Jade Dragon

There was no misrepresentation of the debate in any of the previous events. In each of the events mentioned the immediate reaction of the industrial establishment and the politicians they controlled was to deny the event. I could have used more examples, such as the reaction of the tobacco industry and its quack scientists to refute the health hazards of smoking. It is quite obvious that so called experts are being hired by the oil industry and other polluters to minimalize the dangers of global warming so that they can continue with business as usual. After all, it is much cheaper to bad mouth your critics than to actually do anything about it.

It is sometimes useful to review past events dealing with the environment when dealing with the credibility of the global warming deniers. Event one - DDT indiscriminately kills wildlife and poisons the environment - Denied by the pesticide companies. Event two - Automobile exhaust causes smog - Denied by the auto industry and the oil companies. Event three – Burning coal caused the poisonous smogs in London – denied by the coal industry. Event four – Burning coal cause acid rain – denied by the coal industry. Event five – chlorofluorocarbons destroy the ozone layer – denied by the chemical and refrigeration industry. Event six – over cutting of trees destroys the watershed and causes flooding – denied by the forestry industry. Event seven – greenhouse gases cause global warming – is there a pattern here?

Sadly, the video is all too true. News for the uneducated. Sound bites rather than real commentary and analysis. Fortunately, the BBC and CBC both have programs that offer more in depth analysis.

I agree. As magnificent a spectacle as the Olympics is I get very tired of the nationalistic fervour surrounding every event. My wife will be glued to the TV when the games are on. I will be reading a book.

I've done this test a couple of times. I always end up somewhere near the middle of the lower left quadrant.

I suspect that is not going to happen. Check out past US elections. With only 36 seats in the Senate up for re-election it is almost impossible for any real change to occur. For it to happen the Republicans would have to win at about nine Senate seats from the Democrats. Even in the 2008 Senate race there was only a change of eight seats in what was regarded as something of a landslide by US standards. Incumbents have a huge advantage in the US, that being that they always outspend their challengers. It is going to be even worse with spending limits removed. However, you could be right. We'll have to wait until November to find out. Here is a link to the 2010 Senate race http://uspolitics.about.com/od/elections/l/bl_2010_senate_race.htm

Another part of the strategy for dealing with the Taliban that might have more success is the proposal that NATO use cash to buy off insurgents. This was a strategy that turned out to be surprisingly successful in Iraq. Coupled with negotiations and continued military pressure it just might work.

Actually fascist superstates do not give permission for their colonies to become independent.

I cannot follow the link, it goes nowhere. But I do wonder where this statistic comes from. Is some agency roaming the world surveying all Christians residing in nations where Christianity is a minority? It seems to me a dubious statistic at best. I did manage to find this other link, which may be the source of the story. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ec6_1261039541&c=1 I also found this link. I am not sure how genuine One Free World International is. Is it actually an organization promoting religious tolerance around the world or one of these ministries set up to enrich the founder? I noter the the donation button is prominent in the website. http://www.onefreeworldinternational.org/

I remember Mr. Roberts. Sadly his career nose-dived after he left Bonanaza (strangely of his own choice).

There are a number of things that could be done to improve Canadian democracy, and a few of them could be implemented immediately. One of these is to place the minutes of cabinet meetings online within 24 hours instead of keeping them secret for 30 years. Sweden already does this and certainly Canada could follow. A second is to get rid of all the nonsense that occurs in the House of Commons. Get rid of the jerks who continually interrupt speakers and make them apologize before they are readmitted. If the US Congress can show this courtesy, certainly Canada should be able to as well. Require that all lobbyists place their presentations online so that the public can what they are actually attempting to get the government to do. Others are more difficult, but could still be implemented. Go to proportional voting instead of plurality voting, or at the very least do what the French do and require that all elected official receive at least 51% of the vote. Get rid of the Senate - it really serves no useful purpose and Canadians do not need another elected body to delay legislation.

Pardon me; but isn't the title of this post something of an oxymoron?

Western Prairies too, Bubber. We had a miserable spring and summer, although August was surprisingly warm.

I suspect that is because you do not realize just how corrupt and undemocratic the US government has become. Mid-term elections are coming up in November. What do you want to bet that the monied interests that control the US government will make sure that there is almost no change in who is in power?

I suspect some of the claims in this article are exaggerated such as the claim that Canada would become part of a fascist superstate. Other proposals are simply mirroring what other nations have already done. Travel to Western Europe and you will find that borders have all but disappeared between member of the EU. The CFR has been around since 1921 and from all appearances is a moderately left-wing organization promoting American interests and providing advice to the US government on international issues. More can be read about it here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_on_Foreign_Relations The CFR hardly appears to be the evil imperialist bogeyman the writer of the article paints it to be.

This is simply one more blow to a political system already badly corrupted by too much money. American democracy is not sunk yet, but there is now one more hole in the ship.