WRU Unplugger of the Year

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.

This year's awardee has done an excellent job at standing up for regal powers. In this day and age, it is expected that the powers of a monarch go in one direction only – in the emasculation direction. However, to the frustration of democratists everywhere, the awardee stood up for the right to deny Princely Assent to popular referenda.

The 2012 WRU Unplugger of the Year is:

His Serene Highness Alois Philipp Maria von und zu Liechtenstein, Hereditary Prince and Prince Regent of Liechtenstein

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Quote of the Month

Says Mr. Mike Church:

English liberty was kind of developed under the British monarchy. As a matter of fact, there is a significant body of scholarship that would suggest that life under a benevolent monarch, there were a few, in the old Christian Europe was probably actually less tyrannical than life under a democracy is today.

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Some Musings on Democracy and Monarchy

From the past forty days:

The XX Committee explains why the EU is not the Habsburg Monarchy 2.0.

Virtue Politics defends monarchy.

Over at The Archdruid Report, John Michael Greer states:

Yet real democracy, meaning the sort of democracy that is capable of existing in the real world, is always plagued with corruption. If you give people the right to dispose of their vote however they wish, after all, a fair number of them will wish to sell that vote to the highest bidder in as direct a fashion as the local laws allow. If you give public officials the responsibility to make decisions, a fair number of them will make those decisions for their own private benefit. If you give voters the right to choose public officials, in turn, and give candidates for public office the chance to convince the public to choose them, you’ve guaranteed that a good many plausible rascals will be elected to office, because that’s who the people will choose. That can’t be avoided without abandoning democracy altogether.

Whereafter he follows up with a well-known Churchillian fallacy.

Drescapes.com argues that all democracies fail.

Over at Nepal 24 Hours, Dirgha Raj Prasai reasons for a Nepalese restoration.

Over at Chronicles Magazine, writes Srdja Trifkovic:

Democracy could “work” if it was a democracy of and for and by the right people, but that model is fit only for the Post-Raptorial Republic of Angels. In a non-Utopian world it cannot work because “We the People” is a corrupt mélange of mostly coarse individuals pretending to be Gods. Democracy has duly ruined the remnant of what used to be Christendom. The final stage of the process is proceeding apace: having divorced reason from faith, the West is rapidly sinking into moral, cultural and demographic self-destruction. The Citizen’s self-validating reason guarantees that there are no checks and no balances.

Succession Progressivism Progressing

The quest to amended the Britannic succession rules has moved to a new stage this month.

Trond Norén Isaksen reports.


Previously: End of Male Primogeniture?, Tinkering with Succession

Coronation in Budapest

Four years short of a century ago today, the latest Hungarian coronation took place.

Mozart's Krönungsmesse:

Ben Swann and Guns

Ben Swann gives some perspective on carrying guns:

Messy Politics and Language

Some perspectives from Blimey Cow in Messy Mondays:

Cash in Scandinavia

Over at LewRockwell.com, Prof. Joseph Salerno gives a report on the status of the anti-cash movement in Sweden.

See also my report from a few months back.

28th POTUS Born

156 years ago today, the bête noire and the Persona Non Grata of this weblog was born.

St. Joseph's Background

Remembering his friend Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, wrote Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. Christmas a baker's dozen years ago:

Despite all the claims and sweet stories, St. Joseph was no worker. He was a prince of the royal family of Israel, "of the House and lineage of David." And his profession is more properly translated as builder, not carpenter. He was also a property owner, one of a very few at that time.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Enjoy from Vienna:

Christmas 1914-1915

Empress-Queen Elisabeth

Seven quarters of a century ago today, Elisabeth of Bavaria was born.

Silver and Gold for Christmas

H/T: Karen De Coster, The LRC Blog

The Fed 99

A year short of a century ago today, the Persona Non Grata of this weblog signed the Federal Reserve Act into law.

Christmas in Rhodesia

Mr. John Edmond sings Christmas in Rhodesia:

Christmas from Ray Stevens

Season Wisdom

H/T: Prof. Thomas DiLorenzo, The LRC Blog

Hitchens on World War II

Over at his Mail Online weblog, Mr. Peter Hitchens gives his take on World War II as a “good” war.


H/T: LewRockwell.com

Wilson Arrives

94 years ago today, the bête noire of this blog arrived for the post-WWI Versailles conference.

Kenyan Independence

49 years ago today, Kenya became independent, and Queen Elizabeth II assumed the title of Queen of Kenya. 48 years ago today, Her Majesty stepped down as Queen of Kenya, the country becoming a republic.

Post-colonial Kenya has had its problems. Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn compared colonial government with post-colonial government in his Leftism Revisited.

Roger Whittaker on his homeland:

Abdication of Edward VIII

76 years ago today, His Britannic Majesty King Edward VIII abdicated.

