Historic first: Princess Cristina questioned over fraud by Spanish court

[Rey C.]

A judge will quiz Spanish King Juan Carlos's youngest daughter Cristina on Saturday over fraud allegations in a corruption scandal -- a historic first for the troubled royal family.

Long thought untouchable as a royal, Cristina, 48, now faces public scrutiny over accusations of tax fraud and money-laundering that have fueled doubts over the future of the monarchy.

The judge on the island of Majorca will question Cristina, seventh in line to the throne, as a suspect in a judicial probe -- one step towards a possible trial.

It is the first time in Spain's modern history that a direct member of the royal family has been summoned to court accused of wrongdoing.


As a strict republican (small "r"!), it's long amused me how some (seemingly intelligent) people still cling to the archaic and foolish concept that monarchs or people with so called "royal blood" are (or have ever been) anything special. How does a country claim to be in the modern age when certain people are still allowed to leech and bleed the people, just because of who their great-great-great grand-daddy was? And what's even worse, it's bad enough that they're given public money to support their lavish lifestyles, but when they think that's not enough, they steal even more!

Hey, just because you bought into a bad, dumb idea 1000 years ago, that doesn't mean that you have to keep repeating that mistake. :drawheart:

 

[bobjustbob]

It cost's money to be a king. They only get $10.5M per year and he's got to run the whole fucking household on that. Come on man, How much do you think it takes to run those Head of State dinner parties? Gotta travel too. You can't expect the king to fly coach now, do you? How about the kids? Princesses can't be seen at TJ. Max. And with all of this activity, don't they deserve a decent vacation? $10.5M doesn't go as far as it used to.

Queen Elizabeth just got a 50% cut. How would you like the government to cut your pay in half?

 

[Rey C.]

Well, that's true. And since Queenie Liz is too ugly to go out hooking and too dumb to get a real job (the royal family tree of Europe ain't got many branches, do it?), somebody has to pay her way.

Queen Raina, on the other hand, she could be the highest earning cam girl in the world if she'd pop her top a couple of times a week. Y u no fist bb???

 

[bobjustbob]

We've got to break this down. This is the Royal Family and we've got to stack up their pay compared to today's market value.

King: $394,955. That's about what a urologist makes.
Queen: $179,000. That would be a pretty decent accountant.
Prince: $197.500. I don't understand this. How does he make more than mom? I'm sure he doesn't show up to most of these functions.
Princess Letizia, married to the Prince: $139,300. A district manager for a chain store. Together with her husband it's a decent house with 2 car payments here in Jersey.
Princess Elena, eldest daughter: $34,000. An experienced forklift driver.

Now mind you, they aren't getting performance bonuses or matches into a 401k. Cut these people a break.

 

[Rey C.]

Hey, wait a minute! You mean the King makes almost twice what the Queen makes?! And the Prince makes more than the Queen and the Princess married to the Prince... and he makes almost what the Queen and his sister make put together. This is a clear cut case of gender discrimination and misogyny (we're required to use that word at least 4 times every day - Mayor Bloomberg says that is now THE law). Do Patricia Ireland, Gloria Steinem (is she still alive?) and Eric Holder know about this?

When he gets done lecturing the Soviet commies (oh sorry, I guess we're supposed to call them Russians now) about gay rights, hopefully President Obama will focus his time on this important issue: Equal pay for equal worthlessness.

I'd deal with the rest of them Roman style. But I gotta be honest, that Queen Raina chick... she really is kinda yummy. :drool2: So yeah, I'd be willing to let her see the light before sending her to visit the Etruscans.