-
Posts
45,337 -
Joined
-
Days Won
100
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Everything posted by Michael Hardner
-
It looks to me like we're in for another election. The parties are all ruling out working with each other.
-
Yes they have. They have followed reason. No judge has gone outside what is explicitly written into law, that I know of. That's not a reason. A lot of damage can be done in four years. Judges interpret the law. Politicians can make laws and change institutions in any way they see fit.
-
Any such lawsuit would fail. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Charter. No reasonable judge would interpret it otherwise. And if you still think that supreme court judges would produce an erratic decision, then why trust elected officials to be less erratic ?
-
Martin vs. Harper - Good vs. Evil
Michael Hardner replied to jacqueline944's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
Ah.... now I get it. Finally some strategy from the Liberal camp. As for PR, the NDP touts it as a fairer system and so forth, but of course it benefits them. I don't think PR will help much, except that it will prevent the NDP from losing official party status now and then. -
Martin vs. Harper - Good vs. Evil
Michael Hardner replied to jacqueline944's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
I think he probably looked the other way. But he wasn't the boss. He only had so much power. Chretien had the final say. As he said in the debate, he could have swept it all under the rug. Chretien would have. The question is would Harper be a better PM than Martin ? Does he have the experience to lead a nation, let alone to introduce a large package of radical reform on many levels ? This is a country, we're talking about. Wasting a billion dollars is stupid, no doubt, but it's less than 1% of the budget. I'd rather see 1% of my tax dollars get wasted than have an unproven, untested individual the power to embark on radical change that might or might not work. -
Conservatives - Party for Men, Rich?
Michael Hardner replied to maplesyrup's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
Hawk - The Liberals lowered tax rates and corporate tax rates. Canada's tax rates aren't that much worse than the US's and are generally lower than those in Europe. Let's keep things in perspective. The Liberals have been guilty of complacency and lack of vision, though. There are many examples where good management and leadership can make the difference. Of the three main leaders, only Martin has the relevant experience to achieve such a change. -
Martin vs. Harper - Good vs. Evil
Michael Hardner replied to jacqueline944's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
It all depends on how much you invest to get that $150K. A few years of hard work ? Sure, that's worth it. It's not like you can get into medical schools with Cs is it ? And who wouldn't invest $500K to get back $150K per year ? That's 30% return per annum ! I go to work and work hard. There's no raise in my immediate future. The cab drivers and waitresses I know are the same. I don't know that underpaid doctors should be such a priority for our government. Wages are going down everywhere. -
Martin vs. Harper - Good vs. Evil
Michael Hardner replied to jacqueline944's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
Why is reform needed again ? Because doctors don't make enough money ? Why isn't $150 K enough ? Because they can make more in the US ? This is obviously a market-driven problem. There's a shortage of doctors in the US, which is driving up their salaries. Why don't we just open up medical schools to anyone who applies ? Why isn't the market working ?!? -
I agree. This is why I'm voting Martin this time, for the status quo. I think he's best equipped to implement managerial improvements in the system(s). Harper is a bit like Harris in that he's a politician who has never been party to what is involved in managing a huge bureaucracy. Harris' tack was to basically ignore the bureaucrats. That's not a bad option 95% of the time, but for the other 5% it has grave consequences. Martin has been put on notice by the Canadian people that he can't count on a Liberal majority every time. If he wants to win power, and retain it, he will have to keep the promises he has made.
-
Klein's feelings aren't important. He is obliged to follow the laws of this country.
-
Actually, I like this idea the most of the one's I've heard. Five regions: BC & the North, The Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada. Each region receives proportional representation based on votes in that province. I think this would guarantee a CPC majority in the Senate, so I don't see Martin going for it. But if he ends up being PM, he'll have to make more than a token gesture to the west so maybe he would go for it...
-
Hicks ? Hard work ? Do you think people who live in Ontario don't work hard ? It's tough living out here. If you live in Toronto, don't forget to add a couple of hours to your workweek for the commute. For all those hours, you can expect to pay at least $200K for a tiny house or $1000/mo for a tiny apartment. Yet, you don't ever hear Ontarians say they want to separate. I wonder why...
-
Who exactly says this ? What's with this persecution complex ? There have been more premiers from the west in the last 40 years than there have been from Ontario, by far. The west gave us socialized medicine, the NDP, and balanced budgets. You have a bigger effect than you realize.
-
I was thinking about this myself. How is it that Klein can have such political dominance in his province, yet his instincts on the federal stage seem to be... off.
-
Where does YOUR local CPC candidate stand ?
Michael Hardner replied to Michael Hardner's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
I'd say so. It seems that there's a gap there if the party allows for free expression of its candidates and we're left to guess on what their positions are. -
Cons drop 9% against Libs in 3 days
Michael Hardner replied to maplesyrup's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
I guess that's as good as guess as any, Reverend. If your point about Klein is true, it would mark the 2nd straight election he has helped scuttle for the conservatives. ( Before the last election, Klein walked out on stage at the convention and supported Stock Day. ) -
Cons drop 9% against Libs in 3 days
Michael Hardner replied to maplesyrup's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
If this is real ( a big IF ) then what caused it ? We need more information. -
Harper takes E-7 day off
Michael Hardner replied to maplesyrup's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
I don't think we should put too much stock in one poll. You need a few polls to be sure, then the big poll on the 28th. -
Harper takes E-7 day off
Michael Hardner replied to maplesyrup's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
It is a strange thing... Maybe he's just tired, or maybe they need to re-think their strategy for the last 7 days. As far as BS goes, Harper chooses his words more carefully than any leader I've ever heard. That means you need to read between the lines, folks. I'm reluctantly voting for the status quo this time around. I'm think Martin probaby knew about the funny business going on in Quebec, but he had to look the other way. What else was there to do ? Martin's a manager and only a so-so politican, whereas Harper and Layton are excellent politicians and unproven managers. -
The senate has been largely ineffectual and unnecessary in Canada. Observers may notice that various parties come up with electoral reforms in order to "balance power" or make things "fairer". But is it a coincidence that these reforms always help the parties that propose them ? Of course not. Let's abolish the senate, rather than having each successive government try to stack it with its cronies by elections or otherwise.
-
Martin vs. Harper - Good vs. Evil
Michael Hardner replied to jacqueline944's topic in Federal Politics in Canada
Free votes are an interesting idea, but I'm really suspicious of the fact that most CPC candidates are mum about their own positions on hot-button issues. Harper should have demanded that his own candidates be more forthcoming, since free votes are his party's policy. I don't think that it is actually party policy. This is another one of those free vote issues, and again the local candidates are keeping pretty quiet about it. -
Too close to call. If the CPC wins, we're in for a period of instability, as the Bloc won't support them on a number of issues. If the Libs win, they'll have to do something pretty drastic to get the Bloc's support. It's going to be a wild ride either way.