JerrySeinfeld

Not really political, but I think owning a home is both a status and security thing for most people. In true economic terms the own/rent decision shuold not be an emotional one, but it is for alot of people, especially women. Talk to most married men. They'll probably say it doesn't matter to them whether they own or rent, but their wives really pushed for home ownership. Thats a pure guess, but anecdotally that's what I've seen. As far as your points: This has nothing to do with sound economic decision making and more to do with status (which is a big issue for alot of people). I don't know about that - if you owned real estate in most parts of the continent over the past decade, you've done VERY well. Yes. If looking to buy a home, factor in alot more in expenses than just the mortgage and taxes!!! I'd hate to be house poor: nice house and no life. This has become almost religion as the housing market has risen. Depends where you are in the cycle. I'm sure many people who bought real estate in the US over the past 6 months would beg to differ. There has been upwadrs of 20% downward correction in many markets there. I'm sure many of the buyers from last year would LOVE to be renting right now.

It doesn't quite work that way. as the supply curve shifts in increments which means as the price of labour (ie. wages) falls, potential new migrants will have a new economic decision to make. It doesn't happen all at once. But you're right: over time new supply will mean price (wage) will gradually reach a new (lower) equilibrium. Unless Oil prices go higher, in which case new investment will mean more demand for labour and keep wages high or push them higher. In the end it'll come down to oil prices, as it always has in Alberta. If oil drop dramatically, look out. If you think Alberta is an ugly place now, you should see it with half finished buildings and roads that just sit for 20 years untouched...

I think I speak for the entire forum when I say: "huh?"

O'Rourke:

Last time I check "french" wasn't a race.

OK - ONE more...

Since it's a friday why not share some of your favorite political quips. My favorite source of this is PJ O'Rourke so I'll contribue a few of my favorites: OK - quite a few but if you're interested in contributing it could be humoruous...

GDP grew by 4.0% in BC last year. No matter how you slice it up - you can't argue with that.

The thread is about national security, not liqour store heists (although it could pertain to that too). If you think Canada doesn't have racial problems because you've been spoonfed that by Liberals over the past 30 years, you're living in a dreamworld. Take a look at the relationship between First Nations people and the rest of Canada and tell me there are not serious racial issues in this country.

Are you by chance a person who also refers to Albertans as a bunch of red necks? Stereo-type much? I'm from Alberta originally and I can attest to Dog's comments. When you talk to an Albertan, guarenteed the first or second thing that comes out of their mouth will be about "whoa the economy is booming like CRAZY there, everyone is making so much money - hey have you seen my new truck?" Albertans (not all, but generally) seem to want to direct the conversation around Alberta's wealth and boom. To me that's a people who are mostly concerned with money and tawdry displays of it. Other parts of the country are booming along quite nicely, too. But there are many more other things to talk about than your latest raise. Really? What other parts of the country are this? I talk to Albertans everyday as I live here and am one and the only thing that comes up is the weather and how bad traffic is getting. Sounds like the ugle emotion of envy is colouring alot of people's view on the province. There really isn't anythign to be envious about. Alot of people sarcifice alot in order to move here, like I did. Maybe you guys just need new friends? Envy? I left Alberta voluntarily and with a smile on my face. As far as other parts of the country booming, just look west my friend BC's Economy Is Doing Very Well There are at least 30-some odd tower cranes in downtown vancouver alone. I don't even think Calgary or Edmonton could boast that about their downtown development.

Are you by chance a person who also refers to Albertans as a bunch of red necks? Stereo-type much? I'm from Alberta originally and I can attest to Dog's comments. When you talk to an Albertan, guarenteed the first or second thing that comes out of their mouth will be about "whoa the economy is booming like CRAZY there, everyone is making so much money - hey have you seen my new truck?" Albertans (not all, but generally) seem to want to direct the conversation around Alberta's wealth and boom. To me that's a people who are mostly concerned with money and tawdry displays of it. Other parts of the country are booming along quite nicely, too. But there are many more other things to talk about than your latest raise.

From Al Jazeera: and from a voter: Sure the tough talk on the west helped - but it wasn't the whole story so don't try saying that this kook only exists because of the US invasion of Iraq.

