caesar

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"What in God's name is the World Court getting involved in this question for? (I don't think the US has a veto on World Court decisions.)" Because it is a world issue, The World Court makes the legal findings / The UN then acts on these decisions. The USA uses their veto continuously to avoid Israel taking responsibility for its illegal actions. Israel is now asking them to use their veto, again. Round and round we go. "You really don't get it, do you." I DO get it; you probably do too; you just refuse to acknowledge it. US experts HAVE, reluctantly acknowledge it, recently. Terrorism has increased. The terrorist were dinged but most have just been scattered; ready and able to rebuild.

" agree completely with you. My point is that even if your store offers the best products at the lowest prices, customers may choose not to buy from you. Are the customers dishonest? Do they trade in bad faith? " So where is our disagreement. I am talking about the USA government and Big business not individuals. I understand that we must sell them certain products whether we want to or not; under the free trade agreement. That includes; even when we have environmental concerns. I do know, that some American company is suing Canada for refusing to sell water. I am not really in complete understanding of how this works; but...... The recent finding at NAFTA, that Canada does not unfairly subsidize our lumber issue on which the USA has been collecting punishing duties to the tune of billions of dollars. The USA government has so far refused to acknowledge this finding. It has handed out our money to the Lumber industry in the USA which I believe is illegal according to our FTA. I, myself, do try as much as possible to buy Canadian, only. I believe, it should be binding on our government to buy Canadian/ Provincially, only whenever possible. Government money spent, in their own jurisidiction; would find more money returning to government coffers via employment and company taxes. This could make the product / service cheaper than the competing foreign product in the long run.

krusty; The USA did not have the right or the mandate to invade Iraq. It was against nternational law to invade a country that has not attacked another. The war on terrorism should have been finished. No one is really concerned about Saddam but how abut some concern for the thousands of Iraqis killed and maimed; the young American and British soldiers who died; not in defense of their homeland; but on Bush's whim. Then there are the REAL terroists who were allowed to escape and rebuild. The invasion of an Arab/Muslim country without just cause will only lead to young people from those regions in believing that joining the terrorists is the only answer for them. This has happened and North America is NOW in more danger of more terrorist attacks. The USA's continued support and use of their veto to protect the government of Israel when the majority find them in contempt of human rights abuses and aggression. Even now, the World Court has found that the fances built by Israel are illegal; wait and see; The USA will, yet again, come forth with another veto to protect them from removing the illegal barrier. The Palestinians are entitled to their rights being protected, too. They are NOT all terrorists. The Palestinians are entitled to live in peace, too. You just don't get it. American courts and Congress ARE now "getting it" Bush was wrong and his actions have made him no better than Saddam. Torture is NOT acceptable just because Americans are the ones doing the torturing. When they allowed themselves to come down to the level of the barbarians; they lost the world's respect. There are many Americans who do realize this invasion was wrong; their young people died for the lies coming from their leaders. We expected more from a "civillized" country that we thought the USA represented.

QUOTE Is Gordon Campbell really that bad? The CBC news in the US made it seem like BC loved getting the olympics and did not mind the expense. Is this not true or has the government bungled it? Yes, Gordon Campbell is that bad. He, personally, got arrested for drunk driving in Hawaii and refused to resign despite his previous position of screaming for the opposition heads when one of them did lesser wrongs. Despite increasing premiums for healthcare, breaking contracts with nurses; and replacing hospital union workers with low cost contract worker; our waiting lists have grown for medical procedures and operations. Seniors premiums for prescriptions were dramatically increased for most. There was a tax reduction which quickly disappeared for all but the wealthy with increases in licenses (fishing, driving) 3.5 cent per litre of gas., etc. He sold control of many of our resources to foreign interests. And yet despite selling off all these assetts; our defit has increased. He has made cuts to children's ministries. BC has been admonished at least twice by the UN for downgrading women's and children's rights. He has lowered the working age of children to 14 on parental consent; no safeguards. Money is available for a fancy highway to a ski resort; A rolls royce costing "RAV" line with excessive tunneling to the airport. (which could prove to have very costly overruns). All for an Olympics; which could prove to have no lasting benefit to our economy. We had a raid on our legislature concerning possible drug dealings and organized crimes. There was the underhanded forgiveness of rents and fines to the fish farms and the Doug Walls affair. We now have 3 ministerials aides who have been suspended due to suspicion of drug dealing. One of whom, is still recieving a paycheque from the government. I could go on and on.

