betsy

The Conservative from the past is not the same as the Conservatives now. Why doesn't that argument fly when the Liberals point out it was a Chretien and not a Martin led party that had the problems. Because Martin was Finance Minister under Chretien. Because Gomery Commission was appointed by Martin. Because some of those crooks from the Sponsorship scandal are hidden and protected by the current Liberals. Because the Income Trust Scandal happened under Martin's watch. Because the guy involved in the Options Canada scandal was the right hand man and close friend of Martin. Because there doesn't seem to be a break in the pattern...from the old regime to the new.

An angry caller on CPAC called the media "bubbleheads" for not challenging Martin after he announced his tuition policy. The caller said that after closer inspection and calculation, he's better off with the current policy than the new one. Paul Wells explained that the Liberals told the media of the new policy only minutes before Martin announced it publicly, thus there was no time to really ponder on it. He also implied the Liberals were too slow in providing the details. Paul Wells seem to agree with the caller. He said that by the end of this week or sometime next week, his own website will post an analysis on the policy.

The Conservative from the past is not the same as the Conservatives now.

The arrogance.... unbelievable... whose "family values" should we all follow.... White english speaking "Christian"... or maybe your caller thinks we should all have good family values and not eat pork... or beef... because those are good values to some religions. Perhaps we have some Mormons in Canada who think good family values mean several "moms" to look after the kids.... The CPC bullshit morality of preaching how everybody should live has to stop, and this is one of the number one reasons to reject that racist CPC party.... Actually there's another ethnic-sounding caller around noon who angrily wants Harper to ask Martin tonight how is it gonna be twenty years from now: "sisters can marry brothers, mothers can marry sons?" SSM may be a done deal....but boy, do I have feeling Martin will really pay for it big time.

Stephen should be firm, focused and calm. I expect Martin and Layton to really dump on him...he must anticipate any question that may arise, and be prepared for anything. I expect them to demonize him. If he can, he should try to be always on the offensive....and since I expect Duceppe to still focus on dumping on Martin, Stephen should keep Martin busy being defensive. He should always remind the people that between Layton and Martin, there's hardly any change.

That is the nature of the beast, I'm afraid. 'Fair' has no place in business. Recently, 'fair' and 'honest' have been picked up as marketing ploys, but the bottom line is that 'business is business'. Usually, if a small company is doing well, it will either have to get bigger or it will get bought out. There are a few exceptions, mind you. For example, Peter's Drive In (in Calgary) has refused to sell, franchise, or open another location, even though there are lineups around the block. Most people I know call businesses like this 'a license to print money'. Some of the people in business that I know cannot believe that the owner is not trying to get 'more'. After all, were they to open a second location, they could create more employment, generate more revenue and help the economy. However, the owner seems to think that there is something called 'enough', a word that is an anathema to capitalism. Even err, probably the most left-wing on this forum, seems to see things this way... My wife and I also own a daycare, and we charge $25/day for our service. Fortunately for us, there is no maximum number we can take in, no 'caregiver-per-head ratio', and no 'certification' needed for caregivers. The customers must provide their own lunch, but we do give out cookies occasionally. We strictly rely on experience, but ours is extensive, probably the best in the city. Still, we have a booming business with word of mouth advertising only, we don't spend a dime on ads. Oh yeah, and it is for dogs. Well, I don't know about other areas....but I do follow a routine schedule. Right now, my kids are playing here with manipulative toys (we already finished doing art, and just finished snacks). I provide nutritious balanced meals, most of which are home-made. Cookies are a rarity here. And this current group that I have hardly watch any movies at all...not even kid's movies. Only one of them used to whine about wanting to watch...but I was able to "wean" him aout of it. They're not into that habit at all. And I am not the only one offering this in my area. Oh yes, you are limited to only 5 children under the Day Nurseries Act. That's the rule! Certigfication? I do have the CPR/First Aid, Food Handler's Training, etc.., That's practically the norm now in my area. As for "such is the beast in business"....I don't think so. Competition, yes.....but it's different when the government makes hasty decisions based on favored lobbyists groups demand...and expect the small businesses to carry all the burden. That is not the usual nature of the "beast" in a rea competitive business world.

