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Yaro, "There opinion is no more or less valid then yours, it is not counter productive if there goal is not to have a cooperative relationship with the US." But it is counter-productive for Canadians to not want to have a good working relationship with the U.S. Can you imagine of the Americans closed the border to all things Canadian tomorrow? This country would be finished. "The US has one of the lowest social motilities in the world, they have the most extensive domestic surveillance program that has ever existed and the US hardly has a history or promoting democracy." Sometimes Yaro I think you just like typing random things on your computer. The U.S. has a huge history of promoting democracy: most recently in Iraq (I'll give you oil was probably also a motivation), preventing the spead of Communism through containment, saving Europeans from totalitarian and Nazi rule (Hitler would have won without the Americans), spreading democracy in Asia and Japan, and trying to keep Cuba a democracy. The spy program is a sad, although necessary, program to monitor terrorism. "The US started the Cold War, the US started the Vietnam War, and The US started the Iraq War. The US is as described in there own words in the bush doctrine the New Rome. They have as a major central ideal that they should remain the preeminent military and economic power in the world and they should undermine and if necessary destroy the ability of anyone to challenge them on either front. The US is currently building 14 military bases in Iraq and they established the rules under which Iraq can setup its government that is colonization in every meaningful way. What Americans what at this point is irrelevant, although I suspect that at least half of the informed American population supports this agenda." Yaro: your one-sided anti-American view of history is appalling. The Russians started the Cold War, the U.S. helped France out in the Vietnam War, and Iraq started the Iraqi War by invading Kuwait, while the Americans went in this time and finished the job. And yes I would not mind if the U.S. was the most dominant economic power in the world. They are our friends and our largest trading partners. Maybe you would prefer to live in a cave and read the Communist Manifesto but I, for one, embrace the spread of human rights in the world championed by the U.S. "Exactly what Tyranny is that again? The US has a long history of military intervention but they have NEVER in there entire history even once installed a democratic government." The U.S. has installed many democratic governments...most recently in Haiti. "Your delusion about the state of democracy in Canada is most evident when you suggest that the US is "more democratic". The US has not been this anti democratic in almost 100 years. If any "democratic" population on the planet feels as disenfranchised as a group I would be surprised." If the U.S., at this point, is anti-democratic, then you must surely not be able to sleep at night with what is going on in this country. I should add: ordinary Americans do have power...they vote for their leaders right on down to their riding/county excutive. We vote for a kind every 4-5 years, our local establishment/provincial king's assistant every 4-5 years, and if you live in an urban area, a tyrannical mayor every 4-5 years. "Once again I would ask you to point out a single thing the US has ever done for Canada, because the list of transgressions against us is a long one. The US is a country like any other, they are not our friends and we should not treat them as our friends, we should use what leverage we have to do what is in our best interest just as they have always done and will continue to do." Canada and the U.S. have a very good working relationship. We are friends...we have shared values...we have similar concerns. It is clear that you hate Americans and that your bias prevents you from thinking positively about anything American. "The desires of normal Americans are irrelevant, the US is the only country in the world that has seen fit to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian soil I hardly call that the act of a wonderful neighbor..." The desires of normal Americans are irrelavent? Maybe to you but not to the Canadian government or those of us in Canada who do business with and/or have friends or relatives, etc. in the States. 1812 was a long time ago... "All of this of course is patently ridiculous, if you want Canada to be more like the US then have the guts to say it don't be a pussy and argue around it because you know that most Canadians don't agree with you." When did August say he wanted Canada to be more like the US. He, as I took it, is only looking for civility from this side of the border. And myself and just about all other Canadians I know want a better relationship with the U.S. Bottom line Yaro: grow up, get a life, and keep your anti-Americanism to yourself.

August1991, A very respectable post indeed. I am with you!!!

I am sure people understand that this man likely speaks for a fringe right-wing extremist base and I, frankly, wouldn't worry about it as a CPC supporter.

I love you Montgomery Burns...even when we disagree...you just make me laugh my brains out...

If it came from Chomsky I do. Got your back there Geoffrey...

You will not get the same coverage if the CBC was privatized - it would just become a clone of CTV and Global. PBS and NPR get 1/3 to 1/2 of their budget from the US government (compared to 2/3 for the CBC today). It is extremely naive to think that the CBC could survive in a market 1/10th the size as a 100% privately funded network if PBS/NPR can't do it. PBS is generally regarded as centre-left in the states...why don't we just be honest with ourselves and put CBC in that position???

I am quite moderate...I am not a fan of Bush and the neo-con movement. All I am is centre-right...if anything, I am a progressive conservative...that is all I have ever said to be...

As a Catholic (born...I am not extemely religious though I believe in a higher power) here, I must admit that the problem in the Church needs to be solved before we say anything about anyone in the gay community...

Word. That's why I loathe he average American "liberal" almost more than I despise the Republicans. the G.O.P and their base may be fascists in waiting, but with them, at least you know where you stand. "Liberals" in the States like to prattle on about "illegal war " this and "civilian casualties" that, but at the end of the day, they can't help but get a raging hard-on at the thought of America exercising its power at the expense of the "other" (for example, if the President is a Democrat who's illegally bombing Serbians or Iraqis). American exceptionalism and its right to do whatever the hell it pleases is a truism for many on both sides of the political debate: the only disagreement is the context. Can't disagree with you there. You agree? American liberals take extremely hypocritical positions on a lot of issues while the GOP slides by in the polls... Yeah I really can't disagree with that...

