Moderate Centrist

Alliance FanaticAnd what exactly is your point. The police have a distorted view of crime. This doesn't mean that crime is actually on the increase - and it isn't. Can you site any statistics and their source which indicate crime is on the increase? Alliance FanaticWhat's your source on this? Please define attack: Do you mean - shot at punched verbally attacked Alliance FanaticHow so? Please elaborate on this? Alliance FanaticPlease give us a source on this claim with the date and department - are you referring to City Police or the RCMP. Alliance FanaticFine. I know people who would say police deserve five times less respect than they actually get. The bottom line is this: -there is currently no crime wave taking place in Canada. -Violent crime affects a minority of Canadians - The police are only one small factor in the fight against crime and can only act (rightly) after the fact. -Crime as an issue is used primarily to distract the public from more important issues - The media is out to make money - Period. They'll put any spin on a story if it will sell newspapers. Actually one of the factors that "may" be affecting the lower crime rate is, Source:http://142.206.72.67/04/04b/04b_002_e.htm I think the police should be given the respect they are due and no more. When organized police forces first emerged many people were oppossed becaus the police have traditionally beens pawns of the government to screw people over. There are plenty of examples from Canada and around the world which show they can't be trusted. For every story you have on a good cop there is one on a bad. Canada, the US and England actually are lucky in that we can call the police into account. Most countries don't have that right. Let's leave things as they are regarding the cops.

Hello All, I just finished reading an article on the job rate in the US which also talked about Globalization and competition from developing nations. The article is called: by Jim Jubak.You can read it at: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P62365.asp Please spare the usual left/right lecture and tell me what you think.

I was once a MacKay supporter too. The big winners here are the Canadian Alliance and Harper. MacKay has shown himself to be a political opportunist. I believe his conduct over the last six months is going to hurt him.

Jerry PottsWell as far as I'm concerned any party that wants to break up the country looks bad. It doesn't really matter. Alberta Separation is a joke. As far as I'm aware it's only supported by a small faction of right wing nuts. The other thing to remember is Alberta did nothing on it's own. It is where it is today due to it's partnership with Canada and the labour pool and resources it has been able to draw on from across the country. There are a great number of people living in Alberta who are not originally from there and who will have a say in any separatist issue. Anyway - won't work period.

Alliance FanaticWhere is the statistics to back this up? Define massive. Massive compared to what? More violence? What are you referring to here? If it's crime - crime has been declining for the past 20 years and violent crime only affects a minute portion of the Canadian population. The decline is religion goes hand in hand with modernization and is happening in every western/European country the world over. It has nothing to do with Canada specifically. Having said that - I think the WEST (not just Canada) is too socially liberal- meaning they've turned the private into the public. As for homosexual issues - it's all fluff. But it is interesting to see how far they've been able to hijack human rights issues from other minority groups with much more serious concerns.

Neal, I don't dispute that pornography may be harmful. I simply don't care. Laws restricting its access are fine with me but an outright ban won't work. However - the public itself is largely to blame. No one forces people to purchase or watch pornography. Pornography exists because there is profit in it - people want it. Pehaps this topic would be best discussed in another threat. However if taking this position will make the Alberta Separatist party appear worse than it already does I hope they go for it.

While pornographic consumption is not something that really interests me any attempt to ban it is a waste of time. Like most crimes of vice the fault lies primarily with the public. If you don't like porn or are offended by it - don't watch, read or buy it. Works for me. I actually agree with laws to make it more difficult to purchase pornography but again, banning it is politically unwinnable. Back to Alberta Separation - won't work.

Hello All, Just wanted to restate my position that Alberta Separatism is a joke and will never fly. Try selling it in Ft. McMurray - the Newfoundland of the west.

HI dnsfurlan, I was merely making the point that Orchard is not a lefty but a traditional conservative. My position on the merger is very simple - it must prove to me that it is moderate and not simple another version of the Alliance. I've stated many times why I don't like the Alliance and it's not because I'm a lefty. It's because from statements made by the leaders themselves their first loyalty is to Alberta and not Canada. I will never support any such party. We don't need anymore regional politics at the Federal level. I personally don't support the Death Penalty nor more powers for the police. This is a position several Alliance members have taken over the years. I don't support privatized health care - again - several Alliance members have made statements over the years indicating they would go this route - Harper included. At this point in time I am extremely skeptical of what this party has to offer and what it will accomplish. I may change my position as time goes on. I predict the big loser here will be Mackay.

Sorry to say but these are the principles of the old Tory party. Conservatism has traditionally been associated with protectionism. The Torries had always oppossed free trade until Mulrooney came to power. Wage and Price controls were used by Richard Nixon and were proposed by Joe Clark as well. These two are hardly liberals. I think it is more correct to say that the conservative party has been hijacked by republican style right wingers of the Libertarian mode. In any case this "merger" is just more of the same. We've seen it before. It's a rose by any other name. They don't have a chance of forming the next government and have a heck of a lot of work to do before forming the one after that.

CameronYou are right about one thing - the Orchardists are old style conservatives not left wingers. And yes the liberals will rule the country for some time to come. This "new" party is simply the Alliance by another name - it's not going anywhere and will achieve nothing accept to turn away more moderates.

