blackbird
-
Posts
5,781 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
8
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by blackbird
-
-
36 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:
More democracy = no monarch
That would not mean more democracy. We already live in a Constitutional Monarchy. All laws are made by our elected Parliament. The monarch does not decrease democracy. The function of the Monarchy is actually to ensure democracy continues and prevent a dictator from taking over and abolishing Parliament. Many countries have no Monarchy and are totalitarian dictatorships. So having no monarch does not ensure you will end up with democracy. What ensures democracy continues is the Constitutional Monarch in Canada's case and allegiance to the Monarchy by the nation in general.
-
12 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:
Why can’t they evolve some more into even more democracy?
What more democracy are you talking about? We already have a parliamentary system where we elect our representatives, MLAs and MPs.
-
6 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:
Why can’t they evolve some more into even more democracy?
You missed the point of my question about the Supreme Court… why can’t the court take on the Monarch’s role in our democracy?
No, I didn't miss it. I understand what you're saying but it doesn't make much sense. The Supreme Court has a certain purpose which is to hear cases that are appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court. They have a full time job.
The GG is an entirely different job and does not require the legal skills or knowledge of Supreme Court judges. The GG is appointed to act in place of the King in Canada. She attends many functions as a representative of the Crown. She approves new laws that are passed to bring them into effect. She dissolves Parliament when necessary and under only certain conditions. That is the GG's role. It has nothing to do with the Supreme Court.
-
5 hours ago, TreeBeard said:
Is there anything a GG could do that the Supreme Court could not?
Different functions entirely.
5 hours ago, TreeBeard said:Also, why do you think the Crown is outside of politics?
That is just the way democracy and the Parliamentary system evolved. Countries were once ruled by absolute monarchies. But over the centuries they evolved into democratic systems such as what we have now. The role of the Crown or monarchy or GG is limited to things that cannot be done by the elected government or Parliament.
"The Magna Carta or 'Great Charter' was an agreement imposed on King John of England (r. 1199-1216) on 15 June 1215 by rebellious barons in order to limit his power and prevent arbitrary royal acts like land confiscation and unreasonable taxes. Henceforward, the king would have to consult a defined body of laws and customs before making such declarations.
The Magna Carta ensured that all freemen were protected from royal officers and had the right to a fair trial. Consequently, the charter became a symbol of the rule of law as the ultimate sovereign. Although not entirely successful in its aims, the charter did permit further constitutional developments in England in subsequent centuries and it provided inspiration for similar models of limited monarchy in other European states."
-
5 hours ago, TreeBeard said:10 hours ago, blackbird said:
Failure to meet the Canadian Forces spending of 2%.
This is a plus for me.
"The problem, according to all three commanders, is money. There's a $1.3 billion funding shortfall this year alone. The effect, they say is planes unable to fly, ships at dock and an army in danger of rusting out."
Canadian military says underfunding serious problem for defence forces | CBC News
The problem is western democracies are under threat from authoritarian countries.
Democracy is not without a price. Nations who wish to remain free must spend lots on defence or risk losing their freedom in the world. Canada has not been pulling it's share for years.
"The armed forces are the land , naval and air forces commanded by the federal government for the purpose of defending Canada's security, protecting its citizens, and promoting its strategic interests at home or abroad."
History of the Armed Forces in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia
-
"
"Recreational Marijuana Use as Opposed to the Flourishing Life
Not only will marijuana most likely lead to a violation of the biblical commands for sobriety, but prolonged recreational marijuana use will ultimately render us unable to enjoy a flourishing life which is rightly ours in Christ. In other words, the commands to be “sober-minded” are for a reason:
In Ephesians 5 we learn that it is the sober-minded in Christ who will be filled with the Spirit.
Proverbs tells us that a lack of sober-mindedness can lead to poverty and a whole host of worldly anxiety.
Hosea 4 reminds us that much wine leads to a lack of understanding.
Isaiah 28 says it leads to a lack of judgment.
