MiddleClassCentrist

I expected as much of a discussion from this. If anything, Senate Reform is needed. We need to remember that Harper, as conservatives point out, is fully entitled to do this under the current system. What I would like to see Stephen Harper do, is appoint a socialist to the Senate. It would show, at least politically, the ability to compromise and respect the work of an individual regardless of political affiliation. If he wants to make a point on Senate Reform. I recommend the Vegas MP, Brosseau. That is, if he did this original move as an example of why the Senate is a bad idea.

Never said I didn't. Joseph Brant hasn't increased capacity and Burlington has been growing for years.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20110518/harper-appoints-new-senators-110518/ You may not be able to win a seat in an election to represent the people of Canada. But, fear not conservative faithful candidates! Stephen Harper will consider your failiure as an asset and can appoint you to represent the people who rejected your representation!

Point 1 - "I think", back it up or stop talking out of your arse. Point 2 - Objective enough to give some public education systems a ranking of D. I could have used a private study, that was only funded by government and you'd say it was biased. So, find me a study that has no investment or funding from anyone wealthy enough to benefit from scrapping public education. The manure pile keeps getting bigger. First off, how would the free, private market offer high quality education for poor people? They wouldn't. Poor people don't have the money. They would get textbook learning, if they could afford even that. Second, food is a resource that can be grown, transported, bought, sold, shipped, exchanged. Education is not a resource. It is a service. Third, you know... based on your argument why not have free market police? Fire fighters? You know, food is essential and such. It is run by private businesses. Why can't firefighters and police be part of the free market as an essential service. Only those who actually use the service can pay for it and you can select what company offers the service! For instance, if you require police assistance, dialing 911 would first offer a selection of services (health, fire, police) and then could give you up 9 selections of which local police service you want to come to your aid! it would only cost a few grand or whatever other price the free market determines per visit. Maybe private police would be more efficient? If people don't call them in fear of paying, less crime will be reported! Win-win imo. Free market wins, politicians win.

Mike Harris cut Ontario to the number of MPP's to the number of Federal MP's. The rationale was that if Ontario can be represented with that many federally, why not provincially. For example... PEI has what, 3 MP's federally? They have 27 provincial. http://www.assembly.pe.ca/index.php3?number=1024584〈=E

The less one says, the less there is to criticize. Harper played the game and won.

I fixed it for you.

Jack answers questions, at very least. Opposed to Stephen Harper, who answers no unscripted questions... ...and keeps his MP's from speaking in public.

Um... The majority of editorials were on the Conservatives side. My local paper even featured a letter to the editor from PARKSVILLE, BC (note, I am from Ontario) that was a puff piece for Stephen Harper. Conservatives. Anything left of hard right is socialist propaganda. lol.

Sorry, I seem to have had a lapse in brain activity

Stephen Harper is no fascist. He is an autocrat at heart.

What does the bible say about mammoths? That's more important. I mean it is a road map to all knowledge, right? I really want to hear God's explanation. ... Oh wait, I'm sorry. I really want to hear the explanation written by men who claimed to be speaking for God. They know exactly what is going on. Let's be real though. You'd just find another point to argue if they solved the mammoth mystery. I mean... the most likely possibility for creationism, at least by the rational minded, is that life didn't start on Earth (if it was created). It arrived here from other source. It could have been dropped off by aliens so advanced they seem like gods... just as we seem as gods to ants. Or we could actually be the science experiment of an advanced race. Infinitely more likely than some God, who never communicates with us and will never communicate with us. 2000 years ago, I'm sure those holy men were convincing. Now we know better. Technically, it is an equivalent theory to "God Made It". Because we have no way (at this time) of testing it.

I thought this was a forum post on Sun Media. I'm getting into the role play. You know, truth or facts to back up what you say are optional! But, just for discussion purposes... Sun Media caters to Conservatives. Conservatives are more likely to be high school drop outs http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/final_seat_projection_may_1.pdf Note: Ekos was the only one that broke down the info into education, for some reason... the polls that lean right don't seem to have that information! (I wonder why that is?) I would have used a more right leaning polls information but, it's not like this isn't common knowledge from those who study what types of people are more likely to vote for a party. Voting Intention (Computed Ratio of Voters) (this is done by adding the % of voters with a certain education for a certain party and then dividing the number for each category by the total. Conservative University - 27% College - 37% High School or Less - 36% Liberal (for comparison) University - 43% College - 29% High School or Less - 28% NDP was the only party that was very close to 33% each. It's clear that conservative supporters are more likely to be less educated. College is good for professional skills but, critical thinking an analysis is not a strong point at the college level. I mean, a diploma in welding doesn't take much critical though but, it does take hard skills. On the flipside, Liberals are highly likely to be university educated but, university focuses on critical thinking and analysis. What university grads lack are often the practical skills from college. I'm just pulling a fox news though guys...

Have you considered the double taxation? - Your corporate profits are taxed. - Your personal income is taxed. Benefit -> You an royally eff up with your corporation and not be personally liable for the debt.

