Jerry J. Fortin

Who knows, it could have been an oversight! I could have been planned! I guess what I am trying to say is that he is no different that the regular run of the mill elected official. Our partisan system of government brought us a minority position where the guy has to tap dance or watch his government fall. I guess it will depend on how good of a dancer he is. The long and the short of it is, I think he wants another election and is actually working to get a confidence motion on the floor so he can get his election. I don't think he wants it to be obvious, I think he wants the opposition to call a vote so he can claim it was forced on him.

I can see the point about heritage. But really guys is it smarter depending on cheap imported products for all our needs? Yeah it makes short term economic sense, but I am not sure it is the wise thing to do. I guess the proof will be in the pudding next year when Geely starts selling cars in Canada. They will sell you a car for 10 grand that wil cost the big three 30 grand to build. So when everybody starts buying the cheap cars you will see literally hundreds and maybe thousands of companies fail in southern Ontario. Maybe then this arguement will have a different meaning to you folks.

Gads! The Queen, yikes! Even worse yet nobody at all! Why not a direct democracy where the leadership was effectively hamstrung by public opinion?

Ole Steve is just another politician. You can tell when he lies because his lips are moving.

Yikes ! You want to go back to the gold standard? Playing with monetary systems is pretty scary. But just reverting to the gold standard won't stop the inflationary pressure that started this thread will it?

It costs what it costs. Either buy it or don't. Just realize that it takes fuel to move things around, so that increase will trikle down to the price of toilet paper sooner or later.

I am not sure the lumber guys won the lottery. Look what happens in a declining market where prices fall, we have accepted quotas and export taxes at the exact time when competition starts really kicking in. Correct me if I am wrong here but doesn't having your market share reduced and your profits comprimised by another tax mean bad things for your company?

Central banking and the monetary system, the bane of modern existence. High dollar, good for citizen consumers, lower costs for imported products, higher value when we excape on vacation. Low dollar good for exporting businesses. High interest rates good for banks bad for everybody else, kills economic growth. Low interest rates good for everybody else and spawns economic growth. What is the solution to this problem?

No, obviously not everybody was abused. All children were taken. This shows how little you understand about the issue. Go speak to those who suffered in residential schools and the children of those who suffered. Ask them if a "conclusion" has been reached. You don't even know the facts, there has been no legal remedy and there has been no societal remedy. In your mind aboriginals have been treated fairly and the issues are settled. There's no need for something like the Kelowna Accord, correct? Another mindreader eh? Why on earth would you make a statement like that? Listen to me for a second please. I stated that since the matter had been before the courts a legal remedy was implemented. Is that a false statement? What could legally be done was done. With respect to the Kelowna Accord, I thought it was a wise plan of action.

Lets run with that ball for a few posts, I want to see where it goes. So if Canada and the USA decided to enter into a superstate agreement how could it be governed? Do we retain a Prime Minister and do you retain a President with some form of Superior Administration at the top of the pile?

Not at all. I was foolishly suggesting that all terrorism is the same, but I may have offended some people with such a careless and unexplained remark. We had the FLQ in Canada, and most of the worlds nations have had or still have terrorist organization in their midst. Some countries elect terrorists, like Palestine.

I feel bad for anybody that is not involved in this conflict that now finds themselves in a war zone. By the same token those individuals that are involved do so at their own peril. If I was calling the ball in Israel this time I would not let outside opinions stop me from doing what needs to been done, and that is settle this thing once and for all. Give the Palestinians a choice, they can either live in peace or leave in shame. The have a country in Gaza, they can forget the West Bank because this is the price they will pay for peace. Now is the time for a last chance olive branch. The choice is simple, outright war or complete peace with a land of their own. If the choice is peace, then pay for all the property in the West Bank and evict and transport them to Gaza. If the choice is war allow all non-combatants to leave their homes in the West Bank in peace and then go elsewhere at their own expense with only their lives, before destroying Gaza. Let no stone be left untouched by the destructive choice they made for themselves in Gaza. Is this harsh, yes. However it provides freedom of choice, which is far more than they have ever given Israel.

A freaking pass! You must be joking. Some nutcase literally threatens nuclear war and he gets a pass. Do we give a sexual prowness medal to rapists next?

Ouch! But I suppose its true isn't it?

So take two steps back and give them the space and time to formulate answers in their own way? I can live with that.

Somebody attacks a sovereign nation they suffer the consequences determined by the party being attacked. As for going in occuping and leveling several miles of "buffer zone", that is raiseing the bar a tadd don't you think? One thing that is certain is that there is more going on than what is visible on the surface. The US just suggested that both Syria and Iran have something to do with this. Things are becoming very complicated over there. It is not as simple as giving land for peace, that just isn't working is it?

