BO's BS...

Isobel - posted on 06/14/2010

and you probably have my favorite American accent...and there are plenty good ones to choose from :)

Isobel - posted on 06/14/2010

I'm in Toronto, Ontario

Pamela - posted on 06/14/2010

Where are you located (I hope you didn't already tell me - but then, I'm losing my mind anyway...)

Isobel - posted on 06/14/2010

You`re further north than I am! LOL

Pamela - posted on 06/14/2010

Yeah, it's hard to get fresh seafood here in northern Minnesota.

Rosie - posted on 06/14/2010

grr. i live smack dab in the middle of the united states, no good, fresh seafood around for thousands of miles. i dream of crab that is fresh, instead of shipped in from whereever over a course of days. i'm jealous.:(

Isobel - posted on 06/13/2010

They are... Manitoulin Island is about 5 hours drive from me...my Grandmother lived near there. It is beautiful :D

Pamela - posted on 06/11/2010

I love Canada. We used to hang out in the Manitoulin Island area - on Birch Island. Steamers sound very tasty - especially the butter part.

Isobel - posted on 06/11/2010

AAAAARRRRRRGHGGHGHGHGHGH! Curse you Krista Elliot!!!

Krista - posted on 06/11/2010

And Laura...my FIL owns a lobster pound.



Hate me yet?

Isobel - posted on 06/11/2010

steamers are long neck clams...which you steam, then dunk in salt water then in butter mmmmmmm...Krista is in Nova Scotia (east coast) and I am in Toronto (dead center of the Universe ;P) but we can't get steamers here :(

Pamela - posted on 06/11/2010

What are steamers? Where do you people live? I must move there...

Isobel - posted on 06/11/2010

and steamers OOOOOHHHHHH steamers...I can get lobster here but not steamers :( I have to wait till August.

Pamela - posted on 06/10/2010

Stop! You're making me hungry!

Isobel - posted on 06/10/2010

I get plenty of Nova Scotia lobster when we go down to Maine every August LOL...seems they export all of theirs at premium price then import ours to sell on the coast hahaha.

Krista - posted on 06/10/2010

Well, if you ever get your butt out here to visit, and it's during the season, I'll get you some -- fresh off the wharf! :)

Isobel - posted on 06/10/2010

They must have heard about your lobster ;P ...I'd move there myself for that

Krista - posted on 06/09/2010

Exactly. We still have many people trying to emigrate here, but not the same quantities, because the only country to which we are connected by land is the U.S. If we were connected by land to an impoverished and/or war-torn nation, I don't doubt for a second that our number of immigrants would skyrocket.

Plus, there's that stereotype about it being freezing here, which probably deters a lot of people. :)

Funny though, what Laura mentioned. We do get a lot of European immigrants out here, but we also, for some reason, get a LOT of immigrants from India and from Lebanon. There are a ton of Lebanese families in Halifax. And every second doctor here seems to be from India.

LaCi - posted on 06/09/2010

My grandparents immigrated through nova scotia ;D Legally I think lol



Anyway...

Isobel - posted on 06/09/2010

Where on earth did you hear that Canada has open borders? We accept everybody? All those Chinese boat people are going to be furious when they find that out.

The reason so many people are dying to get into America is because you live so close to such impoverished or oppressed countries like Cuba and Mexico...traditionally the immigrants to the east coast come from the UK (Nova Scotia MEANS New Scotland) and the immigrants to the west coast are more traditionally from Asia (It's closest neighbour).

Pamela - posted on 06/08/2010

Well there you have it. My position in life is to learn something new everyday because I don't have everything figured out. Good night ladies and God bless! May your life be filled with love:o)

ME - posted on 06/08/2010

I call myself a progressive, a radical liberal and a socialist all the time, I find none of those terms offensive...if you don't like the term "neo-conservative" or you think it doesn't pertain to you, fine, but if that's what you are, then it's not an offensive term. The fact that I refer to myself by those titles does NOT mean I am exactly the same person as either Marx or Engels tho...



