Every now and then I am compelled to make a non atheism related post (OK, there is some atheism related stuff here). Just want to get a few of my predictions out of the way on stuff that is making the news.
The Canadian Elections
We are pretty happy here. Low interest rates, good housing prices (right now, but just wait), and low unemployment. The stock markets are down (but us Canadians know it will go up again eventually) This isn't the climate for a change. The Conservatives are a lock to win, and hopefully they will get a majority.
Stephen Harper has always kept his Evangelical Christianity views away from his policies. He respects separation of church and state, and I respect him for that.
Plus, we don't have nukes aiming all over the place, so he couldn't start Armageddon and fast track The Rapture if he wanted to.
John Tory tried to blur the line between church and state in the last Ontario election by proposing the funding of all religious schools. I had to grudgingly vote Liberal because of it. The Conservatives wound up getting clobbered, and hopefully learned a very valuable lesson.
Canada is a very secular country (including 23% atheists). Fundy Christians can beat their chest that we are a Christian country, but we are not anymore. We've risen above it.
The Green Party's name is appealing, but the problem is that they really don't have any realistic policies. And I would hate to have them deal with things like today's wicked international financial problems, which does have an affect on us Canucks inevitably.
As for the Liberals. Well, I'm no fan. They have a few Hamas loving MPs and there is no need to raise taxes here right now. And Liberal policy means cost of living increases. Their Green Tax Shift to me just spells out more bureaucracy, and more money out of my pocket, with the promise to get money back at tax time. I hate political promises, because I don't trust them.
The NDP is full of Left Wing nutballs who want to turn our country into a welfare state. I don't like unions, I don't like welfare mothers, I detest the NDP.
Canada is a capitalist society with a dose of needed socialism. I don't think the socialism is bad here. I don't think too many people actually really feel we pay too much taxes. Some Socialism is needed to have a good health care system, and I just don't trust everyone to have to take out their own sufficient health insurance. People just can't be trusted that way.
Every Canadian has the opportunity to become filthy rich. In fact, I'm halfway there. I've nailed the filthy part.
The US Elections
Barack Hussein Obama is a lead pipe cinch to win in a landslide this year. Most Americans aren't happy with Iraq because victory was pretty much promised by the Republicans, and now the tune has evolved so much, victory isn't even a possible outcome. And now with the fall of Wall Street, making a change in political leadership is as natural a guy fantasizing about having two women at once.
I'm not fan of Obama, but Palin is just plain scary, and the fact that McCain could get sick or die in office is very real. Not only is Palin's intelligence is in question, her religious beliefs are very frightening. Factor in that the average woman enters menopause at 47, and couple that with her Rapture/Armageddon beliefs, and then think about her finger on NUKULER bomb buttons.
As for abortion, she is anti-choice. As for gays, she is as tolerant towards gays as Hitler was towards gays and Jews. And it all boils down to her religious beliefs that she wants to push onto America.
Obama and Biden may say they are against gay marriage, but they also seem to not even want to define the word marriage. In other words, they aren't about to get involved in the issue.
Obama may be right for right now. I think he is mouldable, and I have faith that the American people will keep him fighting Islamic terrorism, just like the American people kaybashed Bush's Dubai Ports Deal. WTF was he even thinking?
Toronto Real Estate Prices
This is going to get ugly. Finally, the bubble has burst. Real Estate prices in Toronto have dropped 6% from a year ago. There are 37% more homes on the market than a year ago too.
Lots of speculating going on (though our rules in Canada are a lot tougher than the rules that lead to the financial crisis in the USA), the flippers can't fix a house up and flip it for a substantial gain anymore, in fact, they won't even be able to break even for a long long time.
And flippers don't look long term, and they hate making too many mortgage payments. They will bail as quickly as they can. And from here, we should see a substantial drop in prices over the next 4-6 months as even potential buyers will mostly wait.
