Hydraboss

You breed 'em...you feed 'em. I am not responsiblr for your kids. You are (or should be). I'm buying a new truck for $60,000.....and I want you to pay 80% of the payments. Interested? My wife and I are raising our two kids, and I don't want your money to do so. When our kids were very small, either my wife stayed home or we paid for daycare/before/after school care. We never accepted offspring welfare.

First of all, Danny Williams acts like a squalling babe that just had his soother taken away. Grow the hell up, child. As for Iggy, I haven't heard enough of him to make a decision on whether the man is competent or not. Here's the question of the day, though: For both Liberal and PC's out there...would you still have the same feelings about him if he was the leader of the liberal-lite Conservatives? The man has no work history in reality (prof in another country) - how Liberal of him The man supports the war in Iraq - how Conservative of him The man supports torture "within reason" - how redneck of him The man obviously doesn't like the NDP - how "everybody" of him The man keeps his MP's on a very short chain - how Conservative/Liberal of him If I knew more about him, I might be inclined to vote for him. Except he's a Liberal and I could never do that and live.

Heroin use goes back at least that far as well. Peyote use goes back most likely goes back as far (or close). Dr. Green, did you just say that pot "kills" cancer cells? My god...have you asked to have this fact published???? All the billions the world has spent on trying to find a cure for cancer, and all along you had it!

As Renegade said on the last page, we have had this discussion (ad nauseam) before. There seem to be three groups: those who want the status quo, those (like me) that want a version of the flat tax (because they're tired of paying everyone else's way), and those that want special status (like Pat C who wants everyone else to pay for his kids). Alberta's tax structure has proven successful...everyone pays 10% of their earnings, no exceptions. For those of you that think the tax burden is being shifted from rich to middle class, think of this. Before tax reform, the "rich" had so many loopholes that they barely even paid tax (much like they don't federally). The more loopholes you take away, the more fairly taxes are applied.

The only fair tax system is a flat tax with a base exemption. All the rest is "fiddling" and political funding of pet projects (extra tax for this, tax exception for them,.....)

The only thing we can hope for in the West is that Harper's replacement is a anti-religious, pro-gay, social liberal that is from Quebec (Ontario would also do fine). That would piss everyone in Alberta off enough to finally consider the seperation idea. At the very least, Stelmach would get punted in favor of a real conservative (not a liberal-ndp'r) and then watch the "firewall" go up. We'd take our ball and go home.

From Keng's link " Motorcycles • Based on motorcycle registrations, the involvement rate of motorcycles in fatal collisions has increased. However, the involvement rate in injury collisions has decreased in 2006. • The majority of motorcycle casualty collisions involved male drivers. Motorcycle drivers under the age of 25 had the highest involvement rate per 1000 licensed drivers. In particular, 16-17 year old motorcycle drivers had an involvement rate per 1000 licensed drivers of 49.8, a rate almost three times greater than that of the 20-24 year old motorcycle drivers. • Compared to drivers involved in total casualty collisions, motorcycle drivers were more likely to run off the road or pass improperly. However, motorcycle drivers were less likely to follow too closely, make an unsafe left turn or commit a stop sign violation. • Compared to drivers involved in all types of vehicle casualty collisions, motorcycle drivers were more likely to have consumed alcohol before the crash. • Vehicle factors were identified for 1.0% of motorcycles involved in casualty collisions compared to 0.8% for all types of vehicles involved in casualty collisions. • The majority of casualty collisions involving motorcycles occurred on dry roads. /" This has to be one of the most ridiculous pieces of...proposed legislation...I've heard of to date. Keng's submission that motorcycle riders are more dangerous is pure bunk. Take those same 16 & 17 year olds and put them in a car, and I guarantee you will have the same damn result - dangerous driving. This has nothing to do with what they operate; it has everything to do with mentality. I've been riding for over 25 years, and I'll tell you that I am a hundred-fold more cautious when I'm on my bike (even the 990lb one) than I will ever be in a car. As for kids, you are already not allowed to take any passenger that cannot properly reach the footpegs so that rules out 99% of the small children. Motorcycles don't cause traffic deaths...stupidity causes traffic deaths.

Maybe he hid it in the Batcave under the rug where Paul Martin and Johnny Crouton put the $60 billion they stole redirected from the EI fund. Just thinking outside the box.

Perhaps the movie comparison was off target. Let's try again. Should the Alberta government (or any other for that matter) be spending $140 million on an Arts and Culture Council in a time when charities, food banks and...hell...neighbours are deprived of cash? Does this make sound financial sense? Does it make ethical sense? People will always need distractions during periods like this, but monumental spending on "new" and "elite" projects (National Ballets, feel-good projects) do nothing to help them. If you can afford ballet tickets in Toronto, chances are you're not worrying whether to buy clothes or food. For the record...if the feds want to bring the tension over the recession down, they should feel free to drop 24 Labatt's at every house. edit:sp

If he's running hydrovac out east (heavy oil country) he's playing russian roulette with everybody else. The advantage of being around St. Paul is that the sites he's on are in-field drilling (not typically the "exploration wells" that the producers cut back on). These are known reserves and already online. That being said, if he's actually willing to work...he will. The 20% I'm talking about are the lazy little bastards that think the patch owes them $75,000 a year and a company truck just because they are willing to show up once in a while. If your kid shows up and puts in an honest day when he's there, word gets around quick. I'd hire about 100 of them right now if I could find them. The more the ranks are thinned of the dead weight, the more opportunity the decent ones have. Your kid will be fine.

