old_bold&cold

That mighr work if the problem was so small, but what we are looking at here are trillions of USD being exchanged for Euros, so 15 billion would not do anything at all. Plus buying USD at this point in time would mean you are looking to lose 20 % of this by June of next year. Not something that a smart investor migh do.

Well you have now just made me think you are in the tinfoil hat group. Harper and movie star looks are not words that beong in the same sentence. As for his ability to spek english goes, his english is better then my french but I do not understand either language of his. He definitely has no charm, but he also has no idea of how to lead and how to take a stand. Sorry, but if you support Dion, I feel you must be out of your mind. I think you need to take a look at things and not read too much of Hollywood hype for actors, because it does not transfer well in politics. Agin read my answer above. Dion can do what ever he thinks will work for him. As far as Iggy goes I do not see him being the leader if Dion fails. The last leadership race all the top people sat out as they all wanted to distance them selves from Chretian times, but the next race I think will have Goodale running and probably John Manley. Iggy will not even be a front runner in that and he probably will announce his return to the USA University teaching positions, where he should have stayed any way.

I think that maybe people should take the out look that the government may not be there to help them if they break the law in a foreign land. That way they will be more cautious of when they travel and the laws that they will face. It seems to me to be a good thing. You make it out to be a negative thing. We here in Canada have a justice system that is very good and we can be proud of it, but that should not mean that all other places must honour our system, or even our requests for lieniency in sentencing. In fact the very nature of asking is automatic then there will be the automatic no way. It is better if it is looked at on a case by case and then the requests will be looked at as having more balance and therefore carry more weight. Persoanlly I prefer it this way. The bleeding hearts will all cry foul but they are the ones that think that Canada can have sway in foreign lands and their sentencing, when if we doo this each time someone breaks a law, it will have zero sway, and be quickly ignored. Travelling carries risks and all traveller should know this, and accept it or stay home in Canada. It is really that simple.

Again there are a number of the same issues now open and active are people just stupid or they really trying to get banned for starting multiple threads.

It was just something I had thought to point out, as I know whenI came upon it during the low CDN, I was taken back a bit until I finally figured thru it. This will happen to the USD if it drops to the predicted .80 by June 2008. But yes if we just stick to the rates it does give us a comparable direction of things, but as I said no one should think it is what they will see when trying to convert the currency. For the most part the American had the advantage that ppretty any where in the world tourist travels prices were in USD and there fore did not need to echange their currency. It now looks like that will be about to change and the exchanging of currency will be new to most of them and all its little nibbles from what seems to be everywhere. I do agree though that we will see some interesting times to come. I do not agree that the USA can do much of anything to shore up this dollar, even with the levers it has had in the past. With several countries divesting USD holding and some of the big ones like China and Japan, also switching to Euro holdings, I do nt see any high level interest rate turning this around. Any new debt sought by the USA will be in Euros and not USD and that will hurt more then anything else. The tables stakes have gone way up, and while I do see that some of the gains of the CDN are based on our strengths, there is a lot of it also based on weakness of the USD. If what the bankers have already predicted and set their sites for comes true and we do have a $1.20 CDN by June 2008, then we will all be wondering where it will go from there. It has also been said by those in the know, that this is not going to be a short term things but it will be several years of the USD being low. Maybe they are wrong, but I would not bet against it.

You forget I also pointed out that there comesa time when the exchange rate becomes a percentage of the higher currency and yes it does matter to many and you may be able to keep this in mind, but mentioning it and doing so in a way that all should understand is not messing up the issue, as you put it. I find your take is very wrong as it does not take into affects these other charges, and fees. So if you want to know just what a dollar really buys, you need all things included. If as you say the .63 USD is exchanged but using 8% of the higher currency value is adds almost .11 cents off that figure, where if it was to stay to the lower figure it would be .045 cents. That is quite the difference, and it will be the banks who decide to do this, not the government of the posted dollar value. We have already seen this and know that it happens. So why not make sure of things are clear on the matter. Unless you want to hide the fact of life from people.

