Who said bad wages for all? They have a good economic base and pay not unlike what your average yank would have. It's just that they don't give you a choice if you have no job and can't find employment by yourself they find a job for you.
It's basically just career placement without the option of you going "Well fast food isn't my thing" they go "Well it is until you get a better job".
They don't kill you either you just get treated like a second class citizen if you are unemployed, and uh if you haven't noticed that's pretty much how we look at the unemployed today the only difference is they actually TRY to give you a chance at getting a job where our government goes "Want welfare?".
Communism has nothing to do with their government or economy as the government does not own any corporations much less control the overall economy, it does force people into the workforce if they are capable but that just removes the issue of useless money sucking people who give nothing back.
They are far from communist and have a free market not unlike that of the modern Western powers.
LOL one of the reason "Divine right" suffered problems is because there were always soooo many people who could contend for the throne, Icara eliminated that problem.
As far as your second paragraph goes actually your theory is flawed, the average Icaran citizen would never think of killing the Praetor as they have been raised from childhood to beleive in his sainthood and most people wouldn't go kill a saint
The "Shadow daggers" who are the only ones who have ever killed Praetor's are not exactly "average" Icarans and are raised as a seperate society that is taught justice and how to properly police the Nobles and the Praetor should they ever have to. This was actually instituted by the fourth Icaran Praetor who saw it as a necessar step for Icara's survival for the very reason you stated One bad monarch allowed to rule for life can destroy the Empire.
So if he has an "accident" before he can do serious damage, and a suitable heir can be selected then you preserve the peace. (And just so you know the Shadow daggers always have to have a damn good reason for killing any noble much less the Praetor and can't do it like the Praetorian Guard of Rome did)
They are not "militarized" in the sense you seem to think, their school system is pretty similar to a military academy in that it emphasizes "units" "squads" and community. Plus loyalty to "The Community" over that of personal goals.
And since the Praetor is pretty much the head of "The Community" it would be detrimental to kill him
Like I said El_Phil the Icaran society has evolved along lines totally different then most human societies and having a population that is raised to work, compete and be absolutely Loyal and faithful is actually a PLUS to running a government.
Oh and religious does not= recipe for disaster if anything it might strengthen the sense of community and loyalty, especially in that there are several religions legal within Icaran borders. But I don't want to start an argument over the virtue of religion so I'll leave it at that.
[edit]Oh I also realize I did not answer to your part of "One absolute monarch" well in this sense the Icaran Praetor is not "absolute" as there is a nobility in place to run the provincial affairs of Empire. And in the latter Royal Empire the Icaran nobles can go years or even decades without hearing much from the government beyond recruitment and resource needs of the Empire.
The Praetor decides the overall course of the Empire and can set policy however it is the duty of the Nobles to carry out said policies and orders.
I have not fully figured out how to properly explain the Icaran empire as it is a totally unique form of government but there are enough checks and balances in place to ensure no one man can cause the Entire empire to go to hell.[/edit]