Yeah Rue, I know you are right but what the hell, go for the gusto! Most of these clown politicians are not deserving of respect. If they were willing to lead their armies and stand at the fron lines in command then they would at least have earned the respect of those who they lead. But heads of state have made themselves too valueable for that. The UN is the big gong show of politics. Un-elected and appointed by partisan governments those folks gather little diplomatic groups and determine how entire nations should live. I should not be so hard on these guys because I appreciate their efforts to worjing for the peace of the entire world, but that security council needs to lose its veto.

Okay lets go with that idea. How sure of this are you? Are you willing to bet the lives of your family on it?

Are they as tolerant as the IRA or the KKK, those are real good organizations for those into terrorism North American style.

Okay Rue, I will buy into that arguement. Lets pick a problematic treaty and see where we can take it to? You go ahead and choose one, and give me a chance to look into it please.

What about if all of your peoples children had been snapped up against their will and put in state-run schools where they were subject to physical and sexual abuse? What if this went on for decades, and left a legacy of despair, mental illness, and substance abuse? You think this is ancient history? It's not. And that's not even mentioning all of the treaties. So yes, we do owe our original citizens a debt. You say "equality", but what you mean is screw them. Lets take this from the top shall we; All, as in every single individual child? You state that everyone was kidnapped and mistreated. Everybody? Look, I am more than willing to discuss the issues but I will not do so without honesty. I offer you my honesty and request the same in return. I will not embellish a statement to prove my point and I will request that you act in like manner, okay? Now having said that I will agree that there were numerous cases of documented abuse. There was a legal remedy made and therefore a conclusion to this issue correct? I give you the same response phrased differently. Said cases were brought before the court system which ruled in your favor and a legal remedy of monetary compensation was made to provide a conclusion to the legal proceedings. Nice spin, I was making a referance to treaty obligations not this case of abuse on a national scale. That is what I was mentioning about history, the treaties. Having solved the first problem question in your post lets move to the second one, treaties. The sovereign nation that undertakes a social contract such as a treaty it is bound by the contract language contained within it. If a modified arrangement is made after the original was signed then the modified contract is the binding one. That is my spin on treaties. Lets take a look at the next problematic statement you made. Where does this debt come from? What is it that you seek? How is it that you think you know my mind? However you came to that conclusion, you are in error. Your error offends me, was that was your intent by making that statement? This is how negotiations fall to achieve anything. Some people must simply make things up and try and sell them as the genuine article. It is not as if you and I could resolve these issues on our own, yet you feel the need to attack and offend the very individuals interested at undertaking debate in an effort to understand the issues. This kind of behavior does little to forward the cause of the First Nations in their quest.

Living off the land without the benefits of modern technology is a recipe for a brutal and short life by today's standards. I have never heard a native claim that they want to do that. For that reason it is not possible to have both self gov't and self sufficiency.In any case, you misunderstand my argument. I am not trying to justify the subsizies - I am simply pointing out that your solution of 'self gov't' will not work without subsidies. If you want the benefits of modern technology then move into the city. I thought the idea was preservation of ancient culture and language, my mistake. So you are stating very clearly that delf government is not the answer. First Nations peoples are not capable of taking care of themselves and wish to remain wards of the state, is that correct? I guess I have misunderstood your arguement. So we throw out self government as a possible solution, fine with me. What do you suggest is a viable answer? Just to warn you ahead of time that I am not in favor of throwing tax dollars around without value to the taxpaying citizen.

There is food for thought in that previous post. What is the definition of a "right". From my perspective rights should apply to citizens. The articles contained within treaties should be classified as legal entitlements according to the provisions of the contract. In that sense there would be a strong legal arguement for breach of contract.

Most native bands are too small or live in economically unviable locations. This means that self gov't is only possible if it is subsidizied by taxpayers. Those bands can choose to stay where they are, I do not suggest that they should be moved. But they need to start to take control of their lives. If they choose to stay there, and live off of the land that would be their business wouldn't it? Personally the small town I live near, has a school but there is no stores or even a gas station, but I choose to live here. That is my choice. I simply don't buy the arguement that since they live in an economically unviable location, which is where I live by the way, is an excuse to have the tax paying citizens cover the costs of their existance. That does not apply to me, why should it apply to them? Are they somehow more deserving of this government largess than I? Why doesn't the taxpayer subsidize my location? I believe in equality.

Give them self government. Give them elected representatives in the Commons. Stop giving them money and grant them the right of self determination. Let them act in their own best interests.