"You ever been to Cuba and I don't mean in a resort? I think not. But if You think it is so wonderful over there do everyone a favor and move rasie the collective IQ's of both countries. " Do you write English; what are you talking about at the end. What's a rasie???? No, I have not been to Cuba. My brother and his wife were in Cuba. No, it was not in some resort. They were there on a farm/ranch tour as he is a rancher. They found the people poor but happy and very friendly. It could hrive if it were allowed to trade freely wih the USA. The USA does do some "humanitarian" trade with Cuba. (Poultry; but only after they saw how well Canada was doing trading there)

I am talking about government treaties. I am not confused. You are. California bought our power and last I heard still hadn't paid up. American citizens and house builders do want our lumber. It is the American Beef Producers that are putting up resistance to our beef being allowed in. My problem has never been with individuals. I is with the Americangovernment and big business that tries to blck our trade so they can charge the American public inflated prices.

No, We did not believe that there were any large stores of WMD when the USA wished to invade. Speak for yourself. neither did Former American intelligence agents for Sanity. They warned Bush prior to the invasion that his intelliigence sources were suspect. As soon as Bush and co started producing fraudulent information and forgeries; anyone with half a brain knew their "evidence" was suspect. That is why the majority of countries wished to allow the weapons inspectors to carry on. There was NO need to invade.

"Actually the university of Alberta and youre tax dollar payed for it." We wuz robbed!!!!! Pay back your student loan, then, deadbeat. Pay for your own education.

We just had a NAFTA decision that come down in favour of Canada that htey are just ignoring. Yes, I am saying they do not honour their agreements. They are dragging their heels on re-opening the border to our beef, too, despite their own panels finding that our industries are too intertwined to differentiate and that the borders should be re-opened. They are charging a duty on our lumber that they are refusing to refund.

Canada is just fine the way she is. Well respected and compassionate. There is more to life than who has the most money. That is what seems to preoccupy the Albertan separatists. Money, money, money. American wannabees. Greed and selfishness only leads to others resentment. I think we have a fairly good balance here in Canada. I would like to see the Federal Government take over ALL control of Health Care and put an end to all the games being played. The Provinces will never stop trying to pry as much money as they can from Ottawa. They will not even try to make the Health Care system work. It is used as a tool to ask for more money. There is just as much waste and corruption in our provincial governments as in the Federal Government. If Cuba can have universal Health Care that works; Canada certainly should be able to. Having it spread out among the provinces just means duplication of services and money siphoned off for more patronage jobs for the local political appointees. I have no problem with charging user fees to those who overuse and abuse the system. Everyone tries their best to get as much money out of the government coffers as possible. It is our (taxpayers) money; quit wasting it.

"Americans are not dumb they just have no need to know about Canada which is my point" Just like they didn't need to know if their intelligence on Iraq was valid; eh. Didn't really matter as they had every intention of invading the country for their own reasons. U of A University of Alabama??????? I really don't give a damn; what American's think of Canada. Canada should just get off its duff and look for more fair and diverse trading partners. I am sure we would be able to find other countries that could put our resources to good use. Why keep banging our heads on the American door. Until the USA is prepared to honour agreements and trade in good faith. Forget it; look elsewhere.

I guess Saddam forgot to tell his buddies (The insurgents) where he stashed them. Very silly of him eh. Give it up. Nobody, not even Bush, himself; believes that there were any viable weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The USA Congress doesn't believe it. Geeeesh.

You are not the West. BC is the West and I have not heard of anyone here who wishes to leave Canada. I know you would like to use our ports but sorry. We are now an official "have not " province; you wouldn't want us to tag along. So, goodbye, so long, farewell. Parting is such sweet sorrow. You will need all the oil to keep you warm.. I believe we would be very content to remain a part of Canada. United we stand; divided you fall. Would you like me to pack your bags. I am tired of your Alberta whining; you are outdoing Quebec.

