Something interesting to note in the Valencia floods; yesterday both the King and Queen, and later the PM arrived. The PM's car was attacked and the King and Queen had mud and other items thrown at them and a chant of "murderers!" rang out from the crowd.
It's gives an insight into how much the social contract between the people and 'authorities' still holds sway. It's possible that, prior to the floods, if you had asked many of those people who were chanting "murderers", about their opinion on the monarchy, they might have said they are outdated and corrupt and 'we don't need them'. Yet as soon as disaster strikes and they are suffering, what people really believe comes out: that the monarchy or other authority has a duty of protection over the people and are invested with 'powers' that can and should protect the people from excess suffering and harm, of whatever nature.
If the people experience excess suffering and harm, they immediately and instinctively know where to put the blame.
The same is true for atheists or people who dismiss religion. They can do so with impunity during good times, but as soon as disaster strikes, they're the first to appeal to god, or his representatives on earth. It's similar to a child that disses mommy when she tries to stop him or her doing something that might get them into trouble, but as soon a trouble arrives, it's immediately "MOMMY!!!"
It's gives an insight into how much the social contract between the people and 'authorities' still holds sway. It's possible that, prior to the floods, if you had asked many of those people who were chanting "murderers", about their opinion on the monarchy, they might have said they are outdated and corrupt and 'we don't need them'. Yet as soon as disaster strikes and they are suffering, what people really believe comes out: that the monarchy or other authority has a duty of protection over the people and are invested with 'powers' that can and should protect the people from excess suffering and harm, of whatever nature.
If the people experience excess suffering and harm, they immediately and instinctively know where to put the blame.
The same is true for atheists or people who dismiss religion. They can do so with impunity during good times, but as soon as disaster strikes, they're the first to appeal to god, or his representatives on earth. It's similar to a child that disses mommy when she tries to stop him or her doing something that might get them into trouble, but as soon a trouble arrives, it's immediately "MOMMY!!!"