Cartman

As I get older, I find everything really expensive. Maybe the dog does actually eat that much!! In this case, however, I am assuming that the person in question is paying half of the costs of raising the dog? Or, is the judge just making an example here? As a person who is concerned about the treatment of animals, I wonder whether people will be more likely to kill their animals rather than pay such support? Off topic if important perhaps. Though a seemingly odd case, in BC I understand that welfare pays for raising pets, so why not make this part of divorce settlements?

I agree. With my satellite package I not only have to pay for the CRAP, but I cannot even delete the channels once I pay for them. Exactly. I tried to watch them once and suffered enormously. Watching this stuff is considered freedom?

If I am not mistaken, Svend plead guilty to the charges put forth by the state (not the injured party). This rarely happens when others engage in crime. His actions were reported over and over by the media which is also different than when most people engage in crime. For a rather successful person to do such an odd thing demonstrates a measure of irrationality. This is also different from most theives. Finally, he has lost a tremendous amount of respect and his bright career has been all but destroyed. Most theives have no career to speak of. I think the sentence was appropriate. I doubt he is a hardened criminal who is likely to repeat the crime or use a weapon. Sentences must fit the criminal to an extent, not just the crime in question.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...ort_040809.html I like pets, but...

As long as the hybrid truly gets excellent mileage, why why not? I have not really been impressed with many of them. I would like the gov't to go even further and offer non-refundable tax credits for those who own environmentally friendlier cars. I drive a little car and I try to drive it as little as possible.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...tion040806.html I didn't realize such a place existed in Van...unreal. Maybe BC Liberals will ask Campbell for such a room in the Leg.

At least in BC you know that you will be done with your Premier soon. How long might it take in Alberta!!!???

What a mess! Really, the taxpayer subsidized larger corporations and the little guy lost once again. Money meant for farmers (many Westerners) went to US corps. Once again, so much for the free market 'cause apparently nothing illegal took place. Wow...what a surprise.

Quick question...did you mean the KSA or the KLA?

A good point. Back home in smallhicktown BC, the cops used to offer us alcohol tests outside the local pubs. If we were over, he would obviously make us walk home, get a ride from someone sober or even give us a ride home. If we were under, he would then tell us that he was watching b/c we were not sure whether we were over in the first place. I think that the police should have the right to test people leaving bars. Hell...make bars include it in the cover charge or something. Seems dumb to wait until people are already driving and exposing others to risk. BTW...can we eliminate cell phone users too...PLEASE!

I don't know Take. I couldn't imagine having 2 or 3 wives. I think that if they were like my wife, I would be the one abused! Ha!!

Sounds reasonable to me. Anyone believe that we should start a large or massive arms buildup?

I would welcome those Americans coming to Canada. I certainly hope we do not close our border. I know that these soldiers made an agreement to serve in the US military, but I also suspect that these choices are not always entirely devoid of economic influences. That is, I suspect that many Americans use the military to try and get an education which I believe should be possible without having to serve in the military. I say this acknowledging that there are many holes in this perspective.

Although there are still problems in Alberta, if you take a hard look at administration, we are not the boogeymen of Canada. Even when it comes to health care, Alberta has actually performed well relative to other provinces over the past 15 years. Let's face it, every province cut back partially due to fed. gov't cut backs. So, is it time to base insurance rates on individual behaviour rather than on membership in a particular group? I mean, why are youth as a block uniformly discriminated? Not all youth are poor drivers and not all people over 25 are good drivers. I think insurance should be based on past behaviour. Is it time we have a public option along with private options here in Alberta? Is that not a balanced approach as long as we do not lose $$?

It is about using "safety issues" to invoke protectionism. That's an old ploy. Remember in the 80's when we used to run prolonged "safety inspections" on Japanese cars? Do you buy Bush's safety issue? I don't. At times, doctors will write prescriptions simply for the $$ involved and completely ignore "safety" concerns. Check it out below. http://www.cbc.ca/disclosure/archives/0301...ne/diane35.html

Orchard had McKay make a deal NOT to merge with the Alliance; the only reason Orchard supposedly supported McKay. McKay then turned around and did just that. The real reason he never ran for the new party was b/c he knew that people would go after him. He did in his own party. He never came straight out and made this an election issue for his people to vote on. Harper apparently had no problem with merging the parties in this manner. This is pure political opportunism at its worst. Seems to me that a party being forged out of broken promises and political opportunism from the start leads to flip flops on life and death issues like going to war in Iraq. Canadians felt more secure with Liberals stealing tax $$ then in supporting this party. BTW..what are the principles of this new party? Do they support a truly free market (including health care), are they in favour of war in Iraq this week, are they pro-choice or not? Will posters on this forum wait until policies are actually created to support them or just fall in line with everything they say?

