Zachary Young

Drea : As impressive as sourcing a crappy television show is and at the risk of repeating myself : Do you favour socialism in all industries, or just health care? Why do you favour socialism (state ownership of the means of production) over capitalism (private ownership of the means of production)? Do you think the government should own grocery stores and give food out for free? How has socialism/communism worked when applied in the past?

lol @ anyone who thinks for a second they can reverse the centuries old trend of government spending increasing, by passing a law or signing a letter. IT'S NOT THAT EASY KIDS. First you have to reeducate the entire country... once you've done that, the rest doesn't even matter, but that's a little easier said than done...

Contrary to popular belief it is not spending that drives economic growth but saving. We are undoubtedly heading into some tough times. Actually we've been in relatively tough times for the last thirty years, compared to other developed nations. Due to horrible economic policies which are shared by all the major political parties (I think it's really time to acknowledge we only have one political party, the party of high taxes, wasteful spending and government control over the economy and your life) our economy has been relatively stagnant, especially in terms of wages of workers (a product of productivity, which has been pretty much flat for a long time). A crash course towards freedom is probably the only thing that can stop pretty serious economic problems, especially if the American economy continues to decline (and if there is a serious move amongst oil producing nations to switch to the Euro as their reserve currency (as has already happened / is happening in Iraq, Iran and Venezuela) this will be assured). Get rid of half the federal government. Abolish the income tax. Fire 3/4ths of the bureaucrats that rule this country. Deregulate and sell off as much land / industry that is owned by the state as possible... obviously none of this will happen, as it is anathema to the policies and philosophy of the political parties that rule our country. Oh well... at least we can enjoy the decline, as Canada claims it's place as a rightful honorary member of the third world.

Raising the minimum wage does not raise wage rates at all - what it does is increase unemployment (as others have pointed out). The solution to higher wages - and it is a desirable goal! - is capital accumulation. Not as simplistic or sexy as a minimum wage, perhaps, but it works. Sadly we are encouraging capital consumption currently, which is a big reason behind the freezes in productivity we have witnessed in recent years. Capital accumulation is a product of savings, so we need a higher level of savings in our society - probably the best way to do this is end inflation (return to a gold standard) and get rid of the income tax (so people have more money to save).

I've still yet to hear any good arguments for a public health care system. Do you advocate government ownership of all industries, or just a few? What is wrong with private ownership of the means of production?

"How many jobs are provided because of ethanol? Lots." How many jobs are lost because of it? More than are gained. That is the nature of jobs created by the government - they always come at the expense of more jobs. "Call it a subsidy if you want, but there are some who bitch about Alberta giving out subsidies to oil companies. How well is Alberta doing?" That's a bit of a misleading statement. Alberta is doing well because they have had more economic freedom than the rest of Canada. Wealth always comes with economic freedom. The subsidies are not the reason why Alberta is rich.

"You have to understand that LPC then were closer to the CPC of today." They were 'classical liberal' back then, free trade and free markets that sort of stuff. European liberals, as it were.

The liberal party and corruption are virtually synonymous at this point.

"I suppose what we are seeing in this debate is a conflict between the libertarian socialism and the system we use now (although even the system Zachary suggests goes beyond that)." No, we're seeing the conflict between state capitalism and actual capitalism. Libertarian socialists don't believe in property, I don't believe in state mandated monopolies. That's all the state is itself - a monopoly, which is why it fails, which is why the government is always working against the interest of the people and inefficiently at that.

"I'm sorry but that post is as stupid as saying "Even though thieves steal cars, GM still makes them and people buy them". Frankly, as a car buyer, I prefer living in a place where car theft is not a problem rather than living in a place where it is. (And believe me, I've lived in both types of places.) Zachary, if you don't know what a property right is, or how complex its definition can be, then I strongly suggest that you go back to your books or websites and learn a bit more." Ad-hom, u gg'd yourself.

"Last year Six Nations' industries submitted $120 million in excise taxes and their total transfer from the federal government was just over $36 million. By those ratios, it seems that Six Nations is supporting us, not the other way around." Good then, let's abolish the entire budget of Indian Affairs immediately, if we're only giving them $36 million and it's costing us $10 billion.

"Then child gets hooked on mj due to all the fun they have, and boom I have another junkie that my tax dollars have to support." lol @ calling someone who smokes pot a 'junkie', how out of touch with reality are you?

"In addition I shall educate you one more time. If you compare the polices of the CPC and the GOP and Democrats you will find that the CPC is closer to the Democrats of the USA and not the GOP." There really isn't a difference between the political parties anywhere in Canada or the United States. They all favour more power, higher government spending, more control of your personal life / family, and full and the almost complete grip on the economy as a whole. The rhetoric of the right of 'laissez-faire' and balanced budgets and lessened government spending is just that. Through slight of hand with the figures you can convince gullible voters that you cut taxes - when in reality taxes are almost always cut and then raised or shifted around. The only number that matters is total government spending, and you will see it always goes. Conservatives increase it as great a rate, if not greater than the 'left wing parties'. George Bush increased the welfare state by over a trillion dollars with his prescription drug bill. He gave the country a New Deal and a Holy Crusade, and he sold half the country to China along with it, to get the cash.

