Rulers Having Fun While Their Countries Are Suffering
@polaris77 (2040)
Bacau, Romania
April 18, 2012 11:10am CST
I've just read about the expensive hunting trip made by King Juan Carlos of Spain in Botswana which generated anger among the ordinary Spanish citizens because it came in a dramatic moment for a country deeply affected by the crisis;faced with public discontent,the king has apologized in an attempt to regain at least partially the appreciation of his people.Anyway,I'm sure that there are many other rulers in the world,especially in countries much poorer than Spain,who also enjoy themselves by doing all sorts of entertaining activities and spending money from the state budget recklessly while their subjects are faced with extreme poverty,unemployment and so many other troubles.Do you think that such an attitude from a person in power has any justification?If the mass media in your country discovers that the rulers of your country spend money foolishly while you and most citizens can hardly earn your existence,how will you react?
4 responses
@lampar (7584)
• United States
23 Apr 12
I probably will not react too angry if i am a Spaniard, after all, majority of my country men and women supported Royal family and want to have a King install inside my land, their stupidity is what i am supposed to get angry at, not the extravagant and excessive spending by the King at the expense of state budget in order to enjoy in his extremely luxuria living in Spain. After all, King of Spain is not a stupid man, he understand that a state will pay for all his expenditure no matter his subjects are faced with extreme poverty and face with many troubles now or in the future, he should continue to enjoy his daily high flying living with all these easy money from the state's coffer, after all, he is like a divine to all Spaniard,many will consider it is a personal honor to have such an opportunity to suffer financially for the Royal Monarchy's pleasure and personal satisfaction, only an outsider and foreign reporter will whine about his expensive hunting trip in Botswana, all Royal family member in the world spend expensive trip oversea at tax payer expense, it is not an uncommon occurence at all, no King will go on a simple oversea trip that cost only shoes string budget, it is a normal practices. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
25 Apr 12
Every king will continue to enjoy his luxurious lifestyle regardless his subjects are in abject poverty or suffer due to economic recession, he may not even notice the real condition outside his palatial domain, most of the time, king is not in touch with a real world scenario except a utopia. Travel and live in the most luxurious hotel and eat the best of all food at the expense of a state is nothing unusual for the king and all his royal family members, it's not like he will stay in a budget hotel or YMCA with the amount of huge state budget he is entitled to, unless he is way out of his mind. So news report concerning king's expensive oversea hunting trip is just a tip of an iceberg, nothing surprising at all.
@polaris77 (2040)
• Bacau, Romania
24 Apr 12
I agree that if a ruler has an extremely luxurious lifestyle and its people live in poverty and starvation,it is probably the people's fault first of all because they accept this situation.After all,if most people from a country consider that this is how things should be and don't express any discontent with the ruler's actions,they deserve their fate.
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
19 Apr 12
Speaking from an American point of view, with a president and first "lady" who think we "owe" them everything...I think what Juan Carlos did was in poor taste, but can not hold a candle to what our pres. is doing. I am glad that he at least apologized and mayabe will not make such a mistake in the future. Our 'leader' on the other hand is making plans to rip us off even more in the near future with another unbelievably expensive vacation.
@polaris77 (2040)
• Bacau, Romania
19 Apr 12
Indeed,the king of Spain realized the gravity of his mistake and had the decency to apologize to the Spanish people.As for the American president,let's hope that he and other world leaders have learned something from this scandal and they will think twice before planning to go on such expensive holidays.
@victorsrt (11)
• France
19 Apr 12
It is of human nature to act like this. I hate to admit it, but as a powerful king, I would probably use and abuse of my people, just because I can, and just because everyone always wants more.
It's a bit like very fast cars, it's easy to criticize a reckless and fast driver in his Ferrari or whatnot when you drive an average car, but not until you've felt the power you get at the wheel of a Ferrari can you say that in his shoes, you would be careful.
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
19 Apr 12
its not a pleasant thought or sight, but then again its doesn't surprise me. leaders have alot that others don't have and its easy for them to go over the top because they can. there's many people such as yourself who are disgusted with world leaders and how they splurge while there country suffers. the question is "would you really splurge while your country suffers?". you never really know that answer until your in their shoes and have the same temptations.
@polaris77 (2040)
• Bacau, Romania
19 Apr 12
I completely agree,we might do the same if we were in their shoes,but I guess we'll never know what it's like to have so much power in our hands.Anyway,the scandal caused by the king's hunting adventures might have positive effects for many other leaders who will probably try to avoid such embarrassing situations.
@muhsinhanis (104)
•
19 Apr 12
when the government spends money in the budget of our country, then we will do our speeches together organisation community and academia. we will not remain silent when the government doing so, it must be investigated thoroughly.
@polaris77 (2040)
• Bacau, Romania
19 Apr 12
Yes,we have to take attitude and ask for investigations when such events occur because if we remain silent the rulers will do what they want and things will only get worse for the people.