Hey, quit knocking Nixon. The guy wasn't that bad if you ask me. Also, people don't change - only technology. Try reading some ancient history texts. People's motivations are the same then as they are now.

I just read a story on the value of Iraqi defectors claims on Saddam's weapons programs. It appears much of their information was useless. Also, the CIA had a much different view of the war than the White House which appears to be totally driven by ideology. For the full story please check out this link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianweekly/s...1053508,00.html The question now is can the Democrats turn this and other issues into a major attack on Bush?

HI Craig, Glad you're on our side on this one. I think our tax dollars could be spent much more wisely to deal with Immigration and terrorist problems.

Hello Hugo, Hello and Thank-you re: "if it can be made it can be forged". Exactly right. The National Identity card is a do nothing approach to nothing. There is no reason to have it and no evidence that it will improve security in any way, shape or form. The only practical purpose I can see is to create jobs for unemployed IT professionals. As for immigrants Craig - my thoughts are simple- Do what you have to but don't come knocking on my door. There is no reason I should be inconvenienced or have to pay money into some stupid dbase. It is not for me to buy into National ID cards but for you to prove they are required. You haven't done so.

Craig, As usual your views on this topic are ridiculous nonsense. The whole identity card issue is a crock of s^&%! The only reason to implement it in Canada is to appease the Americans. Biometric cards serve no useful purpose except to fool the public into thinking the government is taking strong action against terrorism? We’ve already spent a Billion dollars on a useless gun registry (I’m not a gun owner). Now we’re supposed to pay more money into another database. Ha Ha Ha. Conservatives can not call for smaller government on the one hand and more police power on the other. Looking at the history books more laws and police power have done little to stop crime and lots to harass and annoy the public. The terrorist threat has been completely blown out of proportion and is being used to scare the public. The US has one of the most porous borders in the world so where to they get off criticizing Canada. Not one of the 9/11 attackers came from here. Criticism should be pointed at the US itself, Britain, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan – that’s where the terrorists have come from. My views on law enforcement and fighting terrorism are very simple – if you want to catch terrorists – great! If you want to stop crime – Great! But as far as I’m concerned stay out of my face and don’t go harassing innocent citizens.

Hi Nuclear, As far as I am aware the only secular reference to Christ comes from the Annals of Imperial Rome written by Tacitus circa early 100s AD. The following is the quote from the Annals. Tacitus is speaking about Nero trying to divert the blame for the fire in Rome: Source: http://www.tektonics.org/tekton_01_01_01_TC.html For More Information on the Annals please refer to: http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.html

What does post modernism and have to do with this discussion.It has not been mentioned by any source that I'm aware that the UN attack was the work of Al Qaeda.

- CraigHi Craig, In other words throw out journalistic principles and give in to the profit motive regardless of news quality.

Hi Krustykidd, I am in no way laying blame for the terrorist attacks on the American people. I do not believe the Amerians deserved such an attack nor do I view terrorists as anything other than what they are… criminals. My points were: -that attacking Saddam Hussein has nothing to do with fighting terrorism, -that Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11 and finally -that American Intelligence failed to prevent the attacks of which lack of communications was a factor. I am well aware that it’s easy to find fault after the fact and that hindsight is 20/20. However mistakes were made and if America is really concerned about international terrorism it should examine it’s own security procedures first before laying blame elsewhere. With regards to the war in Iraq – as far as I’m concerned it’s a drain on American resources that could be better used elsewhere. As far as being a “liberal” goes – I’m neither hard left nor hard right. I have no interest in dogma or labels. I believe in holding the middle ground or staying slightly right of centre.

Hi Ned, France is not an enemy of the United States nor is Canada. The entire issue on Iraq revolved around policy. Canada, France and many other countries opted to stay out of the war and oppose it not merely for the sake of harassing the US but rather because they felt it would do more harm than good. What is termed "anti-Americanism" is in large respect international disagreement with the Bush Administration and not a deep seated hatred of America(although this exists as well). The US didn't convince the rest of the world it had a good case for war with Iraq. Those who didn't believe in their cause and saw the harm it could do decided to stay out.

Source: GugsyAlthough I agree with most of your posts I'm going to have to take issue with this one, in particular the above quote. Firstly kids are not getting away with Murder. Second there is no reason that I'm aware of to scrap the Young Offenders Act. But I'll give you a chance here. Please get back and let us know which sections in the young offenders act you object to and why. It's important to realize crime rates in Canada and the United States have been dropping for the past twenty years. Crime coverage has more to do with selling newspapers and getting T.V. ratings and little to do with real news.

Craig, I don't dispute the middle eastern/islamic countries are widely open to critique. I merely maintain that perhapd religion itself is the problem rather than the Islamic faith.

That's fine as an opinion. However Conrad Black is hardly the model of unbiased journalistic principles.

Hi Rhonda Re: Evolution What “made up” illustrations are you speaking about? There is plenty of evidence to support evolution. An example is the Peppered Moth. You can read about it at: http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/Mot...oths/moths.html The Theory of Evolution is almost universally recognized as the best theory to date on human/biological development and is also widely recognized by the scientific community. It sure beats the idea that the world was created in six days. As far as I know the Catholic Church has even come to terms with Evolution. I guess it comes down to what kind of education you want children to have – one based on science or one based on fantasy. I have no problem with the teaching of creationism in the context of religious studies but it has no place in the context of science.