Queen's visit to Western Canada
 

What's your opinion?

Frankly, the queen's visit came at a bad time. Canada (as stated by GB press) is facing a continstional (sp) crisis and the fact that the Queen's visit might just stir up things in policies Canada (like hell). In fact, I was reading in the Calgary Herald somewhere (Went back to double check, strange I can't find the article again), the queen didn't have a very good support in Western Canada. Then again, what the hell are we gonna do with a Queen? The only thing she does is approve governor general who, in turn, eats up the taxpayers money by doing nothing but make throne speeches, visit other countries, etc.

(Hey, I finally figured out, the Calgary Herald is Liberal while the Sun is Conservative)

If we didn't have more pressing things to concern ourselves with, I would be pushing for the abolition of the Monarchy. It truly serves no purpose in Canada.

That said, all of those who complain about the cost of having a GG will be wishing we still had a GG when they realize what it will cost to have a President of Canada.

By the way, BigBen, did you get to see the Queen while she was in Winnipeg? :p :lol:

funny, I'm not anti monarchy. I quite enjoy the Queen and when we play those games such as ' who would you most like to have a conversation with, if you could choose anybody in the world' I always choose her. I woiuld love to have an hour of honest, free ranging chat with her.

Anyways, to address one of your points Charleton, I don't really complain about the cost of the GG, but I question why we foot the bill. It's kind of like buying a webcam. To draw a rather tenuous anology, if somebody wants to see you on cam, they should buy you a webcam. I mean, why should I fork over 80 bucks, just so somebody else can see me? where's the fun in that? If the British monarch is going to remain our head of state, why are we paying the bill? I think that Buckingham Palace should budget for it.

I'm sure there's a lot of holes in my argument, but that's how i feel.

That is a very interesting argument Janey...

Here's why we will never get rid of the Monarchy... power.

As a result of having a figurehead for our head of state and not having an elected or accountable senate (i.e. they are supposed to function like the House of Lords but essentially end up being just a dawdling rubber stamp) the PM and his party have all power.

Once in a majority position the only check on their power is the fact that they could get voted out at the end of the Term in office... otherwise they can pretty much do what they want.

It is only in minority governments like the current one that we get any sort of back and forth movement.

I think she should pay for her trips abroad. She certainly can afford it.

I used to hate the Queen. Now I just view her as a spectacle.

It is facinating also how generations upon generations of inbreding can spawn her and her family such wealth and pedigree. 99.999999% of the rest of the world with such closely mixed genes usually dominate trailer parks.

The GG. I wouldn't mind her as much if her budget was 75% less. Her official duties don't warrant the budget she get's to blow. And Mr. Adrienne Clarkson. Not enough words in the English language to describe that hanger-on. Ever read one of his books? What fucking pompous, elitist blather.

HAHAHA - good one...

I've read his books... elitist? perhaps... blather... not so much. His book Reflections of a Siamese Twin, all about the English Canada/French Canada issue, was actually quite a good read. His books are generally written for academics and as such are good compared to the unreadable garbage that usually gets passed off as brilliant in those circles... It's a matter of taste.

He does come off as pompus though.

Personally I don't care to strongly one way or the other about the Queen and her floppy-eared brood.

Yes I know it costs us a fair bit of money, but I respect tradition. And that is what the Monarcy is, a long standing tradition that, like it or not, I feel Canadians (not to mention the rest of the Commonwealth) can and should respect.

If you choose to eliminate the monarcy on the basis that it is "A waste of money." Would you also get rid of....

The RCMP's red serge uniforms and the musical ride or The Order of Canada? I would hope not. It's Canada's respect for tradition that makes us who we are as a country with a rich albeit short history.

My mouth is hurting, because you just ripped the words out of it.

People need history and tradition. If only to complain about it.

As far as the GG, I welcome her new, revived position. Who can recall the previous GG's? Now those people were drab and dreary.

Clarkson is travelling and flying the Canadian Flag, promoting our foreign policies and strengthening our international image.

I would double her budget. Then double it again. It is a drop in the bucket.

If we are going to have the GG as the head of state... then yes. Let spend more and have them do more. I agree.

For me, I don't really know what there is to say about the queen. I dislike the whole monarchy idea, and I think keeping her and the GG around as a sort of 'tradition' is nonsensical, and such a waste of perfectly good time and money.

Besides, we can keep the tradition in other ways. There's no reason we can't celebrate having come from a great country, even if we are no longer a part of it. We're a world away, and by neccessity we share a closer bond with the only country we border.

Something about leaving the nest. I'd be eloquent, but I'm not. Sorry.

Personally, I'm sick of EVERY monarchy in the world, because it's just an outdated form of fascism. They show up everywhere in the world and make "nice" statements to justify their existence, but it's just a pointless show for people who still believe in this sort of crap.

I wouldn't say this in public of course. That would be rude.