Sir Bandelot

Good post and this makes me think of how we are in a new age, the age of information overload. so much data is being collected that there is not enough time for anyone to analyze it, and make intelligent decisions about its validity or significance. This is causing some real problems, for example if you are unlucky enough to have the same name as some wanted criminal. But the problem is not a static one, it's expanding geometrically so that in the long run, everyones name ends up on these lists. And it's far far easier to get your name on one, than it is to get your name removed. In some cases people who have tried to exonerate themselves have had no option, other than to change their name! Case in point- N.J. Boy, 8, on Terrorism Watch List demonstrates how absurd and difficult the problem is becoming, for some. I think that would be a remarkable achievement. But realistically, its being far too honest and accountable. One never cuts off one's own head.

The other points she raised were about the amount of corruption going on behind the scene.

From my quiet little smalltown newspaper, this article raises some interesting points. http://thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2260208

Yes true, but all those millions come down to one thing: Temporary Mental Retardation!

Man I agree, but you're depressing the hell out of me...

If you've ever had to raise teenagers, you'll already know.

The Wrath of Obama was the original title of this thread, intended to discuss how Obama is not the bringer of peace he is perceived to be, by some. It's not hard to prove... Wed Jan 13, 10:03 AM WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress for $33 billion in emergency war funding for a major U.S. troop buildup in Afghanistan this year, defense officials said on Wednesday. The money, mainly for the deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and other war costs in the current 2010 fiscal year, would come on top of Obama's expected request to increase the Pentagon's overall budget in fiscal 2011 to a record $708 billion, the officials said on condition of anonymity. Fiscal 2010 Defense Department funding, including war costs in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as military construction, already comes to $660 billion. If approved by Congress, the $33 billion emergency funding request, in line with estimates released last month by the Pentagon, would push that 2010 total to $693 billion. Obama to ask for $33 billion more for Afghan war ----------- One persons viewpoint and analysis: When President Obama requested a $106 billion “emergency” was funding bill in early 2009, it was promised that this would be the last time the administration would ever seek such a supplement, and that they would instead simply increase the size of their regular defense funding bill to cover the wars. And indeed, the FY 2010 defense funding bill indeed included a massive bump in funding for the assorted ongoing wars, one that was shrugged off however as it was said to replace the annual “emergency” requests. In spite of this, President Obama is now planning to ask for another $33 billion in “emergency” war funding to pay for his latest escalation of the war in Afghanistan, as well as to purchase yet more attack drones. http://news.antiwar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/obama.jpg

:lol: http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=14853&view=findpost&p=473090 Guess I won't need to buy someone any cherry coolers! Oh well

It makes sense really, when you think aboot it. Harper wears knee-pads that are made in USA. - One of the few things they still make these days

"Democracy is opium for the masses." - Sir Bandelot

The fact that they open up with criticism about intellectualism, tells me all I need to know about that point of view.

Exactly but this only shows how the system is capable of criticizing itself, and making corrections. Techniques and technology constantly evolve, and data from statistics is used to point the way. The health care system can never be static. If there's a weakness in the system, a problem, it first needs to be understood and then dealt with appropriately. Because everyones ass can get that, even the doctors and the policy makers.

His reasons for proroguing do not convince me that it was necessary. Did they really need another vacation? Or was it due to something else I pay their salary through my taxes, I expect them to work hard, real hard to serve this country. After they retire from politics they can all go on to millionaire-dom, and take fancy vacations.

If the intention is to extrapolate to other events in general, that would be naive at best. I doubt that Topaz is that dumb. If anything it shows that governments should never be completely trusted. The real naive ones are the ones who do trust, and not challenge them. Those in power use collusion to manipuate events and increase their power, in all levels of society. And it has ever been thus

Maybe. But we could argue about that until the cows come home. If I had cows Mortality rates between the two countries don't bear out any significant difference in the quality of care. At least the ones I've seen. So, quality should not be the main question that should cause so much concern. Maybe the real fear in the US about the health care dilemma is about making a radical change, from one type of system to another, where that transition would be very difficult. In the Canadian system the doctor and the patient never discuss cost at all. Money is not a consideration. But in the US I imagine they must inevitably concern themselves with cost, and ensure there is appropriate coverage. Asking people who are born and raised into a system to not concern themselves with money, is asking for a kind of "trust" to be there, trust in the social system, maybe thats where the barrier is. Because to me the perception is that the American philosophy is about making profit, antithesis to communism/ socialism. Maybe it's too much to ask people to believe in the opposite of what they've been raised into. Maybe it needs a generational change.