Recreational Marijuana Use as a Failure to Love Thy Neighbour
The Apostle Paul tells us that in Christ we have been given “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Paul is reminding Timothy of this in a passage centred around Timothy’s pastoral and evangelistic work, meaning not only is recreational marijuana and the inevitable intoxication opposed to a flourishing life, it is also a way in which we fail to love our neighbour. Self-control isn’t something the Spirit gives us for our own sake; he gives us self-control that we might be beacons of stability in a volatile world. Philip Towner writes about Paul’s use of self-control here:"
How Should Christians Think about the Legalization of Cannabis? - The Gospel Coalition | Canada
Of course before a person thinks as a Christian should think, they must become one. Do you really want to continue living as a heathen or pagan, taking drugs or booze or some other mind altering thing, with no meaningful life and no meaningful future? God has a better plan.
So we have a liberal government that legalized marijuana and then shortly after that, they legalized medical assistance in dying. So if after you take marijuana for a while and it messes up your life and you are not happy, you can always opt out with an medically assisted suicide. Some government. Evil from top to bottom.
-
"A 300 per cent increase in drug overdose deaths in B.C. since Trudeau took office ... it's a complete disaster'"
Poilievre calls Liberal's drug policies 'a complete disaster' | National Post
When faced with criticism, the minister of mental health and addictions, Honourable Bennett seemed to go completely bizerk on the news this week. That is very concerning. Been looking on the internet to see if I can find a video of that but haven't been able so far. It was on CTV or CBC television news a day or so ago.
-
14 hours ago, SpankyMcFarland said:
An elected GG would take care of such malarkey about foreign princes or the whims of PMs. Her authority would then derive from a truly legitimate source - the people of Canada.
Electing a GG would make it a political position then which is exactly what it is not supposed to be. The GG position is supposed to be above or outside of politics. We already have elected politicians and elected PMs. The GG is supposed to be an impartial office. and not enter into the political discussions and decisions.
-
1 hour ago, ExFlyer said:
Not in any way promoting Justin just agreeing that PP has not established himself as a leader. Being a critic is easy.
Trudeau has been a total failure and has cost lives of innocent people with the release of violent offenders by the parole board and the bail system. Trudeau is behind the phony carbon taxes which will never control the climate but is lowering the standard of living for Canadians.
-
Trudeau has proven his incompetence in the issue of foreign interference. This is an extremely serious issue because it affects our democracy, human rights, and many facets of life. Trudeau is ultimately responsible for how government institutions work and if they did not report the targeting of Michael Chow's family to him two years ago, that failure rests entirely with Trudeau. He is not in control of his government as he should be. That is negligence. His failures extend through many other issues as well. Failure to meet the Canadian Forces spending of 2%. Failures in managing the economy resulting in inflation and massive housing shortages and costs out of reach of millions of Canadians. He is ultimately responsible for the failed justice system that resulted in a number of police officers being murdered in the last year by dangerous offenders let out on bail. The twelve people stabbed to death on the Cree Nation was a result of a dangerous FN offender being let out on parole. Trudeau is ultimately responsible for how the parole board operates. He can bring in laws to prevent release of dangerous offenders at any time but failed to do so. He dragged his feet and did basically nothing while all this was happening. He should not be in the position.
-
3 minutes ago, Nefarious Banana said:
"Second Thessalonians 2:9–10 says, “[Satan comes] with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” Satan hates the truth of the gospel and the truth of the cross more than any other truth.
Remember when Satan was on earth, he tried to keep Jesus away from the cross. In Matthew 16:23, when Peter says, “No, no, no. This isn’t going to happen to you,” Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan!” That’s what Satan wants. He doesn’t want Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Even though at the end, Satan gave up on that strategy and filled Judas to get him to betray Jesus. Nevertheless, at the end, he’s trying to make it as horrible as possible. But his first design was “I’m not going to let him get to the cross, no way.”
Now, Satan is mainly bent on preventing the message of the cross from being spread, from being understood, and from being believed. And he does everything in his power to distort and silence the saving message of the cross."
-
One who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and as a logical consequence read his Word (the King James Version in English) has nothing to worry about. As the world in general appears to be literally going to H, the believer is protected, sanctified and saved.
" 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. " 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 KJV
If you have not yet accepted Christ, you need to deal with it. Read the Gospel of John, and other epistles in the New Testament. Once you have have confessed your sinfulness and accepted Christ, you should confess Him before men.
If you were born into Romanism, you can still make the decision to accept Christ and turn from that false system. You don't have to do anything except flee from it into the arms of Jesus Christ.
Then you might see more clearly the folly of Socialism and other worldly isms.
