takeanumber

Proof: Niger Uranium Yellow Cake. Bush knew before the State of the Union that the whole thing was a sham (bad docs, etc) and yet, he repeated the mistruth. Hence, he lied. Conveying faulty intelligence, when you know full well that it's faulty, is lying. Now you can try to play around with the semantics...after all, if I ate the cookies, and I tell my mother that I didn't, that's not lying, I'm just conveying 'faulty intelligence'. Come now Reagan, surely your ethics are at least on par with mine. The documentation is not from Mr. Moore. You order an excellent copy of a British documentary that was repeated on PBS's "FrontLine". The name of documentary escapes me, but I assure you, it most certainly is there.

Well, if we're going to talk about principles here, what about Harper et al sitting down on the budget. Then having the hutzpah to complain about a budget deal with the NDP... Sounds like sour grapes really. Moreover, what about the Conservative principle of being grassroots and majoritarian, but when a majority of Canadians want same sex marriage and no election, well then, they ignore their principles. See with Martin, we always knew he was a populist. The Liberal Elite always straddle what the majority of Canadians want. That is true populism. (And I can point to academic studies to prove this: see Young, 2004. With the cons, well, it's different. They claim to be populist, but turn around and only listen to their out-of-step base. Cons seem to think that they really represent the true wants of Canadians, and what's hillarious, is that in spite of poll after poll, election after election that holds them at 30%, they continue to insist that this fiction is true. ---------- Bush looked me in the face and misled me on Iraq. He did it on purpose. Did he have base principles? I'm sure. But he broke an important one: on honesty. That's unforgivable. Buchard and company looked me in the face and misled me on the Referendum in 1995. They broke an important principle: on honesty. That's unforgivable. I do not feel as though Martin has ever lied to me. If anything, he's been ultra-honest about the scandal. Am I mad about the scandal and the waste of my dollars in Quebec? Damn straight. But I want it fixed. And I think Martin is an honest man, not covering anything up, and I think he'll fix it. He's been tough on Gagliano and the Chretien gang-bangers. Let's let the Liberals lock up that wing of the party. I think Martin is very principled indeed.

Yeah Reagan, I know people in the oil/gas sector who only work 4 days a week, and take 3 hour lunch breaks. They call it 'networking'. I keep my mouth shut about it, and just scoff when they complain about their quality of life. (seriously). I don't believe that many of those people work nearly as hard as they claim. I think that Alberta succeeds in spite of the Conservatives. Moreover, I think that Canada works in spite of the Liberals. I think the Liberals will do a much better job of holding Canada together, sponsorship notwithstanding, than the Conservatives, who have everything to gain by seeing Quebec seperate. It's what the Calgary School really wants: to be on par with Ontario in an ex-Quebec Confederation.

there's an element of truth in that it is a 'hidden' agenda. --------- Calgary is so dependent on Oil. It's an emirate really. A corrupt government that never changes...semi-free elections, largely because of blatant gettymandering and a censured media. Yet, there are good people here in Calgary who actually work. No, I'm not talking about the accountants who work for big oil downtown. They call a 4 day workweek and 3 hour, 3 martini lunches "work". No, I'm talking about the entrepreuneurs who have actually managed to diversify the economy here somewhat. It's still way too dependent on oil, but there is a lot of service sector and quaternary innovation happening. This is not because of government policy. Infrastructure, education, health and quality of life has really deteriorated here over the years. It's amazing how much money is wasted, and not even on social programs, but just in out and out patronage. Cons are no better than Libs. The more I think about it, it's probably better to go with the devil we know.