Ahmedinejad was elected on a wave of anti-western sentiment created by the Iraq war. The reformers were making steady but slow progress before then. And you think creating choas actually helps the situation? Iraq will be a violant breeding ground for terrorists for the next 10-15 years at least and won't likely be a democracy for a generation after that. You cannot impose democracy by force - waiting for change to come from within is not a choice - it is the _only_ option available. Iran is seeking nukes because of the threat posed by the US. If the US had not invaded Iraq we would not be talking about the Iranian nuke issue today. You are deluded buddy. Iran is pursuing nukes for the sole purpose of wipin Israel off the map. It has absolutely, postiviely NOTHING to do with the USA in Iraq.

Actually, the chaos in Iraq has undermined the people pushing for democratic change in Syria and Iran. Before Iraq, democracy was a positive thing that many people in these countries aspired to. After Iraq, democracy has become synonymous with chaos and lawlessness. This makes its easier for the thugs to keep control. Right now I am pretty sure that Iran and Syria think the invasion of Iraq was the best thing the US ever did for them. My theory is you cannot spread democracy with guns no matter how distasteful the current leaders are. Democracy must come from within a society. Bush created Ahmedinejad - he would have never been elected if the US had not invaded Iraq. Ahmedinejad had been around for decades and was involved in Iran's hostage - US embassy attack. Ahmedinejad was elected for many domestic policy reasons and it just so happens he's a nut puppet who will do the bidding of the real power brokers in Iran - the Ayatollah, Mullahs and Imams. And the whole "democracy must come from within" garbage routine has been a big massive reason to let the whole BS in the mid-east simmer on medium for decades, only to produce worse and better armed foes. Should we wait another 10 years with the your beloved "sanctions" hahahahahah and see what kind of weaponry we're faced with in a decade? When willwe decide to face the tough tasks at hand - now with some meagrely armed insurgency andf a ketyusha armed hezbollah? or in 10 years with a Nuclear Iran and a well armed force of Islamic jew and west haters?

Many Americans think the Canadian border is a priority including Hillary Clinton. You think this is just an issue for CBC and no one cares in the media elsewhere? If the CBC didn't exists, there would be no problem? Its justa dumb issue. Why would we have an issue with a country trying to protect itself?

My shift right began in 2nd year university as I became very immersed in various 200-300 level economics courses. In particular, the depth in one econometrics course made me realize the ludicrousy of actually trying to plan that shit out from some central office Also, I took a look around me during poli-sci courses and realized all people espousing the left wing stuff were snivelling whiney teet-suckers. I vowed never to walk with that crowd again. I have since moderated some of my hard core right wing positions but generally I still make harper look like a commie. I've always been prettyu liberal about abortion or pot or gay marriage but I still love to make the argument because there's nothing more entertaining than seeing a snivelling teet-sucker get riled up. There is an old saying: If you're not a lefty when your young, you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative when you mature, you don't have a brain

I don't mind them building a fence. It will look good running through the mountains and the the Great Lakes. I don't think the CANADA border is a priority - but I have heard shows on the CBC radio where the hosts couldn't BELIEVE it. I mean, c'mon. How can you devote hours of your day to pummelling the USA, then cry about a potential fence?

Why are people getting so up in arms about the 700 mile wall being built on the USA mexico border? And why are Canadians so upset at the proposition of the US doing the same thing here? I don't get it. Good fences make good neighbours. The only people that should be upset about a wall are people who break the law - am I wrong?

Yes. The perception is that a woman might get pregnant and will miss work as a result, hence hiring a woman may be expensive. The reality is that men can be expensive employees too as they are more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviour (smoking, drinking excessively, using illicit drugs and killing themselves in accidents), resulting in higher medical and life insurance costs, not showing up for work or simply having a heart attack in the office and scaring the shit out of everyone present. When you put the benefits and risks associated with each, it isn't clear to me that hiring women is a worse choice than hiring men. But most people doing hiring are still men (older men at that) and they are more willing to hold a potential pregnancy (and months of missed work) against a female applicant while not even considering a male applicant's substantially higher chances of having a heart attack in the office or dying before retirement (and missing work without notice). Women's child bearing ability is also a key factor why you'll struggle to find many female execs under 40. The cost that companies spend on training, retaining and developing their executives is enourmous, and bringing in a temporary person to fill in for a year or two is simply not acceptable. I'd say that's probably the biggest factor is why women are limited to lower level positions, because between 25-35 they tend to disappear for years at a time. Definitely not good. The company is also obliged to keep that spot open for them, so it's not even like they can bring in a new exec. It's true - our destinies are simply sometimes just controlled by nature. Not always - but alot of the time. Why do you think when you took sex-ed in grade 6 the boys session finished in about 15 minutes and we had to sit out in the hallway for another hour while the women figured their shit out. It was an omen of things to come....