Also, there have been tons of condos going up. Speculators were making lots just buying early and selling before completion. But its over, at least for a long time.
Tulip Mania in the real estate market has ended. I expect to see 2002 prices within 18 months.
I'll admit, I've been predicting this bubble to burst for a couple of years now. I'm off a bit.
As for the rest of Canada, I think Calgary and Vancouver are going to have real ugly downtrends as well. Smaller towns will be affected as well, but not to the same magnitude.
The Financial Markets
Scary, scary, scary. We have not reached the point of capitulation YET. Lots of analysts are saying it is a great time to bottom fish. Good chance is that we will be lower (probably not by a ton) 4 months from now.
And if you think prayer is going to help any of the above, you are simply wasting your time. I had to get an atheism dig in:)
FIREFOX GMAIL DEFAULT TIP
I mostly use Firefox and Gmail now. I've even figured out how to direct my emails from other accounts into my main gmail account (I only bring this up because I'm a borderline retard when it comes to figuring out how and why computers work).
I often email pages to my work associates and friends, but my email default has either been Outlook Express or Incredimail (I stopped using Incredimail because a computer geek friend of mine told me it isn't very secure).
I wanted Gmail to be my default. I started doing some Google searches. Lots of complicated resolutions.....not interested in those. Finally, I came across a simple one. Here it is:
While you are using the Mozilla Firefox browser, click "tools," then click "options," then click "applications," then type in "mailto" in the search box there, right click the action associated with "mailto" and then highlight Gmail.
Done and done.
My problem with the idea of a majority conservative party (or any party, for that matter) lies primarily in the structure of our electoral system; it is technically possible for a party to win all 308 seats in the house with only 35% of the vote - which is SCARY undemocratic. Minority governments tend to be much more representative of the will of the population and I think it's time we keep going with what we have been doing.
ReplyDeleteHell, it's gotten results.
hmmm, I click on "tools" from my firefox browser and there is no "options" option.
ReplyDeleteWhat gives, oh computer gurus
It should be right at the bottom of options.
ReplyDeleteI never realized how conservative you really were, Beaj. I agree that the CPC will probably win, and I hope that it's another minority. I don't trust Harper nearly as much as you, but it's interesting that he seems to realize that opening the abortion debate will lose him the election and he doesn't seem afraid to tell his party that. However, it looks to me that he's just telling his socon base to wait a bit, possibly until he gets a majority and can push through any legislation he wants.
ReplyDeleteI'm wagering that the only reason he respects the separation of church and state is because he knows that Canada is more center-left than the USA. Believe me, most of his base thinks Canada is a Christian Country!
OK, I'm convinced now. I'm just looking for a Conservative minority.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how Conservative I am. I like as a little government as possible. But the government is needed for our own physical protection and for our protection when it comes to health care.
I don't like how the NDP and Libs suck up to Islam. I'd hate to be the next Britain.
And I do know that a lot of the base of the Conservative "think" Canada is a Christian country. I've been kicked out of the Blogging Tories Forum twice for proving otherwise.
"I'd hate to be the next Britain."
ReplyDeleteMeaning?
A country where by and large legally residing minorities have the same rights as the majority? That's called Liberal Democracy, last time I looked...
Gert, just talking smack about your Shariah problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Beaj. Smaller government is great in many areas, but public funding is also required for a lot of important things in our society.
ReplyDeleteI used to be very conservative (both socially and financially), and actually was one of the Reform Party Youth when I was a teenager. Recently I've become a lot more socially liberal, but remain fairly conservative fiscally. Here out west, the Reform roots of the Conservative Party are quite strong, and a lot of those roots aren't happy the way the party has slid towards the center when they merged with the Progressive Conservatives.
I think right now a Conservative minority is the best thing for Canada. Hopefully, it'll give the Liberals a mind to purge some of the idiots in the party and learn to be a decent opposition, while preventing Harper from having enough power for his base to start flexing their muscles.
