betsy

Serious issues are not everything government will decide to do. Are you satisfied with politicians decision relating to 'official bilingualism in our federal public service? Are you satisfied with politicians unilateral decision relating to the passage of 'official multiculturalism'? Are you satisfied with politicians decision to unilaterally repatriate our constitution from England? Are you satisfied with politicians unilaterally amending our constitution with the Charter? Then their are other important issues relating to Aboriginals and minorities. Do you actually feel comfortable with the government changing the direction of the country WITHOUT your INPUT. You forgot to add the changing of the definition of marriage, the way Martin did it. There are a lot of governmental decisions that I am not satisfied with for as long as I can remember. It's not only me...I had listened over the past years with disatisfied grumblings from others. Under different Prime Ministers. In all the years I've lived in Canada, I don't think I remember there being any referendum at all. But then, most of the time I've been here was run by the Liberals. I hardly remember the years with Mulroney. A lot of changes and important decisions made through all the years. Without our input. So why is this being pinned on Harper's door? When was the last time we had a referendum?

A government controlling the country with little or NO democratic input by its citizens especially relating to amendments to our constitution. I have to admit that I haven't been following current political news lately. Can you be specific as to why you think we are now being run by a totalitarian government?

Being "principled" as in opposed to being self-serving. Uprightness. With integrity. Motivated by the belief of doing what is right.

How about... -a spirit of entrepeneurship unmatched anywhere? This alone, is enough to make any business-minded Canadian go green with envy. The USA gives real support and encouragement to its small businesses...whereas here, the government either monopolises and/or competes with, if not downright put some small businesses out of business! The spirit of entreprenuership in Canada is luke-warm compared to the USA. Have you tried comparing a Canadian website and an American website (small business). The amount of substance information-wise they have, not to mention the competitive rates they offer? Have you tried comparing the kind of service you get? The American business almost, always gives the better service! Once we called a company only 20 minutes drive from us inquiring about the prices of some professional sound equipments. The guy said he'll have to check it out for us and will call back. We waited for 2 weeks with no call back. Finally, we just went on the web, got the information and follow-up calls and advice from the rep. In a little bit more than a week....we even received all the equipments that we ordered! How many franchises from the USA still operates successfully here compared to Canadian franchises? I don't know. Maybe because we're sort of like a socialist country....it does something to our frame of mind, our attitude. Remember when Russia got its democracy...only to find out that after so long under communism, a lot of them couldn't hack it? That's why we really can't compete with the spirit of American small businesses. Our creativity is stifled.

"PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) -- Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. Oscar the cat doesn't like to be put out in the hall when a patient is dying. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. The 2-year-old feline was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd sniff and observe patients, then sit beside people who would wind up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously and is generally aloof. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said. Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work there, said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish tinge, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought his streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside." More..... http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/25/death.cat.ap/ A lot of questions come to mind, how could he detect or "smell" death? The possibility of something spiritual or supernatural? Who are these people that died? Could other cats have this uncanny ability that go unnoticed? Should Oscar be cloned?

I understand why you obssess so over me,as well read as I am! But puhleez, you ASSUME wrongly , these (US Empire collapse)are the only books I read. why? so you THINK, you can demonize me BUT, per usual, you THINK in an incorrect manner. The only thing you accomplish is to make yourself, look like an assumptive fool! Right now I am reading a book on media. http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Believe-Lies-Be...s/dp/1932857060 Don't Believe It!: How Lies Become News (Paperback) I was going to read a book by Dr.Helen Caldicott, The New Nuclear Danger but I put it off, to read the above book I previously just finished a book on Terrorism in Italy prior to that a book on the 7/7 bombings (Britian) I don't play 'games', waste of my very precious time. Therefore I am unaware of this "the game Valkyrie Profile" please don't explain, I am completely uninterested! PLEASE KEEP OBSSESSING ON ME, IT FEEDS MY EGO. Wanna know what I am wearing today?? What I had for brekky?? Sounds like you're losing your cool. No one is demonizing you. Of course I don't want to know your personal stuff...but I'm not surprised if you'll end up telling us anyway. Like you did about your physical attributes, temperament, and what seems to be like your husband's sufferings or great virtue of perseverance and forbearance (I'm just assuming from what you said about yourself)....I don't really know what you're really saying especially when it came from out of the blue, being out-of-topic at that. That's just the impression you gave me from your voluntary tirade. So do we really have a choice? You know why I stated the quoted statement. How can you say it demonizes you? It simply says that I do understand how you feel about these books (them being your special interest)...comparing to how I feel about mine. And I didn't say that you read ONLY those kinds of books....knowing that I, myself, do not limit my interest on this game alone. How hard is that to understand? I explained about it....in reply to your enumerations of all these books you've discovered and read.

