kengs333

Argueably, the Six Nations were permitted to settle along the Grand River in an attempt to maintain them as an ally in the face of further possible aggression on the part of the Americans. From what I've read, my understanding is that their continued inhabitation of the regions was contingent upon their conduct, and if it got to the point where the Six Nations began to be antagonistic towards the British (later Canada), then the respective party was justified in dealing with the situation accordingly. I believe that that situation has now finally arisen. We find ourselves with a large group of people who are openly espousing treasonous beliefs. As un-Canadian as it may seem, I think that if the Six Nations continues to escalate the situation, and more violence results--it's only a matter of time before they kill someone--I think options such as expulsion need to be considered.

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What do Italy and Israel have to do with the system that's being proposed for Ontario? Nothing. Neocons always drag out those two country's system as an example yet always seem to fail to discuss the fundamental differences between those systems and the one that should be adopted by Ontario. Unless you can start making valid points about why MMP is not a good idea for Ontario, then I see no point in wasting time on this; all you people seem to do is fear-monger.

If you look at the history of the environmental/conservation movement, they were predominantly "white guys". I think the problem with the movement is that it was basically hijacked by "eco-feminists" who turned it into something decidedly more wacky, and it is only now that things are starting to get back on track. You can't blame intelligent, rational men for being put off by what "eco-feminists" did to the movement. We have to thank Jim Harris (a "white guy") for doing away with much of that nonsense and making the federal party what it has become.

Starting to see some GREEN PARTY signs in the neighbourhood, which is a little bit of a surprise. The one in particular, the way she douses her yard with chemicals to keep everything pristine, really gets me. Anyone who thinks that the GREENS are supported by left-wing wackos is sadly mistaken. They've become just another mainstream party.

This is a lot more than a stolen car. Besides, the proper analogy would be that you bought a used car from someone who was given that used car for free. Forty years later when the car becomes a classic and the owner refurbishes it, the previous owner claims to have been ripped off and wants the car back and 50x what you paid him for it.

Actually, you have no proof of this; marijuana usage is not as widespread as that as alcohol. We still don't conclusively know what long term effects there can be, and what it will do to the body after multi-generational usage.

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Why would McGuinty want to do that seeing that he's a neocon, too. He's likely doing it because PR is gaining more support and he wants to nip the debate in the bud now. It fails now and the issue is dead, and he can always point to the referendum if the issue is ever raised again and say "the people didn't want it".

Tell me about it. MMP has been discussed on local TV and some former politicians were just spouting nonsense along the same line. One was a prominent federal Liberal. Neocons are affraid that their exclusive club is going to be opened more progressive politicians.

No Canadian in their right mind would believe this nonsense. The Six Nations talks about obligations, honour and respect, from the Government or Canadians, yet if one looks at the history of this issue, one would learn how unfairly the Five Nations dealt with its enemies and allies, how they tried to exploit the British and failed, how they were completely incapable of managing their own affairs because of their intemperance, etc. The British, and later the Canadians, may not have handled the matter as best as they could have, but one thing is for sure had they not taken the action they did, the Five/Six Nations would have disintigrated, would not even exist now. And yet they still accuse Canada of committing genocide... In order for this situation to be resolved, we need to shed overly-idealized notions who the Six Nations were and are and that trying restore things to the way they supposed were (but never really were) 150 years ago causes more problems than it solves.

Wow, this is really making for an interesting debate. Your reasoned and well-informed arguments are just too overwhelming for me. The fact that it works in Germany is good enough for me. You may have a problem with it because of your ethnicity or creed, but personally I couldn't care less. The fact that a country like Lesotho has adopted a more democratic electoral process really says something about what has become of politics in Canada.

grannyrants, I don't see anything in this whole Caledonia dispute that suggest people of the Six Nations want to be equal, though. The concept of equality is always used as a smokescreen by groups trying to push a certain agenda. I think just about everyone here wants to see Canada remain a place where everyone has equal rights, but it's you who support a faction that wants to see that changed; a faction that in essence wants to undermine Canada.

Almost every democracy has some form of PR electoral system--Canada and the United States being notable exceptions--of which MMP is a variation.

You don't understand German society or politics if you claim that the system stifles "healthy debate". Germany runs much better politically than Canada, and political debate is something that is taken much more seriously because of the country's past problems.

Sorry, but I'm assuming you've never been to Germany nor do you know much about German society. You may subscribe to the Hitlarian notion of a uniform German race, but the fact of the matter is that there is still a strong sense of regional identity, language and cultural difference. It may not seem significant on the surface, but it certainly is. Whatever the case, ethnic homogeneity has no relevance to electoral reform.

Sara, So you believe that it's okay for women to come to Canada, a supposedly free country, and still have to submit to oppressive orthodox religious practices? People like you seem to use "freedom of religion" as a means of making themselves look just, tolerant, liberal, yet have no qualms about the fact that this is in effect tacit approval of an unjust, intolerant, archaic way of life. So what happens when these people have many children and raise them with their values and not those of Canada, and what happens after X amount of years of allowing similarly-minded people to emigrate to Canada, and they get political power and begin to change the laws so that women start to be oppressed. I know that by generalizing in a couple of sentences I may sound a bit alarmist, but realistically this could happen.

Germany is about the size of Ontario and not homogenous. I don't see the point to this, though.

They may have higher levels of education, but many of them do not have sufficient knowledge of the English language. My mom came from Europe when in her late 20s with a grade 8 education and almost no knowledge of English and still managed to become quite fluent in English. Yet I know university educated immigrants from China who will never be as fluent, partially because they don't really want to integrate; Canada is just a place for them to make money, much of which is sent back home so their parents can live better and to fund business ventures there. Why Canada can't encourage emigration from Europe where most university students have an excellent command of English is beyond me.

Germany New Zealand South Korea Scotland

An "Ontario Nazi Party, or its equivalent" would not exist in the first place. If all you care to do is make nonsensical remarks such as these, then don't waste my time.

I'm not sure this would be the case. Needing a minimum of 3% to qualify should bar the "wing-nuts" although a few single-issue candidates may be elected, but so what? They get to voice their opinions and then vote on legislation. The PR aspect would only constitute about 40 seats, meaning that if a "single-issue" party manages 3% they get one seat. Countries where this form of MMP is used tend not to have the problems that people are claiming a switch to PR will cause. I think that's why MMP was chosen.

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This is something that needs to be taken into consideration when negotiations take place; it would simply be beyond stupid for any agreement to come about based on the notion that somehow the Iroquois were honest and sincere in their attempts to secure the future of their own supposed nation. The fact of the matter is that we do have official documents that show that the British had to substantiately increase the amount of payments and gifts to the Iroquois in the years leading up to the Haldimand Proclimation in order to secure their allegiance. That alone suggests that their was some attempt on the part of the Iroquois to exploit the precarious position that the British were in. Some ally. What I would give to know what the cheifs were saying to one another around the camp fire during those years in the early 1780s. I bet they really thought they were pulling one over on the "white man"...