I'm not really beholden to a single party, and I've never actually voted Liberal, but might this year. The Greens are too single-purpose, and the NDP are way too far left for my tastes. Knowing their base, I just can't vote for the CPC. The only party I might have happily voted for now would be the PCs, but they don't exist anymore. Not that it matters really, as I'm deep in Reform territory and there isn't anything that will stop the Cons from getting elected here.
Hmmm... what Sharia problems?
ReplyDeleteThose in the mind of American Islamophobic conservatives?
I think we can deal with their Fox fuelled delusions. Easy-peasy...
Gert according to wiki 8.5% of England is Muslim 40% of London's population is Muslim. I can't recall the numbers off hand but they are something like the average Muslim family has 4 kids the average Christian family in Europe has 1.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah and what about 7/7. Your liberal democracy is under attack by those who would use its great ideals to see it erased. Fox news didn't make up the Sharia problem you don't want to see.
BTW been to France lately? Are the suburbs of Paris still burning at night? Is the Mega-Mosque still going ahead? How long till east Londoners wake up to the call to prayer?
Please do correct me if I'm wrong.
JHRHV:
ReplyDelete"Please do correct me if I'm wrong."
Since as you're asking so politely...
Firstly, if you can't see that having first hand experience living in "Sharia Britain" (yep, close to "Londonistan") counts for a bit more than watching lame US Satelight news shows then you class by definition as a Meircan Idiot not really worth talking to.
"Gert according to wiki 8.5% of England is Muslim 40% of London's population is Muslim"
And what do you suggest we do about it, huh? Pogroms? Forced relocation to the East? Internment? Seems to me you don't understand the principles of Liberal Democracy too well, asshole. Or is it Freedom, Freedom, FREEdom (altogether now) for you but not the "others"?
BTW, check the numbers of Muslim Americans, you might learn something.
Have the intellectual honesty to admit to yourself that you're an Islamophobe, probably an Arabophobe and quite frankly, a plain old racist.
"Fox news didn't make up the Sharia problem you don't want to see. "
Faux Noise makes up just about everything else too...
"Are the suburbs of Paris still burning at night? "
No, they're not. But I guess Meircans have never had race riots, huh? You're a jackass with the historical insight of a boiled potato...
And 7/7? Largely blowback for Blair's stupid (and quasi-religious) decision to tie this country's fate in with Arsehole Supremo, Bush.
I suggest you try and keep that country of yours together, cos' right now it ain't lookin' too bright...
Wow, I couple of things to respond to:
ReplyDeleteGert, you should look up Pat Condell on youtube. He's living in Britain, he's not from the USA and on a daily basis he feels his Atheist life is being threatened by Islamic relgious groups in Britain who wish to force Shariah on everyone.
No Britain (or anyone else) shouldn't have pogroms. Yes, religious freedom should be encouraged. But that's my point. Minority groups in Britain are trying to change laws so the majority need to obey the religious values. It's not right.
Everyone else, I'm pretty interested in the conservative talk going on here. I've been a reader for a while, and had no idea about your political leanings.
I'm one of the left-wing nut balls. I'll admit it. I think markets should be regulated, I think social institutions such as health care and education and day care should be government funded and I believe in tolerant left-wing social values such a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, etc. - but I draw the line at forcing the religious beliefs of one group onto the majority. Thus, I am nervous about because the next Britain as well and I listen wisely to people who regret voting the Labour party in.
Gert lives in the London area, and I know he sees the world differently than Pat Condell, who sees the world correctly:)
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with any of your stances Modern Girl. Maybe to the degree the market should be regulated.
If you are a nut ball, so am I.
Gert I didn't realize you were a rude prick. Not at all like the Englishmen I met when I lived in England in the 90's. Well at least until they went out on a Friday night.
ReplyDeleteHere are a few news stories from just the last week you might not have read.