I completely agree. What do you both mean by "totalitarian" government?

Comparison? Do you mean to compare with the principles of Churchill or Clinton etc.? Do you mean he has principles just like so-and-so...but they're different? To whom do you compare your own principles? Why does it need to have any comparision?

Anything that affects all Canadians, especially constitutional amendments, similar to what they do in the U.S. Practically everything that our government will decide to do will affect Canadians, whether directly or indirectly.

The muslims would be against it. The visible minorities would be against it. The immigrants would be against it. The wacko Libs would be against it. And about 50% ish of the conservatives would be against it. Any war measures in a refurendum would fail misserably. Then you agree with me that it is absurd to have a referendum decide for us in most cases.

What are the chances they'll be back. Under a different name. Then we go through all the motion again.

Without a referendum, of course it means he is pandering to those who think the same way as there is no proof to prove otherwise. It is apparent you are condoning and are content with the actions of a PM leading a totalitarian government rather than a democratic one. So if you are say Mr. Harper is a principled prime minister, I must ask you in comparison or based on to what set of values? Why, should we have a referendum for everything? Especially when it relates to war? If in case we ever go to war let's say against Lebanon, can you truly say that the decision should depend on the result of a referendum? Bearing in mind that we are a multi-cultural society - would the Lebanese community of Canada ever support an attack on their motherland, regardless whether it is for the best interest of Canada or not?

No matter what politician you are paying attention to, they are ALL trying to sell something. How many books have come out that shows how good the US is, and now on track they are for the future? Again everyone wants to sell you something. Anything. Maybe Bush Jr should write a couple books so he can sell his ideas..... no one seems to be buying his spoken words anymore. That's what I mean! These authors may not be presidents, but they do milk their "expertise" at the subject for all its worth! Not that there's anything wrong with that...I mean it's the law of supply and demand! Especially when some of these authors are known liberals or socialists etcc..., well it's a dream job! They get paid for the work plus they get their jollies! That's why I'm telling Kuzadd there's really nothing new about all these type of anti-Americanism books coming out now. People like Kuzadd are only too willing to lap them all up....I guess in anticipation of the possibility that anyone of these Doom-to-the-USA theories become a reality!

So if bombing Iraq allegedly for UNSC vilatins but was really for a blow job, what was invading iraq? Anything would be acceptable reason...including OIL....compared to a blowjob!

How majestic a memory of the event you have. I remember it as the cringing of a snivelling prime minister who wanted the rest of the world to tell him what to do. And that during a time when everyone, including Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, and Liberals, believed that there were WMD in Iraq. Not to mention the fact that the US did have the sanction of the UN...just not the support of France and Germany. Indeed, I was very proud of Prime Minister Chretien and of being a level headed Canadian. Level-headed? Yes, level-headed as to how he can butter up to the anti-Bush sentiments of a lot of Canadians....how to win and keep their votes...at a time too when he was facing heavy criticisms because of scandal after scandal turning up under his watch. This same Prime Minister Chretien - if I'm not mistaken - was only too quick to show his vocal approval and support of Clinton's bombing of Iraq! I know why! Because he would've done the same thing if it were him who was sitting in Clinton's office being serviced by Lewinski! Hey, he knows the effectiveness of distraction! He used Bush and the bombing of Iraq to distract from his own problems! Chretien willingly gave his vocal approval and support to a bombing which motive was highly questionable - a distraction over a blowjob - and yet didn't give his support to a neighbor, major trading partner and ally who'd been attacked on its very soil, but went as far as to castigate, ridicule and criticize the US president at every opportunity!

And what is the darkly lurking psychological stimulous that brings to your mind penises in a thread about the US? I've heard of penis envy before...but... Whoa! First Kuzadd spouting off about her husband....now Drea dreaming about a bigger penis? What's going on? I think these two are giving us a strong hint. They want the board to have a spot for sex and relationship. Betsy, the world is NOT about WHO has a bigger penis (meaning bigger war machinery, a bigger bat to hit folks with, a bigger stick, a bigger stink... get it?... I was not REALLY talking about ACTUAL penises...) I don't envy penises -- I have one at home that I can have anytime I want Nya-ha-ha I got your goaaaat. Just teasing you Drea.

