Canada: A Land Of Mediocrity

Written By: 4Canada
Date: 2007-06-13 13:09:59
<a href="/article/100959779-canada-a-land-of-mediocrity">Article Link</a>

At the other end of the spectrum, Canada's low levels of literacy are "shocking," and prevent workers from functioning efficiently and competently in the labour force, the report says. As well, employer investment in training is falling.

In the economy, health and society domains, Canada gets a B - although lack of innovation is impeding progress.

In economics, Canada gets top marks for low inflation, and does well in growth, labour productivity and unemployment.

It gets low marks, however, for its ability to attract foreign direct investment, which often brings in fresh ideas, more investment, advanced technology and entrepreneurial ideas.

<a href="http://www.reportonbusiness.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070613.wreconomy13/BNStory/robNews/home/">http://www.reportonbusiness.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070613.wreconomy13/BNStory/robNews/home/</a>

[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on June 15, 2007]

At first I thought this piece of crap came from the Fraser Inst. but when I saw the Conference Board signature at the bottom, everything became clear.

How much more foreign investment do we need, when more of the county's economy is already from abroad, than of any other industrialized nation's.

Back in 1988 the Conference Board predicted that 125,000 more women's jobs will be created by the FTA. Judith Maxwell of the Economic Council predicted 250,000 and her Council 188,000 jobs lost and 439,000 gained.

So much for the "studies" and predictions of these advertising agencies.

Ed Deak.

"But even in education, Canada falters when it comes to producing highly educated professionals who spawn creativity, the report says."

Excuse my language, but has that dimwitted bitch taken into account the cost of going to college or university when the individual in question comes from the lower order of the socio-economic spectrum?

As for "highly educated individuals who spawn creativity", please spare me the right-wing CDH/Conference Board bullshit.

The only "creativity" that Golden and her ilk are interested in is the kind that cooks books, takes advantage of loopholes, and screws everyone but members of her own social strata.

To be blunt, and direct, Ms Anne Golden should take her report and use it as a paper suppository.

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If George W. Bush and Tony Blair are really Christians, then pork and shrimp are Kosher.

"But even in education, Canada falters when it comes to producing highly educated professionals who spawn creativity, the report says."
There is the assumption that people with money are naturally smarter than those without, and consequently the cost of education is not a factor. In other words, the poor are poor because they do not apply themselves with the "vigour" that others do.

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"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
-Max Planck

The fish rots from the head to the tail.

I've never found that Canadians lacked initiative nor inventiveness.

But I've often noticed that management lacked those qualities lamented in this report, and would not hire or support new or different ideas of technologies as being too risky.

Nothing ventured nothing gained....

Since this report was paid for by the executives of the corporations bellyaching, perhaps it would be worthwhile for them to look into the mirror to see who is responsible.

H.F. Wolff

"But I've often noticed that management lacked those qualities lamented in this report, and would not hire or support new or different ideas of technologies as being too risky."

I know this to be true all too well. A rather obvious part of the problem is due to the head office putting a clamp down on their satellite ops, and we all know who owns the head office.

Weren't we just bitching the other day how University curriculum had been watered down to account for the obviously flawed economic policies we see today?

How is one supposed to be creative, when they are made to fit a particular mold?

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The preceding comment deals with mature subject matter, however immaturely presented. Viewer discretion is advised.

Which pretty much loops back to my point about the kind of "creativity" this kind are really interested in.

It's not only nested, it's systematic from top to battom.

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If George W. Bush and Tony Blair are really Christians, then pork and shrimp are Kosher.

In listening to THE CURRENT on CBC radio this AM, about this very topic, it occurred to me that our Prime Minister Mulroney once uttered something like: "Why should we make it when we can buy it?"

And our leaders have held that as gospel every since...........

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"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
-Max Planck

"Why should we make it when we can buy it?"

And Brian should know, he was a "made" man and bought from day one.

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If George W. Bush and Tony Blair are really Christians, then pork and shrimp are Kosher.

<a href="http://www.youngthugs.ca/">http://www.youngthugs.ca/</a> 
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200706/20070614.html">http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200706/20070614.html</a> 
The CBC Radio THE CURRENT talked about gangs today, and I had to send this reply to the program: 
 
"Quite possibly everything was talked about in your segment on gangs, except for the nature/nurture argument. It hasn't been that long since, by the time a "child" was in his/her teens, he or she was working for a living, was raising a family, and generally was considered independent. We somehow have a skewed notion that teenagers have always lived at home and gone to school. But that is a post-WWII phenomenon for the most part. 
Here is an excerpt from one of many websites about Alexander the great: 
"He had his first diplomatic experience while he was still a child, when he received the ambassadors of Persia during his father's absence. At the age of eighteen he led the Macedonian cavalry in a victorious charge which won the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC." 
What is "unnatural" is our proclivity to keep children at home, sometimes into their late twenties. In fact, we have built an entire society around this, to the point where young adults remain children in the eyes of society, when they want to be anything but children. 
And coupled with the breakdown of the family unit (Mom, Dad, Kids, Grandma, Grandpa, and possibly some aunts and uncles not too far away), today's "kids" are not really welcome into the society that surrounds them. There is a saying that I ran across years ago, that seems pertinent here: 
"Kids not only need to be wanted, they also want to be needed!" 
It seems apt in describing the plight of our "kids"." 
_____________________________________________________ 
 
A friend pointed out that, if we allowed a fre-er rein on our kids, perhaps more innovation would come of it. But the buzzword today is "safety". We endeavour to encase our kids in bubble-wrap, which has surely got to affect their mental outlook on the world around them. 
--- "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." 
-Max Planck