Prince of Sealand Dies At 91 218
jdavidb writes "46 years ago, occupying an abandoned WWII platform off the coast of Britain, Paddy Roy Bates declared independence, naming himself Prince of the Principality of Sealand. Today, Bates has passed away at 91. Long time Slashdot readers will remember Sealand as the site of HavenCo, an unsuccessful data warehousing company that tried to operate from Sealand outside the reach of larger nations' legal structures. They may also remember plans that the Pirate Bay had at one time to buy Sealand. Bates had moved to a care home a few years ago, naming his son Michael Regent of Sealand."
Interesting contradiction (Score:1, Informative)
He was the prince of a principality, yet required the care that British Healthcare provided. Reminds me of some Americans with Canadian dual-citizenship who come back to Canada to get Healthcare. If you don't pay taxes you shouldn't get anything. Citizenship is an obligation as much as it is a birthright.
Re:Interesting contradiction (Score:3, Informative)
Please name a few empires where this actually occurred.
What happens with most empires is that the components (several cycles of Chinese empires, the Western Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, etc.) is that the political/geographic sub-components become too powerful, siphoning off revenue from the central government for their own use, which atrophies and loses its authority. A new conqueror may then come in to reconsolidate central power by stripping away the authority of the peripheral components.
Re:Why should I care? (Score:4, Informative)
For one thing in 1776 the UK Military was not #1 in the world. They had virtually no standing Army, and most of India was still under the Mughals. That's why they needed the Hessians. The Royal Navy was top of the line, but the Army basically didn't exist.
For another you're ignoring the fact that the colonists actually had the resources to create an Army strong enough to resist the Brits. The OP was exaggerating with implying you need more actual troops on the day you declare independence, but his main point is sound. If you can't protect your country you don't have a country, period.