Royal Temper Tantrum

They're having a spot of bother over democracy and abortion in Liechtenstein.

Prince Alois upset some when he threatened last August to use his veto should the electorate vote to legalise abortion in the mostly Catholic country, the only nation named after the family that bought it.

''Every human life, especially that of an unborn child, needs to be protected,'' he said in a speech that month. ''Abortion is not an acceptable solution for the problem of an unwanted pregnancy.''

Women in Liechtenstein who have an abortion can be imprisoned for as long as one year, according to the country's criminal code.

It seems his papa had something of a temper tantrum and got himself some more power in this supposedly democratic country bank state.

When his father, Hans-Adam II, warned that he might leave Liechtenstein nine years ago, the electorate granted him more powers in what the Council of Europe said was ''a serious backward step'' for democracy. ''We are the last monarchy where the sovereign definitely has the last word, and this is not good because it's undemocratic,'' said Mario Frick, former head of government.

''It is a contradiction in terms that Liechtenstein calls itself a direct democracy, when the people do not have the last word.''

Is this what Stevie Peevie has in mind for Canada? Prosperity over democracy?

Works for teensy Lichtenstein.

Liechtenstein has the highest gross domestic product per person in the world when adjusted by purchasing power parity, and has the world's lowest external debt. Liechtenstein also has the second lowest unemployment rate in the world at 1.5% (Monaco is first)*.

I bet they don't have terrorist environmentalists or child pornographer–supporting Internet activists either.

Just siddown, shuddup, and enjoy your purchasing power.



*Doesn't it drive you nuts when something is called the 'second biggest/smallest' without being told what's numero uno?