If you are properly trained and provide a good, safe, enriching day-care program, good for you. Unfortunately, there aren't enough such services, especially accredited ones.... Not nearly enough. The unfortunate consequence of this is that many families are forced to leave their kids in questionable circumstances during the day so that they can afford to give them food and bed at night. I would sympathize with you for any loss of business that you might suffer should a decent federally-funded day-care system be implemented in Canada so that hundreds of thousands of children could be put in safe, approved day-care facilities. I have to weigh the cost and benefits.... Betsy and a few hundred like her... or hundreds of thousands of children.... But it does not have to be a mutually exclusive choice, and would not be so... It would take years to impement what either the Liberals or NDP are proposing, so it is unlikely that your home business would be substantially affected for several years, and even then, there will still be a cry for daycare services. I find it highly unlikely that the feds would over-provide such services. If such a system were put in place, and it did eventually affect your home business, you would be well qualified for a management post in a Federally run system, and would be highly employable in such a system, so you are not at a big loss there either. You brought up the point about the "big box" daycare, and I would suggest that we see a big difference between the NDP and Liberals here. The Liberals will not try to prevent the foriegn "big box" "Walmart-style" daycares from taking over in Canada. As with health-care, the Liberals refuse to listen to the NDP requests to keep such services publicly administered and provided. And then there's the question of the CPC position. What percentage of a week will $25 pay for with your private service ???? Will this $25/week tax cut they promise allow your business to expand and create more daycare spaces ???? Or will it just be a tax break, and those hundreds of thousands of kids still be sent looked after in questionable circumstances ????? I agree with you that if the Liberals win, the National Childcare will not be implemented asap. The same sentiment had been said by some other people in the daycare field...they said, they've heard it all before. Harper joked that those children who were lining up for spaces waiting for the promise of the Liberals are now all grown-up.... and will be lining up waiting for the other promise of Martin on Education. At the pace the Liberals are going, I'll probably be retired by then. My point in this thread, although I gave my situation as an example, is not about me and my home-based business. I'm talking about those other businesses out there. The small and the medium-sizes. They are the ones being squeezed out. I have an idea because my husband deals with a lot of business people and he hears the groaning and the gripes. And he'd been there before. At one point he was a member of the Small Business Association. I have no wish to see the big businesses being "banned" either. Please don't get me wrong. I only wish for a FAIR PLAYING FIELD for everyone. My situation as a private enterprise funding my own competition, who has a monopoly on a big market, is only an example. I'm all for fair competition. It is healthy for our economy. The Conservatives have a policy that will help these small and medium size businesses. And his vision for daycare is going to give the parents a range of choices.....after all, it is their parental rights to decide what they think is best for their children. His platform is attainable and sustainable.

Oh do lighten up! Anyway, as you said....8 callers do not represent the feeling of the majority. So there is nothing to worry about. Btw guys, on CTV. Question Period last night, the lady announcer laughingly quipped to the guy-announcer: "The Liberals are mad at us! They say we are being hard on Martin!" The guy amusedly answered: "Well no, Martin is being hard on himself with all these scandals!" And did you get that piece of news clip on tv aired yesterday morning? Layton was campaigning I think in Vancouver and he approached this sweet little old lady on a wheel chair. He bent down to greet her and she wagged a finger in his face, admonishing him: "Now you stop attacking Harper! He will be leading the government....so you stop attacking him."

My point is not whether there was an Inside Trading that actually went on in the Income Trust Leak. My dismayed reaction, to put it mildly, is to the callous way McGuinty responded. The fact right now is that majority of the people mistrust the Liberals. There is the extreme lack of confidence in the government. That lack of confidence stemmed from the PATTERN of CORRUPTIONS that had been proven....and the current scandals that seem to point out that the pattern continues. The least McGuinty could have done was to EMPHATIZE with those people who had lost their shirts....or if he is incapable of such emotion, he should have just kept his mouth shut. After all, the investigation is on-going. Your questions could easily have been turned the other way: Does he have any proof that there was absolutely no Inside Trading? Does he know of things the RCMP had not made public? Or his reaction is just another typical Liberal attempt at cover-up, white-wash, lies, whatever... But you know what? McGuinty's pompous reaction....that automatically dismissed any possibility of Inside Trading even though the RCMP are still investigating....his reaction only gave me the strong impression that he is trying to cover-up, white-wash, or downright lying. Could you blame me for making that conclusion? Like all the rest of tax-payers, I've been stung before.

When pointed out that some people had lost their shirts from the Income Trust leak, McGuinty replied: "I know some people lost their shirts on it....but if you invest in stocks, you should be prepared for this." But how do these poor people know that inside trading would take place? Just imagine that kind of response from Liberal.

UPDATE on CPAC. Just finished watching the 8-9 pm show where callers phone-in. Guests tonight were Solberg (Conservative), McGuinty (Liberal) and Dagenais (NDP) Question was : Do you care if campaign is negative or positive? Out of approx 8 responses (callers and phone-in), only 2 favored the Liberals and the rest favored the Conservative....several from Ontario. Mcguinty was complaining about the negative ad of the Conservative, and a caller pointed out that the Conservative's ad on corruption was not negative. It was just simply stating the truth.

