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Posted: 2002-09-26 11:38am
by Spartan
The Yosemite Bear wrote:
The Spartan "Democracies" Elected Kings for a life term. quote]

I think you misunderstand my point. Yes, there are democratic monarchies, England being perhaps the best example. However, seldom are the monarchs elected, monarchs as a rule are born into there position not elected. In my opinion if the head of state is "elect" by a small ruling group, or can only be selected from a few privelige families its not a democracy. The key point is who holds the real power in the government if it is not the people then its not a democracy.
As some deceisions had to be left in the hands of one man, and one man alone.
Yes, for time sensitive decisions in the faces of a crisis. However, for the truly important decisions such as: civil liberties, equal representation, etc. the answer is no. No single person can be expected to make the right decisions for everyone.

A government such as Naboo, where the "Monarch" is elected is not a monarchy its a Repuplic! In the case of Naboo, the Queen is the same as the american President. She's an elected official who rules by will of the people. Also we know that the Naboo have a legislative body of some sort by the quotes I gave in an earlier post. Regardless of Naboo's choice in naming their head of states title, Naboo is a Republic.

The point of this thread was really about, is that having a 16 year old as the elected leader of any entire planet is a truly stupid idea; and the fact that it would be considerably more palpatable if she had inherited the position.

Hey, I'm not trying to sound preachy, or anything its just my opinion. :)

PS. What do you all think about this Naboo as a Republic idea?

Posted: 2002-09-26 05:01pm
by THEHOOLIGANJEDI
As odd as thing are in the Star Wars Universe regarding Kids have important roles in society. I'll just say that it has been pretty evident that GL has always meant for that to be. Luke was flying a T-16 Skyhopper sinc he was 15 perhaps younger. (wasn't that mentioned in an early draft of one of his ANH scripts? I believe he and a friend crashed his T-16 when He was 15 or something and Obi Wan rescues them, and was planning on giving Luke his lightsaber then)
It's quite simple, kids are just more sophisticated in the SW Universe and more is expected of them, to some degree. As unbelieveable as that seems.

Posted: 2002-09-26 05:30pm
by Failed Glory
Kids have ruled many a state.

Nero, good until about 20 years old.
Smenkhkare, Tutankhanman's predessescor.
Caligula, once again smart enough to listen for a while
Nerva, I believe (?)

It's when they get older they fail.

I guess the point is kids listen to advisors when under such duress(allowing the bureaucracy to do it's job), don't make war as often as adults, and don't have vices that so often gotten recent political figures in trouble.

I see plenty of good reasons to elect a little one.

Posted: 2002-09-26 05:42pm
by The Yosemite Bear
You forgot Agripinna II, Nero's mom.

She was a very young bride when her husband had a stroke, and ruled Rome in all but name for over a decade. (Yes, the whole Senete knew who really was putting the emporer's stamp and drafting his decrees they just made sure that it wasn't seen that way.)