caesar

Don't worry goldie; we KNOW that you understand little. Perhaps when you learn about the world and issues ; you will understand.

Obviously, it is time we made politicians hold more referendum votes to decide issues that Canadioans hold dear. Seems that they will say anything they that the believe people want to hear before elections; then do whatever they please after. Democracy is not just meant to mean our opionions are only taken to decide who makes the decisions for this country. Politicians should respect our wishes at ALL times. I get really tired of Bush bragging that makes the decisions; that he does not make decisions by observing opinion polls. In other words; our opinions are ignored. August; most of us know more than you think. I do not buy a car because I like the colour; what I don't know myself about the engine or other important information; I CAN RESEARCH and get informed. Sorry if you feel that is beyond your reach.

I followed the invasion of Iraq quite closely; I never heard Paul Martin come out with a statement like that. However, I did hear Harper whine that we should be there with "our American friends". It is Harper who will have us up to our necks in American sehenanigans. The USA has again ignored a Nafta ruling favouring Canada regarding softwood. Just as they did with a similar ruling by the WTO. It is Harper and the Conservatives that would look to complete the sell off of Canada to the USA that Brian Mulroney already accomplished during his term in office.

Bryant; you call maple leaf biased; and just what are you; openminded. yeah right. Layton made a great quote. I love it. Harper as primeminister is a scary thought; a coalition with the Bloc yikes. I do not really care for the choices we have at all this time round; However, we will probably end up with a coalition of some sort. Next election will be coming soon. Wonder how short it will be. Harper's buddy buddy with Bush and the USA despite his recent denials; is very scary and would hurt our Canadian reputation. Why should we work closer with a neighbour that has thumbed its nose at the rest of the world. Now it has its hand outr wanting others to help pay for the damage they have done. Unfair vindictive trade relation since Bush has been in office does not make me comfortable with any more ties to the USA and dependence on their market. It is time Canada got off its duff and started finding a more diverse trading partnerships. I believe a closer relationship with the USA while it continues to ignore international laws and holds prisoners in Cuba without their rights; while it allows prisoners in Iraq to be tortured; would be a very undesireable relationship. It would cost us too much money and would probably result in more danger of terrorist attacks in Canada.

When a federal politicians speaks of giving "More Power" to provincial governments; it means they are willing to allow provinces jurisdiction over certain things so that Provinces pick up the bills for paying for such programs. Usually programs that are proving to be expensive to pay for; frees up federal money for other purposes. Like Health care; starts with transfer payment to help cover the cost; then the transfer payments start shrinking.

many times parents with genetic problems that could be passed on to the child would abort prior to any problem reported by the doctor and possible not even detectable. Other times; it is sometimes necessary due to the mother's health problems or medications she is taking that could produce a child with severe health problems. Many times the mother is just too young. Some are the result of rape. Other than those cases; I have no problem with expecting women with no valid reason for seeking an abortion to pay for the procedure as long as it is not demanded up front. I do think counselling should be offered; I am sure there are many couples who would love to give the child a wonderful home.

Alliance; obviously you know little of the real problems if you consider all of Israel's actions are based on self defense. Neither is much of the USA's actions honestly based of self defense; as they would have us believe. Big Gunnar has it right. Both sides have committed atrocities and both sides have many people who do not agree with the atrocities of either side. I disagree with "Hate Laws" that are only for specified groups. Everyone and every group should be equally protected from hate crimes.

Women/girls who wish an abortion need not be subject to counselling other than that of their doctor unless they wish it. This would not necessarily be "counselling"; what you are really asking for is a lecture. Many of this elective abortions are to prevent the birth of a child that would have serious health defects and therefore heavy financial costs to taxpayers and family and in many cases a life of pain and difficulties for the child. this issue has been decided; It is those who oppose abortions that keep dragging it out again and again.

