Canuckistani

I don't think there's such a thing as best friends between nations. Each nation has its self interest at heart. We shouldn't whine when we don't like what the US does, just do whatever we can to promote our own self interest. The problem with Canada is we some whiners who are making out like bandits selling to the US, when the national interest may be taking a harder line, which hurts the whiners bottom line. We should do what's best for Canada as a whole. And learn how to use the US political system to our best advantage. It's probably good we've been snubbed on Keystone. We should be selling our oil at higher prices to the Chinese, instead of a US market that's declined 14%. And better yet would be the govt "facilitating" (subsidies if necessary,but not necessarily subsidies) a pipeline to the east. Reduce us getting whipsawed by world oil prices, and reduce the effect of Dutch disease.

Can't vote because the choices are too limited. I like to think I'm a pragmatist with a bias for liberalism (ie live and let live) as long as that doesn't harm others. Eg - I would be all for prohibition, including alcohol and tobacco, if I thought prohibition worked - we could prevent a lot of misery if that was the case. But I don't think that works, so I'm for legalization and regulation of all drugs. Some would have much more restrictive regulations than others.

The police and justice system will never be infallible, no matter what resources we throw at it. So with the death penalty, you will always execute a number of innocent people. Quite a number if the US system is anything to go by. I don't think that's worth it, when an alternative exists that keeps society just as safe, ie prison. No, I can't be 100% certain Bernardo won't get out. But if we're crazy enough to let him out, we deserve what we get. Tightening up the parole system is something I have no problem with. That is where more resources should be allocated, so people who do get out on parole are properly supervised. I'm not clear what you mean in your last paragraph? So you know where I'm coming from: I'm against the death penalty. Main reason is moral - you don't condemn murder by killing. It just brutalizes society. But also, killing innocents discredits the whole system, IMO, even if you do believe in an eye for an eye.

We've just seen the first case where an executed man was shown to be innocent. (Mistaken identity). I think the danger of executing the innocent will always be with us - the justice system is far from perfect. At least if we've just incarcerated someone, and they are found innocent, we can at least let them out and try to make it up to them. The recidivism rate is very low for murder. And the true beasts that we get, which are very few, they never get out. Bernardo will die in prison, Olsen just did (didn't he?) etc. The Shafia killers were certainly convicted on less than 100% no doubt evidence. And quite frankly, when they get out (the son and mother will for sure) they won't be killing again - they weren't serial murderers. So then the death penalty becomes about revenge rather than prevention.

I hope that Canada would acknowledge it's European heritage which is what made Canada the decent place to live it is today. It's great for us to have people from all over the world live here, but most come because the place they are leaving isn't so decent. So while I'm no fan of the CPC, I think they are at least on the right track in this regard. Natives of course might have a different view, but even Natives seem to want the lifestyle that came from our Western European heritage.