I totally agree the CBC should be privatized...

I think it shows a lot of stupidity on the part of the CPC. The CBC audience is much more diverse than right wing pundits would like to beleive. The CPC basically wrote off that audience off during the campaign and made no attempt to make their case. I admit the CPC was stupid because I am a CPC voter and a Canadiens fan and I would have been happy to see some CPC ads and I think it was dumb of them...

Why do I even try? The election is over and we won...all is well. BTW regarding Manitoba (from Wikipedia): "Doer's government has been moderate and pragmatic in tone, and free of the more dramatic sort of reforms undertaken by previous NDP governments, though it has continued the NDP's traditional support of organized labour. Manitoba's economy has remained prosperous, and its 4.8% unemployment rate (2004 figure) is the lowest in the country. Auto insurance rates are also significantly lower in Manitoba than in any other Canadian province." Sounds like Doer's more moderate than the federal NDP, eh Bubber?

Does it make sense to pay taxpayers back their money with health insurance? Does it then make sense for the taxpayer to choose where to get healthcare with that insurance? We openly have private health care compaines sending us mail about how to sign up for Quebec Blue Cross here in Quebec...is that not a clear violation of the Canada Health Act? Because if I can pay $1,000 for a private, "off the book," MRI tomorrow then something is wrong with the "100% public" healthcare system...

I mean HNIC is one of the most watched shows in this country and CBC was pulling out all the Liberal ads on the twenty-first of January. I mean if I was a Canadiens fan with no interest in politics who just decided to watch the game that night, I might have believed that Harper was a Fascist who ate babies, wanted to pollute our cities, was obsessed with guns and pollution, hated the environment, wanted to cut taxes, supported government so small he was going to move the capital to some little caribbean island in the Turks that Canada may obtain after we close our borders to immigrants because he was anti-union and pro-outsourcing. Didn't see one pro-CPC ad though... :angry: I can't believe you think the network just decides to run political ads on its own. Do you have any idea how election laws work in this country? They can't run unpaid political advertisements during an election, and when they do, they have to give equal time to each party. If they were paid for, shows you where the Liberals go to send their message...the Liberal-loving CBC of course...

Geoffrey, All is forgiven. I happen to think that Ralph Klein tells it like it is...while the federal Liberals fawn around with our money. So if the West is setting the stage...the sun is setting on the East. Guess I have always been more right-leaning anyway...even in my wayward left-leaning teenage years...

Newbie, For sure I will respect your opinion but I don't think I can agree with it. I have scene racist events take place at times in both countries so I don't think I can say I have seen them in one country more than another. I should add that you are right that terrorism is a different phenomenon.

so much for my prediction skills... lol I think we'll see the Greens in the BC Provincial Parliament first...

I was just listening to local radio over dinner...I don't think anyone argued she should have gone to jail. Death with dignity is not unpopular with the Quebec population...in fact, the last Parliament a Bloc MP introduced a death with dignity bill that I think died when the government fell but I don't remember.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-0...da-terror_x.htm At least 50 TERRORIST groups which is worse than hate groups...

I refer you to post #31 for your answer. Wow newbie, you just made everything so much clearer... There are plenty of hate groups in this country too in our history that have threatened a certain element of the populace...you must not be a Quebec anglophone who still shivers when he remembers the FLQ revival in 2001 when he goes into the SecondCup clutching his Montreal Gazette INSIDE his coat. Didn't think so... Please list all the hate groups in Canada, besides the dreaded FLQ. I don't think you can begin to compare with the list I provided. In a country 10 times the size newbie I think you have to adjust the amount of hate groups proportionally...

I live in the Northeast. High rate of hate crimes here, so I'm told. Blessedly, I don't know personally. I'm actually suing someone now for discrimination. I'd rather not discuss that until after the trial. Has anyone here actually experienced racism besides me? Is it possible for you to experience it, if you get my drift...? And I don't mean "reverse racism." T Well I worked in New York and I didn't encounter much racism except for a few isolated incidents which took place at a restaurant called "Boston Market" and I really think it was more about the quality of the service than about the race of the people involved.

I mean HNIC is one of the most watched shows in this country and CBC was pulling out all the Liberal ads on the twenty-first of January. I mean if I was a Canadiens fan with no interest in politics who just decided to watch the game that night, I might have believed that Harper was a Fascist who ate babies, wanted to pollute our cities, was obsessed with guns and pollution, hated the environment, wanted to cut taxes, supported government so small he was going to move the capital to some little caribbean island in the Turks that Canada may obtain after we close our borders to immigrants because he was anti-union and pro-outsourcing. Didn't see one pro-CPC ad though... :angry:

I refer you to post #31 for your answer. Wow newbie, you just made everything so much clearer... There are plenty of hate groups in this country too in our history that have threatened a certain element of the populace...you must not be a Quebec anglophone who still shivers when he remembers the FLQ revival in 2001 when he goes into the SecondCup clutching his Montreal Gazette INSIDE his coat. Didn't think so...

Agreed, agreed, agreed YankAbroad. The left must find this funny, the neocons are ready to drop the bomb, and the left is wetting the bed, and the neocons are looking for the army. Time for a third party to shake things up in the states.

Right on, Yank!!!