Also...as I've said before...it's wrong for anyone to call another person "hitler" or "nazi" if he is clearly neither. I would never have used that term to refer to our president, nor would I have condoned anyone who did...The use of those terms belittles what happened in the Holocaust, and shows a complete insensitivity on the part of anyone who uses them inappropriately! The term 'evil' is very similar...our current President is not the spawn of Satan for crying out loud! People have every right to say such things (if they are not inciting violence against someone or some group) but when those things are inappropriate, they only show their own ignorance, and nothing more!

Diane - posted on 06/08/2010

“To use the word "neo-conservative" is not hate language’
It is a label for someone. The same as calling someone a liberal, a radical liberal. Liberalism is an ideology.
“Now down to brass tacks. When Obama is compared to dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin or Lenin - all mass murderers - that is hate language.”

But when liberals did it to Bush that was ok, right? When conservatives do it to Obama is hate speech.


http://semiskimmed.net/bushhitler.html

From George Soros to Linda Ronstadt to Fidel Castro…..Bush was compared to Hitler by the LEFT AND by many in the Democratic Party.

http://www.aim.org/wls/category/personal...

http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnLeo/2...

Keith Ellison Democrat compares Bush to Hilter.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289485,00.html

Was it hate language when Bush was compared to Hitler Pamela?

I believe in free speech however and I think other than yelling “fire” in a crowded theater anything should go.

But you can’t bash one side without bashing the other for doing the same thing.

It is obvious that I do not like or respect Obama. I do not hate him but I think his intentions are evil. That does not mean I condone anyone calling anyone Hitler. Certainly Bush did not mass murder people in ovens, nor did Clinton or any other president who was in office during wartime. Obama said however that he would immediately end the war and bring the troops home. He has not done thing, he has sent more over. The death continues under his watch and all those killed since Obama took over are his responsibility, their deaths on OBAMAS watch.

What I wonder is why the press and the liberals are not all calling for this war to stop and that Obama make good on his promises. Double standard…………

Is it evil I call Obama a socialist or even a communist? Both are ideologies.

I believe in problem solving, trouble is, when you have two sides who have become so polar opposite, there sometimes is no middle ground, no gray area. I always use abortion as an example. Abortion is killing something, no middle ground, you either believe someone should have the right to kill, or you don’t.

Helen Thomas put foot in mouth and showed hatred towards Israel and Jews. I would bet she regrets the comments she made big time.
She had every right to say what she did. The Hearst Corporation has every right to can her and those who find her comments deplorable also have the right to call her out. I am sure she wishes she could turn back the hand of time because she will never live this down.

Pamela - posted on 06/08/2010

To use the word "neo-conservative" is not hate language. It's not an inflammatory term - it's not designed to enrage and incite people. Neo-conservatives use this language to describe themselves. It denotes an ideology - as do the words "conservative," "liberal," "libertarian," or "centrist". The word actually breaks down as "new conservative" (neo means "new".) The neo-conservatives were actually yesterdays liberals who decided that the liberal ideology of the 1960's and 70's wasn't working so well. Over the years, the neo-conservative ideology has moved more to the right. Neo-conservative is not a derogatory term at all - if I were to up and call William Kristol, Dick Armey, or Paul Wolfowitz "neo-conservatives" to their faces, they wouldn't be offended; they would agree with me. If I said, "I sure don't agree with your neo-conservative agenda!" they would probably say, "That's nice. Oh well" and shrug their shoulders. But they wouldn't be offended because I am simply describing a set of ideas that they hold too.

Now down to brass tacks. When Obama is compared to dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin or Lenin - all mass murderers - that is hate language. That imagery is designed - whether by placard or by language - to incite fear and loathing. When he is accused of being a Marxist and a fascist (which is really not possible because fascists usually killed Marxists and vice versa - in other words, the ideologies didn't mix amicably), that again is inflammatory language designed to conjure up images of the Cold War Soviet Union and Nazi rule. When people yell "Obama hates America!" that is with the intent of freaking everybody out.

