Windsor-Detroit Bridge

[bush_cheney2004]

The number of Hispanic voters - not the total number of hispanics - which no one knows - but just the legal voters - will reach one third of the electorate according to US demographic data, in the next 25-30 years. That's not hystrionics. That's undeniable fact.

"Hispanic" voters are US citizens......most Americans do not break out into a national neurosis (and hystrionics) the way Canada does over Quebec. Hispanics have a long history in the US, and many who were immigrants are more strident supporters and defenders of the USA than native born citizens. Whicj always leads me to a fun observation....

305,000,000 vs 35,000,000

....and it's not just the weather folks!

[Wild Bill]

"Hispanic" voters are US citizens......most Americans do not break out into a national neurosis (and hystrionics) the way Canada does over Quebec. Hispanics have a long history in the US, and many who were immigrants are more strident supporters and defenders of the USA than native born citizens. Whicj always leads me to a fun observation....

305,000,000 vs 35,000,000

....and it's not just the weather folks!

Gotta side with you on this one, BC! I've always admired the American "melting pot" and had little respect for our own "mosaic" concept. It touches your heart when you see some American immigrant, hardly able to speak English, taking off his hat at a ball game to cover his heart and sing the anthem with tears in his eyes!

To me that sort of patriotism is a great virtue and an American strength. I'm reminded of my Italian inlaws, who came to Canada in 1950. They had chosen Canada as their new home and as far as they were concerned Italy was only a hatful of old memories. They got themselves a Canadian doctor, lawyer, dentist and all. They deliberately would live anywhere but in an Italian "ghetto". When I was courting my wife in the early 80's it made me smile to see her mother, who still had an accent when speaking English so thick it was hard for me to understand, gobbling up English editions of Harlequin Romance novels by the bucketful!

My father-in-law was never comfortable with the idea of official multiculturalism. He couldn't understand the need for it! He was a proud Canadian, through and through. Once in a while he would be cheering for an Italian soccer team on the tv but that was only because Canada has never been a serious contender. He flew a Canadian flag on a mast for years at his home.

As I said, he came over in 1950. I contrast his attitude with many of those who came over in the 80's and 90's. Totally different philosophy! Hyphenated Canadians, with the accent on their birth country and not Canada.

Not all of them, of course. Still, a dismaying number.

[Smallc]

I don't fear for the future of the US and I'm an American. But then, I don't have all the misconceptions you (and others) have.

No, you seem to have very different misconceptions. As outsiders, we can see the problems that money interest are currently causing. These problems have largely been solved in other western democracies. Money has far less to do with politics. That isn't so in your country.

[bush_cheney2004]

No, you seem to have very different misconceptions. As outsiders, we can see the problems that money interest are currently causing. These problems have largely been solved in other western democracies. Money has far less to do with politics. That isn't so in your country.

Anybody ever heard of Adscam? I think it happened in Canada...but I am just an outsider!

[Guest American Woman]

No, you seem to have very different misconceptions. As outsiders, we can see the problems that money interest are currently causing. These problems have largely been solved in other western democracies. Money has far less to do with politics. That isn't so in your country.

Wow. And they say Americans are ignorant and arrogant. Or perhaps you're still too young to know any better.....

[Smallc]

It has very little to do with ignorance or arrogance. It has to do with a great deal of concern for the future.

[Guest American Woman]

It has very little to do with ignorance or arrogance. It has to do with a great deal of concern for the future.

It has everything to do with ignorance and arrogance. If you want your concern for the future to be based on reality, I suggest you gain more knowledge and experience more of the world you believe you know so much about. And you can start with realizing that your "media knowledge" of the U.S. doesn't trump my being an American and living here. From there you can go on to "the rest of the western nations" that you likely have no firsthand knowledge of either, yet seem to think you know so much about. Then I'd suggest you spend more time being concerned with your own nation, which isn't all that you think it is....and maybe then we can begin to have a discussion about money and the importance western nations place on it......

[Smallc]

Or perhaps I can discuss whatever I want. Quite frankly, you don't get to decide what the discussion is. On this particular issue, other people here have the exact same concerns. These are other people that pay attention I think based on the things that they post here.

There is one thing about your rant that I do find funny though. You say that I don't know more about America than an American...yet you know more about Canada than me, who spends hours a day on the exact subject.

You can believe what you want. Based on what I see, I'm not on the wrong track.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Smallc

[bush_cheney2004]

It has very little to do with ignorance or arrogance. It has to do with a great deal of concern for the future.

Is your future so dependent on what the Americans do with their own country? Frankly, I do not wake up nights worried about what Canada may or may not do. This bridge issue was completely a non-factor, as it is for most Americans. I also bet that it's not a big concern for Canada's west or the Maritimes. This is an Ontario joint.

America gave you the Internet and Google, but that doesn't mean you know the country well.

Edited May 2, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[Argus]

It has everything to do with ignorance and arrogance. If you want your concern for the future to be based on reality, I suggest you gain more knowledge and experience more of the world you believe you know so much about. And you can start with realizing that your "media knowledge" of the U.S. doesn't trump my being an American and living here.

I like how you keep transiting the statement about "knowing about American federal politics" to "knowing about America". The two are not synonmyous. And unless you are very politically active and meet regularly with your senator and congressman to discuss issues (likely about 0.01% of the population) your only knowledge of what's going on in Washington comes through the same media the rest of us have access to.

[Argus]

Is your future so dependent on what the Americans do with their own country? Frankly, I do not wake up nights worried about what Canada may or may not do.

Really? It seems you spend much of your life on this site discussing it. I've always found that bizarre. Do you spend as much time on other sites discussing American politics?

[Argus]

And I'm willing to bet you're wrong. In fact, I'm willing to bet I actually know more about Canadian politics than you do American.

One would expect if that were the case there'd be some small evidence of this wide array of knowledge to be gleaned from your postings.

So far all that's been obvious is that your are a pedant of the worst sort.

[Argus]

Anybody ever heard of Adscam? I think it happened in Canada...but I am just an outsider!

Adscam was chump change in terms of the vast bribery which goes on in the US. It wasn't even a policy influencing initiative. It was simple theft. Billions are spent in bribe money - excuse me, in donations - in the US to buy/influence Senators and Congressmen.

[bush_cheney2004]

Adscam was chump change in terms of the vast bribery which goes on in the US. It wasn't even a policy influencing initiative. It was simple theft. Billions are spent in bribe money - excuse me, in donations - in the US to buy/influence Senators and Congressmen.

Typical response when faced with the exact same domestic political corruption, regardless of scale. This "chump change" event contributed directly to the Grits demise.

[Guest American Woman]

I like how you keep transiting the statement about "knowing about American federal politics" to "knowing about America".

Thank you. If I ever like anything you do, I'll be sure to return the compliment.

The two are not synonmyous.

Thanks for the newsflash, but since I never said they were, I think I already knew that. They are, however, intertwined; and not all "federal politics" makes the news, not by a long shot, as I've already pointed out, so please try to follow along. Also, how it affects Americans is part of that "knowing about America" that I've referred to. All you can do is guess at how we feel about it/how it affects us.

And unless you are very politically active and meet regularly with your senator and congressman to discuss issues (likely about 0.01% of the population) your only knowledge of what's going on in Washington comes through the same media the rest of us have access to.

This may come as a shock to you, but some of us do write to our Congressmen/Senators when we have concerns, and we meet with them when they are in town, and they answer and converse with us. What a shock, eh? Furthermore, they send us newsletters, about all the issues (not just those in the media), which I'm pretty sure they aren't sending to you.

Last but not least, Americans would take the time to look into the issues in more depth than an outsider would -- unless the outsider doesn't have a life of their own.

So keep pretending that you have the same knowledge of America/American politics as Americans do. You'll be wrong, but for some reason it seems to be important to you, so at least it will make you happy -- proving that ignorance is bliss.

Edited May 3, 2010 by American Woman

[Guest American Woman]

Typical response when faced with the exact same domestic political corruption, regardless of scale. This "chump change" event contributed directly to the Grits demise.

You didn't expect anything different, did you? Just like there's been complete silence regarding the U.S. having paid Canada's share of the Port Huron-Sarnia bridge.

It's always "different/not as bad" when it's not the U.S., and there's complete silence from the same crowd when there's nothing to criticize. Heaven forbid these people should ever give the U.S. credit for anything.

[Guest American Woman]

Or perhaps I can discuss whatever I want.

If you don't mind it being one-sided, go ahead. Matters not to me.

Quite frankly, you don't get to decide what the discussion is.

Never so much as insinuated that I did. I do, however, get to decide who I engage in discussion with.

On this particular issue, other people here have the exact same concerns. These are other people that pay attention I think based on the things that they post here.

And other people don't have the same concerns. So what does that prove? Just because someone agrees with you doesn't mean you are right. I realize there are a lot of people in the world forming clueless conclusions about the U.S. and "the rest of the western nations."

There is one thing about your rant that I do find funny though. You say that I don't know more about America than an American...yet you know more about Canada than me, who spends hours a day on the exact subject.

My "rant," eh? Never said I know more about Canada than you do, but at least you're now admitting that you spend "hours a day" on the subject of Canada. Now, I think we can safely assume that you don't spend "hours a day" on the U.S. and every other western nation, thus backing up what I said.

You can believe what you want. Based on what I see, I'm not on the wrong track.

Why, thank you. I will do just that -- believe "what I want" regarding my life in my country and my country's politics and how it affects me and my fellow Americans. And it won't be based solely on "media reports."

[JerrySeinfeld]

Most of the tea baggers dont pay any Federal Income tax anyway...so where's their beef?

Thats not true. Tea partiers are generally more educated, higher income people than the norm.

[Born Free]

You didn't expect anything different, did you? Just like there's been complete silence regarding the U.S. having paid Canada's share of the Port Huron-Sarnia bridge.

It's always "different/not as bad" when it's not the U.S., and there's complete silence from the same crowd when there's nothing to criticize. Heaven forbid these people should ever give the U.S. credit for anything.

Your imagination is running away. The Canadian crowd here has always been quite outspoken against our government regarding its "corruption" activities. Perhaps you've neen away.

As far as giving the US credit for stuff...both sides of the border do a lot of good things for each other and for the world at large. However, recent US history and it involvement in two lengthy wars (one based on a pack of lies), an obviously corrupt group of Congressmen and Senators, an obviously corrupt financial system and an obviously corrupt health care system has been the cause of much deserved criticism directed to the South of us.

All I see these days is a bunch of idiot tea baggers yelling and screaming at the folks in Washington. Most of them dont pay a cent in federal income tax and dont have a clue what their angry about because they are too busy with their head up their asses listening to GOP disinformation programs..

Cheers,

[Guest American Woman]

Your imagination is running away. The Canadian crowd here has always been quite outspoken against our government regarding its "corruption" activities. Perhaps you've neen away.

Tis your imagination that's running away. Not all Canadians are outspoken against the government regarding its corruption. In fact, quite the opposite. Some minimize it. And that's the "same crowd" I was referring to, not the "Canadian crowd," or I would have said Canadians.

As far as giving the US credit for stuff...both sides of the border do a lot of good things for each other and for the world at large. However, recent US history and it involvement in two lengthy wars (one based on a pack of lies), an obviously corrupt group of Congressmen and Senators, an obviously corrupt financial system and an obviously corrupt health care system has been the cause of much deserved criticism directed to the South of us.

I have no problem with warranted criticisms. I do have a problem with generalizations and incorrect conclusions. I also have a problem with people thinking they know all there is to know based on "media coverage." Especially since we are always criticized for inaccurate media coverage. And clearly, that's what I've been taking issue with here.

All I see these days is a bunch of idiot tea baggers yelling and screaming at the folks in Washington. Most of them dont pay a cent in federal income tax and dont have a clue what their angry about because they are too busy with their head up their asses listening to GOP disinformation programs..

If that's all you see, that explains perfectly the problem of getting one's "knowledge of the U.S./federal politics" from "media coverage." That's a perfect example. Those of us living in the U.S. are seeing much different things.

[Born Free]

Tis your imagination that's running away. Not all Canadians are outspoken against the government regarding its corruption. In fact, quite the opposite. Some minimize it. And that's the "same crowd" I was referring to, not the "Canadian crowd," or I would have said Canadians.

Well whoop-de-do! Not all Canadians post on this website. The ones that do seem to have been rather outspoken one way of the other.

If that's all you see, that explains perfectly the problem of getting one's "knowledge of the U.S./federal politics" from "media coverage." That's a perfect example. Those of us living in the U.S. are seeing much different things.

I see clearly and its all over the news. Those of you living in the US perhaps wish things were different but they arent.

You guys have a shitload of ethics problems among several of your elected representatives. Please dont try to tell me that I couldnt possibly know this because I dont live in the US.

You guys started a war based on a pack of lies. Please dont try to tell me that I couldnt possibly know this because I dont live in the US.

I could go on but it would be a waste of my time.

[Born Free]

Thats not true. Tea partiers are generally more educated, higher income people than the norm.

Baloney! I'm betting that the average IQ of the protesters is about 90.

[bush_cheney2004]

....You guys started a war based on a pack of lies. Please dont try to tell me that I couldnt possibly know this because I dont live in the US.

I could go on but it would be a waste of my time.

No, you won't go on because you don't want to face or admit the complicity of your own nation in the very same kinds of actions.

That's why you get the label of "sanctimonious" and "smug".

And to top it all off, you want to build a bridge to the evil empire to support increased trade and efficient cross border transport. That's where you really get the gods laughing....or to reprise an old joke's punchline (again):

.....Madam, we have already established what you are....now it is just a matter of negotiating the price.

[Guest American Woman]

Well whoop-de-do! Not all Canadians post on this website. The ones that do seem to have been rather outspoken one way of the other.

Ummmm. I the "crowd" I was referring to does post on this website. So whoop-de-do back at'cha.

I see clearly and its all over the news. Those of you living in the US perhaps wish things were different but they arent.

a thousand times over.

Too funny. Seriously. And again, it proves my point, so thank you for that.

You guys have a shitload of ethics problems among several of your elected representatives. Please dont try to tell me that I couldnt possibly know this because I dont live in the US.

You guys started a war based on a pack of lies. Please dont try to tell me that I couldnt possibly know this because I dont live in the US.

Try to pay attention to what was being said and what I was responding/referring to, ok? Thanks.

I could go on but it would be a waste of my time.

It would definitely be a waste of my time.....

Edited May 3, 2010 by American Woman

[Born Free]

Try to pay attention to what was being said and what I was responding/referring to, ok? Thanks.

It would definitely be a waste of my time.....

You stated without any equivocation... If that's all you see, that explains perfectly the problem of getting one's "knowledge of the U.S./federal politics" from "media coverage." That's a perfect example. Those of us living in the U.S. are seeing much different things.

As an example, if you are claiming "inside" knowledge about Congressmen/Senator ethics problems simply because you live in the US.. I'm telling you without any equivocation that yer FOS. I have the same access to the US media as you do.

Edited May 3, 2010 by Born Free