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At least some people appreciate a sense of humour!

I don't think it is as much race as it is more of the rich usually get their needs meet by government because they run for office and are actively involved in the political process. Vancouver is a good example. If you go to the West (read: rich) side of town you will observe that the public facilities are usually in a better state of repair than those facitities on the East (read: poor) side. The rich have more time to lobby for better government services as the poor are living in survival mode a lot of the time. I think it is the cutbacks due to the war effort, and access to government funds from more powerful lobbyists that pulled the money away from repairing the levees. As well it is almost a religion now in the US to discredit scientists, those people who warned about the hurricane dangers. (See National Geographic October, 2004 edition). Of course the people that made these political decisions to reward their corporate buddies, rather than look after the safety of NO, hopefully will be held accountable at the polls next election. And I do think Ms Rice can kiss her future political ambitions away, if those stories about her out shopping for thousand dollar shoes, in the middle of the crisis, have any truth to them. This just shows how out of touch with the average person the rich and powerful are, including the current US administration.

I wonder if the people posting here at MLW fit into the pattern of the recent national political polling, or whether we are a bit different because of the fact that the MLW website is based in Alberta. As we head into the Labour Day weekend soon Canadian politics will be upon us once again. If it was election day when you read this which political party will you be supporting? Please include your projections for the various political parties if you wish as well.

This was published in October, 2004: Gone with the Water I would imagine that the political reprecussions from this are going to be huge and that Bush could well end up bearing the brunt of people's frustrations.

It is quite simple really. We did not used to have the kind of violence we are now seeing in Toronto and other major urban areas. And we did not have the violence we now have on TV. Put two and two together. These are the result of your freedom of speech obsessions!

Your so called freedom of speech protestations have turned Toronto and other major cities into shooting galleries. Sure let's allow all the violence we can offer on TV. These are the consequences for what one says.

Do you ever have anything of substance to comment on apart from personal putdowns that is. Get a life pal!

I would be very surprised if the Republicans survive this debacle: Local Officials Criticize Federal Government Over Response

Good. I am delighted they have had their licence revoked. Yes, actually it is how we practice freedom of speech in Canada, as we have societal norms. What cave do you live in? And you are probably the type to think it OK for the leader of the Western separatist party to say there never were atrocities committed against the Jews in Hitler's Germany. Shall we add you to the revisionist historians list?

There was one serious flaw made when the constitution was patriated. The provinces were NOT abolished. Canada politicians at all levels are failing our citizens. And these municipal amalgamations have ripped the soul out of our communities. I remember when I used to know the policeman on the beat. Our cities have now been turned into war zones. Let's find some people to represent us that really care about Canada instead of these yahoos that are just there for their pension benefits. We are way over governed but not one politician is prepared to be honest and admit that, because they would be talking themselves out of a job. Can you imagine what a screwup we would have in Canada if we had something similiar to what happened in NO this week. It is actually very scary! And one of the reasons is that no one is going to have a clue in this country about who is in charge. Isn't it time to call a spade a spade and admit all this money spent on security for a supposed attack is just another way for politicians to milk the public trough, and give their corporate buddies another government contract at our expense. Let's finally elect some people to Ottawa that have some courage and are going to effect some meaningful change. Let's turn off our TVs and try living in the real world!

Shady It is obvious to all those except the totally blind that Bush's presidency has been an unmitigated disaster from stealing an election, to creating an illegal war, to not properly protecting Americans at home from the threat of natural disasters, and to not properly rescuing the stranded people. I mean, come on, how long ago did we all know the NO was going to be in Katrina's path. NO teachers have been told there jobs are gone, there is no money to pay them and they need to look elsewhere for work. Troops enter New Orleans to ease chaos (1st Update)

I'm no Bush fan but would the Democrats have done any better. I have my doubts. What I cannot comprehend is that if the US is so prepared for a security attack from al Quaeda how come they have botched their response to this NO crisis so badly? I think we should scrap all this security protection nonsense and the billions of costs that go with it. BC's Search & Rescue people are there but are unable to work because of the snipers. The rest of the people on the planet are watching this and the US will be losing any credibility they had left. Unbelievable! The Real Disaster: Bush and the Democrats

Actually you seem to understand very little. Why they didn't rescue those poor people right away is beyond comprehension. New Orleans and the Death of the Common Good

Yup, you have the good ole Conservative attitude: Screw what the average working person wants, let's give more and more and more to the rich. NO THANKS!

Well duh, aren't the police doing this already? They can't be serious about this. Ont., T.O. police to inspect gun shops The City of Toronto needs to purchase some billboards around the city and use them similiar to the way they are used by company plants to show their safety record. You know so many days accident free, except Toronto's billboards could say, for example today: CITY OF TORONTO, NUMBER OF DAYS FREE FROM GUN KILLINGS: ONE!

If you had an accurate memory you would remember that we had just had an election in June, 2004, and the citizens of Canada felt it was too early for another election. But no Harper, by allying himself with the separatists, who of course will take any opportunity to make the Canadian government look bad, and listening only to the beat of his own drummer, tried to bring the government down, but failed, when the Speaker of the House cast the tie-breaking vote. To prevent that, and the real heroes for listening and respecting the people's wishes, the Layton New Democrats propped up the government and got $4.6 billion for the average Canadian in environmental protection, housing, foreign aid, and education. How about that! I wonder what the NDP is going to get for us average Canadians this Fall to continue to keep the government propped up.

It may not be by choice. Toro Good luck with your gas shortage situation there. To not be able to readily acquire fuel for your vehicle must be disconcerting.

Why no mention of race or class in TV's Katrina coverage? Being poor is no fun anywhere I'm sure, but you certainly don't want to be be poor in America.

R&B legend Fats Domino, 77, missing in New Orleans Hopefully he and his family are found alive.

New Orleans slips toward anarchy I knew the US had some serious problems before but I can honestly say I never expected anything like this. Thank goodness in Canada we have at least begun the difficult task of removing guns from our civilian population. Watching what is going on in New Orleans confirms that we are doing thew right thing. All guns from all civilians should be removed as this is insanity.

Deliveries Falter Amid Reports of Dry Gas Pumps Americans might want to consider staying home this weekend. Talk about a nation GATE or spoiled. A while back while I was in Switzerland there were having a referendum on whether or not to shut down the highways and roads on Sundays except for emergency vehicles and public transportation. Canada needs to go back to being closed on Sundays and we might do well to similiarily consider closing our roads on Sundays as well. This would help with global warming, pollution, and gas supplies rather than be forced into some kind of rationing down the road.

This is the stark reality in the difference between private and public health care. The rich live and the poor die. I prefer our Canadian system thank you! Marooned doctors plead 'Please help us'

I would imagine the people in Montreal who are paying $1.349 a litre care.

US$0.8470 We are rapidly approaching 85 cents US. It's rising like a phoenix our Canuk dolla these days.

Canadian dolla = US$0.8464