eCitizen

Maybe seats on the Security Council should go to the biggest contributors LOL. So how much have countries in the Middle East contributed? I'd love to see a ranking for that since they suck up so much of the UN's resources.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/06/25/afghan-cda-soldier.html You need to raise your standards, princess.

The glove is thrown down.... Be it resolved, that Conrad Black should be reinstated as a citizen of Canada.

The Toronto Police Association has vigorously opposed psychological testing for police recruits. Not a good sign, IMHO.

Harper has changed the election funding landscape so that parties have no choice but to kowtow to their base for funding. He then tacitly backed the lockout and introduced legislation that would force the union to take less than it had already bargained out of management. What choice does the NDP have but to take radical action in defense of its traditional base?

Egregious !

Babs, Babs, Babs. Why so harsh? Senators are pensioners before they start? Well, Babs, that's because they are appointed for doing good party works. But an elected senate might look differently, dontcha think, Babs? Hey, Babs, I'm all for getting rid of vested pensions, but this is the world we all live in. Hmmmmm....kay? And Babs, how about those newly boosted MP pensions?

No wonder there is so much crap coming out of Hollywood and movie ticket prices are insanely expensive.

Hey, there are all kinds of people who would prefer kicking back with a beer and few good steaks as opposed to showing up for work. What a stupid argument. By the way. I looked at your profile. Jeebus. What a narcissist!

To further elaborate on my post... Shouldn't we be applying some sort of test to these kinds of situations? Here's my suggestion... Test 1 : are they attacking anybody else or is their message only positive to their own issue? Test 2 : are they causing more economic harm than benefit?

I thought Steven LeDrew, CityTV political talking head (and past president of the Liberal party) had an interesting idea... Ford has a long standing family tradition of going to the cottage on Canada Day. Maybe he can show his support by cutting the ribbon on the opening of Gay Pride day. I don't agree with LeDrew, but it might give Ford a way to mollify the gays who are very clearly seeing this as a human rights challenge. Watch for Rob Ford to show up at either an opening ceremony (voluntarily) or as a caricature for ridicule in the gay pride parade (involuntarily). My personal opinion : anybody who runs for mayor of one of the largest cities in North America should be ready to give up "Family Time". Many people who live and work in the Big Smoke have to do the same and for much less glory.

If the will of the people was represented in the government of the day, how do you think government policy might be expressed on issues like : abortion in foreign aid projects..., the Middle East..., asbestos..., corporate tax cuts.... ? Secondly, if they are not allowed to belong to political parties, senators will form ephemeral alliances according to the issue at hand but will not coalesce into voting blocs... which brings me to another point.... The idea of assigning equal senators to provinces is not going to work. Better to do a rep by pop thing, but put very very high majority requirements in place - for example, a majority in the senate is not 50% plus 1 but enough votes such that every province and territory would have to gang up on two of the smallest provinces in order to pass legislation.

If the will of the people was represented in the government of the day, how do you think government policy might be expressed on issues like : abortion in foreign aid projects..., the Middle East..., asbestos..., corporate tax cuts.... ? Secondly, if they are not allowed to belong to political parties, senators will form ephemeral alliances according to the issue at hand but will not coalesce into voting blocs... which brings me to another point.... The idea of assigning equal senators to provinces is not going to work. Better to do a rep by pop thing, but put very very high majority requirements in place - for example, a majority in the senate is not 50% plus 1 but enough votes such that every province and territory would have to gang up on two of the smallest provinces in order to pass legislation.

Ten years? Even the most miserly private sector employer vests a pension after 3. Ten years is completely unreasonable.

As far as I have been able to tell, the purpose of the Senate has been to reward the party faithful with life long sinecures. That's what we are trying to stop. But as to its effect... I think it could have a very important effect. It could stand for the will of the people outside of the distortions brought about by political parties. I think that the Senate could serve a critical political role. I think it could serve as an expression of the will of the people, but only if we take party politics out of it.