OT: Politics & News... Have at it.

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

It is no worse than the Conservative candidates saying that the Liberals want whorehouses on every street...

Well perhaps not on every street but I see nothing wrong with a return to the way Montreal used to operate in the pre-Drapeau era. But instead of operating in the shadows we should just stop pretending that things such as pot and prostitution don't exist. Legalize it, regulate it and tax it.

 

[Krustchev]

Assimilation is a dirty word in Canada thanks to Quebec nationalism. French Canadians have always resisted being assimilated by the English so in Canada, we don't presume to assimilate anyone. The US has a so-called "melting pot" in which people of all different backgrounds are assimilated or "melted down" into a new form called Americans. In Canada, the model is that of a mosaic in which each person is an individual tile in a larger whole. Viewed at a distance you see Canada and up close you see the individual differences of each person or tile in the mosaic.

The US likes to think of itself as a more homogenous nation than it really is whereas in Canada we accept the fact that we are a pluralistic society. Conservatives on both sides of the border long for a country that resembles a 1950's TV show: almost exclusively white, almost exclusively Christian, and almost exclusively conservative in thought, word and deed.

Good thing you don't generalize much. At least where I live most people accept that we are a pluralistic society, and I think most Americans accept that fact.

 

[lecoqsportif]

Yeah, I was gonna sugest that both reality and perceptions are rather different than WeHave's portrayal.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Good thing you don't generalize much. At least where I live most people accept that we are a pluralistic society, and I think most Americans accept that fact.

People may accept the fact, but the US melting pot system is designed to strip away those distinctions and highlight only the commonalities. In Canada the differences are what gets highlighted. My personal take is that a little assimilation never hurt anybody. If you're going to come here to live and be a citizen you should adopt the customs of your new home. That's not to say you have to forget you came from someplace else but if hanging on to your past practices and customs is that important to you then you need to ask yourself why (or if) you want to move here in the first place?

I suspect that for a lot of immigrants it comes down to economics. They couldn't really care less about being citizens; they just want to be able to make a good living here. And in Canada at least, if you bring a lot of money into the country, chances are you'll never be asked to assimilate. Here in Vancouver if you're Chinese or East Indian it is possible to live your entire life without ever having to speak English. In my riding, the federal candidates for all parties are East Indian. The major banks all have branches that serve Asian customers exclusively. None of these people are trying to "blend in" nor are they being encouraged to do so by the government.

I don't think that the US government is quite as accommodating. They want people to blend in as much and as quickly as possible.

 

[XPOFAN]

Gagnier 'chose to do the responsible thing': Trudeau

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/gagnier-chose-to-do-the-responsible-thing-trudeau-1.2611037

 

[ColinM]

Gagnier 'chose to do the responsible thing': Trudeau

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/gagnier-chose-to-do-the-responsible-thing-trudeau-1.2611037

I vaguely recall something similar being said about Nigel Wright.

 

[Guibs]

Exactly. Trudeau just should have fired him on the spot to show an example and distinguished himself from the Conservaters. Instead, he just showed that they aren't much difference between them when it comes to "politics" and that possibly not much changes beind doors on the liberal party. Just one curious journalist away from finding out corruption remains lively inside that party.

 

[oscarheyman]

I vaguely recall something similar being said about Nigel Wright.

Exactly. Trudeau just should have fired him on the spot to show an example and distinguished himself from the Conservaters. Instead, he just showed that they aren't much difference between them when it comes to "politics" and that possibly not much changes beind doors on the liberal party. Just one curious journalist away from finding out corruption remains lively inside that party.

I thought Harper claimed that Wright didn't resign but was fired (granted Harper changed his story/view on this as time went on - he at first claimed Wright had resigned).

 

[ColinM]

I thought Harper claimed that Wright didn't resign but was fired (granted Harper changed his story/view on this as time went on - he at first claimed Wright had resigned).

I think it was Pierre Pollieve (spelling?) who originally claimed Wright showed leadership but protecting the tax payer. Although I'm sure that line was lost in the shuffle of many comparable moments.

 

[XPOFAN]

Hee Hee

http://montrealgazette.com/tag/aislin-and-pascal-editorial-cartoons

 

[xposbrad]

Woman at center of niqab controversy actually linked to terrorist group, go figure:

http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2015/10/16/woman-in-niqab-controversy-works-with-suspect-group

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

135-118 now. I still figure Harper will scare enough people like Xposbrad over the weekend to get a minority.

 

[northernlou]

If American's can elect an inexperienced President, why can't we experience the fruits of the same folly?

On election day it'll be Justin, have no fear David. The unicorn has landed.

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

If American's can elect an inexperienced President, why can't we experience the fruits of the same folly?

On election day it'll be Justin, have no fear David. The unicorn has landed.

Harper didnt have much more experience when he became PM

 

[Altair]

Harper didnt have much more experience when he became PM

Trudeau haters don't care about your facts, it interferes with their truthiness

 

[northernlou]

Harper didnt have much more experience when he became PM

Harper: A Masters degree in economics.

Justin: Bachelor of Arts degree in literature, a Bachelor of Education degree, and a silver spoon, can't forget that.

 

[northernlou]

Trudeau haters don't care about your facts, it interferes with their truthiness

Lighten up that righteous hate of yours.

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

and what has his master's degree gotten him, oh yeah two recessions, first PM in history to be in power during two recessions

 

[Krustchev]

Harper: A Masters degree in economics.

Justin: Bachelor of Arts degree in literature, a Bachelor of Education degree, and a silver spoon, can't forget that.

JT was a high school teacher, wasn't he? Very impressive. LOL.

 

[Krustchev]

and what has his master's degree gotten him, oh yeah two recessions, first PM in history to be in power during two recessions

I doubt that one person can be responsible, on his own, for causing two recessions.