The whole issue about Mulroney is going to come to a quick and abrupt end, and probably in Mulroney's favour. The fact that Schieber will be gone by next Friday, off to face trial in Germany is going to be a big thing. You see, if he again says about bribing Mulroney in the courts over there, he will be stabbing him self in the back, and giving even more credense to the charges he has pending in Germany. I think it will be put forward that the only reason he brought all this to light was in the hope of Canada, then saying they would not extradite him until they have finished this case. But it has already been said that his extradition will go ahead on schedule. That will mean that once again there will be no finding of guilt on behave of Mulroney, in all of this. But it will mean that we may see a investigation of Chretien and all his golf couse grants and the such, as well as his knowledge of the sponsorship scandel and maybe even the HRT Boondoggal. This will come in time for any election call by the Liberals this spring and fall. It probably will make it so that the set election date wil be the one that will come about, and all this stuff on corrupt Liberals being found guilty will be just the finish to what is going to be an intersting time to come. This will be looked at by those in the future as a very dumb thing to have done, when it is pretty much going to be a predicted turn out. Harper I believe is playing the long game on this and I think he is way better at this kind of play then all the others combined. But it is the game they called for and now it has begun, and there will be no stopping it.

Face it if we were to rate these ads using a scale that was say based on politeness, these ads would be very low in the rating. If on truthfulness, these ads would rate high. But I am not so sure they rate so well in the fair play basis but they still would get a passing rating but just barely. If it was just rated on the basis of good taste, not they would not be very well regarded. But we do not use good taste much in the political arena, which is sad, as I did see a chance for Harper to rise above this, but he still can do that and he has lots of time to do so. I do not think that anyone sees an election coming before spring at the earliest, maybe even next fall. Dion just does not have what it takes and he is not commanding enough to get much from his supporters to make him that guy with the power in hand. To most he is the guy with the dead turkey in hand and the kids asking where their pet is.

If this is what has taken Dion so long to come up with, then it is just too little and verey much so too late. He also admits that he can not say what the costs are as he has not so far been able to assess all of then, but will by the time of the next election call. Wimpey in the popeye cartoons used to say "I'll gladly pay you tuesday, for a hamburger today", so I guess Dion is just like Wimpey, in his way of doing things. Since the Liberal are known for not keeping the promises they make, I would not want to be one of those in poverty, looking and waiting for anything to happen from the liberals to make life more positive for them. The liberal great hope for re-election with Dion, are to say the least a very large long shot.

This is just another thread on a subject already posted. You are not allowed to do this and it should be removed. Not ever point in a thread deserves a seperate thrread.

Why take a small sentence out of its context? I was saying in a worst case scneario that yes it is possible that the USD could go down to .25 CDN. For this to happen you would need China and Japan to divest all USD holding to go to the Euro. I never said that it was about to happen, but that it could. Also actually the .94usd is not even the real value as we all here in Canada learned that when the exchange rate is .94 it really is about .08 more off of it as banks will charge that to do the exchange. You will be hard pressed to find anyone willing to exchange thing less then 4% even it you are doing large dollar exchanges. The more level headed out look says that we will be at $1.11CDN by the new year, and that then in real exchange and it in large volume would mean .85 USD, but for the public at large it will mean .81USD. We here inCanada have lived through this already, and we are only pointing out what we learned the hard way. If the prediction of $1.20 CDN by June 2008, comes about then in most cases it will me a .72 USD. It really just gets quite slippery and twisted, but you will find then that your banks will soon start saying that the exchange costs will be in CDN and not USD so then that .08 will soon become .10 to .11 cents to be deducted. The banks always get their way and there really is not much you can do about it. I always found Visa to have the best exchange rate when converting foreign money, but many will disagree. The money exchange marts will be the next cheapest, in my eyes, but that is just giving you a head up. In the thread where I said that the USD could go to .25, I was only using that as a qick figure and to show that the level with which it comes and goes is not in the control of the USA. There is nothing they can do. My comments about the trouble if the large USD holders should suddenly call for a different currency, was echoed 2 years ago by Greenspon, and he did say the USD could easily lose 50-75% if this happened and caused other countries to then do the same with their holdings. It was more of a warning that far too much USD was being held by foreign countries that might not have the best interests of the USA in mind, if things turned bad. Personally I do not think it will go that far, but if it ever does it will be when Bush is in power, as I do not think most of these countries would be so anxiuos to do this if there were another president. Right now I think they are seeing it as a chance to send a message back to Bush about things are not as in his control as he may think. But I could be wrong on that and it is only my opinion, and probably not held by many others.