The problem with all this is it doesn't solve any problems. It incites rage, anger and fear, but that gets us no where. So instead of name calling and making false accusations, let's all work together to solve problems. That goes for both sides of the isle and everything in between.

ME - posted on 06/08/2010

"And what does your government do Jen just print money to pay for the FREE HEALTH CARE? That money comes from YOU."-Diane

I know that I, for one, would be much happier if my tax dollars went toward paying to keep people healthy and happy, instead of maintaining the Military Industrial Complex as it does now...AND, I'm pretty sure that the Canadians here realize what their tax dollars pay for as well...

"Now this is hilarious. You say that we should not use negative terms to describe someone because they inflame, you defend Barack Hussein…and then you turn around and use terms to describe what YOU HATE. ……neo-conservative. And tell me Pam…….did the LEFT, did Move on, did the media stop bashing Bush? LOL I could not support Obama if my life depended on it." -Diane

None of the Individual people here is responsible for what agencies said about President Bush during his administration. Some of us may have even spoken out against some of their inflammatory rhetoric for all you know. It's nice to know that we can count on YOU to keep that hateful rhetoric up tho, Diane, predictable as always!!!

Pamela - posted on 06/07/2010

I can't speak for MoveOn nor any other group. I can however speak for myself. I voted for President Bush in 2000 - as did my husband and my life long Republican father-in-law. I had a lot of hope in his presidency - especially his "compassionate conservatism". Unfortunately by 2004, I didn't have too much faith in his leadership. What he said and what he did, differed greatly. That's not hate. That's paying attention. By 2008, for the first time in his life, my father-in-law, a decorated WWII vet, was completely fed up by - not by conservatives - but by Bush and his administration. He voted, for the first time in his life, for a Democrat who was Obama. He probably wouldn't have voted for Hilary Clinton.

Also, I never stated that I "hate" anything. I may disagree at times, but that isn't hating anything.

Johnny - posted on 06/07/2010

Diane, I'm not going to bother to address all the other crazy shit in that post, but only the topic you've addressed to me. Sadly, migrants do die trying to reach Canada from Asia. Not as frequently mind you, but that probably stems from the great distances between Canada & Asia as opposed to the small distances between the US and Haiti, Mexico, Cuba, etc. This is one of the more recent examples:


RCMP seizes vessel carrying 76 off B.C. coast
Passengers may be from Sri Lanka
Last Updated: Saturday, October 17, 2009 | 11:14 PM ET
CBC News

People on the seized boat off British Columbia wave to a helicopter overhead.People on the seized boat off British Columbia wave to a helicopter overhead. (RCMP)

An RCMP emergency response team boarded and took control of a vessel carrying 76 people off the British Columbia coast and piloted it to port on Saturday.

The action capped a large-scale, two-day police and military operation that kicked into gear following a tip that the ship had sailed unannounced into Canadian waters.

Assistant RCMP Commissioner Al MacIntyre said officials received reports on Thursday of a vessel in waters off Vancouver Island behaving in an inconsistent manner.

On Friday afternoon, the frigate HMCS Regina approached the Ocean Lady near Port Renfrew and an armed team boarded it and took control, MacIntyre said.
The RCMP boarded and seized this vessel, of unknown origin, in Canadian waters Saturday. The RCMP boarded and seized this vessel, of unknown origin, in Canadian waters Saturday. (RCMP)

No shots were fired and there were no injuries.

The RCMP vessels Higgitt and Lindsay, along with HMCS Regina, escorted the vessel to port at Ogden Point on Vancouver Island.

Rob Johnston of the Canada Border Services Agency told a news conference Saturday evening that 76 men were led off the ship and were believed to be in good health, considering the voyage they had just undertaken.

"However, even though we're satisfied, we are making arrangements for medical examinations as we process them through," Johnston said.

He wouldn't say if there were any children on board, only that the migrants were of a "variety of ages."

The migrants told Canadian officials they wanted to go to Canada. They are being detained and processed under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Officials wouldn't say where they're being held.

In an interview with CBC News, Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said early information indicated that the people on the boat may be from Sri Lanka, but that was still unconfirmed.

"Obviously they're arriving in an unconventional fashion, so that raises concerns and the potential of human smuggling or concerns of that nature," Van Loan said.

Officials at the news conference couldn't say where the men are from

Diane - posted on 06/07/2010

“Can you really tell me that you understand what that is like.”

Absolutely not, no more than you know how it feels to live in Arizona and to deal with what we are dealing with now. To tell the people of Arizona that they do not have the right to defend themselves, that they laws they put in place are wrong…...come on.

That does not mean I can’t or you can’t have an opinion on the matter does it?

Laura said, “
I guess I am really more pro-life than you...I'm willing to do what it takes to stop people from getting abortions...not just looking to scream and throw insults.”

Not really Laura because the Physicians Desk Reference Book says birth control can cause an abortion. But honey you keep trying to justify your stance anyway you can to try to make yourself feel good.

Bottom line you still condone abortion and you still stand in line with those who believe women have the right to kill. You have a warped idea of what pro-life means. And honey I will debate you anywhere and anytime over the issue of abortion. Bring it on.
Jenny said, “We don't WANT a giant military we can't afford. As a sovereign state, that is our right. Do you have any idea how many Canadian communities were founded by American draft dodgers?”

Oh no why should you…….you have us to help you if push came to shove. LOL

And what does your government do Jen just print money to pay for the FREE HEALTH CARE? That money comes from YOU.
Carol……….said, “You need to check your facts. More people per capita do come to Canada (12th) and Australia (11th) than to the USA.”

You have open borders……anyone can come in, you do not kick anyone out. Hell Bin Ladin could come to Canada and be welcomed. Right?

How many boat loads of people die every year trying to get to Canada? If the United States is so bad…..why do people die to come here?

Pamela said, “Obama is no radical leftist. He's not even close to a radical leftist "extremist." He's not a socialist, a communist nor is he a facist. He's not Hitler, he's not Marx, Lenin, Mussolini or Stalin. When we use terminology like this, it serves only to inflame and create a politics of fear. He was duly elected President by the American people who were (and still are for the most part) quite sick and tired of 8 years of a neo-conservative agenda. Funny, when many didn't like President Bush, they were told to shut up and support his administration. Funny, I've noticed a slight double standard here. Hmmm...”

Now this is hilarious. You say that we should not use negative terms to describe someone because they inflame, you defend Barack Hussein…and then you turn around and use terms to describe what YOU HATE. ……neo-conservative. And tell me Pam…….did the LEFT, did Move on, did the media stop bashing Bush? LOL I could not support Obama if my life depended on it.

Pamela - posted on 06/06/2010

And Jenny, I appreciate your posts - which I don't regard one bit as "bashing America." I think a little bit of critique of this great Empire of ours is useful and necessary. We need people on the outside looking in. So I never regard criticism as a bad thing - it's an opportunity for growth. So welcome Canadians and Australians - and anyone else. We need you in our lives. I mean this seriously.

Pamela - posted on 06/06/2010

Obama is no radical leftist. He's not even close to a radical leftist "extremist." He's not a socialist, a communist nor is he a facist. He's not Hitler, he's not Marx, Lenin, Mussolini or Stalin. When we use terminology like this, it serves only to inflame and create a politics of fear. He was duly elected President by the American people who were (and still are for the most part) quite sick and tired of 8 years of a neo-conservative agenda. Funny, when many didn't like President Bush, they were told to shut up and support his administration. Funny, I've noticed a slight double standard here. Hmmm...

Isobel - posted on 06/06/2010

abortion is now my favorite topic to argue with Diane :D

Johnny - posted on 06/05/2010

They tend to do that when faced with reality.