Who are we talking about here? My understanding is that every leader is against sending our troops (at least now). I think that I would be hard pressed to find any politician currently in favour of sending troops to Iraq. Maybe Stockwell?

Older folks vote b/c they feel they have invested more over time, have more experience and have the time to consider issues. Political ruins await any politician that ignores the elderly and they know it. Youth are given lip service b/c they will do little about it. For example, the student loan service is in shambles and even during the last election with some vulnerable gov't members, little effort was made to sway their attention. This was the best opportunity for real positive change. I think we are right to not simply support a charismatic or populist leader, but I would really like to see a leader that is not too easily swayed to compromise principles. People are cynical and believe gov't irrelevant. I recently watched the Tommy Douglas biography and wish we had someone like him now...vision and strength.

I am really torn on this issue. Setting aside the issue of having equipment that is safe to operate, I cannot help but think that if we build up our military, we will be more inclined and pressured to use it when we should not. I was against the war in Iraq and I suspect that if we had greater military prowess, we would have gone in there. I also believe that slavik is right that $$ would be taken from other valuable programs. Finally, I suspect that the US is a common target for other nations b/c of its military. On the other hand, I might be more inclined to support military $$ if it was to only be deployed in cases of actual national defense (that has not been a problem for a long time) or in cases like Sudan. That was a sad news item. On the whole though, I am inclined to support a limited military. I know some people will balk at this sentiment, but I watched my father deal with the mental distress after serving in Korea (on the front lines). He was never the same after watching kids blown up or raped etc. You gotta calculate the human costs of war as well.

Hmmm...maybe they use Cdn documentation because it is known to be so high tech. For example, in Alberta we have these fancy new drivers licenses that they claim are very secure...likely the best in the country. Unfortunately, they do not just present them to you like the old ones, they mail them to you. Not surprisingly, some people are complaining that they are being mailed to the wrong address.

I agree that they voluntarily entered the military and this is important. On the other hand, some joined at the age of 17 years. They are old enough to go to Iraq but not old enough to buy alcohol. If the death toll keeps rising, I wonder whether this is going to become more of a pressing issue. Did anyone hear about the soldier Moore interviewed for F911 who is now being investigated for saying (on the movie) he would refuse to go to Iraq?

An old story, but still relevant. I highly doubt Canada will let in U.S. soldiers as refugees (seeking refuge from persecution), but morally should we let them remain here? http://www.cbc.ca/disclosure/archives/040120.html#army

http://news.sympatico.msn.ca/Health/Conten...btitle=&abc=abc I am so sick and tired of Americans (especially the Bush family) complaining about Canadian competitiveness. But even worse are Canadians who believe that other Canadians should kiss their asses in order to obtain some meagre economic scraps. The US is several times larger than we are and as soon as we find an economic edge, they complain until "the cows come home"; they whimsically institute trade barriers when desired despite the free trade agreeement. Maybe Harper and company should talk to Orchard about these issues? Remember him LOYAL Progressive Conservatives? Or...was he too easily forgotten? Stockwell...Orchard...Harper...sad. http://www.davidorchard.com/online/2do-index.html Glad to be NDP!

About seven years ago, when my wife was dying from cancer in her 20's and was in constant pain, I bought a bag of dope for pain relief. I thought that it was better than the "legitimate drugs" that ate away at the liver and had several other side effects. I thought that weed would be great because it would also restore her appetite. Unfortunately, as she was so adamant that her child have an honest mother who could legitimately say she never did drugs, she refused the weed. She could just not get over the stigma of drugs and that was very unfortunate. I am still a little pissed today about that. I just thought that this would be an interesting perspective on the issue. I do not think that all prescription drugs are better than illegal ones because anyone can find a doctor willing to give them any drug they want. I was always raised to be extremely conservative about taking any kind of drug including aspirin.

Can anyone ever find a Canadian who is not in support of our troops wherever they may be? If this was the point, it was a dumb one because few Canadians would be in support of taking away their arms, clothes or food while they are fighting. If memory serves, these troops were under US command, had been in Afghanistan and were taking care of these prisoners. Harper never said that we should just support our existing troops already deployed, he said we should send troops for a different mission and then changed his mind. Mansbridge gave him ample time to explain this glaring contradiction. As for our international prowess and influence in Iran, we are a small country and nobody is going to fight such issues on our behalf. After the "axis of evil comment", I question how successful the US would be.