Naci Sey

It won't happen. Any combined entity would have to be mainly centrist which would lose the support of the radical left wing. These people would likely not vote or start voting for another left wing party (the Greens are a likely choice). The Greens are not left wing. They draw from all over the political map. It has been proposed by some in both parties that the NDP and Greens unite, yet serious discussion of it never goes far; there are far more 'nays' than 'yays'. That alone should indicate some substantial divides. As to uniting the Liberals and NDP, isn't it difficult to say, while the Libs are still trying to define who they are?

I was leaning toward Dion or Godfrey, because each was talking about directing Canada toward a green economy. Makes sense to me, both environmentally and economically. As for Rae, I hope the Liberals give him a chance, hear him out.

Ohhh, he's got some baggage alright. I'd like to know which of the Liberal leadership candidates the CPCs would prefer. If Bob Rae could shake off his own baggage, might he not be the Conservatives' worst nightmare?

With respect, Hicksey, a good deal of obesity today is showing up in the lowest income group. The deeper the poverty, the higher the incidence of obesity. It's not easy feeding oneself or one's children healthy foods if virtually all your income is going to housing. So people turn to the 'welfare diet' (whether or not they are on welfare). That diet is chockful of carbohydrates. This is also why we're seeing an increased incidence of Type II Diabetes. A great many people with subtance addiction were driven to it by despair and circumstances beyond their control. E.g., young people who escape to the streets from abusive homes are ripe to be caught by the wrong crowd and fed drugs to get them hooked. That he spoke in Vancouver was appropriate. They're experiment in the Downtown Eastside is working: fewer deaths from overdose, more people being assisted off drugs, less local criminal behaviour. I say decriminalize. Decades of research support this and decades of law enforcement say that the war on drugs isn't working. Let's go with what works.

Well, I'm brand, spanking new here - my first post! - and a very recent, frustrated, bewildered and bruised ex-Babbler (as of yesterday). After all that went on over the past three days, I can't imagine ever going back. My first stop as I went searching forlornly for a new home was Free Dominion, not because it's ideologically similar to my position - most of the thread titles suggest otherwise. But because the discourse is, in general, polite and devoid of ad hominem attacks. It was the presence of so much of the latter that ultimately persuaded me to give up on Babble. That's where the bewilderment came in. Moderators were banning people simply for expressing, in a cogent and logical manner, views that opposed the ideologically acceptable. I want to hear those arguments! How can one call oneself a progressive (whatever that means), if one isn't open to others' views? How can we develop our own thinking if we aren't challenged to keep testing our assumptions? Now I know nothing at all about this board or the personalities or how Greg is as a moderator. However, my utterance to myself after I'd just diligently read all the Rules was 'Oh, neat!' My sincere hope is that Greg does in fact work to ensure that the Board stays civil and is open to opposing views.