GOOD BYE. LEAVE; WHO CARES. We will survive; but will your little country

"the US does not give a shit what Canada does niether do Americans infact youre lucky if they can find it on a map. The world unfortunatly does not revolve around Canada." Sorry to hear that Americans are so dumb. Many I met are not that ignorant. Perhaps they need to improve their schools. I presume you went to school there as you cannot spell., make or make sentences. Come to think of it; the Americans couldn't find all those WMD that they claimed were in Iraq and that they KNEW where they were. he he. Oh the government of the USA is quite aware of Canada. We do provide them with much of their power sources and we help fund their space program, too. We do have a large border and they are aware of us. They are, also, aware of our oil resources up north and are trying to lay claim. (Canada is now mapping out the boundaries between Canada and Alaska to ensure they keep their mitts off.) American companies are always right here bidding on projects whenever our governments have a large one. And Americans (California / Shwartzenegger) are not too happy about all the film jobs going to Canada.

"the US does not give a shit what Canada does niether do Americans infact youre lucky if they can find it on a map. The world unfortunatly does not revolve around Canada." Sorry to hear that Americans are so dumb. Many I met are not that ignorant. Perhaps they need to improve their schools. I presume you went to school there as you cannot spell., make or make sentences. Come to think of it; the Americans couldn't find all those WMD that they claimed were in Iraq and that they KNEW where they were. he he. Oh the government of the USA is quite aware of Canada. We do provide them with much of their power sources and we help fund their space program, too. We do have a large border and they are aware of us. They are, also, aware of our oil resources up north and are trying to lay claim. (Canada is now mapping out the boundaries between Canada and Alaska to ensure they keep their mitts off.) American companies are always right here bidding on projects whenever our governments have a large one. And Americans (California / Shwartzenegger) is not too happy about all the film jobs going to Canada.

How soon we forget that which proves false; Bush said that Iraq was an imminent threat to the USA and was capable of striking the USA in 45 minutes, I believe was the figure. That is how he got the okay to attack. Then suddenly it changed to fee the Iraqis. He did that to many. Freed them from the shackles of this world. The invasion of Iraq was discussed long before 9/11. Bush was just looking for ANY excuse.

The people on welfare are not all bums and neer do wells. Many have incapacitating illnesses that does not allow them to work. Others have mental diseases that renders them unemployable. When these people do not get enough assistance to take care of themselves they end up on the streets begging and harassing people. It sure does nothing to make Canada look more attractive to tourists. It can damage a respectable business by taking over the neighbourhood with these homeless people begging on the streets. We need to take care of these people with mental problems or addiction; not only for compassion but to avoid driving them to the streets to harass citizens and tourists. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away. We never used to have street people harassing you whereever you go.

What a bunch of nonsense. Fingers were pointed at Canada for the blackout; it was an American caused problem. Canada was blamed for the WTC terrorists getting in that country; they were in the USA on legal visas for the most part. Bush did get very nasty when Chretien did not join in on the invasion of Iraq. The only province that did support the invasion of Iraq was Alberta. The UN did NOT sanction the invasion of Iraq. The USA does not trade fairly as agreed to under NAFTA; when they are found in the wrong; they just ignore it. Even their own experts said that trade in beef should be immediately re opened to Canada long ago, still they drag their feet. Has California ever paid for the hydro power we supplied them with several years back. MB There was NO broken ceasefire . Where do you yankee wannabees dream this up. American citizens are now learning the truth of how they have been lied to by their own government.. I suppose you characters think that it is okay that the USA government condoned holding prisoners against the Geneva conventions and that torturing the prisoners is permissable.

Then why does Bush whine so much when we make decisions contrary to his hmmmmm. Why do they play games with Free Trade. They don't care about Canada but they sure do want our resources. They just don't want to pay a fair price. If Canada were not here; whom would they try to blame when something goes wrong. blackout, terrorists, BSE, etc.