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He's able to get by on his family name, which is a marked downgrade from their long rule over most of Europe, seems to have set him up a fairly comfortable and

He's able to get by on his family name, which is a marked downgrade from their long rule over most of Europe, seems to have set him up a fairly comfortable and easy-going life. That sounds like winning to me! If my country needs a new ambassador to the Pope, I'll be first in line!

bee_rider 2y ago
It is a relative downgrade, in the sense that Europe was a lot worse of a place to live in the past. But I’m not sure, I think I’d rather be a rich guy in modern Europe than some king. If you are a rich guy in modern Europe: * You get modern medical care * Fancy cars * Killing you isn’t a major political objective for a bunch of different countries * You can probably hang out with American celebrities if they have the time * Better food
- 1-more 2y ago
  By that token most people who have ever had the title of King, Shah, Emperor, Chief, Bwana, Pharoah, etc. would trade me my weight in gold to enjoy my flea-free mattress and working refrigerator.
1-more 2y ago
Rare praise for cushy government jobs and low aspirations on HN. I'm here for it, don't get me wrong!
- MichaelZuo 2y ago
  Since when was attaining the rank of ambassador and being appointed to the Vatican ‘low aspirations’? Even the lowliest ambassador enjoys some authority, and much higher formal rank, than pretty much every non-unicorn startup founder.
  - 1-more 2y ago
    Ambassador to a country with no currency or trade or airport. In the US it’s a meme that political donors get to be ambassador to one of the easy countries. Doesn’t get much easier than the Vatican.
    - sulandor 2y ago
      > a country with no currency or trade or airport though more involvement in international affairs than a lot of countries with all of the above
      - 1-more 2y ago
        Involvement? They pledge their zero troops and threaten to withhold their zero dollars of trade? Maybe restrict movement over their zero square miles of air space? Is it early modern period day on HN what is going on????
  - 082349872349872 2y ago
    In the days of Franz Joseph Karl, Habsburgs didn't get ambassadorial appointments; they gave them.
ilkke 2y ago
His recipe for winning: be born into the Habsburg family

bee_rider 2y ago

It is a relative downgrade, in the sense that Europe was a lot worse of a place to live in the past. But I’m not sure, I think I’d rather be a rich guy in modern Europe than some king. If you are a rich guy in modern Europe: * You get modern medical care * Fancy cars * Killing you isn’t a major political objective for a bunch of different countries * You can probably hang out with American celebrities if they have the time * Better food

1-more 2y ago
By that token most people who have ever had the title of King, Shah, Emperor, Chief, Bwana, Pharoah, etc. would trade me my weight in gold to enjoy my flea-free mattress and working refrigerator.

1-more 2y ago

Rare praise for cushy government jobs and low aspirations on HN. I'm here for it, don't get me wrong!

MichaelZuo 2y ago
Since when was attaining the rank of ambassador and being appointed to the Vatican ‘low aspirations’? Even the lowliest ambassador enjoys some authority, and much higher formal rank, than pretty much every non-unicorn startup founder.
- 1-more 2y ago
  Ambassador to a country with no currency or trade or airport. In the US it’s a meme that political donors get to be ambassador to one of the easy countries. Doesn’t get much easier than the Vatican.
  - sulandor 2y ago
    > a country with no currency or trade or airport though more involvement in international affairs than a lot of countries with all of the above
    - 1-more 2y ago
      Involvement? They pledge their zero troops and threaten to withhold their zero dollars of trade? Maybe restrict movement over their zero square miles of air space? Is it early modern period day on HN what is going on????
- 082349872349872 2y ago
  In the days of Franz Joseph Karl, Habsburgs didn't get ambassadorial appointments; they gave them.

ilkke 2y ago

His recipe for winning: be born into the Habsburg family