Canada more democratic than the U.S.?

Colpy

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For a constitution to be representative of the people it has to be brought up for referendum and ratified by the people. Ours was not and as far as I'm concerned is a worthless piece of paper that was imposed on us. It was PET's biggest follie. I liked Trudeau but he was dictatorial in some areas.

Geez, Cliffy, except for "I liked Trudeau", I agree absolutely with that post.

Congrats.

And stop it. You're scaring me. :lol:
 

Cliffy

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Nov 19, 2008
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Geez, Cliffy, except for "I liked Trudeau", I agree absolutely with that post.

Congrats.

And stop it. You're scaring me. :lol:

I'm always amazed when someone agrees with me, especially someone who normally has opposing views. None the less, I hope you are having a good day.
 

SirJosephPorter

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For a constitution to be representative of the people it has to be brought up for referendum and ratified by the people. Ours was not and as far as I'm concerned is a worthless piece of paper that was imposed on us. It was PET's biggest follie. I liked Trudeau but he was dictatorial in some areas.

Cliffy, can you think of any constitution that was ratified by the people? USA, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, anything? I cannot think of any.

So where did this rule come from, that the constitution must be ratified by population in a referendum?

In fact, I have heard it said many times, that if Bill of Rights is put to a vote in USA in a referendum, it probably would be defeated.

But what you are saying is really your opinion, there no historical basis for it.
 

SirJosephPorter

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Equality and justice are matters important to governing, but there is no formula for predicting such outcomes simply because the state practices democracy.

Sorry Tonington, but that is where our definitions differ. To me, any system that does not practice equal rights and equal justice for all in not a democracy, that is mob rule.
 

Colpy

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In fact, I have heard it said many times, that if Bill of Rights is put to a vote in USA in a referendum, it probably would be defeated.

Ah, no offense, but whomever said this is a complete idiot..........you are aware of the exhaustive process to amend the US Constitution, as we've had that discussion before.....

The US Bill of Rights is completely made up of amendments.
 

ironsides

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Feb 13, 2009
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"In fact, I have heard it said many times, that if Bill of Rights is put to a vote in USA in a referendum, it probably would be defeated."


The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA, and later ratified by conventions of elected delegates from each state. That is why it is says " in the name of "The People". it has since been amended 27 times.

Wonder who told you it would be defeated, certainly not a American. (yes we coined term "American" first.

 

JLM

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For a constitution to be representative of the people it has to be brought up for referendum and ratified by the people. Ours was not and as far as I'm concerned is a worthless piece of paper that was imposed on us. It was PET's biggest follie. I liked Trudeau but he was dictatorial in some areas.

That's one place where you and I differ, Cliff. Can you think of one other person that would run up $400 billion debt that you are left to pay off and think he's a nice guy. Why would a constitution that gives rights to minorites (criminals) at the expense of the majority be acceptable? When the assh*le was passing through Salmon Arm on the train (it may have been his only trip to B.C.) he gave one of the citizens "the finger". -JUST A REAL FRIGGIN' JERK IN MY BOOKS.
 

SirJosephPorter

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"In fact, I have heard it said many times, that if Bill of Rights is put to a vote in USA in a referendum, it probably would be defeated."


The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA, and later ratified by conventions of elected delegates from each state. That is why it is says " in the name of "The People". it has since been amended 27 times.

Wonder who told you it would be defeated, certainly not a American. (yes we coined term "American" first.


Ironsides, US constitution was ratified by the 13 original colonies, with a very small population. And it was ratified by elected delegates only, never put to a referendum (as Cliffy evidently wants it done).

Now you have 50 states and a huge population. I have read Americans say that Bill of Rights, if put to a referendum today, has a good chance of being rejected. Incidentally, I don’t think Bill of Rights has ever been put to a referendum either.

In fact, none of the major events in US history, abolishing slavery, giving women the vote etc., none of these were put to a referendum.
 

SirJosephPorter

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Ah, no offense, but whomever said this is a complete idiot..........you are aware of the exhaustive process to amend the US Constitution, as we've had that discussion before.....

The US Bill of Rights is completely made up of amendments.


Sure it is, Colpy, but I have read (in articles written by Americans) that if Bill of Rights is put to a referendum today, it has a good chance of being rejected. As I said in my previous post, it has never been put to a referendum.



Incidentally, Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
 

L Gilbert

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Nov 30, 2006
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Cliffy, can you think of any constitution that was ratified by the people? USA, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, anything? I cannot think of any.

So where did this rule come from, that the constitution must be ratified by population in a referendum?

In fact, I have heard it said many times, that if Bill of Rights is put to a vote in USA in a referendum, it probably would be defeated.

But what you are saying is really your opinion, there no historical basis for it.
Switzerland. Pols there can't do dick without the people's ok.
 

L Gilbert

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Nov 30, 2006
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Equality and justice are matters important to governing, but there is no formula for predicting such outcomes simply because the state practices democracy.