The official story is that it was due to his wish to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

However, a BBC Four documentary, Abdication: A Very British Coup, claims the story is more complicated. Yours truly watched the documentary previously this year when it was still available at YouTube. It has now unfortunately been removed, apparently due to a copyright issue.

According to the documentary the political establishment was looking for an excuse to get rid of the King. His modern views were not appropriate.

It could be tempting to want a King who holds traditionalist views, including keeping up pomp and circumstance and sticking to royal marriage traditions, but it may also be useful to reflect on whether one wants a monarch to the liking of the political establishment and who does not get in the same establishment's way. It may also be useful to reflect on a monarch removal's effect on future monarchs.

The abdication speech of the Duke of Windsor:

The Mad Monarchist has a profile.

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson 180

Nine score years ago today, Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson was born.


Previously: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

Demise of King Oscar II

A century and five years ago today, Oscar II, King of Sweden and formerly King of Norway, passed on.

True Infamy

Five years short of a century ago today, the Persona Non Grata and bête noire 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.

Prof. Niall Ferguson on the war (also posted recently):

The American Conservative: Tin Anniversary

The American Conservative marked last month ten years of service (H/T: The Pittsford Perennialist).

The American Conservative, whose mission is to give a rediscovery of traditional conservatism, also last month ran a piece by editor Daniel McCarthy on outsider conservatism.

To Sea for Democratism

94 years ago today, the bête noire of this weblog set sail aboard the USS George Washington to redraw the map of Europe and make the world safe for the god Demos.

Franz Josef Accedes

164 years ago today, the reign of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria commenced.

The Mad Monarchist has a profile on the late monarch.

Quote of the Month

Writes Mr. Theodore Harvey:

Many Americans, perhaps especially Christians, are under the impression that they have a “Duty” to vote whether they like it or not. I am not sure where in the Bible (which does mention paying taxes, but not voting) this alleged “Duty” comes from. I would think Christians ought to be more concerned with whether the modern Western fixation with “Democracy” is in danger of becoming a sort of idolatrous religion of its own, with Voting its chief “sacrament.”

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Tyranny of the Majority

Over at LewRockwell.com, Bionic Mosquito deplores the tyranny of the majority.

Month of Monarchy and Democracy

This month marked the centennial of the birht of Archduke Otto, and the Austrian-based Schwarz-Gelbe Allianz has marked the occasion. So did a weblog named 100 Years Ago Today. Yours truly had a tribute run through the LRC Blog.

Royal World gives a review of A Royal Affair. Royal World also reviews a book; Christopher Ferrara's Liberty, the God That Failed.

The Mad Monarchist quotes King Harald V of Norway from 2005:

We have been given an assignment as a monarchy, and we do as well as we can…We try to be as little populistic as possible. We don’t do anything on the spur of the moment to win an opinion poll, or short-term popularity.

The same blog also quotes Pope Pius VI:

In fact, after having abolished the monarchy, the best of all governments, [the French Revolution] had transferred all the public power to the people - the people…ever easy to deceive and to lead into every excess…

The same Texas monarchist considers the recent American election and says amongst other things:

Most people said that government should be smaller and that raising taxes would not solve the debt problem yet these same people voted for the President who promised bigger government and raising taxes to deal with the debt problem. In other words, the public doesn't seem to have any sense at all. You can blame the politicians for plenty but the public that keeps voting for them cannot get off totally blameless either. Sure, the choices the public are given don't help. I was never a fan of Romney or Obama (and didn't vote for either of them).

Over at LewRockwell.com, writes Dr. Gary North:

The Constitution was established in order to strengthen the powers of the Federal government. It strengthened them vastly beyond what the British had attempted to impose on the colonies in the early 1770s.

Also over at LewRockwell.com, writes Mr. Justin Raimondo:

If President Obama goes down in history as the incarnation of one of his distinguished predecessors, it will likely turn out to be the 28th president of these United States, whose name has become a byword for preening self-righteous interventionism on a global scale. I refer, of course, to Thomas Woodrow Wilson, a towering icon of “progressive” liberalism who dragged us into a war that was the downfall of European civilization.

Writes Jacob Lyles:

Democracy is like a business that outsources its management decisions to its customers.

Over at Taki's Magazine, Taki Theodoracopulos himself gives some thoughts on democracy:

We seem to have regressed, as our political leaders promise us everything before and give us absolutely nothing afterward.

He concludes:

Most people say they want to be free. But one of the greatest Greek thinkers of all time asks: Free to do what? Freedom from state coercion and interference, or free to shape their future by participating in the governing process by writing the laws and deciding when and if to go to war?

