Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83 (MC830713); site erix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!mcnc!decvax!mcvax!enea!erix!leif From: leif@erix.UUCP (Leif Samuelsson) Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Re: Does Royalty serve a purpose? Message-ID: <274@erix.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Feb-84 10:33:29 EST Article-I.D.: erix.274 Posted: Tue Feb 21 10:33:29 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 23-Feb-84 04:58:39 EST References: <2564@fortune.UUCP> Organization: L M Ericsson, Stockholm, Sweden Lines: 26 Glenn Wichmann suggested that kings and queens (the royal kind) would be good substitutes for the president when it comes to representations at funerals and such. I agree, to a point. The royal family in Sweden serves two purposes. First of all, they make the best possible PR for Sweden abroad, helping the export and tourist industries. Also, they provide jobs for all the journalists working for the scandal magazines in Sweden and Germany. But, and this is important, they are never involved in political matters. The king was not sent to Andropov's funeral, instead our prime minister, Olof Palme, went as usual. (This time he had to directly from his controversial tour in Central America). Leif Samuelsson LM ERICSSON Tel. Co. S-126 25 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN Phone: +46 8 7199734 UUCP: ..{decvax, philabs}!mcvax!enea!erix!leif