NoQueenslave I first off must point out to you that I was the one who said that tax court loses most of the cases it handles. That does not mean all. I also have been one of the ones where the RCMP made illegal requests to Rev Can to do its best to ruin my life etc. In the end they got nothing and I still have my lifestyle but there are many things and accomodations that had to be made, and it is a long and twisted story that I am not willing to get into. I will say though that my legal problems come from hacking and pircy in the computers and communications field. If I wished to and I am saying straight out that I do not wish to. But if I did I would have you and your real name address and all your passwords etc in less then a couple hours of work. everything on your computer would be mirrored on my own. That is just what some one like me can do. The RCMP have this same ability times a 1000. They have all the back door codes for ever program ever made here in North America and most of others around the world. Your saying that you have never paid taxes or even filled out a tax form for 20 years, probably will get you 20 years for being stupid enough for saying so in an open forum. There is no anominity here or else where, when it comes to finding out who and what you are and where you are doing it from. Be careful of what you do and say. It will haunt you one day in the near future. Pretty much everything posted in forums like this are reviewed by the law enforcement and other agencies and when people brag about things here, it really can be a problem. Take it from some one who knows, and has still 2 months of probation and owes still $10,000.00 on a fine of $20,000.00. There is no secure system or encryption method that can not be broken if and when the need comes to it. Learn from what I have said and save yourself the trouble. If not then you will one day be warning another stupid poster of just what can happen.

I was once on the receiving end of a campaigne of theirs to try and destroy my life as I knew it. They broke many laws in doing this but in the end it costs more then anyone can ever afford to sue this agency. But it is a very long story and one that I will not make public, as it would only anger me and others and start the wanted to exact revenge back toward them. I do not rejoice when I read about a death of an RCMP officer, but yes I do say one more and many more to go. But in the case of this 20 year old trainee and how he was not even ready for this type of thing and the fact that his superiors were stupid in doing this is a shame. Even I would not want some one so young and inexperienced to pay this kind of price. Hell he probably never got brain washed enough yet to become like the majority of the officers that I do not like. This was plain wrong to have this guy put there and exposed to this with so little experience. So do not get hung up on the fact that I have a special place where I put deaths of RCMP officers, but rather understand that what they did was wrong and they are the ones responsible for this boys death, Hell a few years ago he would not even have been considered an adult. That is more telling then any of my own feelings and predudices.

Are you out of your mind. I still will use that jail as an example as it is modern comapred to many and it is generic in the type of things available. It does not matter it be over crowded as of course with all the ammenities it is a betetr life then many free people have. Just what do you think they are doing. We can not force any inmate into any of the work programs and we do pay them a pitence for when they do, but yes prisonser if they choose can watch tv and play pool for most of the daytime hours, or hours out of they cells. Just as they have small stores where they buy goodies etc when they want to. Say popcorn for that movie tonight. No need to google anything just look up Kinston Penitenery and get the info from there. it is a dam site better then many things that free people get. Or depending on your area go to any federal prison and take a tour, that will open you eyes. Again you are wrong, I said that when we sntence a foreign er to jail they wnat to serve their time here in Canada because our jails are like hotels. They figh any attempt to be transferred home. That being the case I feel then that Canadian citizens should serve the time in the country where they offend, and it is not Canada's duty to bring them home at all. We did not sentence him, so we should not be responsible for him. I just watched my father die of prostrate cancer last May and yes in pallative care they euthanise people every day. They do not talk about it, but it is done each and ever day of the year. Go to any pallative care facility and see for your self but get ready to be waken up and it will not be a slow waking. Foolish people like you need to go see this fro your self. Wrong again. I said earlier if I was cought steallin in Saudi Arabia and was guilty, I would assume that I would be one limb less on my return. I do not steal but that is also why I do not travel to Saudi Arabia. First off I think you very uninformed in much of everything in life and you do nothave any experiece to draw from. You live in a google world and that is not life. You are by far verey ignorant about much of what you speak of. So first go to that pallative care unit near you and get an eye full.

