The swine flu pandemic has coincided with the royal visit and I think a mention of that should be made. One might have little against the man called Charles and his wife but frankly there is no need for pomp and circumstance to continue at the expense of taxpayers who reap no benefit.

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 Seeing the royal couple entering the Biosphere or going off to a secret event at a Blackwatch bastion in Montreal is no consolation for people who are not royal followers nor curious about their donations to world causes.

I am aware that royality has taken a new turn towards being ecologically conscious of problems the world has, they could have used their money for years to back that research instead of lying silent behind British Petroleum exploitations but so it goes with the oil industry. Damage had to be caused before any concern arose.

Charles’s mother is still on the money here and one wonders why that is still happening when this is supposed to be a sovereign state. Some may argue it is out of respect to the official head of state. Even though she holds a figurative position they like to see something emblematic to remind us. Most Canadians find it outdated and useless. There is nothing to be gained by appearing on our currency or paying for heir visits when money should have been made available for flu vaccinations and more.

People wanting more of a sovereign state and little or nothing to do with royal visits should question the inroads that the American economy has here, the fact that Canadian industries have closed to favor their partners and branches on the other side of the border. Wanting more sovereignty is an issue that Harper is reticent to bring up because of a long tradition of trailing the American green back and of favoring useless royal visits. Our attitude towards making a change is poor, we are too docile a nation that likes to spend on royal frills on the one hand and sell out on our economy on the other.