Jenny - posted on 06/05/2010

*crickets chirping*

Johnny - posted on 06/04/2010

Could you imagine if it wasn't?!?! We'd double in size every year LMAO! Well... then we could have a big military :-P

Isobel - posted on 06/04/2010

doh! it's per capita.

Jenny - posted on 06/04/2010

Thanks for the link Carol, I didn't know that!

Johnny - posted on 06/04/2010

Sorry, I forgot to include my link.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2112rank.html

Apologies!

Johnny - posted on 06/04/2010

Diane, yet again there is reality and then there is what is going on in your head. You need to check your facts. More people per capita do come to Canada (12th) and Australia (11th) than to the USA.

Net migration rates according to the CIA:

This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g. 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. The net migration rate does not distinguish between economic migrants, refugees, and other types of migrants nor does it distinguish between lawful migrants and undocumented migrants.

1 United Arab Emirates 21.71 2010 est.
2 Cayman Islands 16.09 2010 est.
3 Kuwait 15.65 2010 est.
4 Anguilla 13.55 2010 est.
5 Cyprus 11.68 2010 est.
6 San Marino 9.63 2010 est.
7 Aruba 9.56 2010 est.
8 Turks and Caicos Islands 8.63 2010 est.
9 Luxembourg 8.34 2010 est.
10 British Virgin Islands 7.74 2010 est.
11 Australia 6.13 2010 est.
12 Canada 5.64 2010 est.
13 Isle of Man 5.20 2010 est.
14 Botswana 4.91 2010 est.
15 Singapore 4.79 2010 est.
16 Ireland 4.66 2010 est.
17 Liechtenstein 4.63 2010 est.
18 United States 4.25 2010 est.
19 Afghanistan 4.24 2010 est.
20 Hong Kong 4.22 2010 est.

Jenny - posted on 06/04/2010

Ok, I'll break up this up as clear as I can for the rest of you. For Diane I'll just type abortion, America and illegal immigration. Rant away Diane!



Anyhoo....



Diane:You know Jenny I am sick of you constantly bashing America….so here goes.



If we are a bit less happy than Canadians right now it might be because we are at war trying not only to protect ourselves but to protect the world from terrorists, you included. You haven’t got much of a military and if attacked I am sure that you would probably look to the SOUTH for help. You certainly could not defend all your borders. You are not picked on because you just sit back and do nothing.



Me: Self-imposed "helping" is not helping, it's being a bully. You are not fighting an army, you are fighting an ideology. It is simply unwinnable but the machine rolls on...



Show me where we asked for help before forcing it upon us. We choose to do things by diplomacy. We don't WANT a giant military we can't afford. As a sovereign state, that is our right. Do you have any idea how many Canadian communities were founded by American draft dodgers?



Diane: Free health care……….whoopee. You pay for it somewhere along the line don’t kid yourself. You do not have free speech or even an option for health care. You are forced and when you get upset with the long lines and shotty service, you head SOUTH, like your head of state did when he came over for the heart operation. No good heart doctors in Canada….a shame.



Me: You missed some punctuation. It's "Free health care? Whoopee!" Countless times Canadians have been on here telling of the virtues of our health care. You can shove your internet links where the sun don't shine. I live in the system and I LOVE IT. It has saved my family hundreds of thousands of dollars and most importantly, lives. I am happy to wait for non-life threatening health services because I have no problem sharing with others. That's how Canadians roll.



BTW, I know several people who have had heart surgery. My 4 year old niece was one of them. She had her surgery at the world renowned BC Children's Hospital and is doing great. There was a 4 day old baby having heart surgery when she was in there too. It was successful for those who care.



Diane: Or we might be less happy because we are being invaded by illegals or that Obama’s true colors are coming out and people are realizing just what kind of a person they voted for.



Me: Can't decipher batshit so I'm moving along...