I am not a friend of the police and I will not bother offering my sympathies to them for this loss of such a young life. But I am very incensed by the fact that this young trainee was given a posting in a far away northern community to learn and practice his craft, with only one other mentor in this whole area. Does this not sound wrong in the very issue of it being that way? Even though most of these communities are pretty much law abiding, they also are in areas where rifles and guns are just a way of life, and if and when some one gets mad and loses his control these things are pretty much within easy reach, whay is a trainee out on his own responding to calls when it never should have been done this way at all. I hold the RCMP responsible for the death that could have easily been avoided if they followed proper procedures. Sure it was a man that killed the officer and that shot was fired in anger and also while he was holding a baby in his other hand. That in itself was sad and should not have gotten to that point. But it was and still is the responsibility of the RCMP as a force, to make sure that this kind of thing does not again happen. As for the guy who shot the officer, he will probably be shunned by all the people in that community, and that will mean he either goes else where or remain in prison for life. It is so tradgic to see this having happened when really, it did not need to be so. A more experienced officer would have observed from far awy just what was going on and not made his presnce known until this guy had settled down and mellowed a lot. He was really going no where and he was not really threatening the baby's life. He would soon though do what most drunks do and that is sleep. That is when an experienced officer would make his move. In these nothern communities they rely on each other so much that they can usually talk down most people when they get out of control. Since that was not happening, the young trainee made the mistake of coming there when anger was at its peak, and that was wrong, and as this guy then looked at him as an outsider interfering shot at him and killed him immediately. That was just wrong in so many ways. This is one mistake that the RCMP can not correct by ignoring it, but they will have to make better calls as to where and how they get trainees the experience they need before they send the into the communities.

Stupid people just do not see that it was a totally different time and events. But you forget that now do you not. You only go looking for things like this because as you say you life and breath politics. So that is the best you got is to quote events out of the past that really have changed because the world is forever changing. Harper is the only one to have ever dropped the GST rate after promising to do so. That is a feather in his hat, not a point against him. He also cut the Tax rate for people and business, and of course it is never enough to his detractors, but then again why was this not all done back when the Liberals were in power? Different times and different measures, that is what I said above. It si nto that hard of a thing to get your mind around now is it?

Well if you want to bring this down to that single scope then fine. Just because the Liberla left has been doing things like asking for all death penalties to be commuted, it is not there fore a tradition as it has alway been a political issue and the Charter of Rights only apply to people here in Canada, not in foreign lands. So even though I do nto think it will be in there, I would still say it would not apply. Canad has and did ask alredy that the sentence be commuted to life, and they would bring the person here to serve. But the Govenor of Montana has said that he does not wish to commute the sentence and if he did he would not agree to have the prisoner sent to Canada, as here we would reallease him on parole and in Montana Life sentences mean life with no parole and you die in jail. So that pretty mucj is it. The governor has already shown that he does not want to be bugge anymore by Canada, and he would never agree to transfer that prisoner here because of our lax position on life sentences. So it will never be done, not matter wht we do. If we push much more it will pretty much make the govenor to make sure the death sentence is carried out. So does anyone want to further the problems on this one case. Now maybe you want then the topic to be scoped more to the issue of if and when we should be seeking death penalty intervention. Just how far do we press, before we see that it is just making the justice system of that country more rigid in their carrying out their sentences. We do have to know how to ask nicely and politely. We must not be seen as doing this everytime as then we are seen as bleeding hearts and that weakens our case. I think Harpers approach is the right one and it does say that when we do intervene it is because we have valid reason to do so. As to the old we always intervene because we always think that you are wrong to kill a living being no matter what he has done. I know which one I would give more support to.

