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[QUOTE BY= arc628] Spend too much time talking about America? <br /><br> <br />I think we do. I'd like to see us shift our focus back to Canada and Canadian politics. That is why we're here isn't it? <br /> <br> <br />Discuss![/QUOTE] <br /> <br />Definately. We are so concerned with What the States is doing at the moment its like we are actually trying to be un-american lol <br /> <br />A recent poll I just rerad in Time magazine said most Canadians considered the US election more important then the election we just had!!! if that is not sad I do not know what is lol

   

[QUOTE BY= Stymiest] <br />A recent poll I just rerad in Time magazine said most Canadians considered the US election more important then the election we just had!!! if that is not sad I do not know what is lol[/QUOTE]That's not sad, thats shameful.

   

I think we do. Being aware of events to the south and potential impacts to us is one thing. Becoming preoccupied with the U.S. is another. <br /> <br />

   

I'll admit I am a little preoccupied. Then again, in the bleakest of moods, I often say, 'well since some of our politicians are so concerned with US/Canadian relations why not skip the middle man.' <br /> <br />At the same time I know that is a ridiculous notion. As a resident of Canada, I sit back and take the ride without any say whatsoever, so I take the American ride too and sometimes it's more 'exciting.' <br /> <br />The reason being (as to why it's more 'exciting') is because we are overwhelmingly dumped on by American politics, more so than our own, by the tube, the radio, and the papers. Until that changes, we will probably hear/know more about American politics than our own.

   

[QUOTE BY= robert_fisher] The reason being (as to why it's more 'exciting') is because we are overwhelmingly dumped on by American politics, more so than our own, by the tube, the radio, and the papers. Until that changes, we will probably hear/know more about American politics than our own.[/QUOTE]<BR><BR>Just change the channel to CPAC, my friend! Personally, I don't understand how anyone could find Amrican politics exciting. It's so boring! Canadian politics are much more exciting! We've had the soap opera of the Chrétien/Martin feud for the last few years and now we have a government that could fall at any moment, while it is under the microscope of the Gomery inquiry(too bad media coverage of it is terrible!). Also, the Dippers and Tories have been somewhat rehabilitated in the last two years and our politics are once again very competitive. Canada kicks ass!!!

   

When I watch CPAC, I often wonder why it is that they are so juevenille. <br /> <br />I <b>love</b> Layton, seriously, <b>love the guy</b>, but I can't stand the secondary embarassement. Everytime he says something about what the Liberals did, then everyone behind him chants 'shame, shame, shame!' <br /> <br />What's up with that, yeah that's progress? If that's the case I think I will get my citizenship and run for the NDP, so I can stand there and say 'BS,BS,BS.' <br /> <br />I know they all do it, but it's frustrating when the party that is supposed to be making the most radical change is doing the same old, same old. <br /> <br />Then again, I am new to CPAC and Canadian politics, so maybe someone has an idea as to the mature reasons for doing this?

   

[QUOTE BY= robert_fisher] When I watch CPAC, I often wonder why it is that they are so juevenille. <br /> <br />I <b>love</b> Layton, seriously, <b>love the guy</b>, but I can't stand the secondary embarassement. Everytime he says something about what the Liberals did, then everyone behind him chants 'shame, shame, shame!' <br /> <br />What's up with that, yeah that's progress? If that's the case I think I will get my citizenship and run for the NDP, so I can stand there and say 'BS,BS,BS.' <br /> <br />I know they all do it, but it's frustrating when the party that is supposed to be making the most radical change is doing the same old, same old. <br /> <br />Then again, I am new to CPAC and Canadian politics, so maybe someone has an idea as to the mature reasons for doing this?[/QUOTE]That's politics, my friend. I don't think it's different in other countries, and if it is I'm happy I live here. That's what happens when a crowd gets energized; they start shouting 'shame' or 'hear'. I don't think it looks silly at all, but that's just my opinion.<BR><BR>I understand that the NDP's fans want it to be different than the other parties but the other parties win elections, so they must be doing something right, eh?

   

[QUOTE BY= Ed King] Just change the channel to CPAC, my friend! Personally, I don't understand how anyone could find Amrican politics exciting. It's so boring! Canadian politics are much more exciting! We've had the soap opera of the Chrétien/Martin feud for the last few years and now we have a government that could fall at any moment, while it is under the microscope of the Gomery inquiry(too bad media coverage of it is terrible!). Also, the Dippers and Tories have been somewhat rehabilitated in the last two years and our politics are once again very competitive. Canada kicks ass!!![/QUOTE]Finally!! Someone else who watches CPAC!!! I totally agree with you Canadian politics is much more interesting, not boring whatsoever. Tell me, have you been watching Question period lately? Brison and McKay have been going at it over the Gomery inquiry for the last few days. It makes you wonder if their is any bitterness between them over how McKay sold out the PC party to Harper?