Diane: I read the link you provided and while we are down the list from you we still are in the same column….so what was your point besides slamming the United States once again.

It is amazing that all these people from all over the world want to get into America to live, NOT CANADA.



Me: I have a theory on that. Most people believe Canada is the arctic and we live in igloos including Americans I've met who live four hours south of me. Our media does not extend to foreign eyes and ears as America's does. So really it is a testament that marketing is effective. As far as the Mexicans go it is simply a matter of geography. If we were between you two I doubt they'd be clamoring at your border like they do now. It's not so much that they want IN, they want OUT.



As far as bashing Americans, I'd like to see a quote. I've said humans are stupid. I've bashed Capitalism. I've bashed consumerism. I've bashed organized religion. I've bashed your foreign policy. I have not bashed Americans. I recognize that countries are made up individuals (except for dirty Mexicans of course, they're all criminals =)) so I have yet to see where I've attacked Americans specifically.

Isobel - posted on 06/04/2010

If my daughter feels more comfortable discussing taking the pill with her doctor than with me...and that stops her from getting an abortion, I am ALL for it. And her doctor is who she talks to, not a politician by the way.



I guess I am really more pro-life than you...I'm willing to do what it takes to stop people from getting abortions...not just looking to scream and throw insults.

Tanya - posted on 06/04/2010

Diane I agree with you on the over spending. I think that we got ourselves into a lot of trouble by trying to keep up with each other. I do not blame this on the media or anything else. People make bad choices.

I am talking about basic human need. Food, Shelter, and Health care.
Do you know that I went to school with kids who didn't have running water. Can you really tell me that you understand what that is like. I didn't have it great growing up, but I can't pretend to know what that would be like. The reason I know this girl did not have running water is because she always smelled bad. I got in trouble for making fun of her. My mom took me to the shack that they lived in and told me that they did not have running water there. She also showed me the homes of more children without water. I remember crying all the way home. I ended up giving that girl part of my lunch money and some of my clothes and toys. I did not have a room full of toys, but I gave because she was a another human. She was in need and I did have something I could give her.
In middle school I used my allowance to buy my friend food because her parents didn't care.
Over the years have I helped people who didn't deserve it and did appreciate it? YES
Would I go back and change it? NO

LaCi - posted on 06/04/2010

Rawr! terrorists and subpar medical schools. Stupid canadians.

Diane - posted on 06/04/2010

You know Jenny I am sick of you constantly bashing America….so here goes.



If we are a bit less happy than Canadians right now it might be because we are at war trying not only to protect ourselves but to protect the world from terrorists, you included. You haven’t got much of a military and if attacked I am sure that you would probably look to the SOUTH for help. You certainly could not defend all your borders. You are not picked on because you just sit back and do nothing. Free health care……….whoopee. You pay for it somewhere along the line don’t kid yourself. You do not have free speech or even an option for health care. You are forced and when you get upset with the long lines and shotty service, you head SOUTH, like your head of state did when he came over for the heart operation. No good heart doctors in Canada….a shame.



Or we might be less happy because we are being invaded by illegals or that Obama’s true colors are coming out and people are realizing just what kind of a person they voted for.



I read the link you provided and while we are down the list from you we still are in the same column….so what was your point besides slamming the United States once again.

It is amazing that all these people from all over the world want to get into America to live, NOT CANADA.



Laura I do not believe that any government should go behind the backs of parents, no matter what the reason. Our children do not belong to the government. Where is the government… should an underage have problems with birth control or they regret and are suffering from the abortion they had? Do they also step in and take measures to make things right? NO. It is odd that you need parental permission if you are a minor in order to get a tattoo and you don’t need one to kill your unborn child.



