During the Enlightenment, certain of the, um, enlightenees (?), enlighteners (?), well, anyway, thinkers, were keen on the idea of an enlightened despot who would cut through all the theocratic nonsense and impose the rationality and governmental reforms that the people in the movement wanted.
They pinned their hopes on people such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, and initially, Napoleon, until he turned out to be an enormous disappointment and put paid to the entire idea, pretty much for good.
Still, during the cold war you occasionally still got a rightwing secular wignut touting the idea, and you have to wonder, given the outcome of the recent election, whether you won't start to here grumbling in that direction from nutcases on the left.
For those people keen to move to a despotism, there are a few hereditary rules still left in the world. In at least one, the Principality of Lichtenstein, the prince sponsored a recent referendum in which he threatened to take his money and go home unless he got BACK some power.
Truly, the 21st century is the age of reaction.
Anyway, this historico-political diversion is the excus i need for the real reason for this diary: a ridiculous poll. Enjoy!