Many uninformed people criticize the British government for demanding austerity while funding an outlandish and expensive Royal Wedding. These same selfish critics are also questioning Her Majesty's Government's budget-busting 2012 London Summer Olympics and tripling the price of a college education.
But Prince William didn’t create the international economic meltdown and it’s not Lady Kate’s fault that she fell in love with a future monarch. What kind of Scrooge would deny them the dream wedding they are entitled to?
If people truly understood economics they’d realize that the Royal Wedding is just the kick in the pants that the world economy needs. This blessed event is a huge transfer of wealth from England to the rest of the world. We all stand to benefit.
Examples abound. Payment for flowers from Africa, tea from Indonesia, and the endless memorabilia from China go directly into the pockets of people who need money the most. It’s no wonder the British Crown enjoys such world wide appeal.
Yet naysayers abound. “What’s in it for the average British taxpayer?” they demand.
Clearly what’s good for the Royals is good for London. What a windfall for pub owners, hotel workers, Rolls Royce mechanics, and pickpockets! It will take weeks to clean up the mess and that means healthy overtime payments to street sweepers who will turn around and spend that money on Royal Wedding memorabilia.
Southern Europe benefits as well. While London overflows with free spending tourists, most true Londoners will take extended vacations on Santorini and the Costa del Sol. In addition to generating goodwill towards the next generation of monarchs, cash spent by Royal Wedding refugees will help resolve the Greek and Spanish fiscal crises.
When amortized over all these benefits, it’s clear that the Royal Wedding is an once-in-a-lifetime fiscal stimulant. And unlike other government stimulus packages, this one keeps on giving. Without an active monarchy, many British newspapers and gossip magazines would fold. For years to come, this Royal Couple will provide more entertainment value than the British movie industry for far less investment.
You don't have to be a royalist to love the Royal Wedding. We should all applaud the British taxpayers for their largesse.
Hear hear!
ReplyDelete