voice |||

[uncledad]

In my country, we are ruled by a king. His subjects need not vote for him because he came by the crown in some way or another. The king selects his Hand, his Small Council, holds his court, does all the business of ruling. Household positions are filled by stewards. Lords and ladies swear fealty to the crown. Trade goes on.

Without popular elections, what we are truly free of is a great deal of pointless speech-making. Is the position of ambassador truly so coveted that everyone must spend so much breath on it?

I mean nothing against those brave men and women competing for the title, of course, nor the fine speeches that have been made over this network. Conveniently, we can go back and listen to them anytime we wish... if anyone has ever wished for such a thing.

[Oh, wait, an afterthought:] And nothing against any of our current ambassadors either, I suppose. Will they begin to make speeches to compete with the speeches made before them? It's a horrible thought.

Unfamiliar as I am with such elections, I wonder how long we must suffer this process. Another fortnight? A year?