President Bush must have failed math

Maybe Canuckistan ain't so bad after all, eh Noir?

Ottawa, September 21, 2005

Government of Canada Records Eighth Consecutive Surplus

Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today announced a $1.6-billion surplus for fiscal year 2004–05, the Government of Canada’s eighth consecutive annual surplus and a record unmatched in the history of the country. Also, Canada was once again the only Group of Seven (G7) country to post a total government sector surplus in the most recent fiscal year and is the only G7 country expected to do so in 2005 and 2006, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

"This surplus was particularly gratifying given the numerous challenges affecting our bottom line at the end of the year," said Minister Goodale. "It clearly demonstrates the benefits of prudent, long-term fiscal planning."

The $1.6-billion surplus has been applied to reduce Canada’s federal debt, which now stands at $499.9 billion. Federal debt as a percentage of the economy was 38.7 per cent in 2004–05, down roughly 30 percentage points from its peak of 68.4 per cent in 1995–96.

"Canada has made more progress in reducing its debt burden than any other G7 country," said Minister Goodale. "By reducing federal debt by a total of $63 billion in the last eight years, we have freed up some $3 billion in interest savings every year that can be directed to the priorities of Canadians."

Information about the $1.6-billion surplus is contained in the Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada, which was released today and reviews the Government’s financial performance in the 2004–05 fiscal year.

Among the report’s highlights:

In 2004–05, the Government spent just over 17 cents of every revenue dollar on interest on the public debt. This is down from the peak of approximately 39 cents in 1990–91, and is the lowest this ratio has been since the late 1970s.
Budgetary revenues increased by $12.2 billion or 6.6 per cent, reflecting strong growth in virtually all tax bases and net gains from the sale of the Government’s remaining shares in Petro-Canada in September 2004.

Program expenses increased by $21.3 billion or 15.1 per cent: $10.6 billion is due to one-time spending, with 80 per cent comprising transfers to provinces and territories. Excluding these one-time expenses, program spending was up 7.6 per cent.

Canada has made more progress in reducing its debt burden than any other G7 country. Second highest in the G7 as recently as the mid-1990s, Canada’s net debt burden for the total government sector was the lowest among these countries in 2004.

[Electrophil]

Doug, you're blind. It's all out there in the open for you, and you refuse to see it.

Clinton got laid. Other than that, or looking under rocks trying to make up something, there was nothing there. Bush is out in the open. The arguments are far from defeated, he just hasn't went to jail yet for them.

But he will. It's been so bad, the republicans are about to lose control of the house next year. Even your Fox propaganda network admits it.

Then we'll have our real impeachment, and it won't be over the definition of sex. You know it, you just refuse to see it like most others.

[demonsvx]

Our WHOLE government system is screwed up. We have these silly politicians who WE re-elect ie:representatives and senators who have been in there since Moses vote themselves a pay raise ever year and do the loop de loop with government programs and laws. Why do we reelect them? We are afraid of drastic change. We are afraid of trying something new. I dont hate the President but sometimes his judgement is way off and some other politicians also have this problem. Take a look at some stupid laws http://www.dumblaws.com/index.php and you will understand what kind of retards run this country

Yikes.... I just checked out that dumb law web site http://www.dumblaws.com/index.php.

I wonder how many States practice religious discrimination like Texas?

The Texas Constitution
Article 1 - BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 4 - RELIGIOUS TESTS

No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

So I guess that means that only people from monotheistic religions need apply, eh? If you're an Atheist or believe in a pantheon of Gods and/or Goddesses, or Spirits, etc etc then forget it

Maybe that's one reason there are so few Native American Indians in public service?

[Electrophil]

Originally Posted by Bipa

Yikes.... I just checked out that dumb law web site http://www.dumblaws.com/index.php.

I wonder how many States practice religious discrimination like Texas?

The Texas Constitution
Article 1 - BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 4 - RELIGIOUS TESTS

No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

So I guess that means that only people from monotheistic religions need apply, eh? If you're an Atheist or believe in a pantheon of Gods and/or Goddesses, or Spirits, etc etc then forget it

Maybe that's one reason there are so few Native American Indians in public service?

