Have read most of the posts, and am amazed at the lack of knowledge of some folks. The claims about Alberta only doing well because of gas and oil is one I and others like me particularly like. The facts are that the people in Alberta developed the gas and oil on their own. Give credit where credit is due. By the way, Saskatchewan also has abundant resources (you don't really think the gas and oil ends at the border, do you?) so why are they a have not province? They had the same opportunities....oh yeah, forgot, the NDP basically ran them into the ground. As far as the claims of dog food eating, non-affordable housing, etc., while I am certain there are cases of this, it is not widespread, and probably less here than anywhere else in Canada. Part of the reason for the lack of housing is due to the massive influx of people coming to Alberta because of the opportunities here as opposed to some of the other provinces.
What really makes some of us very frustrated is that fact that we and Ontario pay all the bills for this country, but we get absolutely no thanks, just a bunch of redneck references, etc. Do the math: the federal surplus (at least the one they claim) is less than what Alberta puts into the federal treasury. Think what would happen if Alberta did not have massive transfer payments to Canada? How long do you think Ontario would stand for funding the entire country? Could you even call it a country at that point?
Regarding politics, there was one post earlier where the point was made that the vast majority of conservatives are not opposed to same sex unions, but are opposed to changing the traditional definition of marriage. Reflects my position exactly. For the record, some of my friends over the years have been gay, and I have worked with many gay people over the years for whom I have great respect. The fact is that same sex unions do have the same benefits as traditionally married people, so what is the reason to be called married? As far as the churches go, yes, they have been told that they do not have to marry gays in the church, but no one from the government has ever denied that churches who do not marry gays will have their tax exempt status revoked. Until I hear or read that from this government, I will have my doubts about their claims of not interfering with churches.
Just because I and many others in the West are conservative does not make us all the names we have been called in earlier posts. Most of us tend to take a live and let live outlook, as long as you don't try to force something on us (read: useless gun registry). And no, I do not own a gun, but have in the past for pest control. We do not run down others for simply disagreeing with us, and we do not resort to name calling when others disagree with us. I cannot say the same for the left, which continually insults and degrades anyone on the right. We are not wild eyed fundamentalist religious types, in general, and would like to become appreciated from the rest of the country. Unfortunately, we seem to be seen primarily as a wallet to fund many things that really are not a priority, say like: National Daycare, Gun Registry, Legalizing Pot, Legalizing Prostitution, Ad Firms in Quebec, Same Sex Marriage, etc. Just give us good government with lower costs, and we will be extremely happy to continue to work as hard as presently do to assist the rest of Canada.
