Jerry J. Fortin

My point is that that government should have no more right than the citizen. In fact to my mind that concept is very likely the root cause of a great many flaws within our society. The right of an individual must always prevail over the privilege of another. Rights must be the foundation from which all laws are derived and deemed justifiable and valid. Paramount right can be described as the right to life itself. Rights need to be defined and ratified by the citizens before any real attempt at reforms can take place. Those reforms may be capable of correcting some of the wrongs within our society. Such things as the definition of the individual come to mind, because there is a very real difference between the true natural citizen and that of the legal citizen. One is an individual and the other is not. Those two citizens are the core of our problems. One is subject to mortality and the other is not. So how is it that the one who dies can be punished and the one that does not is not? This is a fundamental question that rises as an insurmountable wall to the citizenry. To resolve it will change the direction of our society.

I should think that he should be returned to the nation he committed a crime in and prosecuted there under the applicable laws of the land . Keep in mind he went there in support of those laws and customs, and has therefore already stated a desire to submit to those laws and customs. He has rejected Canadian sovereignty and embraced that of Afghanistan. Although he is Canadian, he committed no crime here.

Treason? I think not.

Harper is playing games and the last time that happened it spawned a coalition of the willing. At this point in time Conservative fortunes are beginning to wane and the Liberal star has begun to rise. The NDP and the Bloc are hurting for support, but the Bloc still has no real fear of holding their own in Quebec. Its the PM's government to lose, and the oppositions to win. The timing sucks, but that is life The reality is that if Harper calls an election, he will be violating his own election date scam and by forcing the opposition into a corner with a minority government the same thing would be achieved. Either way it is lose-lose for Steve. Only a fool would try to govern like a majority under the current partisan composition of the House of Commons.

Iggy may do well to let the PM call the ball. A summer election is a big gamble, and the Conservatives are not quite vulnerable enough to warrant the risk. Unless Harper calls the election himself, then it is a different ball game.

Look at the Swiss system, which is direct democracy, before any assumptions are made.

It is a sad day when the nation you live in is at war. People die in wars. This kid, who is now of legal age actually desired to get involved in a war. He actively engaged in operations that were designed to kill people. He was caught as a foreign national, without a uniform in an active theater of operations. Now reasonably speaking , what outcome can he expect?

If it is not right for one citizen to take the life of another citizen, then it cannot be right for the government to take the life of a citizen. Aside from this simple logic, I do not trust the government with my life.

I would suggest that it is gutter politics. About the right level for our current Prime Minister.

I suppose that is true isn't it? I didn't give it much thought, but upon reflection I guess you are right. I will maintain that the target demographic is off a country mile in my opinion, but that is just me.

Advertising on YTV seems like a waste of time and funding given that the specific demographic for that channel cannot vote. Another mistake on the part of the political machine.

Canada will cease offensive military operations by the end of 2011, that is mandated by law.

The harsh reality is that this kind of politics does work to a small degree. In this nation each little degree is fought for. We are as politically diverse as is our heritage, we come from all points of the compass in more ways than one. I wouldn't want it any other way. You see I live in Alberta where we have political dynasties that last for decades.

Harper may not have had anything to do with it, but that does not absolve him of responsibility.

Fear is an extension of emotions that are designed for self preservation. Yet we must do more than merely survive. These base emotions are what causes much grief on this earth and they are what needs to be dealt with.

I disagree with the court decision, that said a decision has been made.

In my view the HRC's were and still are necessary. The way to get rid of them would be to integrate their functions into the court system but that would cause its own set of problems. Racism and discrimination could and probably should be declared hate crimes and the HRC's should and probably could be limited to employer and employee relations. There are many possible fixes to this perceived problem.

It would limit the extent of legislative proposals by politicians. Bad legislation will not pass.

I on the other hand favour a "DIRECT DEMOCRACY" where the politicians merely propose and the people ratify.

Stoop to their level? I think not, but perhaps we should merely rethink other areas of international interest. Those areas of political nature, we need to outsmart them.

There is one thing that does bother me about immigrants, and that is bringing their problems here. It matters not to me what they are you understand, I just don't like it when folks move here and then want this nation to do something about the nation they came from.

I don't fear American aggression against us. I guess I am not paranoid enough.

Good and valid points............

Surely the physical attributes of these political leaders are simply irrelevant. Is not the issue of more import than the men? What is the real issue here?

Happy dead queens birthday to you as well.