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Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has become the new King of Thailand:
Thailand has its first new monarch in seven decades after Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was formally proclaimed the 10th king in the Chakri Dynasty.
Vajiralongkorn, 64, accepted the military-backed legislature's invitation to become King Rama X. The move announced Thursday was expected given that Vajiralongkorn was the only son and designated heir of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died Oct. 13 at age 88.
[...] Vajiralongkorn replaces the only monarch most Thais alive today have known and one who was seen as a symbol of continuity during a reign marked by dozens of changes in prime minister and 10 coups. The career soldier inherits control of a fortune that runs to the tens of billions of dollars and includes stakes in some of the nation's largest companies.
[...] Vajiralongkorn, the father of seven children, has been married three times. His personal life has been the subject of gossip on outlawed websites and in leaked diplomatic cables. He becomes king at a time when the institution's role in society faces increasing scrutiny after the political unrest that marred the twilight of his father's reign.
"Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn neither commands the respect nor displays the charisma of his beloved father," read a confidential U.S. cable from July 2009 addressed to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and released via WikiLeaks. "Nearly everyone expects the monarchy to shrink and change in function after succession." The royal palace doesn't comment on political matters.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Friday December 02 2016, @05:41PM
accepted the military-backed legislature's invitation to become King
Still less fucked up than the current US situation ... but disturbingly similar.
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Friday December 02 2016, @06:29PM
Think of it like this. He adds to the diversity in authority in a relatively safe way because he doesn't have too much real power. The world needs more checks and balances on power. Right now, I'm kind of wishing that the US didn't have a Presidency.
True, a monarchy isn't the safest form of authority. It's not merit based. The monarch is just as likely as a commoner to be a total idiot, or a genius. Even if the monarch is brilliant, may be terrible at leadership. In the past monarchies have pushed lots of dangerous and stupid ideas such as "divine right" and absolute authority. The way heirs are brought up is highly likely to produce truly awful future monarchs because they're spoiled rotten by the luxury and privilege surrounding them. Perhaps a spiritual leadership is safer, yet the Catholic Church has pushed this ridiculous idea of Papal Infallibility.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 02 2016, @06:35PM
What a complete load of crap.
Unelected autocrats, regardless of their functional power, are not a good idea.
Fuck all kings.
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday December 02 2016, @06:40PM
Personally, I'm holding out for a Hero.
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 02 2016, @07:26PM
Oh god. Here we go. Angry internet people posting lyrics...
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @06:38AM
Take the children and yourself
And hide out in the cellar
By now the fighting will be close at hand
Don't believe the church and state
And everything they tell you
Believe in me, I'm with the high command
There's a gun and ammunition
Just inside the doorway
Use it only in emergency
Better you should pray to God
The Father and the Spirit
Will guide you and protect from up here
Swear allegiance to the flag
Whatever flag they offer
Never hint at what you really feel
Teach the children quietly
For some day sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still
Can you hear me running (can you hear me calling you?)
(Can you hear me) hear me calling you?
(Can you hear me running) hear me running babe?
(Can you hear me running) hear me running?
Calling you, calling you
(Score: 2) by jcross on Friday December 02 2016, @09:15PM
Yes, long live king Jean Valjean!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @12:41AM
Sure!
Iron and Wine - Woman King
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 02 2016, @08:47PM
(Score: 2) by AndyTheAbsurd on Friday December 02 2016, @08:55PM
In the past monarchies have pushed lots of dangerous and stupid ideas such as "divine right" and absolute authority.
Those weren't "dangerous and stupid", they were brilliant - provided you're the monarch or one of his heirs. They were a way for reigning monarchs to make sure that the power stayed with their family. If nothing else, it's likely to be successful from an evolutionary standpoint of allowing the monarch to have many descendants.
Please note my username before responding. You may have been trolled.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 02 2016, @07:22PM
If you honestly think that a democratically elected presidency is in any way similar to a military dictatorship, you are delusional.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday December 02 2016, @09:42PM
Still less fucked up than the current US situation
A notable difference here in the levels of fucked up. If Trump kicks the bucket tomorrow, anyone in the US can celebrate in the streets all they want. The primary consequence would be government locations flying flags at half mast and a publicly funded send-off for the guy. In Thailand, if the King kicks the bucket, then everyone has to pretend to care by closing down their businesses and livelihoods for a week or so official mourning period.
Having Trump as president is not good, but we should keep perspective here.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 02 2016, @10:46PM
If Trump kicks the bucket tomorrow, anyone in the US can celebrate in the streets all they want.
But if you do, then a number of 3-letter government agencies, Silicon Valley outfits, and possibly random activists and private spooks will, independently of one another, capture that fact and store it in a database along with the rest of the stuff they've been accumulating on you.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday December 02 2016, @11:17PM
But if you do, then a number of 3-letter government agencies, Silicon Valley outfits, and possibly random activists and private spooks will, independently of one another, capture that fact and store it in a database along with the rest of the stuff they've been accumulating on you.
Perhaps. Still nobody is stopping you.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @02:01AM
Instead of immediately killing or imprisoning someone, the US government prefers more secretive methods of destroying those who challenge it: Suicide letters (e.g. MLK), blackmail, parallel construction, no-fly lists, agent provocateurs, etc. The best I can say is that we're better than North Korea and similar countries. What an astonishing accomplishment for 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'.