theloniusfleabag

Dear err, I'll agree with you on this, but some have turned the 'social safety net' into a hammock.Canada has avoided the dire poverty of other countries, mainly because we are 'resource rich', but also because of good work ethic (or the resources would lie fallow). Even though I am a 'leftist', I have to agree with Renegade... and, cybercoma.... I work in one of the worst neighbourhoods in Calgary, and I see what welfare 'with no strings attached' does. It is appalling. I also advocate a reform (not abolishment) of our 'social safety net', WITH strings attached, (work for welfare eg.).

Dear newbie, Indeed a sad day. Rosa Parks was the epitome of 'heroism'. Not in it for personal glory, not trying to 'make a statement', just a simple person standing up (or, rather, remaining seated) for what is just.

Dear Black Dog, Indeed, quite a few statements like this are made, and nothing usually happens (out of the ordinary, that is). However, comparable, even Bush hasn't called for 'wiping a country off the map', just 'Terrah'. I am not so concerned that he said it, as much as I am concerned that he is in a position to do it. Israel would 'go nuke' the minute they are threatened (legitimately). However, Iran is in no strategic position for a ground assault, and haven't yet the nuclear capability for a decisive strike. Which makes me wonder how this 'sabre-rattling' will be received by AIPAC et al. I have often wondered if the 'enduring bases' in Iraq would be used as staging areas for Iran and elsewhere, and we may soon see.

from...http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/15E...3CE0E9957EA.htm Wacky. And trouble.

Dear Mr. Sindlinger, I have played hockey in 'Jimmy's Condom' arena, (right beside Norma's Bush Arena), what a coincidence. Anyway, word on the street is that you were 'booted' from the PC party for your stance on the Heritage Fund. What, exactly, did you disagree with?

Dear Montgomery Burns, Using the 'false dichotomy' ploy is one thing, but this is dangerously close to 'flame' posting. Attack the point, not the person.

Dear Montgomery Burns, I was somewhat reluctant to post anything about it, as I knew what rubbish was coming. As newbie states, Perhaps it would have been, in your eyes, less contemptable had I picked 1,999 tragic deaths instead of 2000?

Dear Leafless, Dysfunctional? Hardly. Enlightened, maybe, for I embrace all cultures and try to learn from them. I love ethnic foods, and small, excellent ethnic restaurants are everywhere. I have made many friends who have taught me to speak some Punjabi, Cantonese, and Greek. We have shared recipes, political viewpoints, and quite often drinks. The one overwhelming thing that I have found out through all of it is that we are all basically the same.

From Global Security.org, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/lib...51025-voa04.htm A shame so many died for such a misguided approach. One can't win a war with sacrifice alone. It seems lessons are never learned... The previous lesson not learned?...As paraphrased from "Soldiers of God: With the Mujahideen in Afghanistan" by Robert Kaplan, an Afghani (Pathan) fighter was asked, "If the Russians are leaving, why don't you suspend operations against them?" The fighter (now called 'terrorist') replied, "They are leaving because we killed so many of them. They are leaving because we killed them and we will kill them until they leave". One must understand the mindset of the 'enemy' if one hopes for victory, and you can't hope to win if you lie to yourself and others about the nature of, and the motivation of, your opponent.

Dear Montgomery Burns, I know how to lower that rate...bulk all charges together when a person commits a B&E, and report them as one incident, instead of; b&e, trespassing, robbery, robbery with a gun, possession of an illegal weapon, etc. I'll bet you find the number of crimes drops to almost where it was 4 years ago....when they separated those crime incident reports. Don't play the 'nonsense card'. How about 'Peavy Mart', instead? The three biggest commodities you'll have no trouble finding in the US are: guns (and ammo), booze, and porn. The order varies from state to state.

Dear Montgomery Burns, Now that I think about it, I would choose Clive Beddoe, the head of WestJet. He seems to have sound fiscal policy, treats his workers well (so well most of them are happy to work there, and haven't 'gone union') and from what I have heard from people who work there, an honest guy. There is some question of 'corporate espionage' between WestJet and Air Canada, but nothing has been resolved as far as I know. Milton (head of AC) is an idiot who would blame Santa Claus for his own bad management. However, reading the 'rightwingnews' link, I found it odd that some of the 'bloggers' that voted were called: 'Relapsed Catholic' and 'small, dead animals'??? I don't think people like this should decide what beer to serve at a party, let alone rulers of a nation.

Dear Leafless, Don't blame the Liberals, it has been canada's immigration policy since I can remember. The comparison between the US and Canada on immigration was always:USA= melting pot Canada= mosaic There are bad eggs in both our baskets, and from every race, creed and colour.

