant analogies:



Over at the Asia Times, Antal E. Fekete believes gold fever is coming up.


Thanks in part to the Western Confucian.

Nepal

King Gyanendra still sees a role for monarchy. So SamyLive reports.

Kenya

45 years ago yesterday, Kenya became independent. 44 years ago yesterday, Kenya became a republic.

In the year passed, Kenya has gone through post-election violence and one of her sons has been elected to the Presidency of those United States.

A year that has shown us how great democracy is? Hardly!

King Oscar II

A century and a year ago today, Oscar II, King of Sweden and formerly King of Norway, passed on from this world.

King Oscar II abdicated the throne of St. Olav on October 26, 1905. He heroically never accepted the ambitions of the Norwegian politicos to have all the power for themselves.

May His Late Majesty continue to rest in peace.

Uncle Sam against the Habsburg Empire

91 years ago today, the Persona Non Grata of this weblog signed the declaration of war against Austria-Hungary, after having spoken three days earlier. The motion to declare war passed unopposed in the United States Senate. It was opposed by one United States Representative.

Another day that will live in infamy!

The Lost Monarchy

Newsweek has an article on the Washington family, the would-be royal family of those United States. The article isn't exactly filled with deep understanding, but it may still be interesting.

Franz Josef's Accession

Eight score years ago today, Franz Josef of Austria ascended to the throne.

Quote of the Month

Writes “Mencius Moldbug” at his weblog Unqualified Reservations:

Most educated people today think of democracy as a sort of impeccable ointment against political evil. We are aware - nay continuously instructed, these days, from crib to coffin - that bad government was the leading cause of death, destruction and general misery around the globe in the last century. But now we have a new century to play with, and we have this bezoar, this philosopher's stone, democracy.

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High Tory Salutes Archduke Otto

Gerald Warner pays tribute to the Archduke Otto on HIRH's 96^th birthday.

Need for Royal Resistance

Peter Hitchens makes the case that there is need for the next Britannic Majesty to show some resistance to the encroachments of the politicos.

Karl's Accession

Eight years short of a century ago today, HIRM Emperor-King Karl ascended to the thrones of Austria-Hungary.

The Western Confucian posted on the 90^th anniversary of the Emperor's renunciation of power – erroneously referred to as an abdication.

Austrian monarchists have stated that 90 years of interregnum is enough (90 Jahre Interregnum sind genug).

Queen Maud

We mark the 70^th anniversary of Queen Maud's passing.

Archduke Otto 96

The Archduke Otto is today 8 dozen years old.

Happy Birthday to His Imperial and Royal Highness!

Prince Charles 60

Theodore Harvey blogs here, here, here, here, here, and here.

60 facts via The Monarchist.

The Monarchist blogs.

The Monarchist blogs on the future King as an active one. So does Royal World.

Bhutanese Coronation

While I was busy in neighboring India, Bhutan had its coronation.

Reuters reports.

Theodore Harvey blogs.

BBC has some pictures and a video (with a pre-video ad).

The Indian Express quotes from His Majesty's speech.

Google News has more.

Viva la Reina!

Over at his weblog Royal World, Theodore Harvey defends the Queen of Spain for speaking up against modernism.

Viva o Império do Brasil!

One year short of six score years ago today, Emperor Pedro II was deposed.

11/11 11:00

Nine decades ago, the Great War came to an end. More than four years of brutal killing fortunately came to an end.

Unfortunately, out of the ashes stood an entirely new world as a phoenix. Kaiser Karl renounced his powers. A couple of days later he also did so as King of Hungary.

The new age has given us a lot of troubles; totalitarianism of many flavors, omnipotent and omnipresent government, and ugliness in society – to name a few.

Red October

We mark the 91^st anniversary of Red October.

A couple of tributes to the White Russian Army:





And a news report from earlier this year:

Vote for a Head of State?

Fortunately, I don't have the right to vote for a head of state.

The Coming Collapse

Discussion on the Glenn Beck Show:



More from Peter Schiff:





Jim Rogers:

H.L. Mencken Club

The H.L. Mencken Club will be having its first annual meeting the upcoming November 21-23 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Quote of the Month

Over at Taki's Magazine, writes Richard Spencer:

“Democracy,” says Mencken, “is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” There’s probably no better summation of the 2008 election. After an interminable campaign, Americans are urged to go exercise their little slices of the Popular Will and decide who shall be the The Decider for the next four years.

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Bertrand de Jouvenel

Five score and five years ago today, Bertrand de Jouvenel was born.

Bertrand de Jouvenel was one of the great underrated political philosophers of the 20^th century. He described the growth of the modern regime and compared it to regimes of old.

He is the author of the great book On Power: The Natural History of Its Growth. He also wrote Sovereignty: An Inquiry into the Political Good, The Pure Theory of Politics, and The Ethics of Redistribution, amongst others.

Daniel J. Mahoney examined this great man in his Bertrand de Jouvenel: The Conservative Liberal and the Illusions of Modernity.

A study of the man and his works can be highly recommended.

We honor him on the 105^th anniversary of his birth.

Happy Halloween!

All you need to do to get scared is wake up, smell the coffee, and open your eyes to what the modern regime really is.

Upcoming Tuesday

American Monarchist reflects on democracy and the upcoming election in those United States.

Ignorance and the Right to Vote

The blessing of universal suffrage:

The Kingdom of Serbia

American "Progress"

Over at the Wall Street Journal, Judge Andrew P. Napolitano reflects on modern American government.


H/T: Karen DeCoster, LRC Blog

Hope?

This is democracy for you:



Obama Affinity to Marxists Dates Back to College Days

Poll Results: Who Should Be the Next President of those United States?