Well, let’s face it. We are not free from the state’s coercion, and we have the surveillance by millions of cameras that watch us at all times to prove it. And we certainly do not have the power to participate in major decisions such as going to war or writing laws. We are sheep led by knaves and con men, and this is why the electoral process we call democracy is one big joke.

Over at Alternative Right, John Maelstrom ponders and then concludes with:

The desire to expose the seductive pull of the Left’s soulless egalitarianism is what calls us to the Right. Conquering that Hellish impulse within ourselves is what may ultimately unite us. None of this is possible without also listening to the voices of our dead.

The Counter-Revolutionary gives us Prof. Niall Ferguson on the Great War:

On What Side of History?

Over at Taki's Magazine, Jim Goad reflects on the sides of history. He starts off:

As the leftist juggernaut blithely steamrollers its way over what’s left of this country, its blinkered acolytes have smugly convinced themselves that they are on “the right side of history” and that any dissenters are troglodytic throwbacks to a less moral and less enlightened era. They freely smear, degrade, disgrace, tut-tut, pooh-pooh, pee-pee, and skeet-skeet anyone who questions whether their shallow tokens of “cultural progress” might be nothing more than cynical window dressing that obscures an increasingly “empowered” governmental behemoth.

He continues:

Despite the historical record, a peskily persistent fallacy is argumentum ad populum, the idea that the majority is right. The mob, no matter where it’s headed, whom it’s beheading, or what it’s burning down, has always deemed itself to be on the right side of history.

Further down:

Tell someone who’s just been diagnosed with cancer that all change is good.

The next time you wish to conflate “new” with “good,” consider that the proliferation of AIDS among humans is relatively new.

Is it wrong to try and “turn back the clock” on a ticking time bomb?

Mr. Goad concludes:

History seems headed in the wrong direction, so I’m happy to be on the wrong side of it.

Gender Blurring

Over at Taki's Magazine, Prof. Paul Gottfried demolishes gender egalitarianism.

Over at the LRC Blog, Laurence Vance has a couple of posts against women in combat.

Abuse and Misuse of Words

By Blimey Cow:

Worship of Dead Presidents

I returned last Sunday from an around weeklong trip to Taipei, where they apparently have no scruples against worshipping the traitor-in-chief to Imperial China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen:

When Dr. Sun Yat-sen demised less than a decade and a half after the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, one of his closest, Chiang Kai-shek, remained in charge through various posts for around fifty years until his own demise.

They overthrew the Qing dynasty, to have a revolutionary general in charge for half a century, longer than most monarchs remain on the throne.

And they worship him as well:

Photos by yours truly.

Accession Oath

A century and seven years ago today, Haakon VII gave his constitutional oath before Parliament.

Two days, nine days, and 14-15 days prior respectively, His Majesty had arrived in Christiania, His Majesty had been declared King, and a referendum supported his accession.

Sidebar Links Reviewed

As noted here, I had received notice of troublesome content at some of the sites linked to in my sidebar. As promised I would do, I have now reviewed the sidebar links – of which there were and still are over a hundred.

Around a dozen links have been removed due to being dead. Four links have been removed because the content has changed too much in a troublesome direction since the decision was made to include them. I here even found one clearly turned Nazi-sympathizing blog.

Although I do not take responsibility for the content at the other end of the links, there are of course limits too to what I can link to. The disclaimer, however, still stands, and sites that remain linked to I still do not take responsibility for the content of. I may even have major philosophical differences with them.

The notice I received contained a claim that half my links were either to neo-Nazi or racist blogs. This is a preposterous claim. I challenge anyone to prove it.

Archduke Otto Centennial

I have an article at LewRockwell.com at this centennial of the birth of Archduke Otto.


Note: I have received notice that there is disturbing material at some of the blogs in my blogroll. Please refer to my disclaimer that I do not endorse everything at the other end. However, I will review the links in near future.

Rhodesia and Salisbury

Five years ago today, Ian Douglas Smith passed away.

Since this year also marks the 30^th anniversary of the renaming of Salisbury, a song of the town by John Edmond is brought to you:

Nine Decades of Vacancy

A decade short of century ago today, Mehmed VI was expelled and departed Constantinople.

Viva o Imperador!

123 years ago today, Emperor Pedro II was deposed.

123 years of Interregnum is more than enough!

Lords Expelled

A baker's dozen years ago today, the House of Lords Act 1999 received Royal Assent.

The documentary The Lords' Tale is brought to you:

The Still Hour

94 years ago today, the guns of the Great War fell silent.

On the same day, the Emperor of Austria renounced power and the Austro-Hungarian Imperial-Royal Family moved from Schönbrunn to internal exile at Eckartsau.

Two days prior, the German abdication had been announced.

Two days later, the Hungarian equivalent to the Austrian renunciation was signed at Eckartsau.

