Charles Coulombe

Charles A. Coulombe was born in New York on November 8, 1960. At an early age, his parents took him to Hollywood, California.  Mr. Coulombe has lectured on a wide variety of historical, religious, and political topics on three continents, and did commentary for ABC News on the death of John Paul II and the election and installation of his successor. He is the author of numerous articles in many journals, and of nine books, most recently The Pope's Legion, on the 19th century volunteers for the Papal army, from Palgrave Macmillan. Puritan's Empire represents the culmination of over 30 years research and thought on the real meaning of American history today. 

 

Mr. Coulombe is a strong supporter of the ideals of monarchy:  "Isn't monarchy undemocratic?  In the sense of everyone not having a vote for King or Emperor? Certainly, but I am going to reveal a deep secret of reality--no regime is, can be, or ever has been democratic!  Some have been representative, in the sense that a majority of the population has some voice in the selection of their leaders (though virtually none in the policies those leaders carry out).  The larger the area to be governed, the less those voters matter.  In reality, the power is inevitably in the hands of those individuals and/or institution the given society whose money or land give them preponderant influence, as well as those who actually administer the state from day-to-day.

 

"With our system, for instance, no one can be elected to national office who does not enjoy the support of one or more special interests--how could it be otherwise?  It takes a great deal of money to be elected, and unless one is a millionaire oneself, how else to acquire it.

 

"What makes such a system unfortunate is that, while maintaining the illusion of popular control, the real powers in the State are unaccountable for their actions.  Thus, if a congressman votes for a bill disastrous to the interests of his constituents, he will be the object of their ire, rather than the employer of the lobbyist who suborned the legislator's vote.  Correspondingly, said constituents will appeal to their representative for help, rather than the company or interest behind him.  Thus the real powers-that-be may exercise their power without any responsibility to the populace.  It is ironic that this 'un-democratic' way of doing business should be the stock-and-trade of all 'democracies', but there it is.  Perhaps replacing the house of Representatives with a House of Lobbyists would help make government more accountable.  

 

"That having been said, what is necessary in government is not 'democracies', whatever that may be, but accountability and responsibility...."