   

Balance is what matters. Obviously with this Bush election we had to look South. Don't forget too that many of our politicans are looking south and we can't ignore this either. The US is a social engineering experiment in progress, and a scary one. We can't ignore it. But perhaps we need to relate more what is happening there to what is happening here, learn from it, and most critically not make their mistakes. At the risk of upsetting a few Canadian Sovereignists, we share many of their core attributes. Consumerism comes to mind. People are typically voting as consumers. And politicians cater to them.

   

[QUOTE BY= gaulois] Balance is what matters. Obviously with this Bush election we had to look South. Don't forget too that many of our politicans are looking south and we can't ignore this either. The US is a social engineering experiment in progress, and a scary one. We can't ignore it. But perhaps we need to relate more what is happening there to what is happening here, learn from it, and most critically not make their mistakes. At the risk of upsetting a few Canadian Sovereignists, we share many of their core attributes. Consumerism comes to mind. People are typically voting as consumers. And politicians cater to them.[/QUOTE] <br />Can't say that I disagree with you it's just that sometimes people are blindsided for their hatred of Bush that they didn't stop to think "How would Canadian sovereignty be different under Kerry and the Democrats?" Now don't get me wrong, I don't like Bush at all. But when it comes to issues that affect me here in Canada its like Coke vs. Pepsi. Kerry was in favour of the missle defense shield, he supported the Patriot act, and it was a Democrat who was pushing hardest for the beef ban. Alot of people felt the same way about Reagan as they do about Bush and the world survived. I'm sure the world will survive four more years of Bush.

   

[QUOTE BY= arc628]Finally!! Someone else who watches CPAC!!! I totally agree with you Canadian politics is much more interesting, not boring whatsoever. Tell me, have you been watching Question period lately? Brison and McKay have been going at it over the Gomery inquiry for the last few days. It makes you wonder if their is any bitterness between them over how McKay sold out the PC party to Harper? [/QUOTE]<BR><BR>I'm sure there is bad blood lingering between those two. I'm happy that MacKay can't say anything about Liberals breaking promises and not keeping their word without being ridiculed and howled at by most of the House. I love it!<BR><BR>Speaking of Question Period, that's one thing that makes Canadian politics much more exciting than American politics, in my opinion. In Canada, the Cabinet has to answer for their actions to a group of people who want their jobs, day in and day out. Can you picture George Bush standing up every day and defending his decisions, the way our leaders do(or should; I guess Martin is a real lightweight in QP compared to his predecessor!)?<BR><BR>They do not have a shadow cabinet in the United States. I think that is one of the strenghts of parliamentary democracy. I'm not saying our system is better; just different, and much more exciting!<BR><BR>P.S. CPAC is the best channel! No commercials, no government funding; it really makes the CBC look bad, when you consider the size of their budget and the quality of their parliamentary coverage(although Don Newman rules!)

   

[QUOTE BY= Ed King] Can you picture George Bush standing up every day and defending his decisions, the way our leaders do[/QUOTE] <br />Bush barely has the courage to defend his position to the press (How many press conferences has he had? 5 maybe?) Could you imagine him in the media scrum <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/eek.gif' alt='Eek!'>

   

Maybe we should invade someone. That would get people interested again! <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/lol.gif' alt='Laughing Out Loud'>

   

If we continue to become more interested in American politcs than our own, won't we basically give up interest on our own and put the problems of Canada 'under the rug'? It is perfectly fine to view and discuss American politics, British politics, and other countries politics but we must always keep a watchful and sharp eye on our politicans.

   

Not the Canadian way...we come bearing gifts, not bullets (well, most of the time.). <br /> <br />While others will disagree with me, which is fine, I agree with arc628. And I'll tell you why. <br /> <br />If Canada had some sort of planned response re: a Bush victory as opposed to a Kerry victory, following the U.S. election to the extent we have might make sense. However, we don't, so for all intents and purposes the point of who won is moot for Canadians. The only productive purpose Vive discussions re: the U.S. political scene can serve is to let those of our U.S. cousins concerned about the situation know that they have some support in Canada. <br /> <br />You get the point re: Bush, U.S. corporate threats, etc. after the first or second article. Posting article after article reiterating the point is unproductive. <br /> <br />As I've pointed out before, concerns about Canadian sovereignty aren't new, although they may have become more urgent for reasons that extend far beyond our borders. These discussions have been going on for at least the past thirty years. One of the reasons for this lack of progress may be that many Canadians professing an interest in Canadian sovereignty issues apparently prefer spending their time oohhing and aahhing about the latest U.S. inequity, rather than in the development and implementation of a coherent vision for Canada that reduces the impact to us from decisions in the U.S. (and other nations) and our need to adjust our own national view to suit whatever the current U.S. need may be. <br /> <br />Canadians have no control over U.S. policy and direction and after a point discussion of the same serves no useful purpose in terms of creating a nation that best meets the needs of Canadian citizens. While it may be easier to look at our neighbour than ourselves, we should be focussing on, thinking about and discussing areas we can control. <br /> <br /> <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/confused.gif' alt='Confused'>

   

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