Quote of the Month

Comments "daninardmore" at The Monarchist:

If the idiot Wilson hadn't gotten America into WW I, the Allies and the Central Powers would have had to reach a negotiated settlement, with monarchy surviving all around, rather than just the British one in its present attenuated form (not taking into account the Scandinavian monarchies and the tiny ones round about Europe, which don't count). There would have been no Soviet Union, no Nazi Germany, and above all blessings, no WW II. As it was, WW I was the suicide of the West, with all subsequent history being an extended death rattle.

The award of Quote of the Month is hereby established.

Happy Birthdays, Your Majesties

This month saw the birthdays of two Scandinavian monarchs, the Queen of Denmark and the King of Sweden, the latter being the most emasculated monarch in Europe, and – were it not for some Nepalese events – possibly in the world.

Congratulations – indeed regrettably belated – to Her Majesty with April 16. Congratulations to His Majesty on today's birthday.

Tax Returns

Today most personal Norwegian tax returns are due. For a few years now, we’ve had pre-filled forms. The tax authorities expand their domain of knowledge for every year. They tell us that their knowing about our financial privacy without our reporting it makes it simpler for us.

Isn’t this new order wonderful? We have historically high tax levels. We have the database state, and we have our neighbors to report on us, because “we” are the government. Isn’t it wonderful?

Norwegian tax payers have now been promised an option – in the not so distant future – of not returning the tax returns if they do not have any amendments, while retaining the responsibility of errors – even in the tax payer’s favor. What a gorgeous concept?

The government knows so much about our personal economy – with the reporting duties of banks and other institutions – that it doesn’t need us to report. What a gorgeous world?

The government wants the tax man to do other things than process tax returns. What a gorgeous world? Didn’t Will Rogers say that we should be thankful that we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for – for a very good reason?

There have been some protests against the proposed arrangement of no return, but I have seen no serious public debate about the issues of the government knowing so much or the need for the tax man to do something more “useful.”

We are so free! We can elect our rulers. Oh yes! We are so free!

April Fools' Continues

King Gyanendra, who has been quite reduced, paid a visit to a temple this week. This created a “controversy”. Are we surprised at the April Fools' Government? According to the April Fools' Cabinet, can King Gyanendra even get out of bed without a written permit made out in seven copies from the April Fools' Day Cabinet?

If it is true that the Nepal Army played the old National Anthem, good for the Royal Nepalese Army!

The April Fools' process will end with the abolition of the monarchy – at least according to the April Fools' executive office. I thought there was going to be a referendum on this issue. Well, what can you expect from a Cabinet established on April 1?

Kundan Singh Khatri has a relatively sensible piece on the problems in Nepal.

The Kingdom of Bhutan Prepares for Democracy

As the Kingdom of Bhutan prepares for democracy, Bhutanese are skeptical. Given the history of modern democracy, I don't blame them. The New York Times reports, and Barbara Crossette at the Los Angeles Times comments.

Skeleton Being Resurrected

The skeleton – but not the flesh and soul – of the German Monarchy is being resurrected. Der Spiegel reports.

R.E. Lee Symposium Today

As the Washington Times reports, the Robert E. Lee Bicentennial Symposium takes place in Arlington, Virginia today. Other than preferring the Old European Order over the new, I prefer the pre-Lincoln American order over the Lincoln and post-Lincoln order, not to speak of over the Wilson and post-Wilson order.

I’ll let the Attarian perspective be at this point.

I would have loved to be at the symposium. Perhaps weekend trips across the Atlantic will be more doable in the future – with the promising prospects of transatlantic commercial airline traffic?

"Deogolwulf" Debunks Global Democracy

As if modern democracy isn't bad enough, some people have the nerve to urge for a one world democratic government. George Monbiot at the Guardian has a recent article in this spirit.

Over at his excellent blog The Joy of Curmudgeonry, "Deogolwulf" debunks Professor Monbiot's recent stunt. See also "Deogolwulf"'s monarchy post on the occasion of the 80^th birthday of Her Britannic Majesty.

Even More on the French Election

GalliaWatch's post on unsuccessful royalist candidate Adeline may also be of interest.

Thanks to Theodore Harvey, who runs an excellent website, which has been helpful to me at several occasions. See especially Mr. Harvey's article on paleo-, anglo-, and neomonarchism.

More on the French Election

In modern democracy, politicians all chase the same votes.

Gideon Rachman at the Financial Times writes:

[In London Mr. Sarkozy] portrayed his audience as exiles, driven overseas by France’s economic inertia. But in his speech on Sunday, his message was much less radical. There was some shaking of heads among his London supporters, as their man embraced much of the language of the left – promising to “protect” French workers from “unfair competition” from overseas.

Link via the Brussels Journal.

How Low Will It Go?

How low will modernity sink? Men are now being ordered to a breast feeding course in Lancashire, England.

French Election

I was reminded this afternoon about the French election. Until then I hadn't given it a thought. I actually do not care much about which wing of the Jacobin Party comes out as the victor.