Re-upping of Podcast #4

For some reason the podcast went down a lot earlier than previously so here it is again if you missed it:

https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZsanZrdVVCTWwzZUE9PQ

Oh, and here's an article that you can file under 'How The Monarchy Undermines Democracy':
In Canada, if you want to suspend the parliament (perhaps you want to avoid a vote of no-confidence, for instance) the Prime Minister has to get the permission of the Queen, which, in this case she granted:

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B34BC20081204

"Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a rare suspension of Parliament on Thursday, managing to avoid being ousted by opposition parties angry over the minority Conservative government's economic plans and an attempt to cut off party financing.

Governor General Michaelle Jean -- the representative of Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state -- agreed to Harper's request to shut down Parliament until Jan 26. Parliament was reconvened just weeks ago after the October 14 election."

And here's some of the minimal news coverage from the, obviously minor, collapse of a European government a few weeks ago:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/3904207/Belgium-government-collapse-King-asks-former-PM-for-help.html

dp

Happy New Year!