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The strange fact that so many Americans care about some baby born into a monarchical family in Britain is not unconnected to the fact that we allow ourselves to be governed by extended families like the Bushes, Clintons, and Trumps.
I mean, congrats to the people who just had a baby, whatever the f- their names are. Having a kid is cool and all. But millions of people have given birth lately, and their kids are just as likely to be awesome people as that royal baby.
Americans' fascination with the children of rich and/or powerful people is a sign of just how little most of us actually care about merit. If only some magical prince or princess will be born who can rule us kindly and benevolently.
"However it is needless to spend much time in exposing the folly of hereditary right; if there are any so weak as to believe it, let them promiscuously worship the Ass and the Lion, and welcome. I shall neither copy their humility, nor disturb their devotion." Paine, Common Sense
Paine, cont'd: The minds of people born to power "are early poisoned by importance; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have but little opportunity of knowing its true interests..."
"...when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions...The nearer any government approaches to a Republic, the less business there is for a King." Common Sense (1776)
"A King hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which, in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears. A pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed eight hundred thousand sterling a year for, and worshipped into the bargain!"
"Of more worth is one honest man [sic] to society, and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived."
