NDP policy convention this weekend...

[Azure]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Check your facts. The US defiicit has increased substantially during GWB's tenure.

Debt?

You should really stay on topic.

But if you want to talk about deficit..

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstra...AE0894DE404482

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Azure

Plus, we are not a socialist country.

Plenty of neocons would disagree with you.

Strictly speaking you are right, we are not a socialist country by definition but we certainly are more socialist than the USA (in a good way) but less socialist than other countries.

I wouldn't consider Norway or Sweden to be true socialist countries either though. Providing social programs doesn not a socialist country make.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Plenty of neocons would disagree with you.

Strictly speaking you are right, we are not a socialist country by definition but we certainly are more socialist than the USA (in a good way) but less socialist than other countries.

I wouldn't consider Norway or Sweden to be true socialist countries either though. Providing social programs doesn not a socialist country make.

Well no kidding.

Didn't I say the exact same thing.

Also, its pretty obvious that many people in the US, and not only the 'neo-cons' have a very unlimited knowledge of Canada.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Economist magazine rates Norway 3rd, Sweden 5th and New Zealand 15th (one notch below Canada) in their 2005 Quality of Life index, so I'm not sure what lessons you're referring to.

If I'm not mistaken, Norway also has huge incomes from off-shore oil which is funnelled into a government-owned oil company, with profits going back into the country (government).

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Azure

Debt?

You should really stay on topic.

But if you want to talk about deficit..

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstra...AE0894DE404482

Nice try young fella. So the deficit will be lower than expected.

You do know what a deficit is right? It is when you spend more money than you take in. To finance a deficit, a country goes into debt.

So to suggest that this years US deficit will be lower than expected does nothing to prove your original premise.

Let's make this easier.

This is from Wikipedia.

Year to
U.S. Govt Debt
US$ billions
1990 3,233.3
2000 5,674.2
2005 7,932.7

The public debt briefly started to go down in 2000 when the country had a substantial budget surplus, but began growing again after budget deficits grew large beginning in 2002.


Want to try again?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Azure

Does that mean we should strive to eliminate the military as well?

Which branch do we gut first?

Of course, after we no longer need them.
Even George Washington warned against keeping a standing army.

Which ever branch you join.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Want to try again?

Maybe you should actually read what I wrote.

...Neocons didn't create the debt.....

They might help it along, but they sure as hell never created it.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Of course, after we no longer need them.
Even George Washington warned against keeping a standing army.

Ah. As of right now, that will never happen. Not to say that I don't 'want' it to happen, but world 'peace' is a pipedream.

Which ever branch you join.

Okay then.