That's the problem isn't it. Religion fills the gaps of what we can't explain at this time. Or are volcanoes still God's wrath?

I believe it goes something like this. "How dare they make me look bad for not sharing! I've made my entire wealth by paying workers less than they are worth, I deserve it all." - Champagne Fascist Champagne communists realise that their wealth was attained by the hard working people and that they have a responsibility to help shape a better future. Champagne fascists ignore the fact that their wealth is generated by paying people less than they are worth to generate profit. They see the working people as suckers who are meant to prop up their lifestyle and hate being called out on it. I personally applaud those wealthy individuals to try to make a positive difference by sharing their wealth responsibly.

The problem is that if you allow broadcaster's to report fake news, there is absolutely no recourse for people whose reputations are damaged by the lies. In the states, Fox News can slander you in opinion with false information and you would have no legal grounds to fight back. That is bad for any nation and promotes idiocy. I mean, it's already bad enough that Sun caters to uneducated inviduals but, to then try and manipulate them into religiously believing a political ideology, that is garbage. The problem I find, is that anything left of hard right, even centrist news sources, get labelled as left wing propaganda by conservatives. The irony is that most editorials, whether paid off or not, supported Harper in the recent election campaign. I must admit, it was kind of hilarious to see a puff piece letter to the editor from Parksville, BC in my local Ontario newspaper. The sad part is that I'm sure local residents read the letter and didn't recognize the obvious propaganda.

No... That is totalitarianism.

Fascism is a far right trait, hope it has been pointed out already in this old thread.

I'm sure the factor of "why bother" comes to mind. If you know your vote won't count in your riding, why show up? We might increase participation by making individual votes count more but, lets face it. Canada is a complacent and apathetic country for the most part. ... at least the almost 40% of people who didn't vote are. We won't get all of them but, some of them will vote. The main thing I want to see is that if someone gets a majority, they actually earn a majority. I don't care what political stripe you are, 40% is not a ticket to shape a country in your vision. That is why I like AV, majorities still exist and every candidate has a majority preference mandate.

Our system is based on MP representation of geographical areas/populations. Our MP's are not allowed to actually represent us, they are kept silent by the party leaders on topics their constituents feel are important because they might be controversial to the rest of the country. This is the abomination of a democracy that we live in.

They should be seeking investment from oil companies. The Oilers can play in "Big Oil Arena" The Flames can play in "Oil Sand Paradise Place" This is an example of bad tax money use... fiscal irresponsibility. The tax payers will never get their money back. Entertainment spending will not grow, only shift in location. The net gain will be negligible, or non-existant. Promoting new investment from firms that bring money to the cities will in turn improve the core. They give net gains when money flows from an external source, into the city.

Official opposition is pretty much meaningless for 3 years. Although I don't support Harper. I don't mind most of the conservative policies. Jack Layton isn't going to do much. He can get some media time for criticizing the CPC but, the NDP effectively has no teeth in this majority situation.

The problem with electoral reform is that we need two referendums. First referedum: Do you want to change FPTP 1 - Yes 2 - No Second Referendum: Which system should we use? 1 - AV 2 - AVP 3 - MMP And we'll likely only ever get 1.

I'm taking your numbers. $12,000 * 12/20 = $7200 tuition. 7200/194/6 = $6.1/classroom hour. How many years of inflation should I adjust that rate by? http://www.halfhill.com/inflation.html Samples: - If you have been out of school for 10 years... -> $9103.50 Tuition (almost bang on for public school cost) - If you have been out of school for 20 years... -> $12,007.97 Tuition (25% more than public school cost) I'm sure there are efficiencies to be gained, but not on the scale that you believe they are. First off, the average class size is not 30, especially in elementary. Secondly, the public school cost includes purchasing new computers and equipment (including robotics, manufacturing, construction and other resources needed for technology programs in high school), maintaining and repairing schools, building new schools, funding special needs programs, standardized testing, busing of students etc. The $8/classroom hour is the entire public system rolled up into a convenient figure... including the beaurocracy of the Ministry of Education. I will give you that. It is backed up by research but, not directly because of private school itself but the environment that is allowed in private school. Low end students who slow down the class are removed. Which is arguably just action even for the low end students with the studies I have read. The lower end students perform better in classes when they feel they are on an equal level. Not only that but, advanced students can cover a hell of a lot more with students who are motivated by the fact that their parents are paying good money and will be displeased if they are not putting an effort into learning. I don't want to appear too lopsided. I'm not "The public education system is the end all, be all as it currently stands". I think we need to change aspects of it but, it is more of a fine tuning than a massive overhaul. For instance, the public system is often slow to incorporate and differentiate based on new information (integration of weak learners makes them feel more segregated because they can't answer the same questions resulting in disengagement) and too reliant on being politically correct (why can't public schools offer optional religous instruction based on local demand? Whether it is Judaism, Islam, Christianity, etc. Just offering the courses in a single environment embraces the idea of acceptance of one another) Not only that but, I personally want to try opening my own private school at some point in my life. I have the credentials, just need the money