No. You are not definitely alone in your anti-american sentiments. And I must say you are not alone in reading these kinds of books. Just look at all these titles you've read. My oh my..... These books are churning like hot apple pies....there must be a lot of money to be made pandering to the cravings of radicals! One thing sure, some authors are milking the current situations and getting rich by it. Why does it astonish you that there are tons of books that SELLS THE SAME KIND OF PRODUCT? They are here to satisfy a need by a niche market - in this case - the niche market are people like you who drools over anything bad happening to the USA, and fantasize over its demise. Yes, their credentials are quite impressive. But then again I know a lot of ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents who end up in the selling business...with lucrative incentives, of course. So what do you think? Especially in this current society where practically everyone is writing a book! Kuzadd, you can't get enough of these books....just like I can't get enough of the game Valkyrie Profile. I can't wait for the next installment.

Principles? Tell us again, real slow, why Canada is in Afghanistan? Of course this has nothing to do with pandering to the U.S. and it's interest. His principles may not agree with your own principles. That is not to say that his are not principles. That it may just happen to coincide with the US interest does not necessarily mean Harper himself does not see it from that same point of view. If he truly happens to believe that capital punishment is wrong and therefore do not legalize it, does that means he is pandering to those who think the same way?

Harper may pander to Canadians to win votes - just like Dion and Layton - BUT unlike Dion and Layton, Harper had shown on two occasions that I know of, he doesn't pander to other world leaders! A wimp or a push-over, he's definitely not! As a Canadian, I still relish that event when my Prime Minister got the French PM so frustrated during the Lebanon-Israel war ...and eventually got them to capitulate to what he (Harper) wanted them to do. He fights for his principles.

And what is the darkly lurking psychological stimulous that brings to your mind penises in a thread about the US? I've heard of penis envy before...but... Whoa! First Kuzadd spouting off about her husband....now Drea dreaming about a bigger penis? What's going on? I think these two are giving us a strong hint. They want the board to have a spot for sex and relationship.

Why do they remind me of The Hobbitts? They don't have pointy ears, do they? All you need now is a celeb who'll promote this group and before you know it, they'll be household names. The Elders - catchy title for a horror movie.

Look at the topic of this thread. Though, I tried repeatedly to stay on topic. what did you ,betsy, whitedoors et al do? You and others spent approx two pages talking about me kuzadd this, kuzadd that, look through the thread. Then understand why, you should be embarrassed for yourself. Not me honey, you wanna pay that much attention to me, as opposed to the actual topic?! laugh at yourself, for behaving so foolishly. thereby giving me the chance to have even more fun. Yes, we know what the topic is, Kuzadd. And discussion's been over as soon as you insisted on this silly claim that the USA is irrelevant! Your declaration - in all your seriousness about it - had turned the discussion into a big joke. And yes, I'd say we did spend approx two pages talking about you....BUT talking about you is still somehow staying on topic. Your insistence...and the last few posts you've made are clear indications that your argument - figuratively, your "empire" - is on its death throes. We're now just curious bystanders commenting while watching it go down....like something sinking fast in quicksand. But I am amazed though by your valiant effort trying desperately to drag yourself out of this. So yes, I'd say we are right on topic! But you are not! You're now only trying to detract and distract from the real issue - even to the point of bringing in your husband and your domestic issues!

I think you are referring to my post in the topic America's Death Throes. Yes, I did refer to your husband's balls. I don't see anything wrong at all with what I said. And just so other posters will know what we're talking about, this is my response to yours on that thread. Uh...I don't know how your husband is connected with the topic, unless his "empire" is on its death throes being cowed by all this shining intelligence, not to mention getting butt-kicked and fearing for his balls. And what's with this about Scott being jealous of your husband? Am I missing something here? What is wrong about my comment? If you find it in poor taste because of my usage of the word "balls," then refer to your own tasteless statements. I did not bring your husband in onto the discussion....you did! Your statement gave me the impression you were kidding around...so I picked up on your crude "tone" (and just simply mirrored what you stated). You used the words butt-kickin', ....dam smart, and crap. You sounded like you were teasing. You used "lol". Well? At least I actually softened my rebuke of your out-of-topic comment by making light of it. And if I'm not mistaken, I was not the only one who commented about your out-of-topic comment. You broke forum rules in your statement. And on a whole lot of other statements in numerous topics. And you're still around, aren't you? So what are you on about the implied accusations you're throwing on the moderators of this forum?

What do you expect? Who else are we supposed to answer here...except you and Drea! So far you both are the only ones supporting the same silly notion on this topic. If this is your way of trying to grab attention to yourself, I'd say you're doing a darn good job. I guess between you and Drea....you seem to have managed to get top billing.

You sound like one of those psychics. Sure, something may go down, but most of us have bought into the fear factor, thanks to Dubya et al. If that prediction was made a decade ago he would've got something right. Something did come down. Clinton's pants!