CANADA'S NEW PRIME-MINISTER TELLS U.S. "TO BUTT OUT"

i wonder who is being fed and what ? oil and gas are mighty tasty these days . hbg

I tried to read through the multiple pages of postings since last I contributed to this thread, but I will admit that i didn't give the exercise my full attention.

The flavor I got was a continuance of Canada is better than the the US.

Why am I not surprised?

Canadians don't much go in for this breast pounding, "we're the greatest" nonsense that is the daily bread of Americans from kindergarten until forever.

It's sickening to hear every dickhead politician and newscaster end with a resounding chorus of "yay America!". It's not because it's about the US either.

It's that thinking level-headed adults simply don't do this. Would you ever do this with your children, tell them they're the best in the world to the exclusion of everyone else. What narrow-minded little citizens you'd raise.

And yet so many unthinking adults do this every damn day, day in and day out.

That these canucks were able to draw out of you three [were there only three?] slippery fanatics that the USA's sole rationale in foreign affairs is seeing that the USA's position is assured.

Not an unhealthy idea for any country, except, EXCEPT when it comes to the US, the price that other countries have to pay in terms of lives lost and damage done to their countries is a burden too large.

You all succeeded in showing us clearly that there is no altruism; it's a bunch of phony baloney used to disguise the damage you've done and without remorse, seek to do again.


The reality is also that America plays a tremendously larger part in the calculus of Canadian identity than the reverse. In fact, one might easily argue that America's identity doesn't even for a moment contemplate Canada.

Duuuuuuh, Finn. In fact, one might easily argue that America's identity doesn't even for a moment contemplate anyone or anything but America.

Canadian jingoism is laughable. It is similar to a mouse telling a lion that it will kick its ass.

Canadian jingoism doesn't exist. That word can be found as a dictionary entry for "America" or "The USA".

Regardless, however, of whether it is important or not, Canada defines itself in terms of what America is or is not, and America ignores Canada in formulating the definition of its identity.

It is silly for Canadians to deny they are preoccupied with America.

You are much much too full of yourself. There is no preoccupation. The concern is that you are doing much too much damage both to the world at large and to yourself.

There are many good things about the USA that all the world sees; there are even some great things but like a spoiled brat, you can't see all that is wrong, all that is evil within this much vaunted system.

Of course, this doesn't apply equally to all Americans. There are likely many who gag when they hear the oft-repeated stupidities. In case you haven't noticed, your popularity is hardly skyrocketing and if all you can offer to the criticisms of the world is that we can whip your ass anytime we like, then you've shown yourselves to be nothing more than a set of gangsters.

Is this really what you want for America? Is this really the shining city upon a hill?

God, we all hope not!

Finn d'Abuzz wrote:

I tried to read through the multiple pages of postings since last I contributed to this thread, but I will admit that i didn't give the exercise my full attention.

The flavor I got was a continuance of Canada is better than the the US.

Why am I not surprised?

Why are you not surprised? Do you mean to suggest that Canadians, in general, do not believe that Canada is better than the US? You make these glib statements as if they are arrows that will pierce the hearts of your opponents, and yet they are simply flacid utterances.

Canadians don't much go in for this breast pounding, "we're the greatest" nonsense that is the daily bread of Americans from kindergarten until forever.

Meaning what? That they are "better" than Americans? Americans are passionate or arrogant, depending upon your point of view. Is this the means by which you would have us measure the relative value of Canadians and Americans?

It's sickening to hear every dickhead politician and newscaster end with a resounding chorus of "yay America!". It's not because it's about the US either.

Then why is it? Why do you find it "sickening" that someone might laud America? I can imagine why you might feel it to be silly or inconsequential, but why does it sicken you?

It's that thinking level-headed adults simply don't do this. Would you ever do this with your children, tell them they're the best in the world to the exclusion of everyone else. What narrow-minded little citizens you'd raise.

It's not such a bad idea to tell your kids that they are the best. You reveal a portion of your mentality when you add "...to the exclusion of everyone else." Somewhere, someone is the best it may or may not be America or your children but the best exists. This doesn't exclude anyone; anywhere from being one of the best. Even the most jingoistic American doesn't believe that elite members of humanity can't arise from or reside in any region on earth. Everyone, however, cannot be the best. This is not to argue that those who do not rise to the best are worthless or should be expunged. To suggest that there are not gradations of worthiness, no matter how one might define worthy, is idiotic.

And yet so many unthinking adults do this every damn day, day in and day out.

So what would you have thinking adults do? Tell us that we are all equal in every way? That would be a lie. We are not. Even in a society that truly embraces democracy, it is, by no means, axiomatic that we are all equal in every way. We may be equal in terms of how the Law perceives us, and we may be equal in terms of our ability to register a vote, and we may be equal in how God values us, but we are, by no means, equal in terms of intelligence, talent, or personality.

That these canucks were able to draw out of you three [were there only three?] slippery fanatics that the USA's sole rationale in foreign affairs is seeing that the USA's position is assured.

"Slippery fanatics?" What the hell is that supposed to mean? You are the classic disappointed romantic. You would have America be the Reaganistic Shining City on The Hill (while at the same time deriding Reagan), a nation that puts the interests of the world above its own. Fools! That will never, and should never happen. You get to argue that it should be because you live in a nation of plenty, but the minute that plenty begins to run dry because of altruistic efforts, you will be among the first to cry foul.

Not an unhealthy idea for any country, except, EXCEPT when it comes to the US, the price that other countries have to pay in terms of lives lost and damage done to their countries is a burden too large.

Of course. it's healthy for other countries but not your own. If you wish to wear a hairshirt, be my guest but don't try and make the rest of us match your wardrobe.

You all succeeded in showing us clearly that there is no altruism; it's a bunch of phony baloney used to disguise the damage you've done and without remorse, seek to do again.[/color]


The reality is also that America plays a tremendously larger part in the calculus of Canadian identity than the reverse. In fact, one might easily argue that America's identity doesn't even for a moment contemplate Canada.

Duuuuuuh, Finn. In fact, one might easily argue that America's identity doesn't even for a moment contemplate anyone or anything but America.

Perhaps, but so what? The discussion is about the inter-relation between American and Canadian identities. Do you mean to argue that the Canadian identity doen't encompass America or that the American identity does encompass Canada? That the American identiy may not encompass any other nation has zero impact on the fact that the Canadian identity encompasses America in a major way.

Canadian jingoism is laughable. It is similar to a mouse telling a lion that it will kick its ass.

Canadian jingoism doesn't exist. That word can be found as a dictionary entry for "America" or "The USA".

This is just a stupid comment. Of course there is Canadian jingoism, and it has been displayed repeatedly on A2K. You are allowing your bent distaste America to taint your reasoning.


Regardless, however, of whether it is important or not, Canada defines itself in terms of what America is or is not, and America ignores Canada in formulating the definition of its identity.

It is silly for Canadians to deny they are preoccupied with America.

You are much much too full of yourself. There is no preoccupation. The concern is that you are doing much too much damage both to the world at large and to yourself.

I am not America, and I did not declare that Canadians are too preoccupied with Finn, so whether or not I am too full of myself is immaterial to this discussion. Spare me the concern of the world about the execesses of America. Remove jingoism, patriotism, and nationalism from the equation, and only an idiot is more concerned about America's influence on the world that that of Iran, North Korea, Russia, China etc. This is not to suggest that all of America's actions are pure and altruistic, because they are, of course, not; but when measured against the actions of other nations, it is incredible that anyone of any intelligence would spend their time ranting about America.

There are many good things about the USA that all the world sees; there are even some great things but like a spoiled brat, you can't see all that is wrong, all that is evil within this much vaunted system.

Baloney.

I don't know how many different ways I can say that America is not perfect, before you will give up this nonsensical argument. America is not perfect.

This, of course, doesn't mean that America is not better than any other nation on earth.

Of course, this doesn't apply equally to all Americans.

No of course not. There are, regrettably, a vast number of Americans who are all too willing to dump on their country.

There are likely many who gag when they hear the oft-repeated stupidities.

Pompous idiocy.

In case you haven't noticed, your popularity is hardly skyrocketing and if all you can offer to the criticisms of the world is that we can whip your ass anytime we like, then you've shown yourselves to be nothing more than a set of gangsters.

More nonsense. First of all, America's popularity in the world has nothing to do with the righteousness of America. Denmark ain't universally popular right now, but what does that mean?

Secondly, who is responding to criticisim of the US with "We can kick your ass!?

Is this really what you want for America? Is this really the shining city upon a hill?

God, we all hope not!