CPAC had three strategists from the three parties. They were entertaining phone calls to the station to answer this question: Which of the parties runs the most effective campaign. In that one hour show, 8 phone calls came in. Out of those 8, 6 favored the Conservatives....and boy I'm telling, the anger is there! 2 favored the Liberals. The callers also took the opportunity to vent and have their say. One caller from Toronto blasted the Liberals for the crimes ...and the disintegrating FAMILY VALUES under the Liberals. By the accent of the caller I assume he's from an ethnic group. Harper is getting to the minority groups there. I have a strong feeling he'll get quite some support from the ethnic communities....a lot of these people fled their mother countries because of oppressive regimes, injustice and corruptions. They must be feeling a twinge of "deja vu" listening to all the scandals of corruptions and injustice happening left and right! One caller from Quebec was mad about the rotting corruptions and sees in Harper some hope to clean up. It all boils down to these from all pro-Conservative callers: Crime/values, corruptions and accountability. The two pro-Liberals were just singing the same tune about the deficit, and National Childcare. And you could tell they lack the fire. It's almost like they're trying to convince their own selves. For when both opposition strategists pointed out the Liberals had 12 years in office and they've never delivered on the repeated promise of National childcare....the Liberal strategist was stumped. All he could say in defense of the Liberals to every angry caller was ..."Look at the record...." From the point of view of a lot...upon looking at this record, it doesn't show much except the record of corruptions and scandals.

I say, we should be focused on priorities here. ALL THIS DRIVEL ABOUT THE CONSERVATIVES....ALL BACKED UP BY NOTHING BUT CONJECTURES AND PREDICTIONS! The biggest problem, and the top priority should be how do we stop the CORRUPTIONS that had seeped itself too deeply into our system.... ....because if we do not do some damage control now.... .........CANADA WILL BE THE NEXT BRAZIL OR ARGENTINA OR CUBA! I say, LET'S CLEAN HOUSE!

Cool! Yes governments regulates those you enumerated....but the problem is, THIS GOVERNMENT does not stop there. Now it wants to REGULATE EVERYTHING. It had taken on the very noble position of being our "Big Brother"...claiming that it knows what's best for us. It's starting to poke its toe inside our homes. Wow, good examples! Brazil and Argentina suffered from CORRUPTIONS of PAST government. At least they woke up and booted the past government out of office! That's why we need a change. Corruptions happening here...just too bizarre for a great country like Canada. Inquisition? Oh yes, we have that climate of "witch-hunting" here now...still subtle, but there nonetheless. Liberels love the words "Monitor this!" "REPORT THAT!" "Monitor that!" "REPORT THIS!". Oh darn, you got me!

As I've said before, I am a private home daycare operator who provides quality service from my home. To me, and to a lot of people like me, this is our only source of income. A fellow-home daycare operator chosed this business so she can be at home with her mentally-challenged child. Several colleagues in this business are middle-aged, who have been doing this for years. I have no children of my own. And most of the skills, professional training and experience I have are all centered on childcare. Right now, under the Liberals, I am paying dearly to fund government-funded agencies who operates home daycares. In other words, I am financially supporting my own competition. I would not mind paying and supporting these agencies...except that I think it quite unfair when only such agencies are allowed to take on people qualified for subsidies. I am funding my competition who has a monopoly. Look around you. Under the Liberals, small businesses are almost sure to go bankrupt and closed down in 3 to 5 years. But big corporations are balooning! Corporations are actually squeezing small businesses out the market....for they have the big bucks to spend to pander to the government's and favored lobbyists' every wish! Why can't there be a fair playing field? And then you hear about these bloody corruptions! The privileged, entitled oink-oinks on the troughie having a free feeding frenzy! Taber****, f***, I have justifiable reasons to forget myself and spout off like a drunken sailor! :angry:

[quote name='River_God' date='Jan 7 2006, 08:41 PM' Those who would sacrifice essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin Oh boy, I could swear he's talking about the Liberals!

