tango

The US does not need our 'strength'. We'll be fine on our own as usual.

QUOTE (lictor616 @ Mar 31 2009, 08:06 PM) *

Is that what you plan to do? OAS, CPP, GIS? enjoy your poverty. What's your source for this? Pensioners with union pension plans the wealthiest of retirees.

The more the merrier! About time they learned to work with diverse groups of people who really represent the people.

Conrad's not a Canadian citizen, so who cares. I like the "personality transplant" crack tho. Oleg, Conrad would not have gone to jail if he had not acted just like a "big dumb oaf" and flaunted his violation of a court order. (removing the boxes). He and Dick Cheney both got into trouble removing their "boxes".

My understanding is that companies choose to keep the pension plan in house so they can manipulate it as they 'need' to. AC has a problem with "its underfunded pension plan". As I recall from the Stelco bankruptcy, "underfunded" means the company didn't put in its share when it should have, so it has accumulated debt to the pension plan that it now can't pay. They can't do that if the plan is outside the company, out of their control. So ... what's the alternative? Let all the old pensioners die of starvation? That's what Stelco threatened to do: Just cut them all off. Perhaps rather than venting anger at the unions, it would be wise to look to the mismanagement of the company and of the pension plan? I say let AC go under, let somebody competent like West Jet buy it out. AC has always been an embarrassment.

West jet provides better service. I hope they buy AC out. AC has always had a grouchy arrogance that goes all the way from bottom to top, a whiner, and a lousy employer.

b_c2004 ... you can leave your democrats behind, K? and take some of our tories with you ... and wander the earth for centuries looking for a home ... only to return home finally recognizing that living in a place where people care for each other is really as good as it gets: a dash of socialism never hurt anybody! But make sure you take Fox news with you, eh? And don't bring them back.

That's very funny, considering that you reinforce all 'misperceptions' about the US! AMERICA, however, is a different issue entirely, and you are not a spokesperson for all of "America".

The Palestinians of Gaza would have no need to defend themselves if Israel was not assaulting them, trapping them and cutting off their supplies. Blockading and starving people is an act of war, and people have a right to defend themselves from starvation. So long as Israel insists on making war, Gaza will defend itself.

betsy, These are atrocities. Curbing hate speech is not an atrocity. It is a means of preventing atrocities.

If Israel would stop blockading Gaza, effectively keeping them in a concentration camp with supplies cut off randomly, they wouldn't have to defend themselves from the aggression.

Interesting that we are not allowed to know what Harper is saying to the US. The man does not grasp that he works for us!

If we truly are 15th in terms of military spending, then we are ahead of expectations, because we are the 36th largest country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population Interesting facts. Can anyone verify? My suspicion is that our US neighbours constantly denigrate Canada's military because they do not grasp the huge difference in population (and thus spending). If these facts are true, I think we should ALL stop criticizing Canada's military funding ! Re the comparison, Argus, it's a valid comparison if it's done the same way for all countries, even if it reflects both admin and actual military. Can't have a military without purchasing, accounting, etc. admin functions.

And that is your biggest misconception. but hey ... fill yer boots! just don't start living in them.

All.

I like this one. http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations, Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge, Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Well yes ... and it affects all of the people who like to criticize the Catholic church too ... hmm ... So I wonder who the chickens were who abstained from the vote and let this pass?

That's ridiculous ... but for tomorrow. Of course it's expensive. So is poverty.

Well ... I don't think we want to give it to the kids, eh? back to the math now. I'm sure you can make it work out. Taxes can change, eh? Especially from the biggest spenders. Can you break down the taxes into consumption and income, personal and corporate? - edit here it is http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpc4-eng.asp#10 But the other issue is the money saved from all the bureaucracy that will disappear, all the 'means-testing', benefit-calculating people in several different government ministries. All of those displaced, of course, will immediately receive their GAI.

na ... we just watched it on youtube! I watch Judge Judy on Fox, though.

I absolutely agree. They can say whatever they like about Canada. But they disrespected our troops. That's different. It deserved our outrage. Gotta defend the soldiers. They defend us. It's all just free speech.

He was there, and that's what he was ordered to do with his troops. Instead, he gave people 5 minutes to get out. (Link is above somewhere.)

Go for it! Drive 'er like ya stol'er, man! I don't mean from Canada. We stol'er too.

Hey no offense man, if that offends you. It offends us too. But the fact is it's a line we often hear from your compadres. (not you of course, so don't be offended) Just making a facetious comparison to make a point to vancouver ... a point that appears to have escaped you.