@Zergling_man @freepatriot who checks the power-seeker's power? more power-seekers? who then have every incentive to form a cartel, keep their guys in and good guys out, and loot the country unchecked.
in a european-style absolute monarchy, power is actually checked: the king has *incentive* to increase the country's value so his heirs have a wealthier polity torule over and have better luck in marriage etc. and furthermore, if the king starts to go a little cuckoo, *everybody around him* i.e. the whole royal family, their incentive is to give the guy a haircut and put in a more level headed guy.
inb4 royal families in 2026; yes, that's what happens when you have ceremonial, revocable authority. you fall in line with parliament, a self-selected group of looters.
inb4 specific historical examples of kings going crazy
maybe 5% of kingdoms had that happen. sure, tragic. i agree. abolish governments. but my point is, compare 5% of kingdoms to 100% of republics.