Over at The LRC Blog, Daniel McAdams says:

Civilization lost. Decency lost. And in many ways the world ended.

Mr. McAdams also directs our attentions to this video:

We also have a series at LewRockwell.com from the pen of Professor Ralph Raico run this fall:

• Prelude to World War I
• And the War Came
• Woodrow Wilson's 'Second Personality'
• America Goes to War
• World War I on the Home Front

American Peace with an Interregnum

91 years ago today, the peace treaty after the Great War between Austria and those United States came into force.

Bloody October

Five years short of a century ago today, the world was struck by Red October.

Landslide Perilous

A century ago today, the bête noire and the Persona Non Grata of this weblog was elected the 28^th POTUS in a landslide victory.

A King and Debasement

Ad Orientem tells the story of how King Henry I dealt with currency debasement.

Upcoming Electoral College Controversy?

Over at The Washington Post, Karen Tumulty ponders the possibility of a split between the popular and electoral vote (H/T: Ad Orientem):

A win in the electoral college that is not accompanied by one in the popular vote casts a shadow over the president and his ability to govern.

Over at The American Conservative, W. James Antle III also reflects:

Its abolition would just be the latest step away from the idea of a federal republic toward the notion that the narrowest plurality of Americans should get whatever it wants from government.

Whom to Vote For?

H/T: Ad Orientem

Turkish Republican Madness

90 years ago today, the Ottoman Sultanate was abolished.

Quote of the Month

Writes Mr. Theodore Harvey over at his weblog Royal World:

Tsarist Russia has been unfairly maligned by leftist propaganda for more than a century and as a staunch monarchist I am always sorry to see otherwise discerning right-wingers falling for it.

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Happy Halloween!

Want to get a scare?

Have a look at the fiat money system unmasked!

Scandinavian Union Ended

A century and seven years ago today, King Oscar II vacated the ancient throne of Norway.

The King's signature in stone (in Norwegian):

Future Emperor Marries

Today is Blessed Emperor-King Karl's Feast Day. A century and a year ago today, then Archduke Karl married Princess Zita.

Technical Problems

There has been an issue for some time now with this blog in that it tended to be shown in a WebRing frame. Just this week I was notified by a correspondent that it blocked commenting on posts.

It is supposed to be resolved now, and I have tested it a few times myself, but the problem was not consistent, so I do not know completely for sure.

If you do notice any of these technical problems, please do let me know.

Please accept my apologies to those readers who have been bothered by this.

Nobel and the EU

Jim Rogers comments this year's Nobel Peace Prize:

Nigel Farage comments:

So does Fredrik S. Heffermehl.

And Lew Rockwell too.

Queen on the Scaffold

A year short of 220 years ago today, Marie Antoinette was murdered.

Thomas Hutchinson's Letter

Four years short of a dozen score years ago today, Thomas Hutchinson, former Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, wrote a letter to a Noble Lord countering the Declaration of Independence.


Via Unpopular Opinions.

Decisive in 1812

A couple of centuries ago today, Canada was saved – under the leadership of Sir Isaac Brock – from takeover from the American Republic.

Pedro I of Brazil

A decade short of a couple of centuries ago today, Dom Pedro Primeiro was proclaimed Emperor of Brazil – on his 24^th birthday, and 5 days after he proclaimed Brazilian Independence.

Personal Passing

My eldest great aunt, who may be partly responsible for my own interest in history, who was my last link amongst relatives to the Great War, as she told a story from her childhood when she was with her mother, whom I also have memories of, and met a troop of Germans going to the continent to fight the war, and whom I referred to in my Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn centennial article, passed away this morning at an incredible age of 103.

Requiescat in pace!

Problem and Democracy

You have a problem.

You decide to solve it with democracy.

Now you have two problems.

More Power to the Queen?

Over at FrontPage Magazine, writes Daniel Greenfield:

It does seem as if Queen Elizabeth has a good deal more sense than any of her Prime Ministers.

And Mr. Greenfield asks:

[W]ho wouldn’t like to contemplate the possibility of Queen Elizabeth II driving the rabble out of the kingdom?

Money, Spending, and Deficits

Jim Grant on the money madness:

Ben Swann checks on candidates' will to cut spending:

Poll Results: What Does the Development in the Second Week of July Regarding the Future of the House of Lords Tell Us?

The results for the poll, asking what does the development in the second week of July regarding the future of the House of Lords tell us, ending at midnight between September and October, are as follows:

Total votes: 25.

• There is true hope for the House of Lords not being permanently beyond recognition: 15 (60%)
• Even if the opposition is not sound, any opposition is a good sign: 4 (16%)
• This is just a temporary setback. The modernist-progressivists are in charge in any case: 3 (12%)
• The House of Lords will not be significant whatsoever: 2 (8%)
• The rebellion is not significant: 1 (4%)
• The alternative the rebels have is sound: 0 (0%)

A new poll will be up shortly.

