Another Interesting Idea out of Russia

Seawriter
Seawriter
6221
 

So why am I starting a post with God Save the Tsar, a song not seriously sung in over a century? Because the biggest new idea out of Russia seems to be a revival of the monarchy. Seriously.

It seems to be an effort to keep Putin in power after he finishes his second term as Russia’s president and cannot stay in that office again (or return to it). Revive the monarchy and name Vladimir Putin as Tsar. (He would be Vladimir IV, and the first new Tsar Vladimir since the 12th century.)

It seems there are a few issues to be ironed out. Will the revived Tsar be an autocrat like the previous one or a constitutional monarch like the current Queen Elizabeth II? How will the succession work? Will the position of Tsar be inheritable, and if so, must it pass down the male line or can Tsarinas rule? (Putin only has daughters.) Another possibility is Tsar would be an elective office, but one elected for life. (The game plan there is for the Russian Parliament to elect the Tsar rather than the people.) Don’t laugh. There have been elective kings in history. That is how the Holy Roman Emperors were chosen.

If you are interested in all the ghastly details, here is an article discussing the concept.

As a student of history, I am not quite sure how to feel. I should be appalled or amused. (After all, I once used the handle “No Truce With Kings.”) Yet, face it. Many so-called “presidents,” “premiers,” “first citizens,” and “chairmen” are really kings, emperors, and tsars by other names. Could a real one be worse?

Meanwhile, if you want to brush up on the lyrics, here is a second round of the anthem. This one with words.

https://youtu.be/0bOjT3fvKy0

Yes, they are in Russian. What did you expect?

Published in History
Tags: , ,

Join Ricochet!
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 62 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
Join Ricochet
  1. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302
    4:03 PM EST ⋅ Dec 17, 2018

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    I have a Russian relation (an in-law) living in the states selling luxury cars who is very admiring of Putin. Even named his second son after him. Socialism sickens the soul.

    But, yes, declaring Putin to be czar would seem a more honest description of what already exists. The people have sacrificed their sovereignty for security under a strong man. Let it be openly recognized.

    I don’t think they’ve ever had an alternative. 

    • #61
  2. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown
    8:55 PM EST ⋅ Dec 17, 2018

    RyanFalcone (View Comment):

    Hang On (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    RyanFalcone (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Hang On (View Comment):
    It will give Russia stability,

    I forget what the guys name was, but I heard a Russia expert say if you polled Russians, they literally prefer a police state to chaos. I guess it’s a big worry over there.

    Almost everyone and anyone would choose a police state to chaos-anarchy. Of course, few actually want a police state. That is why the folks that do want a police state, try to first create chaos-anarchy.

    I think it’s more about their own beliefs about their own character and ethics.

    I forget which thread it was on, but someone pointed out recently that the United States started out with really great leaders, and I know Michael Medved has always made a big deal about the Protestant culture at that time. To be clear, I’m not an expert on any this.

    Places that are easily invaded tend to like strong rulers and are willing to give up a lot of what we take for granted in exchange for not being invaded. Russia has no natural boundaries. It is far to the north, so frozen over for long periods. Short growing seasons subject to poor rains and bad soil. It was most recently ravaged by a Western ideology that murdered tens of millions of people and destroyed the wealth of a nation that had been accumulated over centuries.

    Definitely. Any group of people who lack any sense of security are more easily manipulated. It works on an individual basis, for example, kids with parental issues often become sexually promiscuous because they are preyed upon by opportunistic, manipulative types. Cultures in Africa and the Slavic cultures became very willing slaves to gain security that they felt they couldn’t have otherwise.

    One other aspect to this is that when you have warfare on the scale that we saw in WWI and WWII, so many folks that have the personality to fight against oppressors are killed off and the weak-willed souls are left behind. Not only was Europe tired of all the death and destruction of the 1st half of the 20th century but the only folks left were the cowards and the unfit. Socialism, Communism and totalitarianism isn’t a bad deal for those folks.

    Rubbish.

    • #62
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
Join Ricochet