"We need a law making it illegal for a foreign law enforcement agency to operate under cover on our sovereign soil." Here here! We've never really had sovereignty though, so I doubt we'll have it any time soon. Just as we were shaking off the last traces of British Colonialism we walked right into American domination. That's why we have the war on drugs in the first place, in my opinion. We're just letting Washington domestic policy. Now we're letting them dictate foreign policy too. I really don't know why we pay our politicians such high salaries if they are going to let other countries make the decisions.

"You do realize it was all about the almighty dollar with Emery, right? He was no 'hero,' just another capitalist out to make a buck, hiding behind the security of his country." You say that is if it's a crime - instead of the lifeblood of our society! It is capitalism that provides you this computer you use to deride the people who brought it to you. The entrepreneurs. Milton Friedman, hardly a bleary eyed liberal, once declared "A drug dealer is no different than anyone else, except their tolerance of risk was greater, and they had more entrepreneurial ability", in an interview on the PBS television show 'Uncommon Knowledge'. But that's a sad testimony of our society, that the men who make it possible are scorned as 'just another capitalist'.

"If anyone could steal a movie from the Internet, then why would anyone go to the trouble of producing one?" The ability to pirate movies has been around - and in use - since videos began. Despite this, movies have been made in an increased number practically every year. In reality this is just really, really good marketing. It's incredible advertising that costs them nothing.

"Whether you admire Mandela or not, he had the courage to fight for what he believed in Mano a Mano" So did Stalin, so did Hitler... being convinced you are right is not a good idea if you are DEAD WRONG. Look what happened to South Africa since Mandela took over. It's in the crapper. But I guess since he "had the courage to fight for what he believed in" it doesn't matter that people's lives in South Africa are a lot worse, right? "facing consequences that Emery will never have to, not by hiding in another country and using it to fight his battles for him." Emery is going to jail, in American prison, for a long time. What part of this is not "facing consequences"? "To me Emery is neither a hero or a patriot and using the word martyr to describe him cheapens every person who has really sacrificed their lives for a cause." I think your real problem with Emery is that he's not a communist like your hero Mandela... would he be ok with you if he started doing public readings from Dos Kapital? I heard he joined the NDP recently, so he's got be at least part communist, you should go easier on him.

Well, perhaps if your political beliefs were the product of a firm understanding of economics and history instead of a patchwork of ideas that you absorbed from the media/school system/people in your life you too would have the courage of your convictions.

I would NEVER compare Emery to Mandela... that would be a horrendous insult towards the 'Prince of Pot', but it is telling that you have such admiration towards a communist. What other hero's do you worship? Karl Marx? Perhaps you are the one who is stoned?

I agree with you, some people on welfare need help - although I disagree with the implicit statement that they could not get the help they need from the private sector. My mother was a case study in successes in welfare - a single mother, raising three kids. She didn't drink, do drugs, buy fancy clothing... but she did raise her kids, and I guess I'm a little biased but I think she did a great job. The system worked for her. For every success story like that, there are a dozen failures. Another alcoholic who's cheque buys him his beer, another drug user who's cheque bought him an eight ball. I know because I've partied with them. Your last bit of advice is very solid. I take politics very seriously, but I am a happy person over all - I guess that might not always come across when I am debating

Throughout the ages, mediocre men have always ridiculed the great and the courageous. It is sad, but predictable, to see again that times have not changed.

You are sadly mistaken sir, there is some ten billion in welfare given to Native Americans every year - and of course this is based on their race, as it is given specifically to Native Americans. You seem to have confused my use of the word welfare. Welfare can refer not only to 'the dole' but also to government social programs i.e. 'the welfare state'. As for welfare (in the context you are using it) being 'need' driven, that is very idealistic and all, but my last two room mates, young able bodied 28 year old men who enjoyed drinking and smoking pot more than working (as do I! but I'm far too idealistic to ever go on the dole) are proof that this is not the case, as does the group of fourty year old crack heads with which I used to hang (don't ask). All of them were recipients of welfare, all of them could work. It is 'need based' in the sense that it is based on whatever bullshit you can pretend you need.

Well it's all semantics anyway, but I'm pretty sure any REASONABLE person will concur with me that '$900 to $15,000 a year' is poor, and I don't care if you or anyone else is insulted by the truth, I'm not going to lie to make you feel better. I'd be interested to know exactly how you know that these people 'worked hard all their life' (did you follow them all around for 60 years?) and I do wish the government hadn't stolen money from them the whole time, but that is a very poor rationalization for socialism. Besides, they're going to die soon so it's no big deal anyway.

I'm not sure, but if anyone wants to pass around a petition extraditing them and all the rest of the bureaucrats that have seized control of our country I'll sign it. It doesn't have to be to the USA either, I mean let's send them to Syria for some extraordinary rendition!

There is only one decent candidate - Ron Paul.