madmax

Sure, and some people pay for funeral services for their animals and spend $10,000 for a coffin. Other people stop paying for flufflies fixes and pay for the final needle, because it is cheaper. Well Grandma, a Hip replacement is $15,000 we don't have, but this needle is only $200 and we have coverage for the burial. As for faster treatment. It was in the private clinic in Quebec that a patient recently died while waiting for faster treatment. He had been dead so long in the clinic, that CPR wasn't attempted and rigamortis had set in. Many private clinics are happy to give fast treatment for some Gauze and a bandage and send you off with a $1500 bill. And a $90 registration fee

I believe that the public sector should maintain its right to strike. The above is part of the status quo. Everyone already has the right to quit. Should your way prevail, the above happens in an arbitration process and the postal company would have to provide the argument regarding wages. I have yet to see anyone jump up and down for a strike. Especially when a strike occurs, after they are resolved, it teaches the participants to avoid it, as few ever come out winners in the end. People need to respect what the PSW does for us, and at the same time, when a strike occurs it can generate 3 Public relations effects. Support, Apathy or Hatred of the unions/company involved. The Casino workers were making $14 an hour and fought off attempts by the OLG to bring in temp workers and split shifts. Come in for 4 hours, go home for 2 hours and come back for 4 hours more. Perhaps some arbitrator would have suggested that this is a great idea. But for someone who drives an hour to work, it probably isn't the best thing for him and his family. The strike gained them their 10% raise over 3 years, and the elimination of temp agency workers and the split shifts. The Union had public support and lots of it during their time off. Unfortuneately the time that they were off, cost them alot of money, money many desperately needed. The Casino also lost lots in revenue, and so did the cities that get money from the Casino. Putting choices in the hands of Arbitrators is not the best choice I can think of. Its to ...... arbitrary The Casino overplayed its hand and lost.

Greed might be the position of the post office, particularly if it is making alot of profit, and wants to put the squeeze on its workers to make more profit.

It doesn't matter whether unionized or not. Paycuts are what is on the table. 25% being the norm, and the elimination of benefits and pension. There are some non unionized and unionized places bucking this trend. On the whole, many new companies, the wages are between $9 and $14 with no benefits or pensions. Wages in my region are falling faster then you can say jack the bear. However, what people might be overlooking is what casual and temp posties receive. I have no idea if these people are taken into account, or are left on the outside looking in. I know a number of companies with similar numbers to these.. who pay their core 200 workers between $14-$16 and the other 800 workers get $10-$13.30 for the same work, with no benefits or holiday pay. Private sector wages in Ontario, from what i am seeing are dropping from 30% to 50% for anyone laid off in the past year. $20,000 to $30,000 is what you are looking at, if you can get a job that is full time. People with University and managerial skills in pharma.... well .... I don't consider this high paying Pharma companies are not in economic hardship. But wages are down. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Public Sector face a minimum 30% pay cut or be threatened with one in the future. Same for contract or any other government position. I think the Senate should have their wages rolled back to under $60,000. I am not suggesting that the posties shouldn't be asking for an increase, I am suggesting that the entire public sector wake up and look at what is happening in the private sector in Ontario which employs more people and provides more tax revenue then any other province. Not everywhere has Fort McMurray wages

Why should they receive a raise?

Exactly where are we building our good name in Afghanistan? I am not disputing you. I am looking for clarification on your statement.

That is over the top. There is no comparison, besides the USSR joined in for their share in Poland. No that is very difficult to answer. Brezhnevs was toppling his own puppets, one of which was a psycho crazy SOB, who wasn't doing an effective job of stopping the rise of Islamic Extremists, who were winning a significant number of seats. The crazy marxist was ticking off the rural country folk, erm, soon to be holy warriors, by confiscating their land. In the meantime, the leaders were killing off friend relatives and allies to maintain power. Brezhnev went in with force, toppled the unloyal ambitious idiot, and put in a new loyal puppet. (This sounds alot like the problem in Modern Iraq and the US) and the mess continued..... for 10 years. Bush's invasion of Afghanistan had great potential, and could have been a success. The Taliban were harsh, and disciplined, but generally to extreme for the public. They would have been happy to have their Islamic Society with a kite or two, the radio playing, and the choice to kill your wife at home, vs in the public soccer field. But something happened. Chaos, instability, and corruption became the replacement for the Taliban. And now people who don't like the Taliban, prefered the security of their reign, compared to the mass corruption of the Karzai government. Something that Hamid can't seem to reign in. The USSR provided stability. The 7 US sponsored terrorist groups, helped drive the USSR out. The chaos that followed to fill the vacuum, led to the creation of Pakistani madrassa trained orphans, to return to Afghanistan to reclaim the country for the new Taliban insurgency. I would say that Breznhev helped keep the Islamic party from winning the country through elections. That he managed to hold the country in the USSR sphere for another 10 years, but accomplished nothing to prevent the growth of Islamic fundamentalism. I would say the USA had helped create the Islamic Extremists we see today. And by going into Afghanistan to wipe out the Taliban, should have worked. They had as much local support as the USSR did when it came into Afghanistan. Perhaps more damaging to the USA is their inability to provide stability. But then, Afghanistan is known as ungovernable. I would say the invasions are comparable and so will be the endgame.