Dear Yodeler, What gets fishier and fishier is why you question what went on in this case. The most comprehensive thing I could find was from this website... http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/10/101405vanMurder.htm

Dear Montgomery Burns, Interesting. I am not up on Richard Branson, But isn't he the billionaire owner of Virgin Inc.? Seen as a 'leftie'? Odd. Also, I was very surprised not to see 'Stormin' Norman Schwartzkopf int the 'rightie' section. I would pick him over a lot on that list. Also surprised to see Giuliani so low. As a leftie, though, from the list, I would go with the Dalai Lama, and will have to think about an ultimate one. (besides 'Me', that is)

Dear eureka, With regard to Manning, I do not believe he was a 'nutcase', after all, he did build up a party that had a legitimate shot at leadership of the country, perhaps the best one in decades, (at a time when 'Reform' was desperately desired) to change the status quo. However, he had the charisma and appeal of a shrivelled hot dog. I actually liked Manning, (and still do) for honesty, mostly, even though he looks like he is mildly retarded. ( I actually thought that a run of PM's, including Manning, Chretien and John Manley, with his cast eye, would make it look to the ouside world that Canada was populated by a freakshow)

Dear Leafless, I wouldn't call this 'catching up' to these American values, more like 'sinking down to'. However, I believe you and Black Dog are right, As is Mr. Thompson, to a degree. http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/Natio...rc=n102511A.xml

Dear Black Dog, Interesting indeed. Many of these guys go wayyy back, Rumsfeld was In Ford's administration back in the 70's, when G. H. W. Bush was director of the CIA. http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/usa/donald-rumsfeld/ Cheney was evidently hand-picked by Rumsfeld, as a 'team player'. More of their zany antics can be read about in "The Commanders", by Bob Woodward. It covers the first 'Gulf War', and the illegal invasion of Panama.

Dear leafless, You are right. However, the main purpose of an automobile is transportation. The main purpose of a gun is killing. I would expect that the number of automobile deaths vs. the number of automobile trips is actually a very, very small ratio. The number of 'self defense' shootings are quite low compared to the number of cases of guns (handguns) used.

Dear Montgomery Burns, Perhaps it is because the others are telling the truth...in a fair and balanced manner? Not so far, but left, I'll freely admit.from... http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp.../154590/1/.html from the BBC, This is a falsification of the facts, equal to blaming GW Bush for the deaths of the 3,000+ victims of 9/11. Further, some 620,000 died during the Civil War. Would you call this 'mass murder' as well? Most of the 1.5 million deaths are from an 8 year war with Iran, a war in which the US was all too happy to sell arms to both sides.

Dear Montgomery Burns, Most of the portrayal of Saddam 'murdering his own people' comes from the Kurds trying to secede. Using this as 'proof he is a murderous tyrant', or suggesting that mass murder in Iraq was commonplace, is like saying the Civil War demonstrates that America was also founded on the killing of their own people. Yes, the US military managed to keep it secret for a while....why the 'frenzy'? Two reasons, firstly, 'If it bleeds, it leads'. Controversy sells, and selling 'sensationalism' is what American entertainment is all about. Secondly, the US keeps on pretending to be 'the good guys', and it is hard to imagine John Wayne or The Lone Ranger sodomizing or murdering a prisoner. The 'MSM' is so far right it is disgusting. I can't pick up a newspaper without reading op-eds with the words 'those idiot lefties', etc.

Dear Leafless, No, it is great. 'Self Defence' by handgun is a fraction of the purposes they get used for. Besides, it is illegal to shoot anybody in self-defence in Canada anyway. I am in agreement, and the gun registry fiasco could be put to rest. No, taking the 'one-eyed trouser snake' up the backside from the US on trade is what is embarassing. If you think we should just 'drop our britches and take it with a smile', I suggest you stand first in line. (Or would they start from the back...?) I am glad that the PM P.M. is willing to get firm with the US on this trade issue. However, Mr. Martin should watch his wording, for people might get the wrong impression if he says "Taking it up the backside makes me get firm".

Dear tml12, Actually, the US has said that they were going to maintain bases in Iraq 'in perpetuity'.http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0930/p17s02-cogn.html

Dear Argus, Here are a couple of links. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manadel_al-Jamadi http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/25/...ain645601.shtml Incidentally, Rumsfeld himself explicitly endorsed asphyxiation ("making the person feel as though they were being suffocated') as a legitimate method of coersion for interrogation. Some of these are indeed dificult to say 'worse', as many opponents never really had a chance to 'prove themselves', but the list of 'US supported dictators' would include;Augusto Pinochet, 'Papa Doc' Duvalier of Haiti, Charles Taylor of Liberia, the UNITA rebels of Angola (where both sides, US and Russian backed, committed atrocities far worse than in Central America), Manuel Noriega of Panama (who was on the US Army 'paylist' for 31 years, and the CIA's for 15), Gen. Suharto of Indonesia, Ferdinand (and Imelda) Marcos of the Phillipines, and, for a time, Saddam Hussein. There are more, of course, but these are generally the 'heavy hitters'.Oh, and let's not forget the US helping the likes of Osama, Gulbbudin Hekmatyar, et al. defeat the Russians in Afghanistan (when those people were fighting solely for a 'piously Muslim' dominated Afghanistan) giving rise to the Taleban. Mind you, I don't blame the US for the actions of the Taleban, just for their ignorance and lack of foresight.

"Nothing to fear but fear itself" was from FDR's inauguration speech, 1933. not JFK...

Dear Yodeler, Well, if you would like to post 'rates of brain-tissue swelling', and rates of blood-poisoning due to urea or uric acid, and/or spleen bile, feel free. Please point out how the rates could not be compatible with the time frame and circumstances (for the rest of us). Thanks.