" 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. " Psalm 20:7-9 KJV
-
"9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. " 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 KJV
-
19 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:
I asked this of @blackbird before. What makes you think she wants the government to control the means of production? Or are you just using the term socialist like the nutbars on this forum use it?
Who said anything about controlling the means of production? Socialism is far more than controlling the "means of production". Socialists can tax businesses to death or tax workers and everyone to death. They control property and businesses with regulations and taxes to make it very difficult or impossible to develop land, operate businesses, build apartments, housing or do anything. They make endless regulations about how everyone is to live. Under Socialism everyone loses more freedom and life becomes a regimented ordeal in every area.
God sends delusions to certain people who believe in Socialism. Socialists believe all property and wealth belongs to them to distribute as they see fit. This is a great lie because it is stealing. But Socialist draw no line. There is nowhere they cannot go and nothing they cannot touch. It all belongs to them to do with as they see fit. Such people believe government can do anything and build a utopia. This is the lie.
.
-
The article says she is the wrong person to solve or deal with all the problems that people are concerned about today, such as random attacks, crime, homelessness, drug deaths, and tent cities.
-
It is a fact that the federal government has issued guidelines on how to fill out the death certificate for a medically-assisted death and posted it on the federal government website.
In it they describe how the death certificate is to be completed.
The immediate cause listed in line 1A is the toxicity of the drugs administered.
But then they add on another line the "underlying cause" is the disease or condition that initiated the train of morbid events that led to the medically-assisted death.
This appears to be an attempt to justify the administration of the deadly drugs and put the blame on a disease or condition.
Also, in Quebec they may be leaving MAID off the death certificate entirely.
"So just what motivated the people implementing Quebec's law to ask doctors to leave medical aid in dying off the death certificate? I spoke with Dr. Yves Robert, Secretary of the Quebec College of Physicians. The college has been getting doctors there ready to implement the new law. Dr. Robert says lawyers advised the province and the college to leave medical aid in dying off the death certificate to ensure that life insurance benefits are paid out to survivors. He says the college worries that insurance companies could use the death certificate to deny a claim, refuse to pay beneficiaries, or use the death certificate to delay payment. He also told me the other reason for leaving it off the death certificate is the very public nature of that particular document. Anyone can look up a death certificate - including family members and others that the deceased patient may not want to know that they received help to die from a doctor."
MD aid in dying: what to put on the death certificate? | CBC Radio
Of course Satan would not want the administration of deadly drugs to seen as the cause of death.
-
It is important to understand how Satan operates in the world. Deception is his greatest weapon.
"Worldwide Battleground
Josh asks me, “To what extent and by what means specifically does Satan influence the world?” My answer, therefore, is that the extent is worldwide and the means is deception.
“He destroys not mainly by the sword or disease or killing, but mainly by lying.”
We can see this in another text. Here’s Revelation 20:8: “[He] will come out to deceive the nations.” There’s the focus again on his major strategy of destroying the world — deceiving them. But he will be defeated, and he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:8–10).
My basic answer to Josh’s question is that the extent of Satan’s influence is global; it covers all nations. The primary means of his influence is deception. He destroys not mainly by the sword or disease or killing, but mainly by lying. Jesus calls him “the father of lies” (John 8:44). He lies mainly about God, about Jesus, about the gospel, and about sin. Oh, how wonderful it is that he has been dealt a decisive blow!
You can see his deception about the gospel in 2 Corinthians 4:4: “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
-
1 hour ago, TreeBeard said:
This isn’t what happens. You aren’t dealing in reality.
In basic terms yes with some added refinements to try to give the appearance of legitimacy. "Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof".
"Let me try to illustrate this from the Bible. Here’s the passage that piles up more designations of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. If I had only one or two verses to put the identity and work of Satan before you, it would be Revelation 12:9–10.
Here it says, “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent.” And remember what the Bible said in Genesis 3 about him: he’s subtle. He’s subtler than every beast. So it’s his subtlety that’s being focused on here, his serpent-like reality. “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil [διάβολος: slanderer, liar, cheat] and Satan [adversary], the deceiver of the whole world.”
I don’t think you can say anything more sweeping or more basic than the end of Revelation 12:9: “He is the deceiver of the whole world.” Verse 10: “The accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
So at the center of Satan’s purpose is to deceive on earth and to accuse in heaven. If he can deceive you about God and Christ, you will perish. If he can successfully accuse you of unforgiven sin in heaven, you will perish.
