pinko

Thank-you for sharing your personal experience with me. An acquaintance of mine worked in one of the Arab countries and ran afoul of the law when caught consuming alcoholic beverages apparently in contravention of religious customs and law. As I recall he was sujected to the lash. I have not been to any of the countries in the Middle East and really have no desire to do so. I am wondering what your view is of the substantial funding provided by the USA to Israel. Is it not the case the IDF acts in concert with the Muburak dictatorship in oppressing the Palestians? What are your views on the democratization of the Middle Eastern states?

Maybe Israel needs to learn to get along with it's neighbours. There is a price to pay for being a bully.

Betsy: I have been following the discussion here and I am wondering if you will inform me whether you believe in the scientific method. Secondly may I please be advised when it is you believe the earth first originated. Do you believe in the virgin birth? As you are aware from the posts here there is some scepticism from those with a functioning brain that the belief system you embrace is a rational one. For the record I am an atheist.

Sorry you feel that way. If it helps I am pulling for Green Bay.

I don't follow baseball or basketball but I understand Toronto had many lean years in both sports. I remember watching baseball when Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were in the limelight.

I don't know you very well but from what I have noticed you are able to articulate a well reasoned position on a variety of issues being discussed. I only used China as an example is it is, for better or for worse, coming of age. Certainly it has many difficulities ahead some of which is related to demographics and some of which has to do with regional pockets of wealth side by side with regions where people live in poverty with no social safety net. I can say without any reservation I have no animosity towards you as an individual and that you are American is, in my view, not an issue. JBG and I have posted in other forums and have been on the different side of a number of issues. At times we may have been atagonistic to each other however we have managed over the years to have a certain respect for each other. At least that is how I see it. Those of you who live in states bordering Canada know that we have much in common. What is the difference between a young man or woman playing hockey on either side of that border other than nationality? Although there is a healthy rivalry I don't see much difference.

What is your position on this particular issue?

What point are you trying to make? By the way have you read The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins?

When I have travelled very little time has been spent discussing the merits of the American way. There is an element of frustration in your post although in stating your position you seem to overlook the fact that your country is currently the primary world power. I am prepared to concede that Canada and the USA have a mutually beneficial realationship and that it isn't my intention to attribute blame solely to your country. As you know China is a rising power thanks, in part, to the integration of a market economy to that of a Communist regime. Much like its partner China is expanding its influence throughout the world including here in Canada. It should also be noted that Canada has granted your country privileged access to our oil and gas reserves as mandated in the proportionality provisions of NAFTA.

For six days now, the Arab world's most populous nation has been shaken by thousands of demonstrators calling for an end to the dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak. The marches, the shouting, the anger have been generated largely by young men. So far the Army has stayed out of the fray and has left the attacks on demonstrators to the much-feared security police. President Mubarak , who has ruled the country with an iron will since 1981, has vowed to hold onto power. What happens in Egypt will have a profound effect in the region and throughout the Arab world. In our First Hour, we look at unrest in Egypt and explore the possibility that a revolution in that country could spread to other Arab dictatorships. Is it true reform and democracy or is it all about jobs and economics? Read more about hour one here http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/shows/2011/01/30/egypt-protests---cellphone-radiation---ken-nordine/#hour1

"So if they throw out the autocratic rule and decide to go another route - even if they have free and democratic elections and vote for an Islamist government, do we not applaud them for achieving a measure of self-determination because that is what we want for all oppressed people?" Yes. I am somewhat surprised that American leadership is so tepid in it's response to this event. Perhaps the fact that the model endorsed by the hegemon to the south included anything but a free and democratic state. Rather what was offered was a large security force and army funded and equipped through American largesse and used to suppress, kill, maim and intimidate anyone resisting the dictatorship in place.

The disintegration of the American empire is a sad thing to watch especially with the myopic view of this fellow named Bush-Cheney. Is he a typical yank?

So what? Anyway those links add to the gloom and doom suggested by you.

http://riskreport.weforum.org/

From what I have seen through media reports the war on drugs is being lost and in addition much of the weaponary used in these violent incidents comes from the USA.

"Okay...wouldn't want to speed that up...I prefer a long, agonizing decline into a lower but quite acceptable standard of living, like most of the world lives today." I have an acceptable standard of living now and fully expect that to be the case until I die. Less consumption is a good thing in my view at least as it relates to western societies.

You have a point. Paul Martin, with the advice of that buffoon General Hillier, entered the war in Afghanistan. Likely Chretien made a backroom deal before he left to mitigate some of the bad feelings about not joining the so called coalition of the willing. I don't recall either the NDP or the Bloc ever supporting the invasion of Afghanistan.

Fair enough. I am not painting all Americans with the same brush but am merely pointing out the obvious. Canada is a bit player in the current scheme of things although it should be noted Harper and the Canadian military have sucked Canada into these endless wars. This is especially the case in Afghanistan. I don't hold you personally responsible for the shortcomings and excesses of your government and military.

Americans also support a government with a huge military and generate a substantial income on producing and selling arms to despotic regimes like that of Egypt and many others. Americans also seem to support the likes of the Patriot Act and the abrogation of the Geneva Conventions. Perhaps you would like to explain the concept of The New American Century before pretending the USA isn't seen as an empire.

I wish the Americans the very best in addressing their debt. While there may be no simple answer to this problem it is my observation that the wealthy in the USA have been able to influence public policy in a manner which has negatively impacted many American citizens. With its bloated military and inefficient healthcare system the USA is on a road to destruction. As a nation it has historically embraced war as a means to gain control throughtout the world. The folly of this self serving arrogance is evident in the crumbling infrastucture and new world order. To my yankee friends I say suck it up as yours is an empire in decline.

As a consumer a dollar at par with the American buck is fine with me.

Five years of the Harperites is more than enough. Out with Harper and his cast of trained sheep.

"They generally do what the people want." Which people would you be referring to?

"The purpose of the Senate is long-term, regional representation, not short-term popular representation, which is what the House of Commons is for." No. The purpose of the Senate is to reward political hacks and bagmen there, chump. The Harpocrits are using it quite effectively in this regard. As I mentioned the Senate should be abolished. By the way you do realize there are four regions with representation in that form as well as through each province.

The Senate should be abolished.