Scotland Car Bombers: 'For the Sake of Islam to Please Allah'
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9Kd5GUAwkvQkdyNmQ2Ft5nJvziwD93ME1UO0
Forced Conversions to Islam in British Prisons
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/muslim-gangs-force-inmates-to-convert-957153.html
Sharia courts set to bring Muslim law to bear in Scottish cities
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Sharia-courts-set-to-bring.4573444.jp
I could find you a few more similar stories also from last week if you like and none of them are from Fox.
What do I suggest you ask. Well no actually not pogroms you retard. But perhaps you and your country men could spend a little less time down the pub and little more making babies with your wives. And maybe try curbing importing people who want to end your way of life and replace it with theirs. As for deportations well perhaps some of those firebrand imams would be good candidates for exactly that.
As for Muslims in America at least Americans are still averaging 2 babies per family. That should give their way of life more then 30 years till it's gone unlike your country. I'm not an Islamophobe I just don't have my head buried in-between the cheeks of my buttocks like you where the truth is concerned because it doesn't jive with my 60 years ago view of the world. You've obviously learned how to surf the internet. You should try opening your eyes to some of the other changes in the world in the last 20 years.
How stupid of me not to realize that all the terror attacks in the world were the fault of Bush & Blair my apologies. To think it only took Bush 9 months to bring 9/11 on America I'm in shock and awe of his incredible influence over those friendly Muslims chaps.
Nice kindly liberal democrats like yourself are exactly the reason why I can say I am a former one of those.
Modern girl:
ReplyDelete"Gert, you should look up Pat Condell on youtube. He's living in Britain, he's not from the USA and on a daily basis he feels his Atheist life is being threatened by Islamic relgious groups in Britain who wish to force Shariah on everyone."
Pat Condell is broadly speaking an unknown quantity in Britain. Here you need to be pretty damn good at comedy to get noticed and Condell just isn't funny. Only Meircan Atheists (the super militant types that give atheism as bad name) find Condell's radical musings funny. Condell takes his wares to your side of the pond because there's a big, fat, juicy market for islamophobia in that cesspit you call a society. If he was a homophobe he'd score equally well with your conservative nincompoops. It's market driven dear, you should like that...
BTW, the danger of that minority forcing Sharia on us is far, far less great than you lot falling for a Conservative theocracy: there are far, far more Fundynutz in Amewikah than anywhere in the civilised world. And your leader sees no problem whatsoever to enlist them if it brings in votes. Good luck with that discussion about what "One nation Under God" actually meant. You people are blind. Anyway, God bless America, huh?
Stupid girl...
ARSEHOLE:
"Gert I didn't realize you were a rude prick. Not at all like the Englishmen I met when I lived in England in the 90's. Well at least until they went out on a Friday night."
Blut und boden types like you don't deserve politeness.
"But perhaps you and your country men could spend a little less time down the pub and little more making babies with your wives."
Pure genius. Let's outbreed them coloured bastards...
"As for deportations well perhaps some of those firebrand imams would be good candidates for exactly that."
If they break the law I should hope they get a little more than that. Guess what though: we have a little thing going on here and it's called Freedom of Speech and guess what too: it's available to all who reside here legally or have citizenship. You see, an obnoxious barsteward like you would have a right to it too. The US, in its typical cramped hyper-nationalistic, chest-beating wanker-dom, they crap on about it a lot. Especially when it reserved for some but not others.
"As for Muslims in America at least Americans are still averaging 2 babies per family. That should give their way of life more then 30 years till it's gone unlike your country. I'm not an Islamophobe [...]"
Of course you're an islamophobe. Probably worse besides that too. Bit of a White Supremacist on the sly, ex-W.A.S.P I'm guessing...
"How stupid of me not to realize that all the terror attacks in the world were the fault of Bush & Blair my apologies."
Ask yourself why after 50 years of disastrous ME foreign policies the West hasn't been subjected to MORE terror attacks. Tot up how many people your lot, aided and abetted by Europe of course, has bombed, maimed, killed, deported, tortured and specially rendered not just in the ME but also in Latin America. Yes, quel surprise, we're hated for that... An imbecile could see it, a flagwaver is blind to it.
