Letter: Monarchies far from outmoded
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Charles Fyffe (letter, 14 September) is being disingenuous in describing our ally of two world wars, the US, as barbaric and two of our major European partners, France and Italy, as corrupt. The suggestion that monarchies are in some way inherently more democratic than republics takes some swallowing. Two of our enemies in the Second World War, Japan and Italy, were monarchies; the latter was the breeding gound of fascism, and Imperial Japan deserved, if any country has, the description barbaric. In the First World War Germany was an imperial state.
Mr Fyffe might also consider that the countries of democratic virtue he cites - Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Spain - all have monarchies whose roles and remuneration are set out in written constitutions.
Yours sincerely,
DAVID MISELL
Solihull, West Midlands
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments