Stephen Harper Wants to break up Canada

[scribblet]

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. - Samuel Johnson

Johnson's quote speaks volumes about the neo-cons Argus. How do you interpret it?

Speaks volumes about people who criticise others for not shouting out their love of Canada, too.

Doesn't it, also describes Martin to a T.

I'm sure we all love Canada, the fact is most people love the country they happened to be born in, wanting to have a voice or a political say in government doesn't make one any less of a patriot.

[Argus]

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. - Samuel Johnson

Johnson's quote speaks volumes about the neo-cons Argus. How do you interpret it?

Speaks volumes about people who criticise others for not shouting out their love of Canada, too.

Do you love Canada Argus?

What business is that of yours?

[August1991]

Do you love Canada Argus?

A better question is whether anyone who loves Canada can vote Conservative. Does one preclude the other? And if so, what does that say about Canadian federal politics?

[shoop]

Maybe a better question is whether Liberals actually believe they are the only ones who love Canada or are so clueless as to think this might be a winning strategy.

Ahhhh, so beautiful to see the Lbierals in the midst of an agonizing defeat.

A better question is whether anyone who loves Canada can vote Conservative. Does one preclude the other? And if so, what does that say about Canadian federal politics?

[Leafless]

Liberal ideology has always been --Just because we walk on your face and steal your money and force you to speak a language you want nothing to do with doesn't mean we don't love you.

Now, just give us a big group hug and pretend the Liberals are all good and that were all just little guys in Canada you know just like Jean boy and pretend all love Canada.

[River_God]

Liberal ideology has always been --Just because we walk on your face and steal your money and force you to speak a language you want nothing to do with doesn't mean we don't love you.

Mulrony and Bush after all are Honest guys. The fact that they tripled their national debts wasn't stealing.... Was it? Does that money have to be paid back? Not by Bush or Mulroney it doesn't

[tml12]

Liberal ideology has always been --Just because we walk on your face and steal your money and force you to speak a language you want nothing to do with doesn't mean we don't love you.

Mulrony and Bush after all are Honest guys. The fact that they tripled their national debts wasn't stealing.... Was it? Does that money have to be paid back? Not by Bush or Mulroney it doesn't

River,

Mulrooney destroyed the Conservatives...you won't find many people in general who would tell he was flawless...

[The Honest Politician]

How is the west going to react when Quebec is given an international voice?

Will that not increase "western alienation"?

[tml12]

How is the west going to react when Quebec is given an international voice?

Will that not increase "western alienation"?

Probably...I don't support it at all. But the Liberals have already appeased Quebec so much already...we'll see where it leads.

[tml12]

How is the west going to react when Quebec is given an international voice?

Will that not increase "western alienation"?

Probably...I don't support it at all. But the Liberals have already appeased Quebec so much already...we'll see where it leads.

For the record, I still maintain my original position that a Western Alberta-based government would have to keep Quebec in check.

[The Honest Politician]

But Harper wants to give Quebec more.

And then there is the equalization payments Harper wants to address. That sounds like even more money out of Alberta and into Quebec. The Bloc has been crying fiscal imbalance from day one.

[fellowtraveller]

And then there is the equalization payments Harper wants to address. That sounds like even more money out of Alberta and into Quebec. The Bloc has been crying fiscal imbalance from day one.

????

Aren't 'fiscal imbalance' and equailzation two quite different things?

As I understand it, the fiscal imbalance is Quebec buzzword for Ottawa taxing Quebec more than is strictly required, resulting in a surplus. Quebec wants Ottawa to reduce the amount taken by Ottawa at source, rather than collecting too much and returning it too the provinces. of course, Quebec would simply tax more at the provincial level. It sounds like a power shift to me, changingthe relationship of taxation authorities.

Equalization is a transfer of money from have provinces tto the havenot provinces to mainatin the same social programs.

[Argus]

Liberal ideology has always been --Just because we walk on your face and steal your money and force you to speak a language you want nothing to do with doesn't mean we don't love you.

Mulrony and Bush after all are Honest guys. The fact that they tripled their national debts wasn't stealing.... Was it? Does that money have to be paid back? Not by Bush or Mulroney it doesn't

Actually, most of the debt Mulroney incurred during his reign consisted of interest on the giant debt left to him by Pierre Trudeau in the midst of a deep, world-wide recession and sky-high interest rates.

[Riverwind]

Actually, most of the debt Mulroney incurred during his reign consisted of interest on the giant debt left to him by Pierre Trudeau in the midst of a deep, world-wide recession and sky-high interest rates.

I find the attempts to 'blame' one political party for the debt quite silly. The fact is the Canadian people wanted the spending and did not care about deficits. They consistently punished politicians who tried to be prudent and rewarded those who spent their grandchildren's money. The only reason the Liberals were able to get the deficit under control in the 90s is because the Canadian public had finally figured out the never ending deficits are bad and were willing to support politicians who cut back on treasured programs.

[tml12]

But Harper wants to give Quebec more.

And then there is the equalization payments Harper wants to address. That sounds like even more money out of Alberta and into Quebec. The Bloc has been crying fiscal imbalance from day one.

Harper is probably just trying to appease the Bloc now. No way in hell he does this in a majority government.

He is also looking to woo Quebec a bit...it's good politics.

[Leafless]

River god

You wrote- " Mulroney and Bush after all are honest guys. The fact that they tripled their national debt wasn't stealing. Was it?"

You have a short memory.

When Trudeau inherited the government from Pearson he increased the national debt 10-fold.

That wasn't stealing was it? Was it?

I guess this must be something in common with PM's from QUEBEC.

[sage]

Aren't 'fiscal imbalance' and equailzation two quite different things?

As I understand it, the fiscal imbalance is Quebec buzzword for Ottawa taxing Quebec more than is strictly required, resulting in a surplus. Quebec wants Ottawa to reduce the amount taken by Ottawa at source, rather than collecting too much and returning it too the provinces. of course, Quebec would simply tax more at the provincial level. It sounds like a power shift to me, changingthe relationship of taxation authorities.

Equalization is a transfer of money from have provinces tto the havenot provinces to mainatin the same social programs.

Mg understanding of "fiscal imbalance" is a reference not just to Quebec but all provinces, and represents the fact that Ottawa has vastly superior taxing authority relative to the provinces, whereas the provinces have a broader scope of responsibility under the division of powers under the constitution. Case in point the fact that the federal government has to provide the provinces with money to deliver health care which is a strictly provincial jurisdiction, because the provinces can't afford to deliver health care on their own.

[Guest eureka]

But the provinces can afford it. They just don't want to be the ones to appear to be collecting taxes. They already spend more of our income than regions in any federation of the world.