jacobhelliwell

Does anyone know why the liberals are voting against extending the rights to the aboriginals? Also, what are the details about Keith Martin's private members bill about the CHRA?

I think it was Churchill that once said, "If you are not a socialist by 20, you have no heart. But if you are not a capitalist by 40, you have to brains."

I really don`t think CNN is trying to make it an issue, but that is not to say it is not an issue. The fact that the United States has never had a non-male and non-white president resides with many Americans. For example, in the South Carolina primary, 78% of African-Americans voted for Obama. It is not an issue of prejudice, but of pride (in the words of CNN not mine). Many votes are based on looks or name recognition. I heard (can`t remember from where) that 80% of those seeking reelection in the USA win. Many people see Clinton and Obama as progressive choices for the US, they are not sexist or racist, they just accept that their victory will send signs all over the world about the progression of the US from a white dominated society to an equal society.

It is pretty far fetched to say Canada is abusing human right just because of a few taser deaths and handing over detainees to the Afghani officials. Our soldiers are in Afghanistan, we are detaining their citizens or residents. They are their responsibility, not Canada`s or NATOs. Furthermore, RCMP officials are not ordered to taser people. It is the individual choice of the officer with the taser and they will use it when they are convinced it is necessary. Don`t get me wrong it is extremely disheartening to hear about the deaths caused by tasers and I think they are overused. But I think it is wrong to say the government is abusing human rights based on only those two facts. I could probably pick any time government in Canada`s history and find two instances of human rights abuse.

No all businesses do not experience the business cycle at the same time, but a recession is when many business are going through it at the same time. The progressive taxation system does not prevent downturns either. When we are in a recession, unemployment it higher and wages are lower. Lower wages means you pay less paxes in a progressive system, paying less taxes means you have more money to spend on other things that stimulates the economy. Yes the economy is like a roller coast, it is always going up and down (with an overall upward climb). The government does control inflation. Its target is to keep it under ~3%/p.a. Without the plans they impliment, it would be growing exponentially. Look at Brazil, India, China etc. They economies are expanding at alarming rates, but their governments are not intervening to control inflation and there inflation rates are 10-15%/p.a. Two fiscal policies the government has is spending and taxation. Lowering taxes and the government spending more will stimulate the economy and help end bring us to our potential output from he recessionary gap. Raising taxes and spending less will help to lower the inflationary gap bringing us back to our potential output. This is first year Keynesian economics. The economy is sporatic and you cannot predict when a recession is going to occur. When there are signs of a recession, that is when parliament will start to debate how to best fix the problem. This takes time. Then they decide what to do, but it takes time for the effects to be felt by the economy. This is lag.

I don't think skipping anything is a step in the right direction. We should not be boycotting the meeting and allow the antisemitism to take place. Instead we should go as diplomats and try to get around our differences to find real ways to fight racism.

I think October's deficit and the small margins of surplus is a sign of a recession on the rise. The government should be less concerned with mediocre tax cuts, and should start thinking of ways to really stimulate the economy before we start to see a lower GDP and higher unemployment.

On paper this seems like a good idea. A progressive taxation system, such as we have, however, helps to smooth out the peaks and troughs in the business cycle and thus the roller-coaster of an economy. Fortunately, there are other monetary and fiscal policies that can be implemented to smooth out the cycles (without our present taxation system), however, there is recognition lag, legislation lag, and implementation lag. This lag usually means the government plan to pull out of a recession or control inflation is too late and has the opposite or lesser effect.

With the amount of people on the earth we really can't do much. However, we can work on other greenhouse gases and other polutants that are also causeing the acceleration of global warming. Not to mention the amount of trees we are cutting down. Trees are a vital part of turning carbon dioxide back to oxygen. If we continue to clear cut them and waste materials that are made from them, we are going to continue to worsen the state of the planet instead of at least slowing the cooling/heating trend down.

Where have I been, I havent even heard this. Does someone have a link to a news source?

to add on to the above, i would at least like to see equal representation from all provinces.

So the Yukon should have as many Senators as Ontario? Nunavut as many as Alberta? Interesting. Can't see it ever happening, but I sorta see your logic. Won't happen because the Territories have no official role in Constitutional reform. I know what you mean. But we elect the house of commons by population. each riding has approxiametly the same amount of people in it. well i think the senate would better show the democraphic differences in Canada if it had an equal amount of senators from all regions.

I think national sports teams are an excellent thing. Nothing brings friends and family (at least in my case) together better than cheering on team Canada in an international competition. And I particularly love watching the Canadian flag being raised with the states in either second or third and hearing the Canadian anthem being played while our atheletes stand on the podium.

My apologizes. No offense intended.

You never asked that we expand on them in your original question. You asked to list them. What would yours be? My priorities. I agree with democratic reform. I definately believe in reforming the senate, where there is equal representation from everywhere in Canada, including the territories. I also am big on fixing healthcare. I have no idea how, but it needs to be fixed. I believe in a strong military, not necessarily for offensive purpuses but for peaceful and defensive purposes. Environment is growing on me as well. At first it wasn't too much a concern. But the more i read and an knowledgable about the problems that are occuring hte more I want it to be addressed.