By J.M. Appleton
05/02/2011

As I sit to write this commentary, we happen to be fresh off the heals of the most recent show of opulence by the ever indulgent British Monarchy. Insiders estimate (in U.S. Dollars) that the entire “Wills and Kate” wedding affair will end-up costing the struggling to stay afloat U.K. economy $7.9 BILLION (that’s after subtracting an estimated $1.6 billion brought into the economy via tourism spending, sales of official wedding memorabilia, etc.). U.K. taxpayers are believed to be directly on the hook for the $35 million cost of event transportation and security. The staggering total amount is due in large part to the House of Commons declaring the day a “banker’s holiday” of sorts, the equivalent of a “national holiday” in the U.S., meaning that the U.K. had officially come to a screeching halt in observance of the Royal affair. As for what the wedding actually cost the house of Windsor and the Middleton family out-of-pocket, they’re collectively refusing to disclose that figure to the public.

I will interject before going forward, that the U.K. economy just so happens to be in the same sinking boat as that of the U.S. and inflation is arguably far worse than experienced here (at the moment anyways). Gasoline (or petrol as it’s referred to there) costs upwards of $10 a gallon and the cost of everyday items and living expenses are exponentially higher as well.

Now I will admit that I enjoy a good wedding shindig as much as the next guy, and I do understand that traditions surrounding the events of Britain’s Royal family are held near and dear by MOST Brit’s. However, one big question concerning the most recent affair can’t help but come to mind and it reads as follows: Though claimed by proponents to give cause for great excitement and promote class unity amongst the down-trodden British citizenry, and seen to be a huge moral booster for them as well…I have to wonder just how incredibly MORE uplifting and moral boosting it would have been if “Will’s and Kate” would’ve issued the following statement (or something along these lines) instead: “On behalf of Catherine and myself, we would very much like to thank all of the U.K. for wishing us the best and for sharing in our excitement as we anxiously approach our April 29th, 2011 wedding date. However, in light of the troubling economic situation that we as a nation face together…it has been decided to be in the best interest of ALL to proceed in a manner that would add NO additional financial stress to your already lofty tax burden. Subsequently, we have elected to be wed in a small and private ceremony, with only family members and very close friends in attendance…thus for-going the traditional yet costly regalia that typical surrounds such events. We have also decided as a couple, that our first official act of serving you, the public…will be to donate the estimated cost of a traditional wedding ceremony and reception to the “general taxation fund”, from which ALL citizen’s of the U.K. do benefit. Once again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and ask for your understanding and continued support as together we go forward.”

As for me personally, I would find myself incredibly endeared with the Royal couple for making such a bold and genuine statement and I‘m most likely not alone in thinking so. More importantly, I can imagine that the reign of Wills and Kate would be looked upon (and one day back on) by Brits as being one that actually put the people first and would be an awesome tribute to the down to earth (and actually effective) endeavors of the late Princess Diana. However, we were witness to how the entire regal affair really went down and subsequently, when all of the hoopla dissolves the people of the U.K. are going to find an even larger piece of “tax pie” on their plates that they’ll be unable to consume.

Let’s rewind now a bit, back to the Obama Presidential inauguration of 2008. The total cost of the event fell somewhere between $125 and $175 million (depending on the reporting source), and I’d like to apply the same theory or principal that I did previously with the “Wills & Kate wedding…sans of course the donation to the general tax fund, since the Obama’s aren’t anywhere near as wealthy as the Windsor’s are. Still, what a statement it would have made for Obama to have taken a pass on all of the pomp, circumstance and ghastly expense, stating that he saw the expense as being an additional and unnecessary burden that he didn’t want to impose on the people of this nation. I contend that from day one (should he have gone this route), Obama would have for all time sealed his place in history as being a “people’s President” of the likes that has seldom been seen in our nation‘s past…perhaps even giving his idol (President Lincoln) a run for his money in that regard. However, the statement that was instead given was that even in the worst economic times, rivaled only by the Great Depression of the 1930‘s, the rich and powerful are once again going to have their day in the lime-light and do-it-up like never before (with tax-payers on the hook for it)…albeit while the rest of us (poor in comparison) struggle to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis.

I can’t help but see both the aforementioned wedding and inauguration as being close to a slap across the face to the citizens of both the U.K. and the U.S. Yet, there’s applause and almost an irreverent reverence paid to those guilty of literally wasting the money of their respective nations on their own selfish indulgence. I have to ask: is our tolerance and acceptance (and encouragement through apathy) of such actions representative of how just how brain-washed and/or wayward in thought we’ve all become? And, is there EVER going to be a case in the near future where someone of political prominence steps-up to the plate and actually does the right thing by those they aspire to (or do) represent? I’d love to see it and would hold those responsible in very high regard, for they would truly be servants of the PEOPLE instead of being servants of themselves.

One day anytime soon? In regard to the U.K.’s Royal wedding and coronation protocol (similar to inaugurations here, which Charles or Wills will one day undergo)…I seriously doubt it, since England’s Prince Harry is now the most eligible bachelor in the U.K. and is said to be even more “royal” in attitude than Wills is. However (and hopefully), the next U.S. President will see the light instead of seeing dollar signs tally-up…but that’s only a possibility if he or she doesn’t happen to represent one of the two traditional (and floundering) political parties that we‘re accustomed to seeing in office.

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