Redneck Yokel

I do like Harper, as he seems to be a very intelligent individual, but it seems that there are too many who do not share the feeling. The CPC doesn't exactly have a lot of room for lateral movement in policy, so a change in leadership may be the only hope for them. No matter what happens they will not win the next election. Support for the conservative party is much too low at this point to make any real attempt at winning an election and a new leader would have to prove himself/herself before having a chance at running the country.

Agreed.

Derek, Good luck with your campaining next year. I fully agree with the policy of integrating younger individuals into the political system. I myself happened to join these forums when I was 17 (approximately 6 months ago) and I do believe that the younger/current generation does deserve a place in politics, at least to some degree. The major setback this movement may face at the moment may not be age descrimination (though that is a very large part of it), but perhaps it is more of an issue with apathy among the youth. Most people who have recently hit the voting age (within the last few years) are too caught up in setting themselves up for their careers and life in general to become involved in politics. It would be nice to see some fresh faces and ideas in the Municipal, Provincial, and Federal governments, but in order to achieve this you would need to find some very dedicated and well educated young individuals. Then even if you are able to pass beyond this first obstacle, you still have a major stereotype to overcome.

It was said that the surplus came as a result of higher than expected oil prices/revenues. Although I believe money should be 'given back' in the form of permanent tax cuts, this is the next best way to return money to the people. There has already been massive spending initiated in Alberta's social programs so there shouldn't be too much crying coming from that area.

No matter how descriminatory you may consider that to be, it is true to some extent. as Heywood Broun said (I know it's odd that i'm quoting a socialist in an anti-socialist post): Is that not what we're doing in the current system with 'Native-American' or 'First Nations' individuals? We continually pour money into the reserves and yet the standard of living among those people remains just as low as ever. (taken from http://collections.ic.gc.ca/afn/edu6.html. not sure how dependable this source is... it's just the first one I found)

Yes! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I would say that's a pretty clear yes. Perhaps you liberals need to clear your clouded minds and actually read what is said.

He actually did answer the question in a slightly roundabout way. Yes! And after almost 15 years, you'd think people would finally get around to recognizing what a wise policy it was. Would Paul Martin have been able to balance the budget without the GST? Fat chance. Would Canadian businesses be able to compete in the international marketplace if the GST had not replaced the MFT? No. Has the GST caused any of the harmful effects that its critics claimed it would? Not a one. Let's face it: the Liberals would abolish the GST tomorrow if they could. But they won't, because they know that ultimately the GST was the right policy. Why don't you Liberal types give Mr Mulroney and his party some credit for replacing the punitive MFT with a transparent and equitable system. -k <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I could not have said it better. Good show.

I fully support the idea of a more 'American' style system, as our system is either non-functional or completely dictatorial (at any one time). I believe that many of our political woes would be solved with a simple (actually more of an overhaul) revamp of the system which we abide by at this time.

Even if the Liberals are defeated in the next election, there is little support to be found for the conservatives among the other political parties. The most likely outcome seems to be a minority conservative government which will surely fall very quickly. That will then be shown as inability to lead by the liberal media and it will only leave the conservatives in a worse position than ever.

Hawk is correct on his point about intent of a word. Just because it is often socially accepted as derogatory, that does not mean that every individual who uses such terms intends for it to be so in that particular instance. Just as you say that not all people of those races/sexual preferences use those terms for themselves, we may say that not all people on the outside who use those terms use them in a demeaning sense. Words are neutral. It is HOW we use them that matters.

nvm

"The Canadian National Energy Board estimated this year that oil-sands producers could be profitable at roughly $24 per barrel, a figure that rises along with the price of the natural gas used in the extraction and upgrading process" from: Here Price as of July 28, 2005: $59.94 Assuming natural gas doesn't decide to make an enormous jump right away, I would say they're not doing too horrible.

I think it is titled in that manner to offer an implication of separatist sentiment.

You're absolutely correct. I have expressed what I intended to say very poorly. I apologize for being so completely unclear. I suppose I should go back to drinking and partying like a normal 18 year old. I'll stay out of such political matters, for the most part.

Melanie, kimmy I'm surprised you even bother responding to the kind of nonsense posted above. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Excellent addition to this topic. I bet if you thought REAL HARD you might be able to think up a personal insult against me as well. I could sit back and take absolutely everything said here out of context and throw it back at you in a jumbled up ball of crap which can never truly be considered intelligent despite the fact that it is (for some reason beyond my own comprehension) considered valid by the wolfpack, but I will try not to. (that's not just to this renegade individual)