The Many Moods of Hormuz

Landon Caeli · May 8, 2026

Bradskii said:
I think I've found the problem.

Yeah! Just like Iran calls itself "the Islamic Republic of Iran" even holding democratic style elections... But Iran is far from being any kind of actual Republic, because power ultimately lies with the Supreme Leader, and not the people... And it's not a Democracy either, even though it holds elections, because the Guardian Council dictates who may or may not be a candidate for office.

...In a similar way, the Soviet Union, China, and the others who claim the communist title, are all not real Communist countries.

Fakers everywhere.

Hans Blaster · May 8, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
Yeah! Just like Iran calls itself "the Islamic Republic of Iran" even holding democratic style elections... But Iran is far from being any kind of actual Republic, because power ultimately lies with the Supreme Leader, and not the people... And it's not a Democracy either, even though it holds elections, because the Guardian Council dictates who may or may not be a candidate for office.

...In a similar way, the Soviet Union, China, and the others who claim the communist title, are all not real Communist countries.

Fakers everywhere.

A republic is a state without hereditary leadership -- ie, not a monarchy. It is not necessarily a democracy.

Landon Caeli · May 8, 2026

Hans Blaster said:
A republic is a state without hereditary leadership -- ie, not a monarchy. It is not necessarily a democracy.

Not to sound like a know-it-all, but that's why after I said it's not a real Republic, I said it's not a Democracy "either".

...Point being that Iran pretends to be things that it is not. That's deceptive. Just like the "Communist Party" is an oxymoron - though one might correctly perceive the "party" as a mere vehicle for achieving future statelessness. Funny though, is that we've never seen that goal realized, or even attempted, even when enough time has passed to achieve it (e.g., Cuba, N. Korea).

Hans Blaster · May 8, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
Not to sound like a know-it-all,

No one is confused.

Landon Caeli said:
but that's why after I said it's not a real Republic, I said it's not a Democracy "either".

...Point being that Iran pretends to be things that it is not. That's deceptive. Just like the "Communist Party" is an oxymoron - though one might correctly perceive the "party" as a mere vehicle for achieving future statelessness. Funny though, is that we've never seen that goal realized, or even attempted, even when enough time has passed to achieve it (e.g., Cuba, N. Korea).

Iran is a republic. so is Cuba. Neither is a democracy. N. Korea has given up any pretense of republic status with 3 generations of rule only passing to the son. Democracy and republic are about diffferent things. Democracies gain political power from elections. The UK and Netherlands are democracies, but not republics. The US, Mexico, Germany, and Brasil are both, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is neither.

Landon Caeli · May 8, 2026

Hans Blaster said:
No one is confused.

Iran is a republic. so is Cuba. Neither is a democracy. N. Korea has given up any pretense of republic status with 3 generations of rule only passing to the son. Democracy and republic are about diffferent things. Democracies gain political power from elections. The UK and Netherlands are democracies, but not republics. The US, Mexico, Germany, and Brasil are both, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is neither.

I think we disagree on what a Republic truly is... You assert that it is a form of government without a monarchy. I think it can be a government without a monarchy, but is primarily a form of government where power rests with the people.

In regards to power being rested onto the people, neither Cuba, nor Iran would be true Republics, since the government has seized control of all the decision-making, rather than involving the people.

Akita Suggagaki · May 8, 2026

How are we liking the "ceasefire" love taps?

Bradskii · May 8, 2026

Akita Suggagaki said:
How are we liking the "ceasefire" love taps?

I dunno. I'm like Trump. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what is going on from one day to the next.

VirOptimus · May 9, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
I think we disagree on what a Republic truly is... You assert that it is a form of government without a monarchy. I think it can be a government without a monarchy, but is primarily a form of government where power rests with the people.

In regards to power being rested onto the people, neither Cuba, nor Iran would be true Republics, since the government has seized control of all the decision-making, rather than involving the people.

Words have meaning and definitions.

