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the watcher

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  1. The RIP 2023 Thread

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Rich
    Removed extra white space

    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.

  3. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by the watcher

    21 hours ago, JCon said:

    We need to look to Europe. They have the right model to provide sustainable universal healthcare. 

    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.

  4. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Just now, HardCoreBlue said:

    Welcome to the internet. It's all good. We're all (well at least most) friends here. 🙂

    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.

  5. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, Wideleft said:

     

    Not what you said, actually (see above).  Anyway, what does "basing....somewhat around" actually mean?  What does this look like in practical terms rather than in Manningish broad strokes?  8 years of deductions might get you $1000-$1500/month net (lower if you're also going to base MP salaries on avg civil servant salaries as you originally suggested).  

    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.

     

     

     

  7. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, JCon said:

    If it were just that easy but you don't just sign up. There is a huge, unpaid, time commitment to actually get the nomination and win the riding.  If you're rich, like Manning and taking money from rich corps, that's easy. 

     

    We really need civics classes again in school. 

     

    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.

  9. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, Wideleft said:

    What Manning did was performative - nothing more and nothing less.  What kind of pension do you think a civil servant would get with only 8 years of pay-ins?

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

     

     

  10. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Wideleft said:

    Preston Manning could live 20 retirements without a pension with all the tax-free dark money his "Institute" collects.

    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.

  11. Canadian Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by the watcher

    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.

  15. US Politics

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, bustamente said:

    Trump is finished both politically and in business, he is neutered and can only grift from rubes now, eventually they will start taking properties from him starting with his golf courses, Trump signage will come off hotels, and finally someone will but Mar A Lago for pennies on the dollar and bulldoze it. Anyways that's my New Years Wish.

    If it all goes away that quietly I'd be surprised.  Trump's election was a symptom of a diseased society. The disease isn't being treated. It will resurface. It's like a nasty STD. If you don't treat the root causes it will always come back. Next time they might get a smarter " Trump  like leader ".

  19. Everything Soccer

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    23 hours ago, blue_gold_84 said:

    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/fifa-croatia-disciplinary-case-1.6667609

    Back in the 90s I was working in a mine in the northern Canada.  We had a Croatian bull cook  ( assisted the cook, cleaned rooms..... ) in camp. He was a jovial, friendly,  always smiling, joking with everyone  guy that  everyone loved. One day the foreman  and I  were watching a foreign movie on the rec room TV ( it was a sweet camp ). It was about a family trying to get into the west from the Serbia, Macedonia,  Turkey area. Y####  had come in the room and was standing behind where we were sitting.At some point my foreman said  "  Y####  who are these people ? " There was no answer so he asked again and  we both turned and looked at him.  I can only describe  his face as a picture of hate,anger, disgust. I have seen lots of angry men but never a look of pure, utter hatred.  It was shockjng. He then literally spat out.  " They're peasants ! Dirty filthy peasants !  " and stormed off. I'm not sure what he had gone through or what his life experiences were . The Croatian war was on and he had always said he wasn't going back till the war was over.  I've met and dealt with lots of people who were racist, or anti gray, ....etc but never before or since seen a look like that. Close to terrifying. 

     

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