Alright, so corporation are stowing money in the Cayman's. They're dodging taxes, and clearly rent-seeking. And the justification for rent-seeking is what? They make jobs. Yeehaa. If I create a job, does that give me the right to register my company in the Cayman's and launder money out of the country? Using Conservative logic, the answer is: yes. Sorry, I believe in the notion of community responsibility. Call me old-fashioned, but you shouldn't plunder a society. Moreover, how many more jobs would be created in canada, through the multiplyer effect, if all of this wealth that is flowing out offshore was retained? If the problem is corporations sending money offshore, prevent corporations from doing it. How? Why, by growing a set of balls and fining them, my dear watson. As for the threat that if they're fined, and NOT allowed to free load, why, we'll lose jobs...I don't buy it. that's the knee jerk reaction from the CEO's. IF you try to reduce corporate welfare: it'll cost jobs. Un-lead gasoline? It'll cost jobs. Banning Abspestos? It'll cost jobs. Keeping more wealth in Canada by closing offshore loopholes: it'll result in more jobs. Now seriously Reagan, you can paint yourself out of the corner on this one by accepting that companies ought to pay their fair share for the society that they enjoy. I think 21% is reasonable. I'd prefer 25%, but hell, I'll take 21%. Why should it be lower? Should it be 0%. If we're to compete with the Cayman's, then yes, indeed, it should be zero. ------------- Harper wants to relieve pressure on the middle class?!? lol. Alright, so by cutting corporate tax, and middle class tax.....hmmm, who pays for hospitals, universities and schools? The rich don't have to worry, they already have private schools, and, if they're successful, they'll be able to have private hospitals, poaching the best ppl from the public service. The Conservative agenda is about growing inequality, including inequality of opportunity across the income quintiles. ------------- Why arn't companies flocking to Canada from the US? They are. Well: many companies have. And, the auto makers are in huge trouble in the States because of the healthcare costs. Do you want to replicate that experience here in Canada? In Canada, the auto-industry is blossoming. Canada is a major place for companies to come and set up from Europe, as a base to penetrate the US. The answer is: given the tremendous inflow of capital into Canada (something that those on the left denounce, personally, I think it's GREAT!) is proof of the success of a relatively .ow corporate tax rate: but they still HAVE to pay their fair share, otherwise, it's a net loss for society. ----------- Air Canada should have been put down a long time ago. I credit the phenom to Quebec pork. Bombardier and Air Canada (or, as I call it, Air Montreal) should have been allowed to flounder a long time ago. Again, thank the Conservatives for Air Canada. They set up a wonderful scheme back when they privatized it. Brilliant boys.

Calgary succeeds in spite of the PC association of Alberta, not because of it. No lessons are needed from the Calgary school. Thx for the greeting August. And thx Sweal for being the second source on the Calgary School. I think that support for the Cons would fall to 10%, and a handful of seats in Alberta and Interior BC, if the Calgary School agenda was laid out and made plain for Canadians. Sadly, the Canadian public doesn't have much time or interest in knowing policies, so we'll just resort to the old methods and snappy catchlines. "Hidden Agenda" here we come.

Well Reagan, my perception of the Calgary School is not formed on the basis of the CBC. I know the players in the Calgary School personally. As I mentioned, I count some of them as my friends. That's the great thing about Canada, you have the freedom to be completely and totally wrong -- just like my Calgary School friends. That said, their policies are well outside the mainstream. --------------- The effective tax rate in the United States for corporations, when they actually pay them, is around 31%. In Canada, 21%. We cannot compete with Bermuda, the Cayman's, Nauru, and the Isle of Mann. What many conservatives do not understand is that a race to the bottom is a race to the bottom. Conservative thought is centred on the individual: any success somebody experiences is entirely owed to the individual. Any obstacle is the fault of the government. This thought excludes any proper communitarian credit. Conservative businessmen are allowed to be successful in part because of their own ingenuity and hard work, and IN PART because of the excellent society we have here, the cost of which is bourned principally by the middle class. Why do Conservatives believe, in upholding corporate welfare and super-low corporate tax rates, that the middle class should bourne all the expense and some of the benefit while large corporation enjoy all of the benefit and none of the cost? Sounds like rent-seeking to me. I'm not out to tax corporations into the ground. They play a massive role in the economy. I want them to pay their fair share and not free-ride: be it through direct subsidy (credits) or indirect subsidy (unfairly low taxes). Is that so radical, to expect that corporation pay their fair share? Is it? I think a 10 point spread between the US and Canada is reasonable. Why do they need more pork?