That is right Black Dog. Marijuana has many proven uses as an effective medicine with out the serious side effects of prescription drugs. For many conditions it would provide good viable medication at a very minimal cost. Why do you think the USA is so dead set against it. It is my guess that the drug companies do not want to lose all the money for prescription drugs. I t could save the Health system lots of money. People could even grow their own. Take this valuable commodity out of the drug dealers hands and save policing money for more serious criminal activity. Have legitimate growers who will pay taxes and contribute to our government tax base.

While I do believe that abortion should not be used as a form of birth control; I would not like to see them made unavailable again. Desperate young girls and women will find abortionists and attempt abortions themselves and die. We do not want to go back to back street abortions

The Press; is a BIG problems in my mind. A large majority of our newspapers, tv and radio stations are owned by a single company (CAN-WEST) that tends to publish articles favouring their point of view. I believe that this near monopoly on our information network could be very dangerous and not give consumers/ citizens a unbiased view of the news.

Gordon Campbell is a great candidate for most hated premier. His party calls themselves "Liberals" but are really conservatives and old Social Creditors; there just wasn't any viable party of that name to hijack the leadership of. He has closed hospitals cut routine eye exams, chiropractor, and physiotherapy as covered medical expenses. He has raised premiums for Health Care and increased seniors co payments for prescription services. (ours by 1400 and we are just receieving a decent company pension; certainly not wealthy. Hospital workers were dismissed and replaced by low paid contract workers. (Would BC now be able to survive a SARS incident) Others were forced to take a 14% cut in wages. Our waiting lists of course have grown; private clinics are operating. You pay for using the clinic; not the actual procedure. We don't scream too loudly; as although we have to pay for our medical services; it is either that or wait until it is too late. A two tier medical system is a reality here. Fair? No but better than dying. Where has the money saved gone; Large raises to doctors that I believe averaged about 50thousand per year; nurses are well paid and management just recieved an 18% increase. The rich get richer and the poor get nothing. Seniors get blamed for all the increasing costs. Why does EVERY pregnant woman now need a sonogram? Younger people seem to run to the doctor with every sniff and cough. prescriptions for HIV drugs are extremely high.

Why now is Reagan suddenly this great leader? He was a bit of a joke while he was in office. It would be stupid for Martin to go as Mulroney has been invited and even asked to speak.

We are paying MUCH MORE under Campbell; premium and share of prescription costs were increased dramatically. Taxes increased on cigarettes to pay for health care. Health care workers were replaced by contract workers but doctors got about a 50 thousand dollar raise; nurses and management got raises too. Drastic cuts to children's services. Then he sold off our assets to foreign interests including Hydro, ferries, and BC Rail. He even tried to sell off our Coquihalla Highway. Where did all the money go; To the road up to Whistler. The conservatives would destroy what is left. The health care system is very saveable.

Martin does not have to attend the funeral; he has spent too much time outside of Canada now and should be here attending to election issues. The governor general, Adrienne Clarkson, is attending officially for Canada. The jury in not still out of Bush's leadership and his policies. America is now the mosted hated nation in the world thanks to Bush's arrogant and aggressive actions. He believes that he is above international laws but sure wants others to abide by them.

As a Canadian; I come on these boards to remind other that despite his recent denials; Harper would have had us at the side of Bush and company invading Iraq. Like Mulroney, he will sell out Canada independence to USA interests. I do not want Canada to become America's little puppy dog. The USA has done much under Bush to cause dissension around the world and particularly the middle east. I don't particularly like any party leader; I think we do have poor pickings. At this time; my choice would be a coalition government to avoid any wild changes in policy. I do not want our Health Care system furthur destroyed by Harper's leanings towards privatation. I would like the health services that we DO pay for; to be forced to deliver services on a timely basis or be held accountable for paying the bills when we must seek health care elsewhere. One of Harper's platform that I do agree with is no large taxpayer funded national daycare. I do not mind assisting single parents on a low income to pay for daycare to allow them time to get on their feet; but I do not think that we should be paying or subsidizing day care for two working parents. I would like to see more families encouraged and enabled to stay home and raise their own children in the pre school years.

