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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

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