Portuguese Interregnum 102

102 years ago today, the Portuguese interregnal government commenced.

Viva o Rei!

George Carlin on Voting

The now late George Carlin gives his take (please note that there is foul language and body language):

Quote of the Month

Writes Mr. Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. over at The LRC Blog:

[W]hat was the main, immediate effect of the Constitution as versus the monarchy? To triple taxes on the American people.

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Habsburg this Month

Eldest son of Archduke Carl Christian, Archduke Imre, married this month in a city upon the Potomac.

Royal World and Ad Orientem has more and more.

Coulombe on Leadership

Over at Taki's Magazine, Charles A. Coulombe reflects on leadership:

There are several reasons why neither ballot boxes nor military coups create such folk today. The first is our culture’s abandonment of the aristocratic principle. With the exception of Reagan (who nevertheless could play the part), all of these men came from the higher ranks of society. By itself that means nothing, or Paris Hilton would make a fine president. But in the period which produced these leaders, the strata from which they sprung held up certain ideals to its members: chivalry, noblesse oblige, gentlemanly behavior, courtesy, and self-sacrifice—phrases which now are held to be laughable slogans with which the rich of old covered their greed.

Monarchy Musings from August

Royal World brings to our attention a defense of monarchy by Ray Wilson over at ridingthetiger.org. Ray Wilson writes:

The negative view of monarchy today is tied to the quasi sacred belief in the idea of “progress” in which history is viewed as a continuous marching forward, with advancements socially, culturally, technologically, one in which primitivity and barbarism is the starting point and civilization is a sort of eternal end point. The liberals and so called progressives label anything that is contrary to their own ideological leanings as “reactionary” or regressive as it is far easier to dismiss something as backwards than actually judge it on its own faults and merits.

The Sobornost quotes:

Russia needs to reunify with its canonical territories, first and foremost with Belarus and Ukraine, and elect an Orthodox monarch to lead the country to its former greatness.

Over at Chronicles Magazine, writes Clyde Wilson:

I know there are good British people who feel that their monarchy plays an important role as the embodiment of tradition, patriotism, and unity, and I must respect that. I know also that the criticism of the monarchy that comes from the Brit chattering classes is not motivated by moral outrage or democratic sentiment. It expresses the same envy and spite that energizes a similar type in America to hate the Confederate flag. Their nature is to suppress whatever is a remnant of earlier and better times that they fear they cannot fully control.

Over at Attack the System, it is written:

What about the communists screaming about the authoritarian nature of monarchism? They would need an authoritarian state to carry out their actions under the false promise that the state would somehow melt away. At least monarchism never makes such false claims, as Marxism does. Marxism does not lead to maximal liberty. Even if based upon a system of democracy, as the Trotskyites would want, this would become mob rule.

Everyone would think that they know just as well as anyone else what should be done. Can everyone simultaneously be an expert in politics, science, economics, and so on? Some people know more than others on these topics. A king would have been raised in political affairs his entire life by his predecessor. Nothing can compare.

Quantitative Madness

Reality Check and Ben Swann on the money madness:

RT reflects on QE3:

Ron Paul gives his take:

Marc Faber gives his thoughts:

Capital Account with Dr. Faber are more:

Capital Account also brings on David Stockman:

Jim Rogers also gave some views previously this month:

Tom Woods gives a summary of the problems with the Euro:

Judge Andrew Napolitano also presents his take:

American National Conventions

At the end of last month and the beginning of this month the big political parties in those United States of America held their national conventions to demonstrate the virtues of the people electing the head of state.

This weblog brings to you a compilation of videos.

How voting occurred at the GOP Convention:

Ben Swann gives his take:

Someone checks whether the formalities were in order for a nomination from the floor amongst other things:

Nomination forms were handed in:

Also mentioned by the Nevada delegation:

More on the dubious stuff:

More from CNN:

John Stossel and an associate report:

Jon Stewart interviews former GOP Chairman Michael Steele on what happened:

How it played out at the Democratic National Convention:

Ben Swann follows up:

Mr. Swann is interviewed on the The Jerry Doyle Show:

As a bonus the full speech of U.S. Representative Ron Paul at the event before the GOP Convention:

John Randolph Club

The John Randolph Club will be holding its 23^rd annual meeting November 16 through 18 in Chicago. The theme is The Failure of Democracy.

Music?

Jordan Taylor of Blimey Cow gives us his take on music:

Princess Ragnhild, RIP

Princess Ragnhild of Norway passed away in her home in Rio de Janeiro last Sunday.