Of course you conveniently ignore how the chaos in Iraq is making the despots in Iran and Syria stronger because Iraq's democratic experiment is a complete and total failure from the perspective of anyone other than chickenhawks sitting in North America. Iraq was a terrorist free zone with Saddam in charge because Saddam and Al Queda were bitter enemies. If you believe that then I get you a great deal on a slightly used bridge.... Last time I checked, it's a good idea for UN resolutions to have TEETH so people like AHMEDINAJD listen when you talk to them. The USA enforced UN resolutions with respect to weapons inspections which were flouted for 10 years. Second, if toppling Saddam has pissed off a whole slew of people who'd rather not see democracy in the middle east, isn't that a good thing? So in your theory since democracy is being opposed by a bunch of thugs we should back off? what a joke that is. If the US presence has pissed off and subsequently attracted ADDITIONAL thugs into the country from yria and Iran, then de facto we're fighting the terrorists on THEIR turf, not ours. That is a good thing. Also, with nutjobs like Ahmedinejad talking tough on nukes and annihalating Israel, it's a damn good thing the US already has a foothold in the region. This is another example of GW Bush's longer term vision on things you just didn't see. What we need is to ramp up the troop and presence in the region. But I trust GW Bush - he knows exactly what to do and we'll see how he executes it from this point forward...hopefully he doesn't tune into the ninnies on CNN and the ADD people who are "bored" with the war and need something else to pee on.

Jerry, the USA never ever interferes with dictatorships. It only overthrows governments that work for the people to replace them with disctatorships and fake "democracies" with puppet governments. Don't you ever wonder why these evil disctators like Hussein, Chevez, Castro etc can stand in front of a big crowd of people with guns with no fear of being shot yet our leaders have men in black around them everywhere with strict security ? Did you know that in these evel dictatorships people get fee education and better medical care than we do ? Do you think getting to vote means democracy when both parties in the USA and all four out of five main parties in Canada are controlled by private central bankers that print our money for nothing, lend it at face value and use profits to control our society in every way from media to publishing to education and medacine through focus groups, tax free foundations and think tanks ? TV was the greatest weapon of mass destruction ever created. It has allowed our rulers to rule our society with thought control and control of education rather than pointing guns at us. Well you got one thing right: In democracies the governments fear the people - in dictatorships the people fear the governments Other than that I only have one response to your post: BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

I thought this was a post about patches and pins.

For the better or worse? Much better - despite the hopes and prayers of the New York Times, CNN and your friendly neighbourhood anti-bush zealot. How so? Women's rights, democracy, Libya and Egypt giving up their weapons programs, Afghanistan freeing women's oppression. And that doesn't even begin to cover the fact that we're taking it to the terrorists on THEIR turf. We had a choice, fight over there now or fight over here in 10 years or less. The world is a much better place for the presence of the USA in the middle east. I hope bush doesn't buckle to the short-sighted visionless CNN New York Times zombies.

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/view/1032/1/91/ From the website "Marxist Thought.com" hahahahahaa

And just to add a side note: what is with Calgary and the white hats with red vests? It's totally provincial and quite lame. I mean, get over 1988 already. Calgary has got to be the biggest dissapointment of any city to visit. Not because it's so bad. It's Regina with lexus' and a hockey team. But because I swear there is some secret indoctrination that happens when people move there. I think they have a training session for every calgarian on how to promote the city (and annoy everyone in the room) when you go abroad. Never in my life have I heard so many big braggy things about such an average place to live. After all the pump-up by it's citizens, people who have never seen calgary before must drive down the deerfoot and think "THIS is what the fuss is all about?"