Gert, you started with the name calling just to let you know. It is getting out of hand. I respect both you and Jhrhv (who I think is an agnostic ethnic Canadian Jew).
ReplyDeleteHis views are closer to mine than yours though.
I'll just comment on your last paragraph.
The reason why Muslims have attacked the West is two fold: because they are here, and because they have the means.
Did they have the means 50 years plus ago? Not much.
You are buying into OBL's bull. The West gave the Arabs the technology to drill for oil, and the demand for that oil. As a friend of mine says "if it wasn't for Western technology, the Arabs would be sucking the oil out of the ground with their lips"
Oh, and as for your claim about Pat Condell appealing to only American atheist meanies:
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Bacon:
ReplyDelete"Gert, you started with the name calling just to let you know. It is getting out of hand. I respect both you and Jhrhv (who I think is an agnostic ethnic Canadian Jew)."
I couldn't care less whether he is a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, an atheist or an apple blue sea green alien with red stripes.
You don't want to win a Nobel peace price I heard you say once. Neither do I. Ban me if like.
Your lack of historical insight regards the causes of parts of Islamic terror are disturbing yet unsurprising (I know few people who are so partisan when it comes to these matters. You know I believe that. You're the one who once wrote an embarrassing love letter to Uncle Sam).
Pat Condell is a total nobody in the UK. My entire extended family, broadly speaking well informed people and great lovers of comedy, haven't heard of him, not once. Neither had I until I saw him here. He's never been on telly, not even in alternative satellite shows. He's by his own admission a largely uneducated person. His website is full of stuff that borders on hate-speech. He is, simply put, an imbecile.
Condell is loved by Meircan Atheists not because he's funny but because they believe what he says and because it fits with their truncated wordview.
I'm not going to ban you Gert. You are allowed to state your Moonbat views here. I don't mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm just pointing out that your behaviour here towards those with differing views has been very juvenile. Just a fact.
Gert perhaps I don't deserve politeness. That's your opinion and you're allowed it. I never meant to offend you. I've seen many times in internet chats where people get taken the wrong way because it's difficult to get the emotion of your point across in typing. I was honestly interested in your opinion. There was no reason for you to be such a dick about it. BEAJ says he respects you so I'll assume you are more then the feckless pile of horse manure you seem like to me.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't much chance the English can outbreed “them coloured bastards” (for someone who blames others of being racists you are full of colourfull terms aren't you). It's not a great idea but it's a lot better then surrendering your way of life without even putting up a fight for it. Don't worry about that anyway. You just head down the pub and drink a couple of pints with the lads and think about what an arsehole I am once or twice before Sharia takes over your corner of the world and bans drinking there altogether.
Anyway I don't want to bother with getting into a long hate filled argument with you no good can come of it. Besides I hope you're right and I am wrong and that your wife won't have to wear a Burqa 20 years from now every time she leaves the house.
From where I'm sitting it seems the days of England being a world leader went out the window about the same time hard work, idealism and freedom were replaced with liberal political indoctrination.
Last point(s) your country men didn't seem to mind the American bombing so much when it saved your arses from the last bunch of fanatics that tried to steal your home from you. And disastrous ME policy. How could you expect anything else from peoples who's world view is so far that of the west. We want to live in peace, go to the pub or mall with our families and they want to build Mega-Mosques and get some troll to climb out of a well.
You can have the last word if you like. As I said I don't see the point in continuing this much further.
Too bad about how quickly this conversation devolved into insults and name-calling. It had the potential to actually be an interesting discussion.
ReplyDeleteC'est la vie.
I agree sinned34. I expect to be called the worst of things on sites like Youtube, which attracts all sorts of people. But I found this blog entry very intellectual, and I was hoping to spark some mature debate with other respectful readers.
ReplyDelete