She was the first born to Crown Prince Olav, the then future King, and Crown Princess Märtha. She was eight months short of celebrating her diamond wedding anniversary.

She publicly voiced her opinion on the choice of consorts for her nephew and niece in 2004.

Requiescat in pace!


Elsewhere: Trond Norén Isaksen

First French Republic Declared

Eleven score years ago today, the First French Republic was proclaimed.

Vive le Roi de la France!

Oscar II's Accession

Seven score years ago today, King Oscar II ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway.

U.S. Constitution Adopted

Nine quarters of a century ago today, the federal Constitution of those United States was signed, and the Constitutional Convention dissolved, at Independence Hall in Phildelphia in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

C.M. Falsen

23 decades ago today, Christian Magnus Falsen was born. Falsen was one of the leading men at Eidsvold. He was a proponent of aristocratic and monarchical power.

We will likely hear a lot about Falsen in the constitutional jubilee year of 2014.

Mencken 132

132 years ago today, H.L. Mencken was born.

In November, the H.L. Mencken Club hosts its 2012 conference – November 9 through 11.

Right and Left

Anarcho-Monarchism ponders the concept of the politically left and right.

America and Austria in Peace

Seven baker's dozen years ago today, the peace treaty after the Great War between Austria and those United States was signed.

Lords "Reform" Officially Withdrawn

Nick Clegg officially concedes defeat before the House of Commons – temporarily that is:

Apparently, Lords “reform” is important enough to Mr. Clegg to ram it down the throats of Their Lordships, Members of Parliament, and others but not important enough to debate thoroughly.

Evidently, he has the nerve to blame those who want thorough debate for filibustering because there is no time to do it properly.

This video makes the case against democratization:

Gotham City, the Bastille, and the Winter Palace

Over at Alternative Right, Mr. Mark Packard draws parallels between the new Batman movie and decline in our real civilization, including the French and Russian revolutions.

Gold & Confiscation

Over at Zero Hedge, Tyler Durden looks a few years back on the history of gold and money.


H/T: Foseti

An American Self-Determinist on Liechtenstein

Over at the Second Vermont Republic website, Thomas H. Naylor reflects on the Principality of Liechtenstein and her Sovereign Prince, Hans-Adam II.

Persian Restoration?

The Economist reports on a monarchy-sympathetic documentary, From Tehran to Cairo.


H/T: Royal World

Jim Rogers & the Economy

Jim Rogers has yet another take on the economy business:

Battle of Ideas

The Institute of Ideas has an annual event, namely the Battle of Ideas, which is weekend gathering with lots of debates.

This year's event takes place in the Barbican in London on the third weekend of October.

One of the debates is a monarchy debate, with Rafal Heydel-Mankoo and Scott Pepé on the monarchist side.


H/T: Rafal Heydel-Mankoo

Lords Again

Apparently, the issue of reforming or “reforming” the House of Lords will not proceed in “this Parliament.”

Democratist Nick Clegg concedes defeat:

No, Mr. Clegg. Absolute democracy is not a matter of course. It will be fought – and rightly so.

Over at NetRightDaily, Mr. Kevin Mooney praises the House of Lords, although committing some factual errors and inaccuracies.

Darkness in the Oil Kingdom

Today is the first day of total ban against the incandescent light bulb – save use and emptying stores of existing ones in this oil kingdom.

One of many measures to make more relevant the question why my grandfather and his generation risked their lives to expell the occupying forces 1940-1945.

Quote of the Month

Writes Mr. Bill Bonner over at The Daily Reckoning:

The real genius of modern democracy is that it makes the citizen feel that the government and its workings are somehow the product of his own aspirations. If he wants more money for his retirement, he presumes he can get [this] — provided only that enough fellow citizens share his desire. If he wants to go to war, that too is up to him and his fellow voters. If he wants to spend more money on space exploration or ban people from saying prayers in bars, the majority — of which he feels he should be part — can do that too.

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Politicos and Monarchy

Writes The Mad Monarchist:

It is amazing how so many people in the world are passionately loyal to the republic as an ideal while widely despising politicians in general. Bizarre as that is, the low opinion most people have for the vast majority of politicians is one of the most valuable weapons in the monarchist arsenal.

The Prospects of Restoration

The Anti-Gnostic gives some perspective on the prospects of restoration of real monarchy.

The Anti-Gnostic concludes:

Practically speaking, even if (1) the legitimate bloodlines could be traced and (2) the property restored, the institution itself is utterly gone, reduced, as Taki notes, to a purely ceremonial role. The extant order and all existing public property claims would have to disappear, and some putative neo-monarch start again from Year Zero. Not impossible, but extremely unlikely.

Quite dim, to say the least.

Floridian Circus

Today starts the circus in Tampa, Florida.