Giving people back their money does not cause a deficit. Lowering consumption taxes does not cause a deficit. Government spending that exceeds government revenue causes a deficit. Why is Canada going into deficit? Canada wastes far too much of our money on niceties such as arts and culture, immigrant services (cause we need interpreters in 150 languages - see City of Edmonton 311 service), Bombardier bailouts, gun registries, Governor General travel expenditures to "share our northern climate sameness", etc, etc, etc. Look at your household. When times are great and you're flush with cash, you can go to the movie theater three times a week if you wish. When times turn and you have to decide to cut out the movies or cut the grocery bill, do you continue going to the theater? No. The useless expenses should be the first things cut. What is the total federal taxation revenue? If the GST cut cost $26 billion dollars, fine. Can anyone tell me that this country doesn't waste at least that much on "arts and culture" expenditures each and every year? Maybe...maybe not. But I can guarantee you we dwarf that number annually on "non-essential" program spending. Cutting taxes to taxpayers benefits the economy overall. As for the "it's permanent" arguement...I sincerely hope so.

I'll answer "yes" if we can agree that there is a difference between politicians and the government workers that work for them.

Michael, I have said from the beginning that I know very well what a good portion of the local teachers do (my wife's family for instance). Prep and marking is almost non-existent. This does not constitute "proof" and I have admitted that. There is no way to prove a negative (cannot prove it's not happening any more than they can prove it is happening, therefore the side of the discussion with any proof wins the day). In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. I have also said that if the teachers want "credit" for all of these supposed hours and hours they spend outside of school, why do they refuse to agree to a number or a scale or something in the CBA's? If the school boards and the teacher's unions agree to some kind of number that forms the supporting basis for compensation, then put the damn figures in print and that will end the arguement. There will always be the nay-sayers (like me) but it would certainly take the wind out of my sails, now wouldn't it?

In most of the boards in Alberta, teachers are required to work 180.5 FDE (full day equivalents). You're dead on. There hasn't been a politician that works that many days in generations (except at election time). I agree that they should be the first to take the hit, and then go after the rest of the public sector. I'd actually like to see it happen to select groups of Snivel Servants.

So we are all in agreement that every one of them is a liar and an idiot? Why do I seem to remember Stephane and Stephen both stating at the leader's debate (you know, the goofy one where Elizabeth May-Be-Insane annoyed everyone at the round table) that neither one could possibly "absolutely say that they would not go into deficit"? Taliban Jack had no problem as long as the money went to "kitchen tables instead of boardroom tables" and Elizabeth "Wants to be the Senator that One Million People Voted For" May had no clue on anything.

I'll be happy to declare Catchme correct, once I see evidence of one type or another that substantiates the basis of the statement. Saying "they do this, this and this..." is simply an opinion unless there is something to back it up. My arguement has been supported by cites, however, the "other side" simply believes that because they say it, it must be true. Since you are familiar with "teacher work", can you provide said evidence? (And yes, we all know that the term "evidence" is subjective on a forum but anything is better than nothing and I will accept that.)

Polls or no polls. Does it really matter who the hell you vote for? Brian Mulroney pulls the strings on the Cons. (man, I hated him) Johnny Crouton pulls the strings on the Libs. (man, I hated him) We have these quaint little discussions about which team is better or worse for the country, but there really is no difference. Both will pander to Kwebek and Ontario because that's where the votes are. Hell...vote for the Rhino party for all the difference in outcome it will make. No, I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist.

You said it. Stelmach the Liberal-NDPer couldn't balance a teeter-totter. But I'm sure the latest $140 million dollar "Arts and Culture" fund and others like it will be of great relief to the food banks and shelters that will pay for this "downturn" and deficit. The far-left wing PC's in this province will spend us into oblivion just like the Maritimes. I've always said that Eddie would make a wonderful Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

Read the thread, Green. This is a provincial thread and the fact is that in Alberta teachers are required to be educated for four years (more are optional). Let's stop the hijack and move the discussion on this topic to the appropriate thread. I bumped it for you (that means I posted a reply to move the topic to the top of the thread board so you could find it. Really.) Use your letters to find it.

Aww, relax. Me never no made a misteak when I'ma tiping.

Michael, I could care less about teachers (other than I pay them). They rank right up there with postal carriers, politicians and those people who hand out samples at Safeway. Except the samplers at Safeway actually work for their money. You are right about the emotional response, though. Anger does not motivate me in this discussion. It does, however, seem to motivate the "pro-teacher" side of the debate who seem incapable of disputing numbers or even reading through the thread before commenting. My approach has been reasoned and supported by fact (links provided). Who from the "pro" side can say that?

Teachers "contribute" a great deal. To their bank accounts. To their vacation accounts. To their pension accounts. That's about it.

So now we know. You're a teacher. Actually, that clears up a lot.

So you think my mention of the sacred cows (teachers) ranks up there with the various accusations of "you are like Hitler" that float around the forum? Interesting. Before you moved to Manitoba, what part of Ontario were you from exactly? (P.s. - My earlier offer stands. If you want to discuss teachers, I bumped the old thread for you.)

That would be "lost cause", not "loss cause". Might want to take an English upgrading course. I know some really great teachers if you're interested.