theloniusfleabag

Dear DAC, I am in complete agreement. While I may be a 'left-wing nut', I despise the welfare system as it stands. There is no incentive to work whatsoever. I own a business smack-dab in the heart of Calgary's 'poor' district. The Drop-out Centre provides free beds, the Mustard Seed and CUPS provide free food, and Harry Hays Building distributes cheques, (yours and my tax dollars) which gets spent on drugs and alcohol. Where is there a need to work?Work-for-welfare needs to be instituted pronto. I see a few mentally unstable people walking around, on occassion, and these are people that genuinely need gov't assistance. But they are the minority, and the help they truly need is gobbled up by the majority, lazy and the addicts.

Dear caesar, I used pepsico only as an example, to show that 'what the consumer doesn't know isn't a monopoly'. Companies such as GE, for example, are far closer than Pepsico to controlling all of the things you mentioned. A monopoly may infact be a good thing for the consumer. The company would control costs, would only charge what renders the most profit (with the idea that the lowest possible profitable price would lead to the most consumption) and you wouldn't have to pay an extra 10 cents on the dollar to have Tiger Woods hawk it to you.

I am a socialist, no doubt, but I believe a two-tiered health system is the way to go. It would be a win-win for both the people and the doctors. Totally private health care means that those who can afford it get the best of the best, while the workers in their stores and factories will get 'Dr. Nick Riviera"(from the Simpsons). Totally public health care means that those who can afford it go elsewhere (like the states) to avoid waiting in line. Good for them, that is their right. A two tiered system means that more of those that cannot afford insurance or specialists in the US and elsewhere can access healthcare easier, and those than can afford it have the option to choose.

Dear Hawk, The CIA bragged that installing the Shah was their 'greatest coup to date' because it was done for only 60,000 dollars. This boasting was made public in a CIA factbook, produced and distributed by the CIA themselves.

Dear August1991, Monopoly laws, for one thing. Free enterprise is like a big game of 'Monopoly', it's just that you aren't allowed to win. The argument that 'monopolies wouldn't work because one could charge $500 for a coke' is bunk. The market prices are dictated by what people can pay. People would stop using whatever product they couldn't afford, and go with alternatives, no matter who owns or markets the product. Monopolies do exist anyway, it's just that a lot of people don't know it. For example, Pepsico. owned KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, among many other restaurant concerns. People who did not know this thought the had a 'choice'. The market would dictate what each of these restaurants could charge. If one of them charged $100 for a meal, the other two would get all the business. If they all charged $100, people would just eat at home. You might argue that if Pepsico charged $100 per meal, other companies would start up with lower prices, fuelling competition and therefore benefit the economy and free enterprise. That is, assuming Pepsico were a bunch of idiots.

Dear Greg, After looking at the 'bubble', I am a bit confused. Are we rating the content of the posts? Some are better than others, and rarely can a whole page be rated equally, or should I say, so simply. The same would apply to whole threads. Unless they get inextricably off-topic, it would be tough to rate a thread as 'good or no good', as the rating would have to fluctuate accordingly. Just a few thoughts.

Dear ceemes, The Israelis???? If the use of missiles from an Apache helicopter against a man in a wheelchair isn't a 'blunt hammer' approach, I don't know what is. (I saw Yassin's remains on a Palestinian website. One of the missiles hit him squarely. Not pretty!)

Dea ceemes I believe the odds are 100%.There is a quagmire growing throught this whole thing, one that needs to be addressed before anything can stop. The 'terrorists' (or insurgents), to a certain degree, are fighting against (both perceived and actual) genocide commited by the Russians. The Russians are fighting against genocide by the terrorists. Both sides say that they will not give in to the other. What needs to be addressed is...what is each side fighting for? The Chechens, in this case, for independence. It is the methods that are wrong to the core. However, if the Russians have indeed commited genocide, have they not legitimized it in the eyes of the Chechens? (Or shoud I say 'Islamists')

Dear OZINUSA, Interesting but skewed article. As 'Anonymous' writes in 'Imperial Hubris', these people (professional soldiers) are paid to die. They enlist for various reasons, a job or college money, for example, but they assume any and all risks that go with it. They are not paid to examine why they fight. Post traumatic Stress Disorder is a load of bunk, in my opinion. My father lost his arm in WWII serving in the Canadian Navy. He was at a tremendous 'disadvantage' back home. He had to wait until the automatic transmission became popular before he could drive, for example. However, he never complained about his lot, he made do as best he could. He didn't even have a high school diploma. (which he eventualy got in his 50's) He went on to become Registrar of Land Titles in Saskatoon by effort, not hoping that someone would take pity on him and give him some breaks, but made his own. He taught me how to tie my shoes with one hand. He also taught me that if I worked hard , and kept trying, I could do anything I set my mind to. He did it almost all by example. If the GIs are snivelling about PTSD, I say, 'tough-tittie'. If they are snivelling about the war in Iraq being immoral, tough again. John Kerry set the example of 'do your best job when it is required of you' and then try to change things later, if you still truly believe in them.

Dear ceemes, I read about two pevios proposals to build a nuclear power plant up in Fort Mac (short for MacNewfoundland) to help power extraction. I believe both proposals were 'too costly'.I thought to myself, 'why extract the oil if nuclear power is cheaper'? But then I was made aware of two things. Most of the oil is for export, and given the prices, very profitable, and secondly, one cannot fit a nuclear power plant into the back of an Escalade. Yet.

