Stoker

I'm Canadian, and was always a fan of history, but in this case I don't have clue what your talking about............ Your post: Alludeds to the fact that the British crown tried to rid itself of the French Canadian minority........I ask you to provide the "W5". History......tradition....a link to the past........Why is Macdonald's face on our money? Why do we have a bird on our one dollar coin? Or a bear on two dollar bit? This leads me back to my first question (I think it was one of the first in this thread months ago), what will we gain by getting rid of the monarchy? Will becoming a republic bring forth new trade deals for us? Fix healthcare? allow us to lower taxes? Whats the point?

Nothing, but they shoot holes through your theory that the British crown wanted to rid itself of French roman catholics within Canada

Though I think a seperate West would be ideal, I would still be in favour of staying in the Commonwealth andf having a member of the crown as our head of state. With that said, an elected Senate would be a must.

Are you saying that Canada is not a democracy? Why do we need to be a republic to have a new political structure? IMHO, a triple-E senate would be a start, but that doesn't mean we need to boot the crown and become a republic.

What would you prefer? And why? What will we, as Canadians gain if we dump the Crown? Will the average Canadian's day to day life change if we became a republic? Whats the point?

Are you saying that if Gore was president, the Hurricanes wouldn't have hit Florida?

Yes, I don't see any reason why a nation can't takce a certain course of action that will protect them..... Would you say that calling up the army, declaring marshall law and arresting hundreds of of people in responce to a few kindnappings and some blown up mail boxes is not a big deal? Now how do you think that Trudeau (or any PM) would respond to the day to day problems that Israel faces? Now if a "de facto" civil war were to start within Quebec, how do you think the fedral government would respond?

I don't get it either. Care to dumb it down a tad?

Defence minister backs missile plan Perhaps the Liberal leadership is not as ignorant as I first thought..........the wonders never cease

You make a very good point here, in that I too agree that you can't judge Israel in the "same court of public opinion" as that of a North Korea or a China. But where I disagree, is in that we can't very well judge Israel in the "same court of public opinion" as that of Canada, the United States and other "western democracies", with the reason being, most other "western democracies" don't face the same daily threat that the Israels face. As I'm sure you remember/know of the FLQ crisis......remember the war measures act? Could that also have been called a human rights violation?

There is already an exsiting network.........FOX and the only thing stopping that is the CRTC. So what your saying is that sometimes a nation may have valid reasons to dislike another nation, and sometimes their dislike stems from nothing more then ignorance? No, it's not a reciprocal agreement, we need them more then they need us. Canada Exports - partners: US 86.6%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.4% (2003 est.) Imports - partners: US 60.6%, China 5.6%, Japan 4.1% (2003 est.) United States Exports - partners: Canada 23.4%, Mexico 13.5%, Japan 7.2%, UK 4.7%, Germany 4% (2003 est.) Imports - partners: Canada 17.4%, China 12.5%, Mexico 10.7%, Japan 9.3%, Germany 5.3% (2003 est.) And who did the Mob tend to pick on more? The strong or the weak? Canadians choose to be weak, and to allow the Americans to take care of us. Why should the Americans respect us, if we don't respect ourselves? And "should nots" don't count, we are a vassal state of the United States, which some Canadians need to come to terms with, then decide if they want to improve relations with the States or further the negativity. What year did the inspections stop orginally? WRT 90-95% of the WMDs gone, if I get let out on probation, and the court orders a no drinking order, and I have a six-pack of Molson in my fridge, am I breaking the law? Is the legal system working?

Who would you define as a centrist and extreme right winger? Whats Paul Martin? Never ment to characterize Canada as juvenile, just the Liberal party. WRT respect, as the saying goes, you catch more flies with honey then with piss and vinegar. By not "slapping her on the wrist", and his fear mongering about how Harper would bring us closer to the United States, I fail to see how anybody can miss Paul Martins opinion of the United States.......actions speak louder then words. Though it could be another debate, why not allow a "pro US", right-wing leaning news agency within Canada? So you have never cast blanket statements about America? How do we know it to be a fallacious argument? To be honest, I have not seen evidence that proves it to be correct or incorrect. Do you have any? I'd say yes, untill Canada has a complete change in how we defend oursleves and to whom we trade with. Before the US invasion, would you call the UN mission in Iraq a sucess?

