How would we deal with Disaster ?

[FarmRanger]

Ok, we get it f_s, you think all of America’s ills are caused by American military spending.
So, if it just takes more money to make problems go away, why is it that Canada’s native reserves are such a disgrace? We throw pots of money in that direction, but poverty and suicide is still rampant. Check out the proportions of Canada’s natives in prisons, and then tell me we in Canada are morally superior in our handling of societies problems. This self aggrandizing arrogance is sickening and we wouldn’t tolerate it in others.

If Bush’s administration was caught illegally diverting millions of taxpayer’s dollars into Republican re-election coffers, we’d hear such an uproar it would be deafening. If it happens in Canada, we re-elect the crooks and smugly declare our moral superiority to our neighbors.
If the B.C. lower mainland sunk into the ocean, would we handle it better than we’ve seen in New Orleans? Let’s hope we never find out.

[FarmRanger]

farmers_son the fact of the matter is that of course there is more crime in the US compared to Canada, their damn population is ten times ours for gosh sake !!!

Perhaps you weren't aware of the riot on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton on Canada Day a few years ago, since that time the place is crawling with law enforement officers every Canada Day. What does that say for our society ???

If the US chooses to spend money on the military that is none of our business, and has nothing to do with families that are suffering due to a hurricane that I doubt was Bush's fault !!!

Who did you blame the flooding in Alberta in June on ? Was it the fault of government spending priorities or Mother Nature ??????

[farmers_son]

You are right when you say that if the American government decides to spend money on the military instead of public safety it is none of our business. Emrald1, it was you that started this thread comparing Canada’s reaction to disasters to Americans so please do take exception if I make the comparisons. I do take exception to suggestions that if a similar disaster were to occur in Canada that we would act the same as the Americans. I do not believe there would be shooting in the streets. I have no way to be sure but I would expect our emergency forces to be better organized and prepared. And I have every confidence that our public safety is a higher priority in Canada than I see in the southern United States. No way to be sure but that is what I believe. My opinion.

If you say the hurricane in the Gulf coast is a disaster, I would agree with you. If you suggest that Canadians would act in the same disgraceful manner as the Americans, I respectfully disagree. Disagreement is still allowed isn’t it?

If we are to compare violent crime between the U.S. and Canada, the murder rate in Canada is not about the same as the United States. On a per capita basis, the United States murder rate is 300% of Canada’s. We may dress the same and talk the same as the Americans but Canada is a different society. Yes we have problems as every society does but one does not see the same level of violence here as south of the border.

[farmers_son]

Obviously, I meant to say "it was you that started this thread comparing Canada’s reaction to disasters to Americans so please do not take exception..."

[farmers_son]

And my last comment on this matter...
Anyone wishing to donate or volunteer could check out:

http://myyahoo.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/hurricane.jsp

[silverback]

Thank God.

[blackjack]

...farmrangers post is exactly what my wife and I were discussing just this morning...both nations treating of the poor is basically one big job maker for govt...instead of helping the poor to be independent individuals the taxpayer pays for them to be dependent on govt from one generation to the next...since govt knows best right...not...

[cowman]

I do believe blackjack has hit the nail right on the head?
You can't expect anyone to stand up and be a responsible human being if you treat them like a dog...whether as an abused dog or a pampered dog!
The whole concept of society owes you a living is so basically flawed? The only person on this earth that owes you anything...is you!
Government has created this huge "industry" that thrives on meting out the dole for all manner of people. Is this working?
In this country we are constantly short of skilled laborers, but rather than spend a few bucks to train our own we import them...while our poor continue to live a miserable life on the dole or working for starvation wages!
I remember a few years ago talking to a supervisor on a pipeline. He had two single mothers welding for him and he said they were his best two workers and he'd got them through a government training program. His theory why they were such good workers? "When I get a cat to catch mice, I want a momma who has to feed her kittens!"
In most cases they put these little welfare mommas back in school where they learn garbage like Shakespeare and get them a high school diploma. Which is real nice...they can be oh so proud when they are working at MacDonalds! Quite frankly Macdonalds just doesn't cut it! Get these girls into the trades where they can make a decent living.
Our education system is geared to producing a whole bunch of highly useless people! People who think they have a right to a living just because they went to some idiot school. Unfortunately so many of them are so flawed that about the only place they are fit to work is for the government!
We need a return to a good solid work ethic and the belief if you don't work you don't eat!

[cowman]

I am always amazed at how many stores have boxes for donations of school supplies this time of year. Obviously heading back to school is huge expense, clothes, supplies etc., and it is tough for those who are making a lower income, but in a two parent family with both parents working there should be some way to get retrained if possible to raise the income level of at least one parent.
I have heard several of the lower income folks complaining loud and clear about their situation which I certainly sympathize with, but in the next breath hear them say that there is no way in hell they are going to get an oil patch job and be away from home.

Sometimes a personas financial situation is about choices of where they work and what sort of lifestyle they will be comfortable with. I think the provincial government has put some initiatives in place to assist adults to become better trained, and certainly the ones that have the desire and work ethic to get ahead can do so in Alberta.

[cakadu]

There is no doubt that for economic development to happen and to be able to attract skilled workers, investment etc., that we need to be training people right here at home.

Even the types of skilled trades that we will need in the future will be different from those of the past. We have metal workers here and for future endeavours we will need stainless steel workers.

We can import the technology that we need to experience growth in many sectors and complimentary to that, we need a skilled workforce that has specific technical skills.

We also need employers who are willing to take the time to help people acquire those skills. Many do not want, or even have the time, to train workers -- yet at the same time even tradespeople need experience and mentoring from others.

What we also need is the ability for our young people and those returning to be retrained to not have to go into serious debt in order to get the skills and knowledge that they need. Many of the rules around getting an education have changed. Now parents are expected to help pay for the first 4 years of post-secondary education for kids. How can low earners, or those with 4 or 5 kids to put through be expected to do that?

A strong work ethic is required and I wonder just how many kids have that now when so much has been just given to them over the years? There are many good kids out there who do work hard, earn a good living and are very responsible, but how many are ill-equipped to handle life in the "real world"?