greyman

And the Darwin Award goes to...

Yes, put quotes around your use of the word defense, because we both know it's not defense at all, it's just the opposite. Canada needs to get out NATO.

The "oil wars" are products of people who lack the intelligence or patience to negotiate. And besides, it's stupid to kill one another for it, when even the "winners" lose in the end. The world's "proven reserves" will be dry by 2045. We run into a problem when demand outstrips supply, and if we're not quite there yet, we're exceedingly close. Time to stop fighting over what's left, and start putting the world's collective brain-power toward figuring out how we're going to continue in a post-oil environment.

Unless their stated threat is to physically attack our homeland, we ought to leave them alone. No one joins a message board to read discussions already had.

Point?

I don't advocate that Canada throws its "Colt" into the ocean. I think we ought to have lots of Colts on hand. They're idiots - if what you're saying is true. A strong national defense is important.

And your point is? What? You think they should be? Or you can address what I just said. Manufacturing in Ontario is hurting because of government intervention in the economy.

I'm aware of the problem. We're running out of oil. We all are...so let's spend our resources figuring out how we're gonna get off oil, instead of squandering them to kill each other over a dwindling supply.

The entire world is running out of oil. That wouldn't stop were we to conquer the entire Middle East. We probably should look at re-tooling, and moving past oil entirely. Will that happen tomorrow, or even five years from now? Probably not, but that doesn't mean we don't try - and in the meantime, it might be in our best interest economically speaking - to stay out of wars or other foreign entanglements.

"inheritably more dangerous" Explain. Who is talking about the US not having a strong military? You can have a strong military and not engage in pre-emptive wars. Pre-emptive wars make the world a more dangerous place, particularly if you're not an American civilian.

Explain. Right, and at no time have I suggested Canada completely de-arm itself. I advocate for just the opposite, in fact. But just because we have a gun, doesn't mean we have to use it to make war just for war's sake. There's a distinction here...I think it's important to have a strong national defense, but that means we only use our weapons as a last resort - and we use diplomacy first. We do have the means to survive. Engaging in pre-emptive wars leads us further down the path to ruin. It weakens our national defense to war-monger.

Reducing defence expenditures sounds great to me, as long as they cut spending everywhere else too. I have no doubt that companies who manufacture drones have rising or steady stock prices. Makes sense to me.

If they did that, AND cut spending across the board, we might have a shot at building a real economy in this country.

I would've been more supportive of the Occupy Movement if it consisted of people interested in the Austrian School.

We'd be better off using our resources to produce more oil at home.