I can understand why non-Americans would like to influence America. If Norway was the most powerful nation on earth, I have no doubt that I would like to be able to influence Norwegian policy. Sorry though, America pays a price for being the world's Top Dog. Whether or not that price is too high is immaterial to this discussion. The reality is that America is the Top Dog, and if you are not American you don't share in paying the price of achieving this status, AND you don't share in deciding how this status plays out.

It is always the citizens of countries who do not influence the world who bemoan the influence of those nations that can.
[/color]

Finn d'Abuzz wrote:

I tried to read through the multiple pages of postings since last I contributed to this thread, but I will admit that i didn't give the exercise my full attention.

The flavor I got was a continuance of Canada is better than the the US.

Why am I not surprised?

Canadians don't much go in for this breast pounding, "we're the greatest" nonsense that is the daily bread of Americans from kindergarten until forever.

It's sickening to hear every dickhead politician and newscaster end with a resounding chorus of "yay America!". It's not because it's about the US either.

It's that thinking level-headed adults simply don't do this. Would you ever do this with your children, tell them they're the best in the world to the exclusion of everyone else. What narrow-minded little citizens you'd raise.

And yet so many unthinking adults do this every damn day, day in and day out.

That these canucks were able to draw out of you three [were there only three?] slippery fanatics that the USA's sole rationale in foreign affairs is seeing that the USA's position is assured.

Not an unhealthy idea for any country, except, EXCEPT when it comes to the US, the price that other countries have to pay in terms of lives lost and damage done to their countries is a burden too large.

You all succeeded in showing us clearly that there is no altruism; it's a bunch of phony baloney used to disguise the damage you've done and without remorse, seek to do again.


The reality is also that America plays a tremendously larger part in the calculus of Canadian identity than the reverse. In fact, one might easily argue that America's identity doesn't even for a moment contemplate Canada.

Duuuuuuh, Finn. In fact, one might easily argue that America's identity doesn't even for a moment contemplate anyone or anything but America.

Canadian jingoism is laughable. It is similar to a mouse telling a lion that it will kick its ass.

Canadian jingoism doesn't exist. That word can be found as a dictionary entry for "America" or "The USA".

Regardless, however, of whether it is important or not, Canada defines itself in terms of what America is or is not, and America ignores Canada in formulating the definition of its identity.

It is silly for Canadians to deny they are preoccupied with America.

You are much much too full of yourself. There is no preoccupation. The concern is that you are doing much too much damage both to the world at large and to yourself.

There are many good things about the USA that all the world sees; there are even some great things but like a spoiled brat, you can't see all that is wrong, all that is evil within this much vaunted system.

Of course, this doesn't apply equally to all Americans. There are likely many who gag when they hear the oft-repeated stupidities. In case you haven't noticed, your popularity is hardly skyrocketing and if all you can offer to the criticisms of the world is that we can whip your ass anytime we like, then you've shown yourselves to be nothing more than a set of gangsters.

Is this really what you want for America? Is this really the shining city upon a hill?

God, we all hope not!

Because their outgoing exceeds their incoming. It's called a TRADE IMBALANCE, FINN. In other words, the spoiled obnoxious yanks have overspent their cheque book. They owe Canada $54 BILLION and Mexico $40 BILLION. Dare I mention the $900 Billion owed to China?

Its been mentioned before, without apparent effect (and I see no reason a repeat might change anything) - the US deficit, in terms of percentage of GDP, is well within historically proven sustainable norms, and is a lower GDP percentage than that of the deficits of a number of nations which take pains to point out the magnitude of the US deficit. Get real, folks: a slice of pie is sized relative to the overall size of the sliced pie. A pound of pie slice is a pound of pie slice, any way you figure it. However, a pound removed from a 5 pound pie puts a much bigger empty spot in its pie than does a pound removed from a hundred pound pie.

.... Since when does GDP have anything to do with the National Income? You know, things like taxes, etc. Interest payments have already shot up with minimal interest increases. Wait till interest rates get to where they should be...

Interest payments have already shot up with minimal interest increases. Wait till interest rates get to where they should be, and indeed, where they are going!Anon

I assert that this inflationary-hawk-preemptive-strike against perceived future inflation is misguided and rates will stabilize and decline within the next 5 to 10 years. Further I assert we will see an inverted yield curve demonstrating that the long end of the bond market is in disagreement with the Fed.