fellowtraveller

This is the second time, in a total of two discussions, that you've ascribed comments to me that I have not made. I did not say or imply "that Canada has totally lost control, as you say, of the corporations imo". That is your opinion, not mine. Please refrain from doing it again.

Must be just a coincidence then that neither Alberta or Ontario appear on this equalization table, while every other province does appear. Yes, I agree that the situation in Manitoba is unconscionable. All those years sucking on the federal teat..... I am glad that Nfld will be stepping up to do their share for Manitoba and especially Quebec, God Bless Danny Williams.

You've touched on a few of the similarities but ignored the horrific inefficiencies of multiple boards. Think of the mega-millions saved by all taxpayers with a single integrated board. And bringing in other faith based schools - which board should absorb them? The Catholics want their own show, they'd never agree to it sharing anything. And if the other faiths join the public board, what possible reason is there to not also integrate the Catholic board too? You cannot have it both ways.....

Perfect. So, there is no reason not to have the Catholic schools become part of the larger public system, while of course retaining the faith based component of their curriculum. Either that, or lose all public funding. Would that be fair to all? Not just Catholic schools, but any school.

Would you like a couple hundred examples of why the first sentence is wrong, specifically with school boards? Here is a prime one: Catholic and public school boards in suburbia both bus kids all over the place. Often, if not always, the schools are built back to back on the same chunk of land. Half full buses from one board rroll by shivering kids goign to almost the same destination. Another: a Catholic board has a school 20% under capacity right next to a public school at 20% overcapacity. Neother makes any effort to do the obvious. Another: 20 boxcars of toilet paper going to obne warehouse is cheaper than 2x10 boxacrs going to two warehouses. And on and on, and that doesn't address where the real money is: staffing. Once again, here is an example of a rainbow of choice, all inside a big tent. What do you think 'a big tent' means? To me it means a school board that offers a very wide range of prorgams to all parents/students, which keeps their kids and their money and their support solidly inside a single system. I do not oppose faith based schools, where did you get that idea? Include them in the public system. merge the Catholic board into the public, and allow any school that wishes to have a Catholic component. After the provincial curriclum is covered of course..........

Easy: having a single, large system has obvious economies of scale. Adminstartion, busing, facilites, planning are just the tip of the iceberg. Your second question is based on a false premise, that a complete and separate system is required to offer more choice. A single school system can offer a rainbow of choice, a big tent that can offer nearly anything a community could want, within reason. Obviously, any scheme gets more restrictive in small communities or rural areas.

It is not an 'idea', it is a reality in some jurisdictions. Neither is the 'one board' concept, some provinces do not have separate public/Catholic systems. Of course private schools still exist, they always will, but where the public system offers parents a wide range of options there is little reason to pay big money elsewhere. And there is another, less obvious reason for allowing choice within a single public system. People who start up 'speciality' schools, including faith related schools, are involved in their childrens education, they are committed and interested . They are exactly the kind of people you want inside the big public tent, helping their kids learn, helping at the schools. As long as every school follows a minimum provincial curriculum taught by certified professionals.... let there be choice for everybody, not just the wealthy who can afford to send their kids to expensive private schools.

I'm sorry for you, but pretty much everything after is rubbish.What do you really think happens in a true voucher system? Rich kids go to better schools because they can. Poor kids go to crap schools because they must. Rich parents lobby successfully for any edge that will keep the poor kids out and the gravy rolling for theirs. Poor parents are too busy working to lobby anybody. And Alberta does not have a true voucher system, whereby schools are rewarded financially for good performance and punished for bad performance. I can understand your confusion, but the crap that has been allowed to happen in Calgary is not representative of Alberta in general.

Not sure what the premise of the article might possibly be, but the title is misleading. In the most obvious example of fascism, Hitlers administration directed the great corporations of Germany to build on behalf of the state, but paid them market value for the goods. They were effectively under the control of the fascist regime. A more recent example is what is developing in Chinas economy, which is starting to strongly resemble Germany in the late 1930s/early 40s, minus the war. For now. So the fascist way is to control the corporations, not lose control of them.

Baloney. here is why, this works. Wow. Talk about instant ghettoization. I can understand parents wanting a better standard of education for their children, but is pisses me off to see the selfishness inherent in denying some quality to those less fortunate, and less fortunate children at that.

Really, are there any provinces or regions that are not wholly selfish and acting in their interests? Thank you Chretien , Martin and especially Trudeau for this state of affairs. Our confederation is very sick. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. We are long past the point where either separatism needs to be buried, or Quebec needs to go their own way.

