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Tingkai
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To find the Northwest Passage
Aug 2001
time: 13:36
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quote:
Originally posted by notyoueither
Tingkai, use your head. You first reported this as Aircraft Carriers. What do you know about it, aside from just about zero?
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Read my first post again. I specifically said that these aircraft carriers would carry helicopters (a helicopter is an aircraft by the way).
And yes, we're not getting detailed information and that's the problem. The Conservatives want to spend at least $1 billion and they're not telling us what exactly they want to buy or why we need it. That's not very transparent is it.
quote:
Originally posted by notyoueither
If the UN is something we want to support, what will do that? Are frigates and CF-18's effective peace-keepers? Or are boots on the ground needed?
If a ship can get boots on the ground, and support them, how is that not in keeping with Canadian priorities for the military?
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We have limited resources. We need to specialise the capabilities of the Forces.
First off, the Forces must be equipped to meet our defensive needs, not the UN. Are helicopter carriers vital to our defence? NO.
Strategic airlift is necessary for the Forces primary mission given the vast area of our nation.
Strategic airlift will get the boots on the ground.
quote:
Originally posted by notyoueither
I will admit, I assume that Harper would not do something DND told him was stupid. Call me an optimist. |
DND knows all too well what its like to have the politicians making idiotic equipment choices. And it's not just the Liberals mucking around. The Forces are stuck with crappy trucks bought by the Conservatives.
We don't need "hybrid maritime carriers".
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Tingkai
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To find the Northwest Passage
Aug 2001
time: 13:36
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In the US Senate, 26 of the smallest states with 18% of the US population holds a majority of senate seats.
So even if 80% of Americans wanted a law, this tiny minority could block it.
And the minority abuse their power. If you want a law passed, you need their support and that's going to cost money.
After 9-11, the US federal government gave money to state governments to create terrorism response programmes. Wyoming got more money per capita ($38.31) than New York State ($5.47) and 48 states received more federal funding per capita than New York State, even though New York was ranked as most likely to be hit by a terrorist attack.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/st...7p-123976c.html
The 18% minority also controls Senate appointments to the US Supreme Court.
With the first past the post system, the minority who are actually in control is even smaller than 18%. Effectively, 10% of the American population can control which laws are made and the composition of the US supreme court.
Can we say Tyrrany of the Minority.
And like KH said, other minorities get screwed. In the nine states with a majority of the American populations, Blacks and Hispanics make up 30% of the population. In the 26 states that control the senate, Blacks and Hispanics make up 11% of the population.
Senate stats from What Democracy in the May issue of Harper's.
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JimmyCracksCorn
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Macedonia - Sovereign country north of Greece.
Dec 2002
time: 05:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Tingkai
In the US Senate, 26 of the smallest states with 18% of the US population holds a majority of senate seats.
So even if 80% of Americans wanted a law, this tiny minority could block it.
And the minority abuse their power. If you want a law passed, you need their support and that's going to cost money.
After 9-11, the US federal government gave money to state governments to create terrorism response programmes. Wyoming got more money per capita ($38.31) than New York State ($5.47) and 48 states received more federal funding per capita than New York State, even though New York was ranked as most likely to be hit by a terrorist attack.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/st...7p-123976c.html
The 18% minority also controls Senate appointments to the US Supreme Court.
With the first past the post system, the minority who are actually in control is even smaller than 18%. Effectively, 10% of the American population can control which laws are made and the composition of the US supreme court.
Can we say Tyrrany of the Minority.
And like KH said, other minorities get screwed. In the nine states with a majority of the American populations, Blacks and Hispanics make up 30% of the population. In the 26 states that control the senate, Blacks and Hispanics make up 11% of the population.
Senate stats from What Democracy in the May issue of Harper's. |
Regardless, Americans are much happier with American Federalism than Canadians are with theirs. And thats what really matters.
Look into the drafting of the Constitution after the Articles of Confederation were dissolved to see the historical precedent for why the US is the way it is. Rogue Island made it possible for little states to not be bullied by big ones, which is something small Canadian provinces lack. My girlfriend and her family are Newfies, and I can tell you, they are PISSED, every one of them over there. Its much the same in most other smaller Canadian provinces.
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JimmyCracksCorn
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Macedonia - Sovereign country north of Greece.
Dec 2002
time: 05:36
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quote:
which causes
iii) voter apathy and the lack of an effective voice for minority opinions |
Yeah, because Canadians aren't apathetic at all.
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Kuciwalker
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of Schmooism
Feb 2001
time: 00:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Tingkai
In the US Senate, 26 of the smallest states with 18% of the US population holds a majority of senate seats.
So even if 80% of Americans wanted a law, this tiny minority could block it. |
Do you know the probabilites of all that minority being united? It includes not only the midwest, but Hawaii, Alaska, and a few northeastern states...
quote:
And the minority abuse their power. If you want a law passed, you need their support and that's going to cost money. |
Using their power at all is an abuse of it?
quote:
After 9-11, the US federal government gave money to state governments to create terrorism response programmes. Wyoming got more money per capita ($38.31) than New York State ($5.47) and 48 states received more federal funding per capita than New York State, even though New York was ranked as most likely to be hit by a terrorist attack. |
Perhaps because needed terrorism funding doesn't really have ANYTHING to do with the number of people in the state? It has to do with the facilities that need to be secured.
quote:
The 18% minority also controls Senate appointments to the US Supreme Court. |
See above wrt unity.
quote:
With the first past the post system, the minority who are actually in control is even smaller than 18%. Effectively, 10% of the American population can control which laws are made and the composition of the US supreme court. |
Assuming a massive conspiracy amongst this 10% to specifically live in these states with just enough to elect the candidate of their choice to office... put on your tinfoil hat.
quote:
Can we say Tyrrany of the Minority. |
No. Apparently we can't spell it either.
quote:
And like KH said, other minorities get screwed. In the nine states with a majority of the American populations, Blacks and Hispanics make up 30% of the population. In the 26 states that control the senate, Blacks and Hispanics make up 11% of the population. |
Minority rights are EASILY defended in the Constitution. The problems this combats cannot be.
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