To its “honor” we give you Blimey Cow:

Ben Swann on the pre-convention process:

And Rachel Maddow on the same:

As the phrase goes, same same but different:

Dr. Tom Woods spoke just ahead of the convention:

Progressives and "Moving On"

Progressives tend to view their fights and battles as legitimate. No matter how many times, no matter with how high a frequency, they fight a battle and lose, it is always legitimate to come back and fight again.

However, when they win, anyone not bowing down and accepting the win for now and forevermore, is “stuck in the past as the world moves on.” This even applies when the progressives have succeeded at defining the moon as a green cheese.

Libertarian Monarchism?

Free Northerner reflects on libertarianism and monarchism.

Austro-American Treaty

91 years ago today, the peace treaty after the Great War between Austria and those United States was signed.

French Conscription

Two centuries and twenty years ago today, the levée en masse was established.

The Future of Learning

We know government schools haven't been doing a particular good job at education. And of course, private educational institutions could do better as well.

Mr. Scott H. Young is a young Canadian entrepreneur who has a project going where concept is to take MIT's four year computer science curriculum in just twelve months – without taking classes or being enrolled. Here is a TEDx talk he has given on the project:

Mr. Young has a YouTube channel for the project and his own website. He also has a free e-book on fast learning.

Mr. Josh Taylor is interviewed on The Lew Rockwell Show about education.

Professor Daphne Koller gives a TED talk on online education.

Ray Stevens on Tenth and Taxes

Discrimination

Over at LewRockwell.com, Mike Rogers is proud to discriminate.

The Right Anti-Intellectual?

Over at The Orthosphere, it is pondered whether the right is anti-intellectual.

Franz Josef 182

Nine score and two years ago today, Archduke Franz Josef was born.

Gott erhalte und beschütze den Kaiser!

Kaiser Karl

Five quarters of a century ago today, Archduke Charles of Austria – later Emperor-King – was born.

Gott erhalte und beschütze den Kaiser!

Tribunal of Revolution

Eleven score years ago today, Robespierre proposed a revolutionary tribunal.

Happy National Day, Liechtenstein!

Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land!

Napolitano on Spying Drones

Judge Andrew Napolitano discusses surveillance drones:

The Arrest of a King

Eleven score years ago today, Louis XVI of France was officially arrested.

The Circus in London

Over at the Mail on Sunday, Peter Hitchens rants against what's going on in London. He also followed up the next day.

The Mad Monarchist gives an analysis.

Over at LewRockwell.com, Finian Cunningham laments the security measures.

At The LRC Blog, Butler Shaffer reflects on gold, medals, and fiat currency.

Over at his blog Reflections of a Young Fogey, Rafal Heydel-Mankoo reflects too. He also presents some info on an order.

Quantitative Easing Demystified

Clarke & Dawe explain:

H/T: Daily Paul

And also on the European crisis:

Bonner, Faber, and Casey

Bill Bonner is interviewed on The Money and Wealth Show:

A couple of days prior on the same show, Marc Faber is interviewed:

Back in June, also on the same show, Doug Casey was interviewed:

Posting videos here does not imply full endorsement of what is said in those videos, as a general rule, not just for this post. In Mr. Casey's case, I would like to express explicitly that not everything is endorsed, most notably what he says on “Louis Seize,” but at least he understands that what came after was worse. That being said, there is much wisdom in what Mr. Casey says.

The Bubble Film

A documentary on the money madness, The Bubble Film, is coming up. Its trailer:

Clips of Peter Schiff:

Storming of Tuileries

Eleven score years ago today, the Tuileries Palace was stormed.

A Treaty in Sèvres

Four score and a dozen years ago today, the Treaty of Sèvres was signed.

A Second Bomb

67 years ago today...

It is interesting – to say the least – to see how these bombings up until these days are “justified” in particular by “right-wingers.” In a false dichotomy continued conventional warfare would have been the alternative and worse than the nuking. Never in this alternative narrative is the assumption of unconditional surrender considered. It is always the Japanese that were stubborn for willing to continue. It is never the allies who were stubborn for their conditions of unconditional surrender.

Moreover, in defense of the nuclear warmongers' narrative, the opposition to it is always portrayed as removed from reality and in particular from the center stage. Those opposed to this narrative are labeled as ignorant leftists.

Dwight D. Eisenhower told us some years later:

I was against it on two counts. First, the Japanese were ready to surrender, and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing. Second, I hated to see our country be the first to use such a weapon.

Is Eisenhower some ignorant leftist removed from reality as well? He was in particular removed from the center stage of the war? Or perhaps he was even being a historical revisionist where he sat as supreme commander during the war?