You've actually asked two questions. Yes, I do support public funding for faith based schools on the strict requirement that they are obliged to teach the provincial curriculum using provincially licensed professional teachers, and to be a part of the public school system. No, I do not support the existence of separate, publicly funded school boards outside the public system, including the Catholic system. One board, and it should be the largest most diverse tent required by its constituents.

3 interviews at Walmart? Here you are auto-hired if you can prove that you have a pulse.

Is it more than a rumour that McGuinty, his wife, and all four of their children attended Catholic schools at public expense?

Harper wil be looking for an issue he wants to fall on, not letting the Opposition force the issue. And anything to do with the Senate is ideal, since most Canadians think it's a sad joke at best. On Afghanistan, first Layton and now Duceppe have underestimated the countries willingness to stay the course in combat operations to 2009, which is consistent with our promise to NATO and to the Afghan government. They cannot afford to wait and see if -Harper will do what he has promised- a Parliamentary decision on post 2009. They are positioning themselves as the cut-and-runners, and they will pay electorally if Harper can exploit that.

Meaning? Meaning Alberta has been sending billions eastward forever, Nfld will finally be a 'have' province, and Manitoba in the West is in ongoing and desperate straits. Any reason Nfld should not return some of the benefits they have enjoyed for so long? Doesn't Premier Wiliams believe in fairness? Quebec could always use a few billion too, Nfld will find there are always plenty of willing recipients. Understand?

The holdup in the Liberal Senate might well be an issue that could topple the govt, and Harper may well select it. Afghanistan is another, and both the Bloc and the NDP have incorrectly assessed the prevailing sentiment in the country . Harper will not hesitate to exploit this.

Does this mean that Alberta can expect to see some of that $16 billion flowing West?

Public, as in Edmonton Public School Board. You can read about it here IMO, they have a good handle on meeting the needs of the community and the children.

I do not think that is correct. I recall reading an article on an interesting offshoot of DNA testing. The testing has become much cheaper in recent years, and is very popular now with people checking their genealogy. Apparently this has resulted in the realization that around 15% of children have a different biological father than they thought they had. IMO, the female of our species is wired to seek both a safe, providing male partner, and genetic diversity. The two urges are not compatible in a single partner.

QUOTE(fellowtraveller @ Aug 12 2007, 12:45 PM) The role of the state in education should be to insist that every child is obliged to atttend school, and that the school must teach the minimum prescribed provincial curriculum. This applies to every school, public or private. Beyond that, the curriculum may include whatever the community see fit, within the laws of the country including the Charter. There is a place within public education for everybody, including religious affiliation. First priority of a publicly funded school: teach the prescribed provincial curriculum. After that, who cares, other than the parents of the kids affected? My local board offers- to every child- an opportunity to attend schools that focus (after the mandatory curriculum is covered by provincially licensed and qiualified teachers) on ballet, hockey, soccer, military academy, gifted students, several languages and yes- several religions, and many other narrow focuses. Kids can attend any school they wish anywhere in the school district, with very few constraints. As a result, there are very few private or charter schools. That means that schools that offer special programs are subject to the oversight and control of the public school board. Money does talk. People who send their kids to schools with a particular focus have one thing in common. They are involved in their kids education, which is very desirable.

I agree with Ms Young, though I do not think it has much to do with freedom of religion. The Supreme Court first, then Parliament (which is backwards and disturbing) decided that marriage of two persons of any gender was permissible as a human right. Polygamy/polyandry will be argued on the same grounds, that there is nothing in the Charter that prevents consenting adults from marrying in any number of people or combination of genders. The restriction of marriage to two persons is no less arbitrary than the restriction of the acknowledgement of a marriage to one man and one woman. Opponents will haul out the old warhorse that the women are minors and therefore not consenting, but this is ultimately a separate issue and really has no legal linkage to the practice of polygamy between consenting adults. Minors cannot legally marry anyway under existing laws, nothing will change when polygamy is acknowledged as no less valid than traditional marriges, including same sex marriage. I just do not see any legal basis for denying the rights of people to adopt whatever combination of legal partners they choose. I believe that the Dept of Justice feels the same way, which is why there have been no prosecutions for polygamy in Canada since I think 1932.

The role of the state in education should be to insist that every child is obliged to atttend school, and that the school must teach the minimum prescribed provincial curriculum. This applies to every school, public or private. Beyond that, the curriculum may include whatever the community see fit, within the laws of the country including the Charter. There is a place within public education for everybody, including religious affiliation.

Nahanni is a beautiful and special place. I was once offered a job at Nahanni Butte, which was declined.

You have a different idea? This suggestion has been in the Candian domain for at least ten years, and I posted Pat Martins proposal over a month ago here as an OP. Australia of course did abolish the penny several years ago.