Maybe they are fed up with Obama genuflecting before the Republican party. Way I see it he's kissing so much ass, time for a wipe. The feel-good speech thing only works up to a point, then people want to see results. And what they're seeing so far is empty promises, or that his words are so carefully couched in ambiguous meaning that he actually never promised to do anything, really, just that he made it sound that way in his speech. The disillusioned public is coming to learn that a smiling liar is still, just a liar. Case in point with Guantanamo, Afghanistan, and universal health care. When Bush said he was going to do something, it got done. Bush had no remorse over things like partisanship. What mattered to him was taking decisive action. Like it or not, he was "the decider". Obama on the other hand...

Now now boys, can't we all just get along? http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/Bandelot/2010.jpg

He is smarter in context of saying whats necessary to get elected, getting the people to believe something about him that is patently false. Because Obama knew just how to bait their hooks. He is a master baiter

Exactly... ;^)

Actually Obama is a lot smarter than Cheney, probably smarter than Bush and Cheney combined. The reason Cheney hates Obama? He got a Nobel Peace Prize, for doing the same things the Bush admin had been doing all along. So they're just jealous, thats all..

It was a spit-shine, I understand.

What matters more, doing what is best for the people (because its the peoples money, not the governments) or dogmatically adhering to some ideology, just because? Demonized, by the US media I think. For a while during the start of all this medical insurance hullabaloo I kept hearing it ("the 's' word") on tv and reading about it in US news. Success, in the view of the capitalists, is keeping the money that rightly belongs to the people, and working hard to ensure that the privileges enjoyed by the upper class is not shared. Because they feel that it cannot be shared. Hence the reason why US senators and congressman have an excellent medical insurance package, one they would not share with the public at large. So that was certainly not very nice. But to them this sort of thing is a "success". Some call it a success to screw people. The meaning of the word depends on what your values are. Who is "we"? I did not know, you were a spokesman for your government. Rest assured, whenever I criticize the United States it's not you I'm criticizing, usually. Likewise when you criticize Canada, it don't bother me. In fact, please, bring it on "the powerful insurance industry is a big reason we don't have universal health care, not "fear of communism." Corporations do not want any oversight, especially by a third party not-for-profit group that can't be bought (ie, government), because it might reduce their profitability. No one suggested introducing communism as a solution, but the rightists used that word to invoke fear or disapproval, of the proposed plan. This was targeted towards the general public, ie. dumb people who don't fully understand what the word "communism" means, only a general perception that it is very bad. In truth socialism is a better word for the universal health care idea. But that word was also demonized, not even allowed to say it. Called it the S word... very clever. Very successful in maintaining the political ideology, regardless of whats truly right or wrong. US is a nation in a state of fear over many things, more so than in Canada. I think it's one important difference. People who fear act impulsively and with too much aggression. Thats why we usually beat you in hockey, bunch of wankers can't hold the puck. But I digress... For me, as a health care user I don't have much concern over my "choices". True, going to the doctor here is not like going to the supermarket and choosing from a menu of treatment options (some of which are worthwhile, others are offered just to make more money). The only places that try and do that to us here, are at the Vet. They always want to give us some stupid extra x-ray, or things like that. They ask me what I want. I look at them and wonder, how do they expect me to know whats the right choice to make, I'm not a doctor! You tell me what the best treatment is. In our case, with doctors and hospitals, we hardly ever make a choice, we get the best treatment option available, and cost is almost always NOT a consideration. We never have to balance our decisions for treatment based on cost. Except for very rare unusual circumstances with very new treatments or drugs that have not yet been accepted by Health Canada. When that happens that the cost can't be covered, people usually start a lottery to help that person. Thats the way we do it, here in the communist true north ;^)

Forget the bollocks, on the whole I say it will hurt the CPC. The average joe will hear about parliament being prorogued, and assume its because more bad stuff is happening. That will reflect poorly on Harper next time around on the election. Another nail, pass the hammer please

It is true, for the leftism part. Even the word "socialism" was demonized, now known as the "s" word. I think that's what eyeball was alluding to, with the communism remarks. That absurd form of paranoia is clearly part of the right wing agenda, and successful, whatever that means.

Yes he did, while being only slightly more doped up than Roger Waters was in a pink floyd concert. Theatrics were good though. One helluva show...