My biggest strike against Harper is not that he's from the West. Hell, I'm from the West, and I suspect, should I move to Van or Toronto, I'd be a bit right of centre compared to the mean. My concern derives from his association with the 'Calgary School'. I am in a position to write a lot about the Calgary School, though I won't at lenght because I could write a book on it and most ppl stop reading after three sentences. I'll just say that the policies that Harper wants to pursue are in line with the Calgary School, and moderate Canadians need to think about what those policies entail, because many of them are quite radical to most sensibilities. For me, it's not that Harper's agenda is hidden. I know the Calgary School agenda remarkably well. Admitedly, most Canadians do not the first place to look for the books that comprise the thought of the Calgary School, but they do exist. Yes, I get along with many in the Calgary School on a personal level. I count many of them as my friends. But their policies are not suited for Canada. Some of their recent tactics (pitting minority against minority) demonstrate this. Harper isn't being clear with Canadians as to the nature of his vision, and the extent that the Calgary School will play in this vision.

Congrats Reagan. I had you confused with a typical lip-service conservative. There are tons of those in Calgary. Many people refused to enter into the RCAF because of the sea-kings, it has been a huge problem, but it's also insulting when a conservative uses the example of the sea-king as though they're actually concerned. The cons only care about the troops so far as it gets them votes with the social cons. Mulroney, and the Western Cons had a chance to make life better for the troops, and they screwed it up. The Libs are pretty bad, but the Cons get the prize for hipocracy. I don't see increased military spending as costing social programs. I believe that the effective tax rate for corporations, 21%, is a bit too low for all the value they get. They get an educated workforce, low healthcare costs, and in most provinces, great roads. They also get corporate welfare. I hate government waste. What I cannot abide is the Conservative plan of deep tax cuts, decreased social services, and increased military funding. How about a bit more social service, because you know, military families send their kids to public schools and public universities...and since we're not paying them enough, they won't be able to use the private healthcare system. See: the way I see it is that just because you don't make a lot of money, doesn't mean that you're a worse person. But you listen to Alberta cons talk, and they sound that way. And I take offense. My family earned soooo little. I think my mother, when she started, was pulling under 18 grand a year. It's insulting to imply that we can afford everything. So, to claw back social programs, and give out deep tax cuts, and then boost military spending, it's the wrong formula. I want the money spent well, like you. But social spending is not always wasteful spending. A lot of good money does good things through social spending.

The Chretien cuts sucked, but wages were extremely low under Mulroney. He did relatively little to improve the quality of life for the soldiers. You know, soldiers are people, and just because they've decided to sacrifice a lot doesn't mean that you can go full tilt and totally exploit them. Cons are just as bad as Libs wrt armed forces. Nuke subs and new helicopters do absolutely nothing to stock the shelves in military homes, especially ones with children. So, your patriatism and civic duty is conditional. Sick. You've demonstrated my point wonderfully.

You assume that: a. People are following the news. b. People care. c. People believe him. I think the people who care have already made up their minds. I think that there are other issues, and most people have not yet discovered that Harper has flip flopped on nearly every issue, except for homosexuals. However, the Cons have a whole gaggle of Harris losers running in ridings, so I'm sure that's going to hurt them too. Moreover, the cons were denoucing Guite as a liar before...now what he says is gospel. I think that there is plent of room for liberal spin here. I think that such liberal spin can work. I predict that we're stable. I don't think that many Canadians are going to be forgiving of the Cons and the Bloc imposing a 100 million dollar cost for an election that really, honestly, based on the results here, only benefit the BQ. Oh, and because of the finance reform, the BQ is really going to get a lot of money next year. Yeah, it's that bad. It's an election to fund the seperatists. I'm not sympathetic to the Liberals, but man, I'm really dissapointed in the Cons.