Sorry Tonington, but that is where our definitions differ. To me, any system that does not practice equal rights and equal justice for all in not a democracy, that is mob rule.
.... and that's just what we have .... mob rule.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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Sure it is, Colpy, but I have read (in articles written by Americans) that if Bill of Rights is put to a referendum today, it has a good chance of being rejected. As I said in my previous post, it has never been put to a referendum.

Incidentally, Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

You do, of course, have links to back up your claims? ...preferably something more than an editorial?
 

Colpy

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Ironsides, US constitution was ratified by the 13 original colonies, with a very small population. .............

Now you have 50 states and a huge population. I have read Americans say that Bill of Rights, if put to a referendum today, has a good chance of being rejected. .

Oh gimme a break!

This is idiotic......the Americans love the Constitution, swear alliegence to it, to "uphold and defend" it if in service to the country.....they are dedicated to freedom of speech, assembly, and religion.....much more so than Canadians.

the US Constitution is held in much higher regard by Americans than the Canadian constitution is by Canadians......and rightfully so....the US Constitution was the first Revolutionary constitution, penned by men who had just risked their lives in defence of its principles.....the Canadian Constitution was penned by Liberal lawyers....who wouldn't know a principle if it bit them on the arse.......thus the "notwithstanding" clause.

Your air of smug superiority to everything American is sometimes disturbing......
 

SirJosephPorter

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the US Constitution is held in much higher regard by Americans than the Canadian constitution is by Canadians.

I would dispute that, Colpy. Maybe westerners don’t hold the Canadian constitution in high regards, but we in the east do, and we vastly outnumber you in the west. I remember seeing polls to the effect that about 70% of Canadians love the Charter.

Anyway, I agree with your point that Americans hold the constitution in high regard. But if Bill of Rights is up for referendum, it won’t be as the Bill of Rights, would it? It will be the ten amendments, without the title Bill of Rights. When people read what is in those amendments they would be disinclined to vote for them, I think that is the point those Americans make.

Americans hold the Bill of Rights in high regard, putting that up for referendum would be like putting Jesus up for referendum. But the point some Americans make is, if Bill of rights is put for referendum (without the moniker Bills of Rights); it has a good chance of being defeated.
 

Colpy

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Indeed. And did you know that Switzerland was the last country to give women the vote (very first was New Zealand)? In some of the cantons, women did not have the vote until as late as the 70s.

Do you know why???

Because the vote was connected irrevocably to service to the nation.....only males served in the universal Swiss Army, so only males voted. In fact, it was required that Swiss males qualify with their service rifles before they could vote. Can't shoot? Can't vote.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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the US Constitution is held in much higher regard by Americans than the Canadian constitution is by Canadians.

I would dispute that, Colpy. Maybe westerners don’t hold the Canadian constitution in high regards, but we in the east do, and we vastly outnumber you in the west. I remember seeing polls to the effect that about 70% of Canadians love the Charter.

Anyway, I agree with your point that Americans hold the constitution in high regard. But if Bill of Rights is up for referendum, it won’t be as the Bill of Rights, would it? It will be the ten amendments, without the title Bill of Rights. When people read what is in those amendments they would be disinclined to vote for them, I think that is the point those Americans make.

Americans hold the Bill of Rights in high regard, putting that up for referendum would be like putting Jesus up for referendum. But the point some Americans make is, if Bill of rights is put for referendum (without the moniker Bills of Rights); it has a good chance of being defeated.

- tee-hee -

My guess is Colpy's about to give you a lesson in making assumptions....
 

Colpy

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Nov 5, 2005
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the US Constitution is held in much higher regard by Americans than the Canadian constitution is by Canadians.

I would dispute that, Colpy. Maybe westerners don’t hold the Canadian constitution in high regards, but we in the east do, and we vastly outnumber you in the west. I remember seeing polls to the effect that about 70% of Canadians love the Charter.

Anyway, I agree with your point that Americans hold the constitution in high regard. But if Bill of Rights is up for referendum, it won’t be as the Bill of Rights, would it? It will be the ten amendments, without the title Bill of Rights. When people read what is in those amendments they would be disinclined to vote for them, I think that is the point those Americans make.

Americans hold the Bill of Rights in high regard, putting that up for referendum would be like putting Jesus up for referendum. But the point some Americans make is, if Bill of rights is put for referendum (without the moniker Bills of Rights); it has a good chance of being defeated.

I live, as I have always lived, in Saint John, New Brunswick. You really do carry to extremes your preconceived misconceptions.

The idea that Americans would dump the right to free speech, the right to freedom of religion is ludicrous.....Canadians might do so in a heartbeat, but not Americans (I'm reading Levant's book, and I am PISSED at Canadians for putting up with this crap)

Surrender the Right to Keep and Bear arms? Not bloody likely (we in Canada should be so lucky)........re-instate prohibition? Gimme a break........Reintroduce slavery??? come on. Turn back civil rights? You have heard of the landslide victory of Barack Obama, have you not? (How many elected Canadian PMs have NOT been white males???? Goose Egg)

Or perhaps you think Americans want troops barracked in their homes, want arrest without warrant, want....oh it is just too silly to go on.