I would like to acknowledge Jodi J. Rickenbacher of Paetville South Dakota as a Supreme being. Can I be governor?

[lhopp77]

I knew a few atheists in Vietnam, but they damn sure prayed under heavy fire. I guess you call that hedging your bets. Bipa if you don't like our laws--suggest you stay where you are or in Canada.

Lee

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

[Royal Tiger]

Bipa, since you are not an American, trying to explain Texas to you would be a waste of time. As for Clinton, it wasn't just sex, it's the whole lying under oath issue. If you call that no big deal, you have problems. You also left out the Whitewater land scheme that made bill and hillery a ton of money and some people homeless. None of these idiots is any good, on either side, but the Clinton was a god and Bush is the devil crap serves no purpose, and gets us no further ahead. Re-incarnate Reagan.

Originally Posted by lhopp77

I knew a few atheists in Vietnam, but they damn sure prayed under heavy fire. I guess you call that hedging your bets. Bipa if you don't like our laws--suggest you stay where you are or in Canada.

Lee

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

Hey.... I happen to be a member of a monotheistic religion, so that law doesn't apply to me. I'm just wondering if Native Indians who have lived there for a few thousand years are also being "invited to leave" their ancestral lands if they don't like the "new" laws that have been imposed?

A friend of mine is a Pagan. She says that she prefers to call on a specialist rather than just have one general God. But she doesn't acknowledge any one particular Being as supreme, so that law would discriminate against her. Good thing she's in another State.

Originally Posted by Tigershark

Bipa, since you are not an American, trying to explain Texas to you would be a waste of time.

Well, you've managed to spark off one of my pet peeves. That kind of statement is always a copout. Similar examples:

You aren't Black, so you can't understand racism and trying to explain it would be a waste of time.
You aren't a woman, so you can't understand women's fight for equality and trying to explain it would be a waste of time.
You can't get pregnant, so you can't understand the abortion issue and trying to explain it to you would be a waste of time.
You aren't Iraqi, so trying to explain the problems in Iraq would be a waste of time.
You've never been a refugee, so trying to explain the situation with displaced persons would be a waste of time.


You ..... get the idea, eh?

Over the years, I've learned that this type of statement really translates into one of the following:
1. You're right, but I refuse to admit it ... or
2. I know I'm right, but you should just take my word for it 'cause I can't be bothered

So if you don't feel like spending time trying to explain something, then just be honest and say you can't be bothered. I doubt that a New Yorker or someone from Seattle would find Texas laws any more difficult to understand than I would.

Or else just say that nobody else in the US understands Texas, either

[Electrophil]

Originally Posted by lhopp77

I knew a few atheists in Vietnam, but they damn sure prayed under heavy fire. I guess you call that hedging your bets. Bipa if you don't like our laws--suggest you stay where you are or in Canada.

Lee

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

Reminds me of that old Joke : One guy is in church, the other is in a casino gambling. Both are praying. Which one really means it?

[Electrophil]

Originally Posted by Tigershark

Bipa, since you are not an American, trying to explain Texas to you would be a waste of time. As for Clinton, it wasn't just sex, it's the whole lying under oath issue. If you call that no big deal, you have problems. You also left out the Whitewater land scheme that made bill and hillery a ton of money and some people homeless. None of these idiots is any good, on either side, but the Clinton was a god and Bush is the devil crap serves no purpose, and gets us no further ahead. Re-incarnate Reagan.

I dream of Reagan back in office. We wouldn't be in this mess right now. We'd be in debt, but the rest of it wouldn't be happening. That includes Iran, and I doubt even 9/11. The attackers saw Bush as he is. Some bumbling idiot cutting up brush on his ranch.

[Electrophil]

Originally Posted by Bipa

Well, you've managed to spark off one of my pet peeves. That kind of statement is always a copout. Similar examples:

You aren't Black, so you can't understand racism and trying to explain it would be a waste of time.
You aren't a woman, so you can't understand women's fight for equality and trying to explain it would be a waste of time.
You can't get pregnant, so you can't understand the abortion issue and trying to explain it to you would be a waste of time.
You aren't Iraqi, so trying to explain the problems in Iraq would be a waste of time.
You've never been a refugee, so trying to explain the situation with displaced persons would be a waste of time.