Of course, we cannot know for sure how an alternative reality would have played out. However, the supporters of the nuking portray their scenario of continued conventional warfare with likely worse losses as the realistic one, whereas scenarios of early surrender are portrayed as bordering on pure fantasy at best.

This again begs a question: Was Eisenhower a day-dreamer?

There are more quotes here.

Might I add that the relative strengthening and weakening of the Soviet Union and Japan respectively in this area of the world likely and arguably made it easier for Mao? Oh, but I forget, only communists make arguments against the nuking...

Over at LewRockwell.com:

• John V. Denson: The Hiroshima Lie
• Ralph Raico: Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Over at The Independent, Phil Strongman gives his thoughts (H/T: The Pittsford Perennialist).

Over at the Hit & Run blog, Lucy Steigerwald reflects. So does Anthony Gregory over at The Beacon Blog.

The Money Madness Goes On

Ben Swann explains the connection between oil and gold, with Ron Paul as an addendum:

Marc Faber gives his thoughts on what's coming:

RT's Lauren Lyster interviews Lew Rockwell:

There is some good news – with a victory for United States Representative Ron Paul:

Ron Paul interviewed on Bloomberg Television about the achievement:

Judge Napolitano gives comments:

Ben Swann on the audit issue:

An older demonstration of some of the problems:

Congressman Paul questions the Treasury Secretary of those United States:

"Tolerance" and "Gay Marriage"

Politicos have been trying to stop the business of a chain business, Chick-Fil-A, whose COO, Dan T. Cathy, opposes gay “marriage.” Fox News reports. So does the Daily Mail.

The Mad Monarchist analyzes the mess we have.

Hiroshima Burns

67 years ago today...

The Boston Globe has a report on this year's commemoration in Hiroshima.

Here's last year's post.

Vienna & St. Petersburg

Two years short of a century ago today, following the first day of battle, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on the Russian Empire.

The successor to the Western Roman Empire and the successor to the Eastern Roman Empire were at full war with each other.

The old order was at each other at gunpoint.

War Loose on Europe

98 years ago today, the first battle of the Great War began.

The day before, those United States had declared neutrality. The same day, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany.

The night before, Sir Edward Grey had given a speech in the House of Commons about the lamps going out all over Europe. That was the day Imperial Germany and the Third French Republic declared war on each other.

Yet two days before that again, the empires of Russia and Germany had declared war on each other.

In less than ten days after the declaration of war on the Kingdom of Serbia made in Bad Ischl, a full-scale European war was loose.

Lord North Passing at 220

Eleven score years ago today, Frederick North, Lord North passed on from this world.

More Lords

The past month was a month of apparent turbulence for the House of Lords, as it was covered at this weblog.

Just recently, the British Prime Minister apparently withdrew support of reform plans. So The Independent reports. It is quite telling though that the same news report describes a “reform” that includes ejecting the hereditary peers as “limited reform.”

Peter Hitchens followed up his previous posts with a Mail on Sunday column last month.

Bruce Anderson gives his thoughts, as he categorizes the positions on the issue as sentamentalist, restrainer, and federalist.

Mr. Anderson seems to think that restraining the House of Commons needs a democratically elected Upper House to achieve that. Given the democratist-absolutist sentiment under which we unfortunately live, he may have a big point. However, two democratically elected chambers never really restrain democracy itself, and as the past century has shown us, two democratically elected chambers in the federal legislature of those United States hasn't impressively restrained government power.

We need to restrain democracy. Here is where a lot of debaters in the Lords reform debate get it right. They speak up against tyranny of the majority. Unfortunately, they rather quickly fall off, apparently most worried about maintaining the supremacy or primacy of the elected house. Bertrand de Jouvenel wrote many years ago that the House of Lords was reduced to a debating club in 1911. It seems many want to keep it that way.

Seemingly, they also want to get rid of the last of the hereditary peers. Some even do so after, correctly, having just previously spoken up for good aspects of hereditary.

Why do they want to get rid of hereditary? They may privately be in support of the hereditary peers, but perhaps careerism or not wanting to take this particular battle makes them go with the flow and throw them out. Whatever their reasons may be, it is not particularly heroic.

A hybrid house has been put forward in the debate.

Even Rafal Heydel-Mankoo is apparently in favor of banishing the hereditaries, with a hybrid house with no hereditary component. The three equally large components would be: electees, political appointees, and civil society appointees.

Over at Res Publica's blog, Dwayne Menezes argued for hereditary peerage about one and a half years ago (in two parts). Mr. Menezes also had a proposal for a hybrid house, with three equally large components; hereditary peers and bishops, political appointees, and civil society appointees.

Reform of the House of Lords is needed. A hybrid house may be what there should be, although yours truly has great sympathy for more heredity and tradition than one third, but – for sure – eviction of the hereditary peers is not the way to go.