Rocky Road

Things are pretty bad in Greece, the unemployment rate for youth is 50%.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/tsx-dow-tumble-on-greece-economic-growth-fears/article2359921/ "Wall Street fell on Tuesday on renewed concerns that Greece and private bondholders may not meet a looming deadline to complete a debt swap and as caution grew over the global economic outlook after recent weak data. The Toronto stock market was sharply lower as commodity prices fell for a second day."

For those of you who have never heard of Adbusters. Check out: http://www.adbusters.org

I agree, the financial impact on banking will also be felt -- one has to wonder if peripheral effects will be felt in countries like Italy, Spain, the UK, Ireland, Portugal and to a lesser extent - Germany and France. Another question - Do you believe Austerity measures help or hinder an economy ??

One has to be pretty resilient to be an optimist in Greece, especially since they are in a predicament where disaster is at every corner and there are no roads to somewhere, anywhere, with those blessed green shoots. My question is how will the continuing exponential growth of the debt in Europe and the US affect the World Economy, more specifically, how will it affect Canada?

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/02/06/stephen-harper-china-trip-human-rights_n_1257931.html?ref=canada Aboriginals contact China and request action on Canada's Human Rights. What's your take?

http://www.saganash.ca/saganash/2012/01/25/trust-in-reconciliation-over-assimilation/ This link is from Romeo Saganash's website. "There were two visions for the Crown-First Nations relationship at the summit meeting yesterday in Ottawa: assimilation and reconciliation."

Why don't most reserves try to build their reserves into towns and attract businesses, that way it would be a stimulus for their own people.

It is a giant mess, and the Chiefs all they want is a key to the White Man's bank account.

Ya,I have to admit I don't like the way we cozy up to Saudi Arabia or China's economic might. Both are evidence that the West runs on Oil & Capital, and its values are see-through when it comes to the bottom line.

Hehe, they are in deep trouble in Europe, I bet they'd like to get their hands on a Canuck, a pleasant break. We are the "safe haven" in a very unstable global economy, as they say. Do you think the Eurozone collapsing will destabilize the global economy? world financial system?

I think we have to diversify our trade more, because the US is facing a less-than-rosy outlook over the next 20 years as their debt levels become unmanagable. Insolvency risks are already happening for some Eurozone countries, and Canada is simply an island in the stream prone to the rising tides and storms.

I don't think it much matters, because he has a deep commitment to Canada and he has always shown a serious, well-composed demeanour when in the public eye. I think he would do a good job as leader of the NDP, he certainly would gain the support of the people in Quebec. Still it is a mystery that so many people voted for Jack, don't you think? What a wonder!

Also please see this video on the possibility of a deepening recession.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/eu-break-up-would-be-catastrophic-george-soros/article2293518/ What I wonder is if the situation in the EU & US, the corruption and the debt levels will cause blowback here. Have any of you seen the movie - Inside Job?? I highly recommend it because it illustrates the degree of corruption going on in the US, and how Wall Street basically calls the shots in government.

this is a hell of a lot of money to be spending on 65 jet fighters. can we really justify spending this in the current climate economically? and they aren't even capable of communicating in the arctic zone because of technology issues.

What's with the mental health reference in the topic title? Stigma towards the mentally ill is a major problem, and reenforcing stereotypes does noone any good. 1 in 5 suffer a mental illness.

Ya Tibet is a sad situation. I think China looks at Tibet like a backward culture, that needs to get with the times. A bit like the bias that Aboriginal people are lazy, and prone to substance abuse. Susan Aklukark is a positive female role model. I saw her perform in Saskatchewan several years ago. Also see this page on Tom Jackson. Tom Jackson.

I would argue that presently most currencies are in fact petro-dollars because of the high value fossil fuel has in the economic engine. Without energy fiat currencies as we know them would cease to function.

Racism against First Nations people is not only Canadian. Let's not forget the Massacre at Wounded Knee, which is a tell-tale episode of US white hegemony in Native American history. Wounded Knee Massacre "By the time it was over, at least 150 men, women, and children of the Lakota Sioux had been killed and 51 wounded (4 men, 47 women and children, some of whom died later); some estimates placed the number of dead at 300. " Some reserves are doing better than others. Look at Six Nations. http://www.sixnations.ca/

Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Let's discuss the sensitive topic of Aboriginal (Indian) relations in Canada and the history of the Residential School System. More specifically, how healing and moving forward can help all those involved. Related: Atleo in China.

ok.

It seems to me Winter may be discouraging this movement some in North America, perhaps we will see it pick up again in the Spring.

No, it is not. I was simply pondering a what if scenario had the US developed with gold backed currency. AND it's effect on global economies, such as Canada's.