You ..... get the idea, eh?

Over the years, I've learned that this type of statement really translates into one of the following:
1. You're right, but I refuse to admit it ... or
2. I know I'm right, but you should just take my word for it 'cause I can't be bothered

So if you don't feel like spending time trying to explain something, then just be honest and say you can't be bothered. I doubt that a New Yorker or someone from Seattle would find Texas laws any more difficult to understand than I would.

Or else just say that nobody else in the US understands Texas, either

Hey! Let me explain Texas to you as an outsider that lived there for 4 years. I was a Zone Supervisor for the United States Navy Recruiting command, and had 2 offices operating in Fort Worth, (1 downtown, and 1 at Seminary), and 1 office each in Arlington, Weatherford, Abilene, and Brownwood.

Texans are very ethnocentric. I always called them the United State of Texas. There is no other place on the earth, and if there is, it's revolving around Texas. All other places on earth are just depositories for their bullets, and that includes little mexico that some people call California.

Recruiting for the military in Texas is a recruiter's dream. They all want to go blow up something, and can't wait to get there. We had a walk in market, actual recruiting effort was just for show. My zone received award after award for top numbers in the nation. I received two of the four Navy Achievement medals I have from Texas. Notice I didn't say "earned". I "earned" the other two through actual effort.

I was there during the period that George Senior hooked up George junior and got him in front of the line to buy the Texas Rangers in Arlington. George junior didn't have the money yet from his selling his failed business to the 9/11 people, (Bin Laden group), but daddy hooked him up.

Disclaimer: Yeah, I know... The rest of the family is legit, and that's why the only planes flying immediately after 9/11 were the ones evacuating the Bin Laden family.... But still..... You are who you know.

This is where I learned to hate George dubya. All the guy did was hang around the stadium drinking beer. Just another rich kid turned failed businessman that daddy bailed out. I've watched him literally stumble as he seated himself in his outside box. He rarely seemed to watch the games from his luxury box above us. He was always outside spilling beer on himself, as secret service guys tried to steady him. (Bush Senior was already president.)

I called the guy a loser from day one...... About 65% or the population now has found out the same. The other 34% are still drunk at the game.

[Royal Tiger]

Bipa, I think you jumped the gun on this one. What I meant was as you not being an American you probably wouldn't understand the way Texans think, believe and act. I lived there for 5 months when in the Air Force and it is a whole other world compared to what I was used to living in the Mid-Atlantic region. You usually preach about not making assumptions, I thought you would have reread my post and saw the true meaning.

Tigershark,

Bipa, I think you jumped the gun on this one.

Since I've never posted anything about Clinton (neither pro nor con), nor have I ever compared Clinton to Bush, it still seems to me like the only statement that is directed to me is the first one.

I don't know.... maybe my puppy problem is affecting my judgement, in which case ... gosh... does "jumping the gun" mean that I've acted like a Texan? In that case, maybe I'm finally starting to understand

Sorry if I offended you, but it is still a pet peeve of mine...

Originally Posted by Electrophil

Hey! Let me explain Texas to you as an outsider that lived there for 4 years. ...
Texans are very ethnocentric. I always called them the United State of Texas. There is no other place on the earth, and if there is, it's revolving around Texas. All other places on earth are just depositories for their bullets, and that includes little mexico that some people call California.

Recruiting for the military in Texas is a recruiter's dream. They all want to go blow up something, and can't wait to get there. We had a walk in market, actual recruiting effort was just for show. My zone received award after award for top numbers in the nation. I received two of the four Navy Achievement medals I have from Texas. Notice I didn't say "earned". I "earned" the other two through actual effort.

Given Texas' history, I guess it is obvious where that tendency to want to blow up things comes from. All those Spanish Forts.... errr.... tree stumps! Honest, that's what I meant

Unfortunately, there are quite a few places in the world that think the same way. I've always found it funny when I meet people who have never traveled further than the next town, yet are convinced that their village/town/city/district/country is the best in the world.

Now click your heels three times and repeat after me:

There's no place like home....