Buckley’s Mix

Titles of Nobility

Posted April 3, 2009, 14:04 ET Comments Off

After arriving in the US, I was delighted to learn that the Constitution had a “titles of nobility” clause. Before I could apply for a title, however, I was saddened to learn that the clause prevented the federal government from granting a title to anyone.

That leaves the states free to do so, it would seem. The constitutional guarantee of republican government might possibly get in the way, but that might only prevent a state from choosing a king. As for the Duke of Earl, the Baron de Boeuf, the Knight of the Doleful Countenance, all that might just be possible. I note that a constitutional amendment that would have prevented US citizens from accepting a title of nobility was proposed but never adopted. That it was thought necessary suggests that a state might create its own nobility. 

The subject has been in the news because of the honorary knighthoods recently given by the Queen to Ted Kennedy and John Warner. The accepted protocol is that they might be addressed as “Sir Edward” or “Sir John” by a British subject in England, but not in America by an American.

It’s a trivially small point, but the broader one is that the republican aversion to monarchy and aristocracy has little basis in modern history or economics.

Go through the list of despotic governments, and you’ll find the republican or presidential system disproportionately represented, as compared to the Westminster system of monarch cum Prime Minister. That’s not difficult to understand, if you’re ever seen Question Period in the House. In addition, there is a tendency to hold presidents in a reverence, as one does a monarch; where Prime Ministers are usually figures of fun.

As for economics, the list of countries with the highest GDP per capita are disproportionately monarchies. There is evidently no contradiction between a healthy economy and a monarch.

In any event, how can people who celebrate the American Idol be opposed to an aristocracy?

So why not have titles of nobility in this country? I can think of one good argument: Sir Edward Kennedy. And that’s a title given by the Queen (on the advice of the PM). You can imagine who the recipients might be if the titles were awarded by Congress.

On the other hand, we might end up with a better lot of Ambassadors if political donors could be paid off with titles.

While I’m at it, let me note that the Royal Horticulture Society will test the Prince of Wales’ theory that plants thrive when you talk to them.

Category: Politics as mental Illness

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