Jerry J. Fortin

The past can teach us much, yet it does not seem to solve anything by pointing this way or that. Laying blame can make you feel better but it does not fix the problem. This nation needs to understand what the macro-economy is and where the place of this nation is within it. We need to find out how to take advantage of the opportunities we have instead of crying about the ones we missed. As long as we continue to use the same means to solve the problems, we will continue to have them. Until we begin to step out of the box we will find ourselves restricted by our own lack of imagination.

For starters, until the US releases him no opinion is worth a tinkers damn. Should this nation spend money to advocate his release, that should be the real question. I say no, its a waste of time and money. What we have is a citizen charged with a crime in a foreign country, now under what circumstances is the government obligated to fund a defense for him? It isn't by law, yet some precedent may be found to be an exception to the "rule". So in my mind this is a tempest in a tea cup. When the US does release him I would try him for murder under our laws, but as I have said I believe that the country he committed the crime in has the right and responsibility to put him on trail.l

Good point, one which I agree with you on. Yet does it not seem wrong not to be able to vote for a government?

You are happy with health-care? You are happy with our military? You are happy with the public education system? You are happy with the justice system? You are happy with an appointed Senate? You are happy with our foreign policy? You are happy with domestic policy? You are just a happy kind of person?

I just cannot agree with that. Does that mean that you agree or disagree with the attempt at a coalition government early this year?

The Canadian Empire? Did I miss that part of history?

The point is that the media is often steered into directions by informants with agendas. Ask Brian Mulroney about it sometime, it is gutter politics.

I think if people were more aware of the system and all its flaws there would be riots in the streets!

You mean the 800 year odd dinosaur created in England where the "Upper House" was composed of hereditary appointments of land owners and distant royalty? You mean the system which applied here in Canada still appoints the "Upper House" with very similar kinds of people? You mean the system here that does not let us choose our own leader? The one that took away the right of citizens to own property, when the constitution was repatriated and partially rewritten in 1982? That would be the system where only elected provincial representatives were allowed to vote on it and it was never ratified by the citizens? In my view the system of democracy that we use is outdated and ineffective. There are too few restrictions placed on representatives for starters. In a more general sense I certainly don't see how partisan arm-strong voting tactics fits in with the term democracy at all. When the elected representatives can be disciplined for voting against the party, even removed from the party at the leaders discretion, I will suggest that this is a repressive system that is not in any way representative of a democracy at all. As a first step, legislation that provides for free votes unfettered by party whips is the most basic reform we need. From there we could at least say that democracy is alive and well in this nation. The continuing level of kindergarten behavior in the House of Commons is another matter worthy of debate. On so many levels federal politics needs major work to actually start delivering the benefits to the citizens that have paid for them.

There is a difference isn't there............

Lets wait and see shall we. I am now hoping for something to happen one way or another to see these two guys face off. I don't mean the hype and media, Harper can outspend Iggy by about 10 to 1 if recent reports and comments are accurate.

I have not the faintest idea, but I imagine if you dig deep enough you could find that out. My intent was merely to provide an eyewitness account, I was there.

What does the mans wife have to do with anything at all? That is in fact digging into the gutter to find dirt, one should think there is enough VALID complaints to take issue of.

That was a ten point response! I love it! I think it would be cheaper, that is for sure.

Kill? Not likely, not I at any rate. I could see myself dying in attempt to save a life but that is about it. Especially over some political motive. I would fight with words and the law of the land but that is the extent of it. As to the future, well who can know how that will turn out. I desire a "Northwestern Canada", with everything west of Ontario and north of the circle. I think Alberta by its lonesome is as viable as Quebec is, which is not. What I really want is to see this nation grow a freaking spine. I would like to see a major directional change in terms of public policy both foreign and domestic. I would like to see democratic reforms as well.

One out of five eh? Thats not bad, something to work with there I think. Give us a couple of Liberal governments and see where those numbers go! I am a separatist, because this nation is lazy and afraid. The politics of fear dominate the national agenda, and the tax and spend ideology applies to both of the major partisan factions. Albertans are a little more self sufficient and self respecting. A majority believe that hard work yields benefit and most would rather do for themselves than have the government do for them. That is the key to Alberta politics by the way, not too complicated is it? Perhaps the numbers advertised are not the reality.

Another little political trick, getting the other guy to show his cards. I don't think that Iggy is that goofy. Harper may be in for a little surprise with this guy at the helm for the Liberals. Face it, the Liberals and the Conservatives own the game, the others are merely bit players on a good day.

I maintain he is a criminal, I denounce him as a Canadian and offer him justice in Afganistan.

Westminster? As in the Statute of (1932)?

WE have the downfall of the American Empire unfolding before our eyes, the rise of the Chinese superpower and the specter of an uncontrollable maniac running Korea, and as we speak a redneck Israeli PM selling residential lots on the West Bank! How do you see things getting better? I mean this nation really should step back and let the big boys play it out while we clean up our own act, but other than that what can this nation really do to turn things around?

Why not? The hole gets deeper everyday while the "government" attempts to keep its job. The Liberals would be doing the same thing. It is a sad state of affairs but that is the natural direction of Canadian politics. I really wish someone had the guts to step out and make elections with fixed dates, introduce recall legislation, and create term limits for office. The career politician is what irks me the most living on the public dime. Next would be the patronage bestowed upon partisan supporters of the "winning faction". The nation is held to ransom with these things, managing or navigating through all the twists and turns diverts the governments attention from just administering the public system as they simply should be.

Perspective is a relative thing, many in fact a majority of Canadians live in eastern Canada and they supported and promoted Trudeau for years. They thought he was a great guy! To me the dark ages were under Mulroney. The golden age is nowhere on the horizon.

Keep in mind that their focus was buying support to gain a majority. It hasn't worked and was focused on Atlantic Canada and Quebec to start with. Now under the current climate their focus is on the economic heartland of Ontario, Lots of votesd to buy up there, but it isn't working there either. Now the government has been pressured into reworking EI, not to the extent that opposition wanted but reworked nonetheless. Once an election has been called, I am willing to bet that there is a lot of Western Canada spending, just to cement their position. Harper is very predictable.

It is possible to have a summer election though, if that is the case then I could expect a public platform release.

Isn't it safe to say that the Conservatives have the record on deficit spending? Isn't it safe to say that governments do not really control economies and that it makes no difference who is in power at any given time bad things happen when they happen?