Private companies are excellent at extracting the gold and leaving the shaft. The best way is to get the public to pay and jack up the bill. Cut costs, provide service to fewer people, add in costs per visits and other user fees, and get another tit to suck on. It is a Gold Mine, and there is so much money, that Private Insurance companies drool to get a piece of the action. Of course some people think it is about Health Care. Just came back from Georgia last month. My friends run a small business with a staff of 50. They used to have a business in Ontario, but they like to golf all year round. I was shocked to hear that there taxes etc, were very close to Ontarios. I thought they were full of it. BUt they showed all the other kinds of taxes they have to pay that we don't, and then, that was before what they pay in health care costs. Then they still need private insurance for their employees and pretty much, if you are sick, have developed Cancer, or a bone disease or MS, you lose your coverage, your hospital and your doctor. Good eh.

Danny williams has pulled the right to a company that is trying to pull up stakes in NFLD. "This piece of legislation is simply about trees and water, the most basic of our natural resources," Williams said in the house of assembly. "Natural resources that rightfully belong to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador." Williams said his government is making this move because of the company's decision to stop operating the mill in Grand Falls-Windsor. "For a hundred years, Abitibi and its predecessors enjoyed the privilege of Newfoundland and Labrador's natural resources," Williams said. "It simply makes sense if Abitibi are not going to continue the operation of the pulp and paper mill and renege on their commitment to our province, they will no longer have access to our natural resources. Danny Williams for Prime Minister

The wholesome and good societies ,without corruption are diamond based societies ..... And societies with lots of oil........ then Gold, Diamonds and Oil based societies are good... all others are corrupt. Ah the US federal reserve.. Ok, so there are a few bad apples. In the meantime, I think the housing crunch is getting an early start for christmas.

I guess your not on Harpers short list

But they do, and we have seen some whoppers of poor polling information. However, one of them, and never the same one, gets it very close on EDay. Garbage in Garbage out.

Oh, I have heard plenty. The Media are a bunch of Liberal or Conservative kiss asses depending on who holds power. However, papers like the Sun, back the Conservatives. And Papers like the Post back the Conservatives. The Globe chooses business over bullshit, which makes some Conservatives unhappy campers if their policies aren't fiscally responsible and they want the public to believe they are. THe Toronto Star has a strong tendency to be ALL LIBERAL ALL THE TIME. The CBC isn't pro Conservative, but gives the Conservatives lots of air time, and lobb ball questions. CTV is pro Conservative, but makes room for the Liberals, and did everyone a favour showing us that Dion was incompetent. So, don't give me this fourth opposition party crap. The media is pretty damn weak and compliant when dealing with government. MSM lots its balls to go after government along time ago. So any attacks today may only be weak partisan driven attacks like that of the SUN I don't believe the NDP has media support in any paper in any province, or on any network. Shed another tear for the poor CPC Sounds as rediculous as Elizabeth May who said the media worked against them. The whoppers just keep on coming.

Yes, John Turner appointed a whole bunch of people to the Senate along with numerous other patronage appointments. It was one of his last acts as Prime Minister.

I do have a problem with the rush of Senators about to be appointed. I think this does two things. It highlights how pathetic the Senate is. And possibly indicates that Harper is intending to gamble on an election come January, or should the majority opposition choose to work together, perhaps the Senate appointments will try to make delays in the Senate. Regardless, the Senate is completely flawed.

was too. Ok I will stop the nonsense.

Yes, How did the CPC blow the money for EI?

Did she register for the draft?

Yeah, this could go on a long time... Follow the other one with Small C and Mr. Canada. They left off here. SHE IS.. oh darn it. That ones correct too. Forget it. SHort fun blast though.

is not

Better not read any free trade rulings.

You mean longer then Ignatieff

And then they choose a political party to sit with. There is no Federal Senate NDP. IIRC there was an LPC Senator appointed by Trudeau who switched to the CPC? An NDP member who accepts a Senate Seat, would be viewed like someone who crosses the floor. The LPC, and CPC accept Sitting Senators into their caucus. And they are accepted in the house if given Cabinet seats, like Fortier.

I follow you now. And I agree.

The CPC spent the surplus EI money and they run deficits. Is that do difficult for you to grasp. Currently the CPC is fixed upon avoiding their own parliment and lining up some juicy patronage appointments for their friends.