The results for the poll, asking who [amongst the alternatives] should be the next President of those United States, ending at midnight between September and October, are as follows:

Total votes: 64.

• Robert E. Lee: 21 (32 %)
• Mark Twain: 12 (18 %)
• Lysander Spooner: 11 (17 %)
• John C. Calhoun: 5 (7 %)
• Lord North: 4 (6 %)
• H.L. Mencken: 4 (6 %)
• Benedict Arnold: 4 (6 %)
• P.J. O'Rourke: 3 (4 %)

A new poll will be up shortly.

This Present Crisis

Unqualified Reservations has a post on the flawed banking system.

Newstopia explains how central banks work:


Liberty vs. Leviathan says inflation is at 341 % per annum in those United States.

The Ludwig von Mises Institute and LewRockwell.com are places to check out for non-mainstream perspectives on the present crisis.

Kaiser Karl

This Tuesday was Blessed Kaiser Karl's Feast Day.

Andrew Cusack has more on the occasion. So does Roman Christendom, and
also Rorate Cæli.


Via Tea at Trianon.

W.E.H. Lecky

Five score and five years ago today, William Edward Hartpole Lecky, who stood up against the rising age of democracy, passed on from this world.

Kaiser Karl and Kaiserin Zita 97

Today is Blessed Emperor Karl's Feast Day. Three years short of a century ago today, then Archduke Karl married Princess Zita.

Elite

Ferdinand Finne, late Norwegian painter, graphic artist, theater artist, and author, Knight, 1^st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, born on this day two years short of a century ago, said:

I am appalled by the word ‘elite’ having being degraded to an invective, when one of our culture bearers spits the phrase ‘elite thinking’ like a toad out of his mouth. Everything that has brought mankind a few steps forward is a result of the elite.

A Lion's Political Life

Over at the New York Times, Patrick Cockburn reviews Dr. Avi Shlaim's Lion of Jordan: The Life of King Hussein in War and Peace and Dr. Nigel Ashton's King Hussein of Jordan: A Political Life.





H/T: Royal World

The Meltdown and Egalitarianism

Present guest editor of LRC, Prof. Thomas DiLorenzo, recommends this policy report (PDF 29 pages, 933 KB) from the Independent Institute on how egalitarianism brought about the current financial situation by Prof. Stan J. Liebowitz.

Capitol Hill "Rescue"

Those United States Representatives acted not so honorably this Friday. Having watched part of the debate, it is not so hard to conclude that popular assemblies are not informed decision-making bodies.

The Honorable United States Representative Ronald Ernest Paul, M.D. on the turnout:



Writes a commenter over at the Western Confucian:

I think that "the right to have a positive credit rating" has now been promulgated according to the positivist doctrine of law, similar to the right to free education and medical care, a [doctrine] which the American public has absorbed through osmosis rather than argumentation. Dr. Paul is heroic...he's not just against the government...he's up against the zeitgeist.

Romanovs

The Russian Imperial Family's name has been “restored.” Royal World and the Western Confucian post on the Romanov “rehabilitation” here and here respectively.

Royal World also has news on a recent Romanov passing.

Democracy's Debunking

Over at LewRockwell.com, Becky Akers reflects on “us.”

Quote of the Month

Writes “Deogolwulf” at his eloquent weblog The Joy of Curmudgeonry in an exceptionally well-phrased post:

Democracy, in order to appeal, must whisper to every man a fundamentally undemocratic falsehood: that he can choose his government. Therein lies a confusion of democratic thought: the confusion of the power of the people with the liberty of the person. When a man says he is free under a democracy because he can choose his government, already the falsehood is fully grown. He cannot do any such thing. He is given a say in how his country is to be governed, but this degree of power is so tiny as to be almost non-existent; and yet for this, he is willing to give up his fate to an overwhelming power, and he calls his subjection to this power — freedom!

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Liberty vs. Leviathan

The Western Confucian brings a new blog, Liberty vs. Leviathan, to our attention.

Book on American Conservatism

Ray Nothstine reviews Alfred S. Regnery's Upstream: The Ascendance of American Conservatism.


H/T: Western Confucian

A Likeable Wilson

Over at the Daily Mail, historian A.N. Wilson rails against the latest “New Labour” plans for the monarchy – involving “sexual and religious discrimation.”

A.N. Wilson concludes:

[I]t need not happen, and let us hope to God that the Queen – who somewhat to her shame allowed the disgraceful wreckage of the Lords without even questioning what was happening – will at last put her foot down. Enough is enough.

This is a Wilson of a completely other sort than the one whose revolution this weblog's mission it is to unplug, although his reference to the French Bourbon regime as tyrannical is debatable at best.

The story of the rise of Anglicanism – and other branches of Protestantism, for that matter – is very much a story of the state placing itself over the Church. This story now continues by the state attempting to free itself completely from whatever there may be left of Christianity's restraint on the power of the state. The current drive for religious “freedom” for the monarchs of Europe is part of that story.

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway was reported earlier this year to have put His Majestic foot down on a proposal in the works to abolish the constitutional provision on the monarch's religious beliefs.

Let us hope Her Britannic Majesty can show similar Majestic courage as her second cousin across the North Sea.


Link (Daily Mail) via The Monarchist.

Global Financial System?

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Gordon Brown, speaking at UN Headquarters, wants a new financial order. So the UN News Centre reports, also reporting a similar approach by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Gordon Brown wants “transparency,” which probably means that no bird shall fall to the ground without the government having it on record. He also wants “oversight of global capital flows,” which probably means that no man can tax-free go where man has or has not gone before.

It is indeed interesting that the solution to the failure of a central bank run system with fiat currencies is a more centralized system. Are we to have a global central bank now? A global fiat currency?

Media Monarchy has more on a “new financial world order.”