the watcher

Wide Left said: " One poll may show that, but polls can say a lot of things - like people don't really like either Trudeau or PeePee to any great degree." I am definitely in that group. I can't vote Liberal unless Trudeau removes himself and I can't vote for any party like the Cons that denies climate change led by a little shite that would sell his soul ( and maybe everyone else's) and join forces with what ever moronic movement that will get him elected. So I am limited to 1 party before an election is even called.

In the USA it's the majority. Around %60 if I recall correctly.

Americans always seem to need an enemy. I have a theory that if you are particularly inward looking, believe you are the best, the greatest, the ultimate nation then when the inevitable problems occur that all nations suffer it can only be blamed on subversives or outsiders trying to destroy you. Those in power know this and use it.

The CNP came up in a book I'm reading so I thought I'd read a bit on it. What really struck me about this article and about the CNP in general is how twisted it is that they are the very thing that alot of MAGA supporters think they are fighting against is what they are supporting. https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/10/25/god-trump-closed-door-world-council-national-policy/

I found this interesting: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/28/russia-ukraine-crisis-in-maps-and-charts-live-news-interactive

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/22/arizona-attorney-general-2020-election-vote-fraud-maricopa-county When a politician/ government official intentionally, knowingly tries to thwart democracy they need to be charged and dealt with harshly. Every time I hear things like this I think of the woman who thought she could vote ( an election official said she could ) despite having been in jail.They slammed her with 5 years in prison

A whole lot of folks wearing folks wearing red hats would give a deep sigh and mumble " Ah,the good old days "

I never said they were equal .No doubt the Republicans are disgusting. But if you remove about 4 items off that list then they are right there. It was the Democrats that instituted mandatory minimum sentencing. The Democrats have been perfectly willing to send their kids to unneeded wars that gain nothing but profits for corps under the guise of overblown patriotism.They had their chance to codify Roe vs Wade and didn't. I could go on. As I said ones a dung hill.The others a steaming rotten dung hill . Granted the latter is now filled with nutbars and lunitics

The trouble with the US is alot of that list could be assigned to the Dems as well. There is no real choice that will change the direction of that country other than lone wolfs like Bernie. It's like a choice between a dung hill and a stinking rotten dunghill. It's still all crap.

Scary sh##t to be honest.

Interesting research https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/09/crazy-interesting-findings-by-australian-researchers-may-reveal-key-to-covid-immunity

My tablet went frigging nuts lol. I actually wanted to say that doesn't excuse what he did in his non hockey life. It should be a reminder that our childhood heros are not what we imagined at the time.

I was a huge Hull and Blackhawks fan as a kid. I was thrilled to death when he came to Winnipeg. He changed hockey by empowering the players. He made the NHL a possibility in Winnipeg. The Hotline changed hockey when it became the basis of the Oiler championship years.His shot has yet to be equaled in my opinion. There are tons of stories about his willingness to sign autographs. Holding up team buses too so.A friend told me of being a kid and standing in a crowded group to get an autograph.Just as he approached an adult kind of shoved him to the side and stuck his paper infront of Bobby. Hull just reached over the guy ,took my friends paper , signed it and moved on without signing the adults paper.

A good opinion piece. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/23/system-rigged-inequality-pandemic-despair-super-rich

It's always bothered me that when we look at fixing our issues with our Healthcare system we only think that it's either the American way or ours. There are many different systems in Europe and the rest of the world. We need to do look beyond the Americans when we look for solutions. As far as the cost of systems I haven't looked since covid hit but generally most of Europe like ourselves are in the 10 to 11.5 percent of our GDP to fund our Healthcare systems.The Americans spend a whopping 17+ percent of their GDP on Healthcare. The cost argument never has held water. And as far as results for having their expensive system , we are 12th to 14 in life expectancy. Americans are around 32nd. It's been awhile since I looked at the numbers and it was precovid so I stand to be corrected. My point boils down to there are more answers to fixing our Healthcare issues than the old private or public argument.

When the pandemic started I got into several nasty confrontations with covidiots. After a while I thought about it and decided no more. It bothered me more than them. And it goes against my moral and spiritual beliefs. So Covid has taught me it ain't worth it.I am better to remove myself.

For one thing its 6 years. Next,I have said all along I liked his IDEA .That doesn't suggest I have done a independent study on it. By BASING it around I meant bringing it more in line with . There is no reason 6 or 8 years of public work should mean you are entitled you to an excessive pension.Lastly as far as the cracks about " civics classes " and " critical thinking " that have been made, I did study Political Science at the U of W many years ago. I have made a life time habit of reading alot of books on philosophy, religion, politics, current events, science....A simple comment that I liked an idea seems to have fired up everyone. I'll end the discussion there then.

Lol l Manning was far from a model anything. I was no fan of the Reform party. I repeat , basing a pension somewhat around civil servants is a good idea. Not exact, just generally.

I'm long past school so ditch the attitude. All I'm saying is a more reasonable pension would be better. Basing it more along the lines of other public servants isn't unreasonable. I didn't say make it exactly the same . Lordy ! God help someone on here if they say someone on the right had a good notion.

A newbie MP qualified or not makes "180,000 a year plus extras. It's not just for the rich,. So you are suggesting us" plebs " wouldn't run if they had a more reasonable pension structure ?

And why would politicians be different ? Getting a full pension on top of other unique benefits after 8 years ( or less ) is ridiculous.

As could Trudeau 1+ 2, Martin, Harper,Chretien and any other lifetime politician . But Manning is the only one who did or will do it. I'm just saying the idea of basing their pensions on civil servants is a good ides.

Re the discussion on, MLS and MP wages, pension and terms : All good ideas. I always liked Preston Mannings idea of basing MPs pensions and maybe wages on the average civil servants pension. The last I knew he refused to accept the pension he got.I didn't agree with all of his ideas but I liked that one.

Scary stuff https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/11/oceans-were-the-hottest-ever-recorded-in-2022-analysis-shows

I thought this should go under US politics as their political system allows this to happen. Another symptom of a broken society. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/08/shooting-of-teacher-by-six-year-old-a-red-flag-for-us-says-mayor-virginia