I have said before that I am probably of the mind where I wish that CPC had not used these ads at this time, but that being aside, just what in those ads that is not very apparent to those who actually watch politics ona daily basis? I think that Harper did this so as to shine the light of day on what really is a bad leader, so everyone can see this even outside an election. Could he have done this in a better way ? I think thta no matter how Harper did this, it would always be seen as kicking a person when they are down, but if everyone waiting for Dion to get up on his feet, we would all die of old age. I feel that Harper will lose a point or two on this now, but later when it becomes an issue in an eection he will gain many more points and not have to say much of anything again on this. So yes, it has an up and down side, and I think Harper made the right decission for a later time. There is nothing in this ad that is not very true and it really is not stretching anything in any of it. So is it really an attack ad or is it a truthful rendition of what is really going on.

I believe the poll said it was 60% of the people would feel ok with a majority Harper government. That is a pretty vasy majority, but yes there are 40% better ones then that

Ahh I think you will need a triple layered tin foil hat and maybe even some antena to actually believe that. The USA is in big trouble, that I will agree on, and if China and Japan were to diversify their USD holdings to Euros, then the USA would be very deeply in monetary pinch. Yes the USD may well go down to .25 CDN, but the CDN is doing well against all currencies even the euro. So it will continue to appreciate, as while we do trade mostly with the USA we have been also trading a lot more lately with Russia and European countries, as well as Asian countries. If the USD tanks, the euro will go higher, but so will Canada's dollar which right now is more tied to oil comodity then it is on trade agreements. Yes will would feel the effects and it would really make us adjust to a more european standard of living, but yes we will do that. Just about all of the Euro group of nations have government sponsored health care, and they are not really worried about losing that. I do not know where you get the noton that France and Germany are going bankrupt? They do have problems but with the new found strength of the Euro they will be in better shape then many others. The story you listened to, was probaly based on a worst case scenario, and it presupposed many things that are just not true. The Canadian dollar will not follw the USD circling the drain. We have totally different economies today then we had say 5 years ago. Canada has been reducing debt and due to alot of it being in USD, we will pay much more off this year then any year in the history of our debt. We will be in a very good position in a resource based economy because we have huge untapped natural resources and can easily take advantage of that to control our own fate. What you may start to see is a further population of people in our north where the resource sector will be a big driving force for many people. But again that will happen quicker if the USD tanks, and slower if it just say loses to say .60 CDN. They can and will again be back and they will again become a nation that will grow. You need to understand that the USA just because of the shear number of people they have, can face trouble and rebound many times faster then other nations. While they could suffer greatly in the coming times, they will not be defeated for long.