So why is it a bad example? Did they not fight for a good cause? And even before they joined, when they were "neutral", did they not supply the Commonwealth with vital materails? Has America been attacked since 9/11? Now caesar, have at it: Do you have any real examples where the UN didn't fail?

So how does that make him a fanatic?

How is Bush a religious fanatic?

World War II. World War II. Today. Now if you please: Do you have any real examples where the UN didn't fail?

Why do the Repub's need to project anything? They are the winners........didn't you read Moore's message?

Do you live in Quebec or Ontario? (American aid during Ice storms) What about Manitoba? (Americans help during the floods) BC? (Forest fires US aid) Maritimes?(Hurricanies US aid) Or almost all of our NATO and UN commitiments? (most couldn't have happened without the help of the States) You are extremly navie if you think that the Americans "owe us"........ No, it's the United States looking out for their best intrests.......I wouldn't expect Canada not to look out for hers.......and those are with the Americans. Do you have any real examples where the UN didn't fail?

What is your definition of the extreme left? Marx? Engles? Or are they just moderates? No it indicates ignorace and disrespect, much like a teenager that listens to Rap music that promotes violence against police officers............trying to define themselves as being "bad" and/or the rebel. Actually it makes perfect sense.......you see it's a play on words I agree with you here.......that was a wide reaching statment. You don't think the other world leaders that were able to give their respects to the Americans were not also concerend with that? I should hope that our Prime Minister could walk and chew gum at the same time Did he punish Parrish? Probably pointing out that based on US support towards Israel, they could be one in the same? ......So? Mr. Beichman is talking about Left-Wing Canadians......namely the Libs since they are the only left leaning party that maters. That theory is complete and utter Bull Jive...... It's cheaper for the Americans to purchase our goods, then it would be to invade and occupy Canada. He's using Al-Jazeera as a contrast In that we allow Al-Jazeera, but why not Fox and the Italian Channal??? I wouldn't say a lie........perhaps an exagaration or perhaps the truth.......I'd have to see some proof either way. Compared to our relationships with the Americans under Mulrony, did the relationship improve under Jean, well at the same time our dependence on the Americans increased? Remember our election? What was PM PM's big reason for not voting for Harper? Do you live in a glass house?

Canada's cold shoulder to U.S. *Break out the tin-foil hats*

I think a fair question to ask MS is how s/he would ensure that these programs would work, unlike the programs in other nations that have failed? Doesn't mean I'm intrested in the programs, just intrested to see what MS would do differently. In principle, I'm with caesar and playfullfellow

How are they unjust? Do you think that no drug users affect the lives of others? So what if I get blind drunk, don't hurt anybody, but get stopped in a roadblock? Has a crime been commited? Am I to understand that if you don't get caught, it's not a crime?

So you are comparing drug dealers with those people? Yes, any person slinging dope is a true patriot and moral crusader I tend to agree with you, in that the state shouldn't be a adults babysitter, with that said, until the law is changed, it is the law. Couldn't that philosophy be used with any law? Am I a slave because I can't drink and drive? Kill somebody that i don't like? Steal a 2005 Corvette? What gives you those doubts? When the news showed the news clip of the police raid, and the throngs of people watching/protesting the raid, the majority of the people appeared to be young teenagers, some smoking joints. WRT liquor stores, there are laws preventing them from selling to people under 19 (as I'm sure you know) and if caught selling to minors, they would be fined and could lose their liquor licsense. Same with tobacco products. Is there any laws preventing pot dealers from selling pot to minors? But the usage has declined right? What is the difference? Probably the same thing that happaned with the Mafia

You mean the same biker gangs the help run the drug trade? The same gangs that have grow opps, for pot, in surrey? The same gangs, that's dope could very well be being sold in the before mentioned store?

You make it sound as if it is "alright" to break the law.......once and while. And isn't the store across the street from an elementry school? Britannia park? And wasn't it concerned parents and shopkeepers that "made it their mission" to get the store shut down? Even though our pot laws are lax, it's still illegal. Misguided? Teenage use of pot in the states has gone down, well it is going up here...... Do you advocate teen drug use?