pinko

There are very few so called closed shops.

I don't share your opinion.

"Greater government control means less freedom and leads to the kind of extortion we see going on with public sector unions, i.e. the teachers in Wisconsin." A lot of hyperbole but no facts to back it up.

No problem.

If I understand you correctly I would pick the party(neighbour) I perceived to have interests similar to mine. By the way I have noted your comments concerning the role of the police and certainly don't exclude such considerations.

I appreciate the link but perhaps you could highlight the point you wish to emphasize.

Here are two concepts I would like you to consider. 1. The Public Interest 2. The Greater Good Please explain to me your undertsanding of these concepts.

You must have me confused with someone else. From my point of view government should play a very active role in our society.

If I am dead then it doesn't matter. Any of these events you describe can and do occur in many neighbourhoods with or without your hypotheticals.

I already have.

Has it ever occurred to you that what happens in the USA may impact decisions north of your border? The party Mr. Harper leads has a similar constituency to that of the Republicans in the USA.

I would cozy up to the Hell's Angels.

Funny you should mention the Hell's Angels. I lived in a comfy middle class neighbourhood in the burbs and several doors down from me lived a Hell's Angel. He actually was a good neighbour. I also have been told that when folks like the crack dealer you refer to in your example come to a neighbourhood where the Hell's Angels locate the crack dealer is given some guidance by the Angels if it is felt that the safety of the neighbourhood is at issue.

Amid the hype of Chinas rise to global power, the most important story of our generation is being pushed aside: how Americas rapidly growing population of the unskilled, unemployed, and disaffected threatens the nations wealth and stature. In How the West Was Lost, the New York Times bestselling author and economist Dambisa Moyo sheds light on how a host of shortsighted policy decisions have left the economic seesaw poised to tip away from America and toward the emerging world. Faced with this impending calamity, the United States can choose either to remain open to the international economy or to close itself off, adopting protectionist policies that will give the country time and space to redress these pervasive structural problems. Incisive and illuminating, How the West Was Lost not only exposes the policy myopia of the West that has led it onto a path of economic decline but also reveals the crucialand radicalpolicy actions that must be taken to stem this tide. http://us.macmillan.com/howthewestwaslost-1

"By small government, I mean a restricted mandate that concerns itself with justice and the maintaining of the sanctity of person and property and the freedom and liberty to act as long as that fundamental premise is not violated by others or groups." Would you please provide some specific examples of this abstract concept. I note your focus is on the greater good. What if these individual rights you preach cause damage to "others or groups". Where is the public interest addressed in your dissertation?

"The purpose of Government, it's raison d'etre, is fundamentally to ensure the individual sanctity of person and property." Where, in this statement, is there a recognition of the collective rights of the society?

I am wondering if you could identify the "we" you speak for. Your post seems to infer you are not only speaking for yourself but others. It might also be helpful and a benefit to others for you to indicate your background. I do think your faith in the so called free market is misplaced. I take the position there is no such thing as a free market.

Obviously you lack a proper understanding of the history of the labour movement and the nature of collective bargaining. It is unfortunate that the public school curriculum doesn't include such courses. It is quite evident from your comments you know very little about the subject matter. Have you considered taking some courses of this nature?

My three grandchlidren here in Manitoba are in French Immersion. In Vancouver, where my son lives, Chinese would probably be a better second language to learn.

Why do you go to Thailand every year, Saucepan?

You should know, Saucepan.

Probably

So if I burn an American flag what will that mean to you?

I wonder how many of those American tourists are there to buy sex with children?

I am stii waiting for that information on FDR.