Tanya said, “I just don't think you can really grasp what it is like for people that make under 50k a year”



Yes, I can and so can a lot of people. But my husband worked his tail off for years to provide us with a great life. The problem today is that people feel they shouldn’t have to work that to keep up with the Joneses that the government should do it all for them. They don’t buy a house they can afford; they buy one that is way beyond their means. They load up credit card after card with purchases that they don’t need and can’t afford. And banks prey on people like this by giving them unlimited credit…and now we have people walking away from houses that they never could afford in the first place. People can’t wait for years to have that nice car…..they have to buy it immediately even if they do not have the money.

Tanya - posted on 06/04/2010

"We are breeding generations of kids that have no respect, no morals, and no drive because they aren't held accountable. Parents aren't held accountable for doing what it takes to make sure their kids are productive members of society"
So if the majority of parents are so good with kids why are they turning out so badly. How do we hold the parents accountably without the government gaining more access to your personal life. Will they come around to each home and check on the children. How would we know that the children are being educated? What about the children who are abused and home and a teacher turns in the parents?

No I do not have a game console or game console. I didn't say anything about the rest. Yes I would pay higher taxes on non- essential items if it meant giving some one else a better life. I do feel like we should work together as human to better our race. Crazy I know.

I just don't think you can really grasp what it is like for people that make under 50k a year

Isobel - posted on 06/03/2010

Isn't it crazy how all the people who are taxed the heaviest are the happiest...nuts.

Enjoy your Capitalism.

Jenny - posted on 06/03/2010

http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/



I should add happiness is, of course, subjective but this list is based on different areas of a country that measure quality of life.

Becki - posted on 06/03/2010

"Canada is not perfect but our citizens are overall happier than Americans and more content with our lives. We have to be do something right." Jenny how did you gather information to substantiate this statement?

Isobel - posted on 06/03/2010

I don't know how many times I have to explain to you that Canada (because of UHC and the right to birth control without parental permission) provides HALF of the abortions of the U.S. If only you cared about actually solving the problem instead of punishing desperate women you would see that UHC is an important part of getting rid of abortions.

I totally agree with a loan forgiveness program, and that goes for our business and tech students too...the higher your grades the more of your loans get forgiven for each year you stay in the country...no more brain drain.

Toronto has private clinics...so you can get your diagnostics done much faster if you can afford it (or have extra insurance)...it does not bump you to the front of the line for procedures but it certainly gets you into the line faster and if it is life threatening THAT bumps you to the front of the line.

Paying for an urgent care would be WAY cheaper than having people without serious problems being treated in the ER. Seems to me that it would pay for itself in savings from the ER.

I think there should be higher taxes on fast food (just like cigarettes and alcohol) to cover the added pressure they put on the health care system.

I will never understand the uniquely American concept that health is a luxury but hey...to each her own I guess. I don't understand why you don't recognize that you are already paying for the uninsured...UHC actually makes it fairer, by collecting taxes straight from EVERYONE'S pay checks they ensure that MY bill will not sky rocket to pay for all the illegal Americans up here ;P

Kelly - posted on 06/03/2010

Jenny, I think it is really sad that you are the minority in your daughters school. The thing is, at my daughters school you would fit right in. I know that being able to make the decision and sacrifices necessary to afford private school doesn't make me a "better" parent than anyone else. Is it attitude? Is it belief? Why are we not people not held accountable? Why should we make excuses because someone comes from a broken home? Or a dual working family? Or a poor family? I'm sorry, but if your kid is involved in electronics over their schoolwork, you TAKE THE ELECTRONICS AWAY. If the parents are uneducated and poor, you break the cycle, not perpetuate it. The thing that people forget is that no one is going to care what happens to you if you yourself don't. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are breeding generations of kids that have no respect, no morals, and no drive because they aren't held accountable. Parents aren't held accountable for doing what it takes to make sure their kids are productive members of society. Public Schools aren't held accountable for making sure the education is quality driven. I certainly don't have all the answers or fixes, but I do believe that if we continue with business as usual, EVERYONE is going to suffer.

Jenny - posted on 06/03/2010

Canada is not perfect but our citizens are overall happier than Americans and more content with our lives. We have to be do something right.