Dear kimmy, Not anymore. In the book "Imperial Hubris", the author warns us that the training camps in Afghanistan operated for at least 20 years, and they trained insurgents from many countries and regions. 'Terrorism' training was only one of the 'branches' of these camps. The main point of the training was to develop 'the complete grunt' who was knowledgable on all facets of warfare. 'Terrorism camp' was for only a select minority of those trained. There may be as many as 100,000 of these 'insurgents' throughout the world, all 'dying for a shot at martyrdom', if you'll pardon the pun. Russia has unfortunately been practicing genocide against muslims, particularly the Uighers, and this is seen as a direct attack on Islam. If the US, Russia and China in particular don't watch their step in suppressing Islam (for their own ends), the number of 'jihad warriors' may one day reach a billion.

Dear idealisttotheend, I do not mean to say that Russians at large do not value human life. What my statement means is that Putin does not fear the media, or public opinion, to the same degree as those in the west. To that end, civilian casualties are much more 'acceptable' to Russia than, say, in Texas (unless it's Waco, lol).I, too, believe that Putin did not intend for this outcome, and that a 'clusterf#ck' did indeed occur. From one of the witnesses reports, it sounds as though a 'booby trap' came unstuck and detonated. I am not sure the Russian troops could have done anything else given this particlar situation.

I oppose estate tax. If Joe Shmoe works all his life and builds himself a house, he did so while paying heavy taxes all the while. The house and everything in it have been taxed. Upon Joe Shmoe's demise, if he 'wills it' to someone else, the taxes have been paid and the gov't has no right to tax them again. If, through a series of misfortunes, the inheritors die off and bequeath the estate again and again, it is possible that the inheritance taxes could exceed the value of the house. Joe Shmoe would have been better off to burn the house down, and let the heirs have the insurance money.

Dear Hawk, Actually, Iraq was a democratic state. Saddam even went so far as to claim 100% of the votes with a reported 100% voter turn out! I think Osama Bin Laden said those very words. It is therefore a question of one's viewpoint.

Dear August1991, It is this type of flawed thinking that will not help our cause. It is time to face facts, that we did do something wrong. The US, especially, has supported many murderous dictatorships with nothing but their own interests in mind, most notably below-market oil prices. Many of those oppressed were muslims. They believe that they are now fighting back. Russia has repeatedly oppressed muslims to the point of genocide. If you are willing to say that these actions are not wrong, then you must be prepared to openly declare war on the people in whose lands these riches lie. Most notably, the Arabian Peninsula, but also against Islam. It will be one hell of a battle. Osama Bin Laden fights not because he 'hates democracy and freedom' as the media so mindlessly parrots. The west must realize this, and soon.

Dear August1991, I think you mean 'profitable', not 'moral'.The Terrible Sweal wrote This should be expanded to not only include the detrimental, but also the amoral and unethical.

Dear all, I have just read the book 'Imperial Hubris', authored by an anonymous CIA staffer, and would like to encourage all to read it. In short summary, the 'war on terror' is just beginning. The hostage situation in Russia is 'predicted' here, at least the mechanism of 'freelance Arab insurgents' is, and it is just the tip of the iceberg. It is far more important for the survival of the people of the US to read this book than it is to watch Fox 'News'.

Dear yoyodyne, Hilarious that you picked up poli/sci during Kim Campbell's 'run'. She was indeed the sacrificial lamb. Brian Mulroney was alledged to be crooked, and the PC party was well on it's way down to 2, count em 2, seats in the next election. 'Lyin Brian' then went down to the states to be on the board of directors for a large multinational who then were charged with price fixing and fined 100 million dollars. ( I believe they made food additives such as citric acid and lysine). Kim Campell reaped her 'fall Gal' reward with a post as Ambassador to California. As for anti-americanism versus anti Bushism, I believe the world is more and more becoming 'anti-american'. The media (the US media) would have everyone believe that anyone who opposes US foriegn policy must ergo hate freedom and democracy, when the opposite is true. The world (and especially the Muslim world, but it is not limited to them) dislikes 'America' for what it does, not what it stands for. They are two different things, and often polarized, but the media spin keeps trying to deny this reality.

Dear Hawk, Israel has 'spied' on the US before, and been caught at it. Israel also believes that lying can be morally (and religiously) justified. The US needs to 'cut Israel loose' as they are a liability the US can ill afford at this time.

Dear Hawk, While it is tragic that so many were killed, especially children, in this instance, it was inevitable given the circumstance. Russia has a much different view of the value of human life, and they probably would have stormed or gassed the building and accepted the large level of casualties anyway.However, i am guessing this was not your point. So, I'll ask a question. Do you think that those who willingly kill children (or innocents) deserve death?

Dear Greg, While I admire your 'continous improvement' efforts, I also dislike that accursed box. Is there any way to have it 'fixed' to each page? I think that the 'hot topic' envelopes on specific threads is a fair indicator of what is popular with the posters so the box seems to be redundant. just my thoughts, but I do appreciate that you are trying to improve things.

Dear ceasar, Head of the nail on this one. No need for half-way houses if rehabilitation occurs as part and parcel of Justice Canada. That is the only way society has a 'captive audience'. Unfortunately, criminals can refuse rehab in prison and still be released after time served.

Dear August1991, Au contraire, it is the theory of free enterprise that dangles the promise that '100% of the wealth deserves to be concentrated in the hands of the 1 who earns it'.

Dear maplesyrup, I'll have to agree with jay74 on this one. Alberta is predominantly redneck conservative. Even morons such as Rob Anders get re-elected based on the colour of their posters.

Dear idealisttotheend, Both of these quotes are from the Center for Defense Information. Where are Iraq's WMDs? Destroyed. As they claimed. Why would the US not admit this? Here's another quote The author is Phillip Coyle, CDI senior analyst and former assistant Secretary of defence 1994-2001.