Guest columnist Danny Randell is a content writer from Calgary, AB who specializes in history & politics. .Accountability, respectability, and humility. These are the hallmarks of the Westminster system of government, born of England and practiced here in Canada..Our leaders must answer for their decisions in front of an elected house of representatives, conform to a pattern of civil debate and the use of parliamentary language. Finally they are forced to realize — regularly — they are not the highest authority in the land, but are instead called to answer to that authority. Indeed, the leader of a Commonwealth country will at times be asked to physically bow before that authority!.Simply put, the Crown’s First Minister, whether in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or the U.K., is a servant of the people and governs at the behest of the monarch..Jordan Peterson said it best in a recent address he made in Manchester: "The monarch is an intimidating figure. It’s not a bad idea to keep someone around who can strike fear into the hearts of even the most narcissistic and self-righteous politicians.".The monarchy is where Canada’s Westminster system really outdoes its American counterpart, and its obvious merits demonstrate why we should never abandon it..It’s true, America is one of the freest nations in the world. Its founders did everything in their power to make it so. However, in the absence of a man with the same sobriety and self-control as George Washington, the nation’s top office is always a risk. Should you get the wrong man on the job, the situation can turn precarious, pretty quick..This is partly because heads of state are not — and can not — be servants in the same manner an ordinary public figure can. Their place is fixed at the top of the food chain. Most people, whether cognizant of it or not, long for someone to worship: Heads of state are a construct that embody the state itself and all of its power — and it's risky business having someone you vote for occupying such a hallowed position..The problem with the U.S. presidency is whoever holds that office is both chief servant of the people and chief authority over the people at once. This delicate balancing act has been managed successfully at times, but more frequently, the tightrope wobbles..Republicans in the U.S. worshipped Trump as the defender of the free world, while Democrats exalted Biden as a messiah sent to deliver them from tyranny and corruption. This sort of political fervor opens the door for demagogues to float in on tidal waves of populist sentiment and jeopardize our democratic institutions..Allow me another illustration: A couple of years ago, Trump was Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, that position belongs to Biden. These are two men with highly differentiated views who, by nature of the office they hold, must command the respect not only of the country’s armed forces, but of its entire population..One would be justified in drawing comparisons to Caesar and Pompey; the right circumstances only need arise..As far as national unity is concerned, candidate worship in a country which has no impartial head of state also creates room for the notion one leader is perhaps “more American” or “less American” than another. Slogans like “not my president” and “let’s go Brandon,” spring to mind. And while there was a time when most Americans were able to put their political affiliations aside, simply respect the office and rally behind the president — today, that's almost certainly the exception, not the rule..Canadians on the other hand do have a figure to rally behind; someone who is impartial and represents them all, regardless of political stripes. In Canada today, our head of state and Commander in Chief is King Charles III. He is an apolitical figurehead who has no political opponents. He is simultaneously a check against the most ambitious strongman, and a unifying national figure..To those who would rather have someone “Canadian” do the job, consider this: Even our governor general in Canada does not sufficiently fulfill the same apolitical criteria as the monarch. The governor general is either English or French speaking, and naturally hails from one province or another. This means based on the makeup of our Confederation, someone is always going to feel left out. Beyond that, the appointment of the GG by the prime minister can easily reflect the PM’s own biases. This leaves some Canadians feeling alienated by a head of state who looks very much like a political ally of the PM..It is therefore a gift to have a completely objective head of state who resides overseas, one who no affiliation to a particular demographic or province, and who is also far removed from any political imbroglio of the kind which tends to envelop Canada's federal governments..In Canada — for the love of democracy — we should be thankful for the Westminster system and the monarch that crowns it. It’s worked for us for the last 155 years..Let’s not change it.
Guest columnist Danny Randell is a content writer from Calgary, AB who specializes in history & politics. .Accountability, respectability, and humility. These are the hallmarks of the Westminster system of government, born of England and practiced here in Canada..Our leaders must answer for their decisions in front of an elected house of representatives, conform to a pattern of civil debate and the use of parliamentary language. Finally they are forced to realize — regularly — they are not the highest authority in the land, but are instead called to answer to that authority. Indeed, the leader of a Commonwealth country will at times be asked to physically bow before that authority!.Simply put, the Crown’s First Minister, whether in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or the U.K., is a servant of the people and governs at the behest of the monarch..Jordan Peterson said it best in a recent address he made in Manchester: "The monarch is an intimidating figure. It’s not a bad idea to keep someone around who can strike fear into the hearts of even the most narcissistic and self-righteous politicians.".The monarchy is where Canada’s Westminster system really outdoes its American counterpart, and its obvious merits demonstrate why we should never abandon it..It’s true, America is one of the freest nations in the world. Its founders did everything in their power to make it so. However, in the absence of a man with the same sobriety and self-control as George Washington, the nation’s top office is always a risk. Should you get the wrong man on the job, the situation can turn precarious, pretty quick..This is partly because heads of state are not — and can not — be servants in the same manner an ordinary public figure can. Their place is fixed at the top of the food chain. Most people, whether cognizant of it or not, long for someone to worship: Heads of state are a construct that embody the state itself and all of its power — and it's risky business having someone you vote for occupying such a hallowed position..The problem with the U.S. presidency is whoever holds that office is both chief servant of the people and chief authority over the people at once. This delicate balancing act has been managed successfully at times, but more frequently, the tightrope wobbles..Republicans in the U.S. worshipped Trump as the defender of the free world, while Democrats exalted Biden as a messiah sent to deliver them from tyranny and corruption. This sort of political fervor opens the door for demagogues to float in on tidal waves of populist sentiment and jeopardize our democratic institutions..Allow me another illustration: A couple of years ago, Trump was Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, that position belongs to Biden. These are two men with highly differentiated views who, by nature of the office they hold, must command the respect not only of the country’s armed forces, but of its entire population..One would be justified in drawing comparisons to Caesar and Pompey; the right circumstances only need arise..As far as national unity is concerned, candidate worship in a country which has no impartial head of state also creates room for the notion one leader is perhaps “more American” or “less American” than another. Slogans like “not my president” and “let’s go Brandon,” spring to mind. And while there was a time when most Americans were able to put their political affiliations aside, simply respect the office and rally behind the president — today, that's almost certainly the exception, not the rule..Canadians on the other hand do have a figure to rally behind; someone who is impartial and represents them all, regardless of political stripes. In Canada today, our head of state and Commander in Chief is King Charles III. He is an apolitical figurehead who has no political opponents. He is simultaneously a check against the most ambitious strongman, and a unifying national figure..To those who would rather have someone “Canadian” do the job, consider this: Even our governor general in Canada does not sufficiently fulfill the same apolitical criteria as the monarch. The governor general is either English or French speaking, and naturally hails from one province or another. This means based on the makeup of our Confederation, someone is always going to feel left out. Beyond that, the appointment of the GG by the prime minister can easily reflect the PM’s own biases. This leaves some Canadians feeling alienated by a head of state who looks very much like a political ally of the PM..It is therefore a gift to have a completely objective head of state who resides overseas, one who no affiliation to a particular demographic or province, and who is also far removed from any political imbroglio of the kind which tends to envelop Canada's federal governments..In Canada — for the love of democracy — we should be thankful for the Westminster system and the monarch that crowns it. It’s worked for us for the last 155 years..Let’s not change it.