Should Canada adopt a US-style senate

[Ramo]

They only have more of a say in 1/3 of the branches, and in the branch that can only shoot down bills.

Again, consider US-style compromises.

And in this case, Ramo, regional minorities tend to be political minorities. Look up Canadian election results, you'll see some distinct trends...

It's only certain political minorities - the political minorities that form the basis of certain provinces. A Senate won't protect members of the Canadian Communist party, for instance, from laws enacted by the Liberals.

Because it's impossible to pass such a thing in Canada's current setup?

Again, the Liberals have full and complete control in Canada. They would NOT like anything which means they can't have their way with all provinces.

Then why do you support a US-style Senate?

[markusf]

Originally posted by Asher

Christ Tingkai, just lay off.

I'm at a disadvantage because my home is in Canada. To go ANYWHERE in the US I don't get to use their state-subsidized colleges, I need to go as an out of state student, which costs a HELLUVA LOT MORE.

I would PREFER to go to school in the US, but this is where my home is so this is where I have to go to college to get a decent rate.

And I do have a job, Tingkai.

What planet do you live on? The entire cost of your education in canada probably wouldn't even cover the cost of renting a place in the states for you to go to school.

[KrazyHorse]

From what i can tell most of them are a protest vote to get a voice in the house

The new leader likes them that way, too. He's not the compromising sort...

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ramo
Again, consider US-style compromises.

That's the idea, Ramo. Bills would need to fit the needs of MORE Canadians. If the House feels that the "compromised" bill doesn't work, then they simply won't pass it. If both the House and the Senate agree to pass it, it's win-win.

It's only certain political minorities - the political minorities that form the basis of certain provinces. A Senate won't protect members of the Canadian Communist party, for instance, from laws enacted by the Liberals.

Canadian Communist party is an extreme minority. I'm talking about large minorities (~35% of the popular vote) which are totally and completely ignored in favor of the party which has 40% of the popular vote.

Then why do you support a US-style Senate?

Because it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Canada's current senate is useless. Most Canadians agree the current Senate is useless, most Canadians wouldn't dare want to touch the constitution.

[KrazyHorse]

I think we should just toss the Senate and live with a glorious democratic dictatorship until we figure out what a real Senate would look like...

[Asher]

Originally posted by markusf
What planet do you live on? The entire cost of your education in canada probably wouldn't even cover the cost of renting a place in the states for you to go to school.

It's not that big a difference as most people will tell you.

UC Santa Cruz is $4300 US/year for California residents.
It's $10704 US/year for out of state residents.

My University is ~$3250 US/year for provincial residents. It is cheaper, but it's not nearly a big gap as people make it out to be.

Anyway, I'm really going out now. Have fun trolling.

[markusf]

Originally posted by Asher

It's not that big a difference as most people will tell you.

UC Santa Cruz is $4300 US/year for California residents.
It's $10704 US/year for out of state residents.

My University is ~$3250 US/year for provincial residents. It is cheaper, but it's not nearly a big gap as people make it out to be.

Anyway, I'm really going out now. Have fun trolling.

I am talking about cost of living. What is the cost of you buying food and renting a place for a year so you can go to school?

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
The thing I hate are how Canadians are so complacent, because they don't know how much better they could have it.

You're no better than Canadians who are apathetic. You whine that you don't like the current political system, you call Canada a ****hole and your solution is to run away.

If you want to make Canada a better place then you will have to work at it. Whining and running away for get you nowhere.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
You're no better than Canadians who are apathetic. You whine that you don't like the current political system, you call Canada a ****hole and your solution is to run away.

If you want to make Canada a better place then you will have to work at it. Whining and running away for get you nowhere.

What a crock of sh*t.

You don't like it when I stay here and whine, you don't like it when I leave either.

Very typical Canadian though. Indecisive to the point of being totally useless. That's what the Liberals are for.

Canada probably isn't going to change. It's filled with too many people like you and KrazyHorse for that to happen. You guys can have your country since you like it how it is. Since I demand something more of my government, I'll be moving.

Don't get all pissy at me because I'm leaving. Perhaps if the rest of the country listened for a change less people would leave south of the border.

[Pius Popprasch]

I couldn't care less. But there's no option in this poll.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
What a crock of sh*t.

You don't like it when I stay here and whine, you don't like it when I leave either.

Very typical Canadian though. Indecisive to the point of being totally useless. That's what the Liberals are for.

Bullocks.

If you want to talk about changing the Canadian government, that's great. I'm all in favour of it, but don't expect people to automatically agree with you, particularly when your suggested solution creates more problems then it solves.

And when your solution to the problem is to run south of the border, why should anyone pay attention to you. You obviously don't give a sh!t about Canada.

What's worse is your recent habit of insulting everyone who disagrees with you.

From your second post: "Piss off, you grubby Brit."
From your fourth post: "Whiner go home, you're not even Canadian" and "I'm glad you have an opinion on the matter, jackass."

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Asher

I'm at a disadvantage because my home is in Canada.

Should we make a list of the numerous countries where you'd be better off ?

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Asher

It's not that big a difference as most people will tell you.

UC Santa Cruz is $4300 US/year for California residents.
It's $10704 US/year for out of state residents.

My University is ~$3250 US/year for provincial residents. It is cheaper, but it's not nearly a big gap as people make it out to be.

Anyway, I'm really going out now. Have fun trolling.

Thats not really a fair comparison. The education available at most Canadian universities, including those in Alberta, is more comparable to "top-tier" US universities. UC Santa Cruz doesnt fit the bill. Out of state tuition for those American universities runs about $20K-30K USD. Out of province tuition for UBC or U of T (for example) runs about $6K USD.

Isnt the solution to separate the executive power that is now held by the cabinet and PM from the legislature (House of commons)? That would do more for the balance of power than an elected House of Lords. It wouldnt even require a change to a republic simply that the PM be elected seperately.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Bullocks.

If you want to talk about changing the Canadian government, that's great. I'm all in favour of it, but don't expect people to automatically agree with you, particularly when your suggested solution creates more problems then it solves.

And when your solution to the problem is to run south of the border, why should anyone pay attention to you. You obviously don't give a sh!t about Canada.

It's quite simple really.
I would care about Canada if it was a fair system. It's not, and that's definitely not going to change any time soon because it'd require Ontario and Quebec get off their high horse and realize that even though they make up most of the country, they're not the entire country.

They're going to continue acting like they're in their own little world and do whatever THEY want.

There's no point in even trying to change the system anymore. We've done that now for a long time and NOTHING has come from it. I don't have all my life to spend f*cking around with a nation full of people who don't want change.

So the obvious option is to move south where they have a system I agree with more.

What's worse is your recent habit of insulting everyone who disagrees with you.

From your second post: "Piss off, you grubby Brit."
From your fourth post: "Whiner go home, you're not even Canadian" and "I'm glad you have an opinion on the matter, jackass."

He didn't disagree with me, he was threadjacking and not even debating the topic. AND he's not even Canadian. So he didn't have any business doing that.

And the comment to KrazyHorse wasn't from one of his serious opinions, it was after he took a shot at me. Did you miss that part, ace? (You can quote this one, that was intended)

[Asher]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Isnt the solution to separate the executive power that is now held by the cabinet and PM from the legislature (House of commons)? That would do more for the balance of power than an elected House of Lords. It wouldnt even require a change to a republic simply that the PM be elected seperately.

It wouldn't change anything. The Liberals would get voted into the cabinet and still get voted into the house of commons and form a majority in both cases.