I don't know anybody who is anti-American, but neo-con fanatics want us to think that it's anti-American to say anything bad about any member of their government. Look at all the politician bashing on this forum. By that definition, everybody here is anti-Canadian. The fact that people are standing up to political decisions shows that they have faith that their countries can become better. You are right though that people should be providing creative solutions to problems, instead of just mud-slinging. The worst thing to do is to take a fanatical-reactionary approach where you end up throwing out the baby with the bath water. Still sounds like you're describing the Liberal Party, and some blindly loyal Liberal supporters. All you're accusing the Conservative Party is again, based on nothing except scary, scary predictions and wishful interpretations by a either a brainwashed Liberal or a blind liberal, or an on-the-take Liberal who doesn't want or have no wish to see the happy trough-buffet days to end. Low tax my foot! Everyone around me is groaning, we're actually paying taxes on other services disguised as "registration fees", what about the double dipping on gas tax...a basic commodity now in this time and age? What about the businesses here....that are essential to creating and keeping jobs, real jobs and not the tele-marketing kind of jobs....they are all groaning and struggling to compete with the outside world. Why should I believe when a Liberal supporter tells me "we're actually paying low tax."....when a lot of Liberals could not even tell truth from lies?

Oooops. I was not wearing my glasses. So when I saw the name Conrad Black, I thought this has something to do with the SEC. Speaking of Conrad Black, if SEC will really get involved with the Income Trust scandal, I guess he and the Liberals will have a great deal in common. Incidentally, Conrad and Martin are not good friends of Chretien. Gosh, maybe Chretien framed Conrad?

So what you're suggesting is that you would rather see a party such as the bloc, who makes no bones about the fact they they are not in this to form a federal government, be involved then than The Green Party who has made more progress each election and is trying to be a national party? As for the argument of them not having any seats, what do you think would happen if they were included in the debates. They made it this far without that publicity boon that the other main aprties have, and until this last election did it with no government funding. Gee, with just two hours allotment, it didn't seem long enough for me between the four. But I do understand the unfairness. Maybe the tv executives should prolong the hours?

betsy I am not insulting your intelligence, just stating other facts... We are on the same side here!!! Oh sorry, my post was not directed at you, tml12. I just posted this as a separate reply, in answer to all those who are bringing up what is to me such petty issues. I guess you beat me at posting, thus I ended up under yours.

This is exactly the whole point. Parents having choices...and not being dictated to by the government how to raise their children! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Some choice when one of the options isn't there. You can have any colour of Model-T as long as it's black. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> eh?

But please, don't insult what little intelligence I have by distracting me from the real issue why I would like a change of government. To me, it's just this simple: I don't like the direction the current government is leading this nation. I'm tired of paying high taxes just to see the money wasted and line the pockets of Liberal cronies. I'm tired of being hood-winked. The amount of corruptions and scandals that had come out in the last year alone is mind-boggling. These are serious symptoms of a sick nation.

Rigid one party government? Sounds like the LPC to me., Oh yes, it does really sound like the Liberals. The propaganda machine, such as the CBC, are giving biased information...and they're funded by taxpayers money. Martin tried to stop the reporters from bringing up the scandals and corruption issues....lucky some journalists refused to be dictated to. There is a mild form of censorship in practically everything to say....this so-called "political-correctness." Banning of old classical books and plays...just because they're no longer politically correct. Reality that exists from the past are being changed that they no longer paint an accurate picture of what really transpired or what had happened. Parts of history is other words, is being re-written. When the PM bypassed Parliament, and instead gave the task to the courts (which had Liberal-appointed judges) to decide on a traditional definition which held deep meaning for the majority....and he did this knowing some of his own MPs are opposed to his will...I can easily interpret that as a forcible suppression of the opposition. centralized government control....to me, that easily translates into MONOPOLY. belligerent nationalism - I must say, the behaviours of some of the ministers and prominent members of the Liberal Party, went overboard in their belligerent and shameful displays of anti-Americanism. If we are trying to show the world that we are far more superior than the USA, then it was the wrong way to show it. They could have at least did it in a progressive way. Don't we teach our children manners and social courtesy? racism - I think we are very anti-Americans...and very hurtful and downright blunt in saying so. If we say the things we say to Americans to that of other races or ethnic groups, we'd be hauled infront of the tribunal. If we have disagreements with our neighbors, there should be a more positive way of expressing them. Spouting insults like drunken hussies in street alleys does not do Canada any good. See? I know that some will disagree with me....but see? If we want to, we can easily see what we want to see, right? We can easily put meanings to every gestures and every utterance to suit our wishes.

I will gladly read them.....although I already have an idea what I will find. I had listened to Harper last year, and I liked what I heard. Anyway, what concern me most is what is happening right NOW, with our CURRENT government which had been in power for 12 years. This current government had displayed two of the characteristics listed above....plus the endless PATTERN of corruptions and scandals. With the direction this CURRENT regime is leading the country, along with the endless pattern of corruptions and scandals that are erupting all around me....you expect me to ignore these? And worry instead about the "what-if" scenarios about the Conservatives...scenarios that are interpreted for us by the Liberals? I say, !

Got a link for them?