Dissatisfied with Choices

[bluealberta]

Is that all you albertians at this board know how to do is whine?? and if your not whining, your bragging, and if your not whining about your money, your bragging about it, and when your not whining and bragging...your licking george bush's shoes. Geez I hope he does think all canadians are like that...even he would be turned off 8O

Unfortunately, taking the nice approach has not worked, ask Preston Manning who went to Ottawa with the idea of restoring civility. You tell us, how would you go about having Alberta treated as a political equal in this country? It is one thing to be a net recepient and have little input, but to be the biggest per capita financial supporter of the country with no input is illogical. So, if you don't like our approach, please provide other alternatives.

 

[Ted]

It's no wonder some people call Alberta the Canadian Texas.

Blue, I really think your avatar says it all. Are you suggesting we trade in the maple leaf and become another star in the American union? I for one feel sick to my stomach everytime I see my flag merged with the stars and stripes. If you think you don't get any respect now, just wait till you are subjected to the whims of the US federal government. Careful what you wish for, my luv.

 

[bluealberta]

It's no wonder some people call Alberta the Canadian Texas.

Blue, I really think your avatar says it all. Are you suggesting we trade in the maple leaf and become another star in the American union? I for one feel sick to my stomach everytime I see my flag merged with the stars and stripes. If you think you don't get any respect now, just wait till you are subjected to the whims of the US federal government. Careful what you wish for, my luv.

If you see anything other than friendship between two countries in my avator, you have some real problems.

 

[peapod]

Sorry! but character is not something one can dole out like candy, you either have it or you don't. You all belong in charles dickens a christmas carol, I have no doubt, the chains you forge in this life, will be long ones.
And just "who" exactly stuck that knife in manning back?? When the pendulum swings back (it always does :roll: ) I wonder if you will remember your own words, and the attitude you carried because your province was doing well.

 

[Ted]

I've been on both sides and I've lived abroad, and if you think we are "friends", then you aren't paying attention. I have countless American friends, but the government is another story. More than half of all Americans are outraged by their government's escapades. Seems you've been drinking the Kool-aid.

 

[Harris 4 PM]

Rae was in power for for four years. One term. It is arguably his spending that kick-started the economy into the boom the Harris enjoyed. At any rate, Rae's policies are not the same as the policies of the present federal NDP. Anybody who tries to draw that comparison knows nothing of NDP policy or history. The present federal NDP policies are most similar to the policies of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

LOL Yeah right, I guess when your ideological brethern completely screws up someone's province and you don't like it you can just go back and re-write history if its far enough in the past. Fact of the matter is Rae was in power for only 4 years(thank god), one term but did serious damage in that short period. Economy went in the tiolet and taxes were increased by the 2nd highest rate in the provinces history (probably first on per capita spending).

I think the far better thing to do is give credit where it is due instead of giving the most inept gov't in the province's history any credit in the economy at all.

As far as the NDP goes, whatever. Its nothing I haven't seen before or is revolutionary from the party....taxing and spending. True forces in the market and on the Canadian political scene has made the NDP moderate to the point where they (gasp) are even talking about keeping balanced budgets. That won't still win them any meaningful support on the Canadian political scene. Canadians know better than to trust the NDP with the economy, thats why they will never be elected or I doubt will ever even form the offical opposition in this country federally.

Sorry, not buying it. Not for a minute. Even Can-West has been critical of Harris' policies in the long run. Don't blame the media for Mikey's mistakes and mismanagement.

I am not blaming anyone for anything. All I am saying is the same type of people in the media who are over dramatizing and plain out on lying about the Harris record are people that share your same narrow political view. If you want to say Harris had the homeless beaten and having natives killed, you might score some political points with people who don't know any better, but if you believe that, you are the real fool.

Also, give me a break about Can-West. Where do you get this stuff? Someone somewhere says something some time and they respresent their organization? This isn't the first time in the little time I have seen you debate that you have done this. What are you smoking? Can-West loves Harris, they were the ones who completely fabricated the buzz that he would be running for conservative party leader in the first place and almost hooked him in.

 

[Harris 4 PM]

RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

Also, about western Canada.....here we go again.

I have to say I sympathize for you guys in one respect and thats the fact that we do not have a senate like we should that equally accounts for regional sentiment. We are supposed to have a check on the tyranny of the majority (southeast Ontario + Quebec) in our upper house, but all it really does as serve as a money maker for retired politicans (and maybe every now and again a bit of good). I wish Paul Martin would do as much work towards democratic reform as he does make lip service to the cause.

I would say though that a few your beefs with the evil Ottawa monster are becoming outdated though. I would find it hard to believe any westerner who is not saying that practically every party is kissing their ass for votes and taking on any "western" cause they can.

I am afraid the big divide in the future is going to not be as much on the economy (if this course holds true) but on social issues.

 

[mrmom2]

Hey P a little advice from mom never I mean never trust an Albertan They stab you in the back if you give them a chance

 

[bluealberta]

Re: RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

Also, about western Canada.....here we go again.

I have to say I sympathize for you guys in one respect and thats the fact that we do not have a senate like we should that equally accounts for regional sentiment. We are supposed to have a check on the tyranny of the majority (southeast Ontario + Quebec) in our upper house, but all it really does as serve as a money maker for retired politicans (and maybe every now and again a bit of good). I wish Paul Martin would do as much work towards democratic reform as he does make lip service to the cause.

I would say though that a few your beefs with the evil Ottawa monster are becoming outdated though. I would find it hard to believe any westerner who is not saying that practically every party is kissing their ass for votes and taking on any "western" cause they can.

I am afraid the big divide in the future is going to not be as much on the economy (if this course holds true) but on social issues.

Thanks Harris, glad to know we have some allies down east.

I am not sure I understand your second paragraph about outdated beefs, though. First, the beefs are continuing complaints we have had about the electoral process in Canada for a number of years. I suspect they will continue until something changes.

Secondly, if you are saying that every party is kissing our ass for votes, then you would be wrong, the Liberals could care less and go out of their way to demonize Alberta at every chance they get. Martin was out here once in the last election, and Chretien did not step foot in Alberta in the previous election. If this is not what you meant, sorry, let me know what you meant, okay?

The senate reform would go a long way to at least trying to correct the perceived inequities, but I don't see the Liberals and the eastern political machine and media getting on board with this kind of change at all.

Until there is a real opportunity to change the inequities, the complaints will continue. I have a real problem understanding how lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, freedom to MP's for free votes and private members bills, and improving relations with our largest trading partner are all bad things that get demonized by the left as if they were somehow policies that will destroy Canada. Nobody can be foolish enough to think that Harper and the conservatives sat down one day and said "let's figure out how to destroy Canada and impoverish the people". Okay, nobody with any common sense would think that. :twisted:

 

[bluealberta]

Hey P a little advice from mom never I mean never trust an Albertan They stab you in the back if you give them a chance

Not true. We go face to face and give everyone an equal chance.

What the hell are you talking about? And you wonder why Albertans have problems with other parts of Canada? What trash.

 

[Reverend Blair]

As far as the NDP goes, whatever.

No, it's not "whatever". While you sit there scare mongering, you are ignoring what your ideological brethren did to Saskatchewan. You are forgetting what they did to Manitoba. It has been the NDP who have repaired the damage that they did. Saskatchewan is now a have province and Manitoba's economy is doing very well. Saying that the NDP can't manage an economy is ill-informed at best.

When you scream about Bob Rae, you better scream about Grant Devine too. When you say Harris fixed things you better have some real-life examples because an awful lot of people feel that he made things worse. That's why they voted against Ernie the last time around...he was closely tied to the Harris regime.

 

[bluealberta]

As far as the NDP goes, whatever.

No, it's not "whatever". While you sit there scare mongering, you are ignoring what your ideological brethren did to Saskatchewan. You are forgetting what they did to Manitoba. It has been the NDP who have repaired the damage that they did. Saskatchewan is now a have province and Manitoba's economy is doing very well. Saying that the NDP can't manage an economy is ill-informed at best.

When you scream about Bob Rae, you better scream about Grant Devine too. When you say Harris fixed things you better have some real-life examples because an awful lot of people feel that he made things worse. That's why they voted against Ernie the last time around...he was closely tied to the Harris regime.

Sask will be a have province this year for the first time because they started to develop the oil resources FINALLY. I wonder how long it will take before the Sask people start complaining about transfer payments now that they will be giving instead of getting. Just a matter of time, I suspect. :roll:

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

It was the NDP who made them a have province, Blue. Your Conservative buddies, one of the most corrupt provincial governments in Canadian history, drove the province to the verge of bankruptcy. The province was in the black when the Devine government took over. They squandered it.

 

[bluealberta]

Re: RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

It was the NDP who made them a have province, Blue. Your Conservative buddies, one of the most corrupt provincial governments in Canadian history, drove the province to the verge of bankruptcy. The province was in the black when the Devine government took over. They squandered it.

Just goes to show that even the NDP can't screw up oil.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

There is a lot more to the Saskatchewan success than oil, Blue.

 

[bluealberta]

Re: RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

There is a lot more to the Saskatchewan success than oil, Blue.

Never disputed that, but they only became a have province once they started to develop the oil resources. Of course, there may not be anyone left in Sask to enjoy the success............ :wink:

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

The oil resources have been largely developed for years, Blue.

 

[bluealberta]

Re: RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

The oil resources have been largely developed for years, Blue.

Crap.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

Not crap. My stepmother's brother has had wells pumping on his farm since I was a kid. So has everybody else in that area. The NDP has gotten some better deals and they have developed things a bit more, but the oil has been pumping for a very long time.

The rise in the price of oil helped them become a have province sooner, but they have been very busy diversifying the province's economy ever since they came back to office.

 

[bluealberta]

Re: RE: Dissatisfied with Cho

Not crap. My stepmother's brother has had wells pumping on his farm since I was a kid. So has everybody else in that area. The NDP has gotten some better deals and they have developed things a bit more, but the oil has been pumping for a very long time.

The rise in the price of oil helped them become a have province sooner, but they have been very busy diversifying the province's economy ever since they came back to office.

So if Alberta became a have province in the 50's due to oil, what took Sask so long. The point is, they did not develop it as fast and as efficient as Alberta, obviously, or they would have been a have province years ago.

Alberta has diversified its economy greatly over the years, its just that oil is still the mainstay.