It was just a little while ago that prisoners at Kingston penitenery threatened violence because the cable tv was droppign a show they all wanted to see. I knwo from my own experience visiting someone, that Ottawa Inneis road Jail has pool tables, and cable tv. Most prisons have exercise yards and well as indoor gyms, Some of the low security federal prisons even have golf driving ranges. They have conjucal visits from wifes and even paid lovers. Yes, here in Canada, our worst of the worst prisons are thousands of times better then live of freedom in third world countries. Canada is not the one who should be footing the bill for rehabilitaing any foreign offenders period. Just as we make foreign offenders serve their time here, we should also understand that same need when it comes to our own. In most cases the family can travel to see there family member where he is and never should it be a determining issue in placing a prisoner, as for family visits. It should come down to security risk and level of dentention to address that risk. It does not have to be a hard thing to do and if people coming concious before the drugs kill them are a big thing, then use more drugs, Are we worried about the cost or is it that they do not want to kill him before they kill him . Anyway it is done each and every day here in Canada with the act of pallitive care. So do you want thta to also stop and let this people suffer all the way to death comes to take them? We put down a vicious dog without even trying to rehabilitate him, and I like dogs. But we try to make vicious killers into normal people, when all the stats show that the largest majority of those we release and say they are rehabilitated, reoffend and usually take more lives in doing so. I would rathe try to rehab the dog and dput down the person to tell you the truth. But we do not do that now do we? But you will want the government to make sure all you travel papers and passport are reissued, and emergency money loaned to you, so you can pay for food and lodgings. Me I draw the line after they make sure I am treated fairly and secure my travels. I do not expect them to be like a big brother who will pull me out of trouble I willingly get involved in. No that is left sided govrenment thinking. What you describe are the policies of the left and I do not mean center left but far left. You see this in government today because it was rulled mostly in the last 50 years by left wing Liberals. What you see happening today is that the goverment even though a minority government, is now coming back to center and maybe a little right of center, and that is why all the Liberal and far lefties are here whinning about this. It really makes them cry to see that the way of the Canadian people is now swinging more to the center right, after so many years of mid left of center policies that took us too far to the left. Fight over it all you like, it is just what the people asked for in the last election and is exactly what they are getting. There has been no vast movement towards the mid to far right that the Liberals all claimed last election, and now the ;olls have said that the vast majority of Canadians like the direction the government is going and would not fear a majority harper lead government. It is the whinning left that is doing all the complaining, and only because they think that because they made these things over a very long term Left leaning Liberal government, that these are now traditions and can not be replaced. SILLY RABBIT TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS

Do a google search on Surge Brisson and GST. You will find that Surge did do as you are talking about the GST and PST. He defied them all losts his business and served time in Jail, and he says he will do it all again. He is a slow learner but he does live by his words, even though it has cost him everything he had.

Do you mean by this that the USA was stupid for not seeing that such huge foreign holdings could one day destroy their dollar, or are you saying Harper is stupid for making any comment about the swift rise in our dollar? Who do ypou mean by "them", and what can of gasoline are you talking about. Are you referring to the sub prime mortgages in the USA? And what doe any of this have to do with the mini budget, other then give Canadians a tax break. That we have already seen, but where are your reasons for disagreement. We already know you do not like the laws on drugs, but what else is in your craw?

I do not want offenders brought back to Canada to serve snetences because they broke the law in a foreign land and should serve their time there. Here our prisons are like holiday inn with cable tv and pool tables etc. It costs us to keep people there and when we charge people from foreign lands they serve their time here, some even fight to make sure they serve it here, because prisonn here is luxury compared to life back home. Since the crimes were in foreign lands let them and their prison system pay for it. As for asking a governor to commute a death sentence goes, they can ask, but they can not compell. As with the governor in this latest case has said, he would proabably not commute the sentence but even if he did he would fight letting this person serve time in Canada, because he would be let out before he dies, where in the place where he is, he will never outlive his sentences. Also this is a case of the USA, where their laws and ours differ but not by much and since the person has admitted the deed there is no doubt about it being the wrong guy. When he is put to death it will be as humane as possible, just like we do here with beloved pets and even now our aged family members. I do not look to my government to be all protecting and all consuming in my affairs abroad. That is a very far left way of thinking, and I believe it to be wrong.

I was talking about the polls back when the first vote on the Death Penalty tok place. We know that today there is a split in this if it were limited, but majority would not go for unlimited death penalties. I am wondering just where you say Harper has revisited this, as it is only you and several others who have said anything about this. Harper made a policy change and that is all it was, and he explained why and how that came about. He said nothing about the death penalty at all. In fact it has only been here that most of this is being talked about, as the media ran this up the pole and let it die as really there is no issue here at all. As I said we here in Canada do not have the death penalty, and here in Canada is the only place where we really have influence. So any talk outside of Canada, really has nothing to do with our government. We will in fact act to intervene where justice seems unfair and the courts one sided, but that is a case by case thing as it should be. Our embassies will always be there to assist people to find lawyers and help defend against unwarranted charges, but that is where it has to end. I also do not want any Canadian sentenced to prison in a foreign country brought back here to serve his time.