Pommer · May 9, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
I think we disagree on what a Republic truly is... You assert that it is a form of government without a monarchy. I think it can be a government without a monarchy, but is primarily a form of government where power rests with the people.

In regards to power being rested onto the people, neither Cuba, nor Iran would be true Republics, since the government has seized control of all the decision-making, rather than involving the people.

Being a republic doesn’t guarantee all of a nation’s citizenry will be included in who calls the shots within the government.
There’s always going to be a few that will be forever disenfranchised.

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

VirOptimus said:
Words have meaning and definitions.

In Latin, Republic translates to: "public thing".

...Explain how Iranian governance is a public thing, when the Ayatolla, and his clerics behave exactly like Monarchs, holding absolute, final authority.

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

Pommer said:
Being a republic doesn’t guarantee all of a nation’s citizenry will be included in who calls the shots within the government.
There’s always going to be a few that will be forever disenfranchised.

Nobody gets selected for office in Iran, unless they have ties to the IRGC. Therefore, Iran is controlled by an IRGC "Deep State", not the people. You can't be considered a true Republic, and behave this way.

Iran’s Elections Engineered by Covert IRGC Arm, New Report Says

IRGC takes de facto control of Iran government amid deepening power struggle

Iran’s Guardians’ Council has approved a record-low percentage of candidates. What will that mean for the upcoming vote? | Brookings

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

VirOptimus said:
Words have meaning and definitions.

If words have meanings and definitions, then could a country that has an Emperor be a Republic? If not, then how do you figure that a nation that has an Ayatollah, who possesses ultimate authority, just like an Emperor or King, can be considered a Republic?

...Because the "Supreme leader" says so..? Let's not be so gullible.

Pommer · May 9, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
Nobody gets selected for office in Iran, unless they have ties to the IRGC. Therefore, Iran is controlled by an IRGC "Deep State", not the people. You can't be considered a true Republic, and behave this way.

Iran’s Elections Engineered by Covert IRGC Arm, New Report Says

IRGC takes de facto control of Iran government amid deepening power struggle

Iran’s Guardians’ Council has approved a record-low percentage of candidates. What will that mean for the upcoming vote? | Brookings

Yes. It’s a “republic” in the sense that the chosen few who run the joint, rule.
There’s not an absolute Monarch, that’d be Saudi Arabia.

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

Pommer said:
Yes. It’s a “republic” in the sense that the chosen few who run the joint, rule.
There’s not an absolute Monarch, that’d be Saudi Arabia.

Nope, political scientists disagree with you. They call it a theocratic autocracy or "electoral autocracy".

Google Gemini ‎Google Gemini

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

Why isn't the UK considered a Monarchical Republic?

Pommer · May 9, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
Nope, political scientists disagree with you. They call it a theocratic autocracy or "electoral autocracy".

View attachment 379284

Google Gemini ‎Google Gemini

So, exactly the same as The Vatican.

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

Pommer said:
So, exactly the same as The Vatican.

No, the Vatican is a Theocratic Elective Monarchy.

Pope Leo is a monarch.... But nobody over in Vatican City is trying to pull a shade over anyone’s eyes either, claiming to be something they're actually not. The pope *openly* holds supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the state.

Pommer · May 9, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
No, the Vatican is a Theocratic Elective Monarchy.

Pope Leo is a monarch.

Explain to me the differences.

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2026

Pommer said:
Explain to me the differences.

Hmmm... in reality, there really aren't many differences it seems. Both are elected - one by the College of Cardinals, the other by the Assembly of Experts....

The Ayatolla is the "Supreme Leader", who holds all authority, and the pope holds "Supreme Power" as absolute Monarch.

...The only interesting differences are in how Iran attempts to conceal their autocracy, while the Vatican is honest about it. And how Iran's dictator abuses and kills members of the population, while the pope is a humanitarian.

Hans Blaster · May 9, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
Why isn't the UK considered a Monarchical Republic?

Because a monarchical republic is like the living dead. They are opposite things.

The Many Moods of Hormuz

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