Jesus calls him “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). The deception and the accusation and the eternal death that results from unforgiven sin is a way of destroying people and opposing God."
-
"23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139.23 KJV
-
7 hours ago, bcsapper said:
But it is their choice, not mine, yours or anyone else's, that matters.
There are a number of problems with that perspective.
People who are in circumstances which motivates them to ask for assisted suicide may be suffering physical pain, but they may be suffering emotional pain more. They may in a way be crying for help emotionally. To just hand them a paper and say sign here and you will be given an injection that will end it all is not giving them the kind of help they need.
Here is an article which gives some other perspectives on it:
Know God’s Perspective
The most important perspective on euthanasia is God’s perspective. Each life is of so much value to him that he sent his Son to die in order to redeem all believing sinners.
God hates death. He hates suicide. He hates killing. God declared, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Psalm 139:16 reinforces the fact that our lives are in God’s hands: “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” The beginning and the end of our days are determined by him.
The slow process of dying, of incredible pain, is a horror of this broken life because death is our enemy. Yet, by Jesus’ resurrection, death was defeated for all believers. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5).
This is a guarantee available to those who pick up their respective crosses and follow Christ until the very end of this earthly life. Christians do not seek death, they face it. They help each other face it.
Picking up the cross of constant pain is a courageous and faithful choice. The New Living Translation of Romans 14:8 frames Paul’s words beautifully, powerfully, and clearly: “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
How Should Christians Respond to Euthanasia? (christianity.com)
There are perspectives in here that I need to learn more about as well. Nobody has all the answers.
Of course if one is not a believer in Christ yet, then that is the first thing that he needs to deal with through reading the New Testament.
-
On 5/12/2023 at 9:23 PM, Moonlight Graham said:
We threw the British Crown out many decades ago.
When you say we threw the British Crown out, that could be taken the wrong way. We did not throw the Crown out. We became independent and Britain does not rule or govern Canada, but we still have the King and the concept of a Crown. The Crown is just an abstract term that refers to the King of Canada, his representatives in Canada, and all the government apparatus connected.
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, Moonlight Graham said:
Yes, the Canadian Crown. The British Crown has no legal involvement in Canada anymore. It's an entirely separate legal title.
Yes, except that the King is the embodiment of the Crown. The Crown is an abstract concept and is represented in a number of things with the King being at the peak. The King represents the Crown for Britain and he represents the Crown for Canada. We are still connected with Britain in the sense we share the same King as a Constitutional Monarchy but all other things associated with the Crown such as GGs, Lieutenant Governors of each province, etc. are separate from Britain which has its own constitution and system. The concept of the Crown for Canada is an integral part of our system.
-
1
-
-
59 minutes ago, Contrarian said:
Tip:
Keep your wallet in a secure place: When using public transit, keep your wallet in a secure location, such as a zipped pocket or a bag that is close to your body. Avoid placing your wallet in a back pocket, as it can be easily accessed without your knowledge.Quite true. I think many years ago when I lived in the big city and was lined up to get on a bus, I felt someone trying to push my wallet out of my back pocket. He never succeeded. They will push up against you as if by accident so you don't notice them pushing the wallet out. It is a kind of bump and push operation I noticed.
Now I always keep my wallet in a front pocket.
-
1
-
-
It should be obvious she was chosen by Trudeau as part of his agenda of being inclusive and promoting diversity. Not well thought out. One of the following must have been the case in the selection process:
1. The selection committee or Trudeau did not have a clue what she believed and how she would operate.
2. They wanted someone like her to demonstrate the Liberal ideology of being inclusive and promoting diversity and nothing else mattered.
3. They were pandering to the aboriginal base for votes and didn't care what she thought. (Ironically the Monarchy is still very relevant to FN treaty rights and many of them know this. They might not be too happy with the GG's comments)
4. Trudeau was not paying attention and some kind of progressive selection committee made the decision and Trudeau just rubber stamped it.
Is Mary Simon really the right person for the Governor General job?
in Federal Politics
Posted · Edited by blackbird
The king can have opinions about things and he does, but if he wants to remain popular he knows he has to keep it low key. His opinions don't make the government or Parliament change or make new laws. They are just his opinion. Parliament is the authority for changing or making laws. The King cannot make laws.