Both of my parents are in the armed forces. My grandfathers were as well. And one great grandfather. Most of my uncles and cousins are also in the armed forces. Why am I not in the armed forces? Medical reasons. Don't lecture me on civic duty. I was missing a parent for most of Somalia and Yugo. I also had the displeasure of being a military brat under Mulroney. It sucked just as much as under Chretien. So when Conservatives get on their high horse about defence spending, they're just paying lip service. Nobody cares about the armed forces because nobody cares about the soldiers. They're not willing to pay them for the dangerous work they do. Police officers and firefighters get paid more.

I think Reagan's statement says a lot here: I think that many Conservatives can't see around their own issues to see the issues of other Canadians. Corruption is important to Conservatives. Civil rights, equality, and social programs -- among other issues -- is important to Liberals, NDP, Greeners, and Blocquistes. Moreover, I'm sure many of you will find this shocking, but many Canadians think the NDP budget is a good one because it denies big business a tax break, retaining revenue for such priorities. Most Canadians know that Conservatives are just as corrupt as Liberals. And it's true. Stockwell Day, as well as dozens of other Alberta PC gangbangers are in the Conservative Party. They're all dirty, so why take the risk on the Conservatives?

Using 'gay' as a slur = no credibility for you. ---------- Canada's simpler time featured no voting rights for aboriginals, no Asian immigration, and really unfair divorce laws for women. I'm proud of how far we've taken our country in spite of the 'traditionalists' who desire such a 'simpler' country. I'm sure many veterans are proud with how far we've come too. We have a country that is totally the opposite of Nazi Germany. Their sacrifice is a reminder to us all to keep it that way. -------- A weakened armed forces is caused, in large part, by a lack of volunteers. I blame the lack of civic duty. It's not just the schools, and the governments who set education priorities, that is responsible. I think the parents deserve much of the blame.

The latest poll, released on May 6, put out by SES, has the Libs at 36, Cons at 30, NDP at 18, and Greens at 4, BQ at 12. I will now summarize the 2004 election results: Libs 36.7, Cons 29.6, NDP 15.7, BQ 12.4, Green 4.3. In sum, we are at where we were. If Harper fails to produce a majority, he's screwed. Anything less than a majority is a humiliation for himself and the party.

Where the public stands is irrelevant. It's about an equal right. Not a 'special right', you know, the kind that conservatives have such hard times with, but a real equal right. Rights are not subject to majoritarian whims.

The lines arn't underground because Nova Scotia wastes all of its money subsidizing wasteful industries and paving rural roads for votes. Nova Scotia has tons of money, it just doesn't spend it well.

Condi will have to resign once Bush is impeached. (I'm predicting that Bush will be impeached, if not in 2006, then 2007 fer sure.) Good luck to them with that.

I agree. The debt needs to be paid down too so that way we don't have a crisis in ten years. Let's get it get it all the way down to 10% of GDP. Boomer's will have a much nicer retirement that way.

The problem with Nova Scotia power is that the power grid is in Nova Scotia. It's pretty basic people: it's Canada. It's a hostile environment. Suck it up.

Klein is so arrogant, (The Match Game Crowd goes "How arrogant was he!?!?!") Klein is so arrogant, when they held a debate in his riding, he didn't go, he sent <<<BLANK>>> instead. It's an esoteric reference, but I'm sure some of our older members will get it.

American conservatives were applauding the execution on talk radio today. I think that the insurgents are totally breaking the Geneva Convention. Fighting from a Mosque! Come now, we all know that only Italians and Nazi's fight that way. (Italy, gothic line) Begging for help, and pulling the pin? Unnacceptable. That said: What that soldier did, from the Camera's point of view, was also against the Geneva Convention. It's sick.

It turns out that trans-fats are really all that harmful. Guess nobody sent you the memo. We're all adults here. Use Canada's food guide.

PWNED!

I'd be surprised if the police ever get to the bottom of this.