Should leaders in democratic countries live in the same building where they work?
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@zak it's not in any way harmful or out of bounds to discuss how our elected officials use the buildings we pay for and how it symbolizes our national systems of government.
Some countries like the US, France, and Brazil have a presidential palace that combines an official residence with a ceremonial centre and an administrative office.
Others, like Japan, Germany and Norway separate these functions into different buildings. Some heads of state even live in private homes.
@zak changing from a palace system to a professionalised administration has been an egalitarian reform for a lot of nations. It makes our executive leaders less like feudal lords, and more like managers doing the public's work.
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@evan One thing is that the leader and family move in and make millions of $$$ of decoration and even structural changes (not referring to only the current US one).
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@evan The Prime Minister of the UK is also a local Minister of Parliament, and so has at least three places of work: the PM's office (10 Downing St. or Burnham's Northern equivalent), the MP's constituency office somewhere else in the country, and Parliament. They certainly can sleep at Downing Street if the hours demand it, but, like anyone else, they should have some time off in their own home.
@y6nH 10 Downing Street in the official residence of the Prime Minister. Prime Ministers and their families do actually live and work in the building.
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@evan Democratic countries should provide security for the *office* not the *officeholder*. If one individual is incapacitated by malicious intent, there are multiple competent and polity-approved backups who may instantly and seamlessly assume their duties. An executive council of 5-7, with a rotating presidency, would assure coverage during all watches and not create any "most important building in the country" security issues.
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@evan Democratic countries should provide security for the *office* not the *officeholder*. If one individual is incapacitated by malicious intent, there are multiple competent and polity-approved backups who may instantly and seamlessly assume their duties. An executive council of 5-7, with a rotating presidency, would assure coverage during all watches and not create any "most important building in the country" security issues.
@evan I think it important that a "leader" be able to function similarly to other adults in their society, without a huge team of security to insulate them from ever witnessing normality. A mayor should use their city's public transportation. A governor should take their state/province's intercity trains. A national representative should fly on a public airline in the cheap seats.
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@evan No, they should live in the communities they govern. Yes if they work from home I guess, but I want them to see and live with their decisions daily.
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@evan no, but it might be convenient for protection reasons. Or they should live in a shed in the Head of State's backyard, like's it been in Canada for a generation or so.
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@evan no, but they should be required to spend some nights sleeping on the steps outside if this is the condition they expect of their most vulnerable constituents.
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@evan Not yet. If we get there someday where the risk of confusing personal and professional roles is minimal, I wouldn't mind. But definitely not yet.
@malte looking it up, it seems like the Prime Minister of Denmark works from the Christiansborg Palace, but has a private residence?
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Hey, everyone. Thanks for the replies and responses.
Some countries like the US, France, and Brazil have a presidential palace that combines an official residence with a ceremonial centre and an administrative office.
Others, like Japan, Germany and Norway separate these functions into different buildings. Some heads of government even live in private homes.
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Hey, everyone. Thanks for the replies and responses.
Some countries like the US, France, and Brazil have a presidential palace that combines an official residence with a ceremonial centre and an administrative office.
Others, like Japan, Germany and Norway separate these functions into different buildings. Some heads of government even live in private homes.
There's definitely a difference here between constitutional monarchies and republics. It's not universal, but it seems like heads of government, like PMs, are less likely to live in their workplace if there's a monarch who combines a residence with a ceremonial centre.
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There's definitely a difference here between constitutional monarchies and republics. It's not universal, but it seems like heads of government, like PMs, are less likely to live in their workplace if there's a monarch who combines a residence with a ceremonial centre.
@evan
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Hey, everyone. Thanks for the replies and responses.
Some countries like the US, France, and Brazil have a presidential palace that combines an official residence with a ceremonial centre and an administrative office.
Others, like Japan, Germany and Norway separate these functions into different buildings. Some heads of government even live in private homes.
@evan oh, I did not understand this to be question. I took it as "leaders" as in "the leaders of the country" like should the people in parliament have to live in the parliament building.
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There's definitely a difference here between constitutional monarchies and republics. It's not universal, but it seems like heads of government, like PMs, are less likely to live in their workplace if there's a monarch who combines a residence with a ceremonial centre.
Here in Canada, the Prime Minister has a residence at 24 Sussex Drive, but a separate office building. Ceremonial events happen either at 24 Sussex Drive or at Rideau Hall, the residence and office of the Governor General.
(24 Sussex Drive is being renovated, so nothing happens there right now. But, you know, *usually*.)
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@evan oh, I did not understand this to be question. I took it as "leaders" as in "the leaders of the country" like should the people in parliament have to live in the parliament building.
@stinerman I mean, that's what the president of the United States does. Don't you consider him a leader of the country?
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Here in Canada, the Prime Minister has a residence at 24 Sussex Drive, but a separate office building. Ceremonial events happen either at 24 Sussex Drive or at Rideau Hall, the residence and office of the Governor General.
(24 Sussex Drive is being renovated, so nothing happens there right now. But, you know, *usually*.)
I think it's good to separate these functions into separate buildings. I like having professional administrators operate the government. So, I would say no.
