Quote Originally Posted by gaystoryman
No I don't think that the answers are to deregulate our banking system, as that is part of why our economy is growing and yours isn't.
Well not to pick nits, but the US economy is growing faster than Canada's and our unemployment is lower. According to last week's Economist I have here, they show US growth last quarter at 3.6% vs Canada at 2.7%. Unemployment in the US is 5% compared to Canada's 6.6%.

Actually Canada's not doing badly at all, and I don't invoke that to imply "mine's better than yours." France or Germany would love having economies like ours.

It isn't really discussed much, but the reason risky businesses (like adult) have more trouble in countries outside the US is because of laws and regulations that prevent the banks from engaging in risky business.

I know too that European countries especially have lots of laws restricting and limiting credit card use. Not only restrictions on interest rates, but laws requiring CREDIT or DEBIT labelling on cards, and places like Belgium where you can't carry more then $750 credit lines. I figure this is why "cellphone porn" is a phenomonon in Europe... it's a necessity of financial life.

I'm not saying that "deregulation" is a panacea! But I found it interesting that you read in school about how a system of less regulations will allow banks to engage in higher risk endeavors... then lo and behold where is the most creative and able environment to operate an adult business?


Quote Originally Posted by gaystoryman
Gay Rights are set, but under our consititution, there is a 'not withstanding clause' in which the government can over rule the high court decisions such as gay rights. Stephen Harper has publicly time in and time again has said he would use that clause to end not just gay rights, but woman's right to an abortion.
Thanks for explaining this. I enjoy learning about the political systems in other countries. Actually to my ear, that sounds like "rights" are more ephemeral... what one group can give, the very next group can take away a few years later. One thing I find comforting about the US is that is so much more difficult to accomplish.

I'm sure you have read the news in the US of the vacancy on the Supreme Court, and the President's selection of Sam Alito. Pro life conservatives may now be realizing that even with him, the American system effectvely prevents a court or a legislature to just change the law and criminalize abortion.

Alito's position is pretty much you cannot overturn the Roe v Wade decision, but you can be critical that it was too broad. This means that a future court might allow notification laws or maybe restrictions in the last three months of a pregnency, but they can't just boot it altogether. To ardant pro-lifers, I think that is pretty strong medicine.


Steve