Mr Harper would probably make us a more of a target for terrorists by joining and approving of the reckless and vile aggressive acts of the present American government. Bush does not believe that he and his country need abide by international laws and the Geneva conventions.

Yes, that would be barbaric and unacceptable and wouldn't do anything to address the problem. Remember the bible also, says; "vengeance is mine; sayeth the lord." We do not need hate laws protecting any special interest groups. Any and all groups or individuals deserve the same protection regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or whatever. Special laws for one group only in unnecessary and more likely to build resentment or mistrust as any criticism of such protected special groups is pounced on and called racist. Members of these groups are not above criticism. To silence any such criticism with hate laws is a loss of freedom of speech and the right to question actions.

I don't find his remarks racist; there is much truth in them. We are now over protecting all jewish actions. The actions of the government of Israel; escape much valid criticism as everyone is afraid of being called racist. When they disobey international laws and ignore human rights; they are just as guilty as any other race. Racism is attacking others because of their race; it does not mean any Jewish organization or government should escape any honest criticism of their actions. We do not need any hate laws to protect individual groups of people. Libel is already prosecuteable. Any hate laws should not be protecting special groups; it should protect ALL groups from anyone or any group attempting to harm them unfairly or to incite any type of unfair retaliation. Special laws protecting special groups are racist itself.

Gun control is not a farce. We do not want to become a gun toting nation like our neighbours. No one needs to become a criminal; just do their duty and register their guns. It doesn't hurt an honest person one twit to register their guns. Anyone who refuses to register their firearms should not be allowed to own guns; as should anyone who does not store them safely to make them difficult to fall into the hands of children or criminals. Registration does not deny anyone who requires a gun from owning one. We all have our cars registered; didn't hurt a bit. Gun lobbying groups should just cooperate and not try to undo this law by protesting and driving up costs If enforcing stronger gun laws save one child's life; it is worth doing.

What wasteful spending do you refer to? Gun control. I would like to see it go forth. It is special interest groups that protest and try to put up road blocks that add to the cost of these programs. We all register our cars; why should we not be required to register our guns. It is no big deal for anyone with nothing to hide. We don't want this country flooded with guns; children accidently shooting themselves and others or trouble youths getting their hands of this weapons and shooting up schools.

Harper is talking the same type of cuts as does Campbell in BC. Union jobs are being destroyed and cheap unproven labour is being used in hospitals In BC seniors are paying much more for their prescriptions. We are not wealthy but now have to pay 1500 of our prescriptions. We pay the first 1100 with no help. My son has been waiting 3 months to make an appointment with a specialist for an injured knee. Suspected torn cartilage. He is paying 300 to 400 a month for physio without even having an MRI to diagnose his problem. For ALL WE KNOW; this physio could be doing more damage rather than help. In BC; eye checks are no longer paid for unless you are 62. And premiums were increased. As for the tax cuts; they have been recovered 10 x over by increasing gas taxes as well as increases in any other liscensing fees. We need not waste our time courting favour with USA until that country comes under more reasonable leadership. Campbell has made many health care items no longer covered such as chiropractors; eye exams, physiotherapy. My son had to pay for a private clinic to do a colonoscopy for a suspected cancerous tumour. He would have had to wait 3 months to see a specialist under our present system. It did turn out to be non-existent but if he could not have paid privately; that would have preyed on his mind. If Harper privatizes many wervices; we will have to pay the full cost or wait for too long for government coverage. We are paying high premiums for this coverage; we should get reasonable services.

"Almost as bad as a college frat initiation". It is much worse than that. Many of these people have not survived and many were innocent. The things being done to these people is not just stupid fun.

British Columbians; Listen to Harper; he sounds just like Gordon Campbell. Realize this; G Campbell may have hi-jacked the liberal party but he is not really a Liberal; his policies are like those of the New Conservatives. We will have even worse Health Care if Harper is elected and he will be butt kissing American interests. The rich will get richer and middle income people and seniors will go broke.

News sources revealed today that evidence has been released that proves that the torture of prisoners was approved by the White House /Bush prior to the Iraq invasion.