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I know, I just like long hereditary lines [1]: if those don't show what power is, then I don't know what power is. Being hoi polloi myself, I barely know who my grandparents were, not to speak of their parents.

[1] A really fun one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_of_Dunsany#Barons_of_Dun...

    Christopher Plunkett, 1st Baron of Dunsany (1410–1463)
    Richard Plunkett, 2nd Baron of Dunsany (died c. 1480)
    John Plunkett, 3rd Baron of Dunsany (died 1500)
    Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany (died 1521)
    Robert Plunkett, 5th Baron of Dunsany (died 1559)
    Christopher Plunkett, 6th Baron of Dunsany (died 1564)
    Patrick Plunkett, 7th Baron of Dunsany (died 1601)
    Christopher Plunkett, 8th Baron of Dunsany (died 1603)
    Patrick Plunkett, 9th Baron of Dunsany (1595–1668)
    Christopher Plunkett, 10th Baron of Dunsany (died 1690)
    Randall Plunkett, 11th Baron of Dunsany (died 1735)
    Edward Plunkett, 12th Baron of Dunsany (1713–1781)
    Randall Plunkett, 13th Baron of Dunsany (1739–1821)
    Edward Wadding Plunkett, 14th Baron of Dunsany (1773–1848)
    Randall Edward Plunkett, 15th Baron of Dunsany (1804–1852)
    Edward Plunkett, 16th Baron of Dunsany (1808–1889)
    John William Plunkett, 17th Baron of Dunsany (1853–1899)
    Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (1878–1957)
    Randal Arthur Henry Plunkett, 19th Baron of Dunsany (1906–1999)
    Edward John Carlos Plunkett, 20th Baron of Dunsany (1939–2011)
    Randal Plunkett, 21st Baron of Dunsany (born 1983)



Out of interest, I googled the last chap in the list [1]. Class/socio-economic privilege is very much a thing, but he's not quite the Jacob Rees-Mogg type you might expect. Also "The current heir to his title is his younger brother, Oliver, a games designer and programmer who lives in the US." - he probably has a login on here :-)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randal_Plunkett,_21st_Baron_of...


And to the point, Rees-Mogg was elected. Misguided they might be, but a majority of those who voted in his constituency (yup, not just a plurality, a majority) picked Rees-Mogg. For better or worse that's democracy for you.


People just vote for him because he sounds funny, because the only thing the parliament is useful for is its entertainment value.


Politics is showbusiness for ugly people (c) Someone Else.


Real power doesn't quite follow like that. I'm reminded of how Eastenders actor Danny Dyer found he was a descendant of King Edward III.

Real power flows through those who've maintained their assets, e.g. Duke of Devonshire; those who own the media, e.g. Viscount Rothermere; and just buying your way in, like Baron Lebedev, son of former KGB oligarch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lebedev


Don't worry, the Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax-es maintained their assets. There was even a bit of a hullabaloo, not too much, when it was discovered that Richard Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax "still owns and grows sugar on the same Drax Hall Estate in Barbados that made the family's fortune. Over 200 years, 30,000 slaves died at this and the other Drax plantations, according to Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chair of CARICOM's Reparations Commission. 'The Drax family has done more harm and violence to the black people of Barbados than any other', he said." [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Drax#:~:text=still%20o....




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