Stan's Canadian (mis)Information...

["Keith and Margaret Howe" <kmhowe@moscow.com>]

I feel compelled, as a proud Canadian citizen, to refute Stan's
(sec@moscow.com) claims that Canada has become a dictatorship. I'm sure you
were all more than aware of this in any event, and brushed off his comment
to the contrary as mere hyperbole, but I could not in all good conscience
let the issue pass completely unrefuted. The leader of the Canadian
government has even fewer implied powers than the lamest of lame-duck
American Presidents; and even fewer explicit ones. I can't, of course, argue
that we aren't more socialistic than the US; but of course, this has
translated into free health-care for every Canadian citizen, and colleges
(still retaining their high calibre) that are practically free by American
standards. Likewise, the government as a whole may have more power over the
lives of the people; yet, in Canada, the people still feel like they
comprise the government. "Government for the people, by the people, and OF
the people". How many Americans still feel they have any say over what in
their federal and State systems? Many feel left out of even their local
system. (Present company excluded, of course, since you have all taken the
time to become at least somewhat politically active by joining this list :)

- Keith Howe