Slackers will be very happy as they all have the time and lack of responsibility to sit and watch it.

Okay, I’m Canadian and many on this site feel I have no right to comment because I am not an American. But, I am going to anyways. In Canada, we still vote for the party, not the person leading the party. Unfortunately it appears to me that the American electoral process has created a situation where the image of the party leader is more important than the party principles. This seems to have begun with the 5:00 shadow that Nixon had and has progressively become more prevelant. If I were an American I would not vote Republican because I don’t agree with their foreign policies and I am thankful that neither George Clooney, or Brad Pitt or Jessica Biel have tried to run for presidential office, as if they did the Republicans would be elected.

I get up very early in the morning so I can have quiet time. I hide my bag of soft and chewy oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies so that I will always have one. I do nothing on Saturday, I don’t wash a dish, cook a meal or sometimes even get out of my pajamas. I masturbate when needed.

I have a Canadian comment. I feel that if the American electoral process required that the election needed 95% voter turn out that people would vote for whoever just to get the damn thing over with.

My youngest son is in French Immersion and has not been taught to read in English but can read French. We have always had the complete Dr Suess collection, some of them were mine when I was a child. Anyways, two weeks ago he brought me Hop on Pop and read it too me. He had taught himself to read English using Dr Suess and I was very impressed. Both his and my favourite childrens books are ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’, ‘Charlotte’s Web’, ‘The Giving Tree’ by Shel Silverstein and ‘Stone Soup’. He loves ‘The Giving Tree’ so much that last year at school when students were asked to dress up as their favourite character from a book, he dressed as the tree. All those books are about true unconditional, unselfish love and reading them to him for the past years has really left an impression on him as he has won the friendship award and citizenship awards at his school numerous times. Reading is the most wonderful gift a parent can give a child. Fair enough I’m writer and perhaps biassed but my house has always been full of books and more books and the collections just get larger and larger. My childrens rooms all have bookcases full of books that they read and re-read and read to each other and it just lifts my spirits when I am at home and the television and computers are off and everyone is reading.

I remind him regularily that he is loved and greatly appreciated.

Catherine, Canadians have become complacent for many reasons. I feel the main one is the americazation of this country via the media bombarbment of america values or lack there of. Another on is too much American history is taught in our education system. My daughter knew more about American history than she did of Canadian and I hated it so I made her read a slew of Pierre Burton books and this one The Fight for Canada: Four Centuries of Resistance to American Expansionism, by David Orchard that should be mandatory reading in all Canadian schools. She got a new image of Canada and being Canadian and became a proud Canadian who cares about this country and its future. 50 or 60 years ago we were all proud Canadians and we took our elections very seriously and were passionate, proud Canadians. If any one party can forward with a platform to change educational curriculam to include 80% Canadian content, they would get my vote. We don’t belong in America’s “war” on terrorism, they didn’t have problems with us until the government sided with the Amercicans and sent troops. Our economy is facing recession because the American economy is failing. We need a party that wants to take back control of this country, not be complacent, like the Harper government, and bend over for the Americans and take it up the arse. And why, when I turn on the national news on CTV do I have to hear more about Obama, Lindsey or hurricane Gustav, then about what is going on in my very own country. I miss the days when local news was local and national news was about my country not the USA. Why when I do the national census am I asked what is my heritage, I am Canadian, but that is not a choice. Why, when we are a bilingual country with two official languages, is French Immersion considered a choice and not a right. Why do we not sing O Canada every day in school anymore. Canadians have become complacent because we no longer have a Canadian identity. Like I said, we need a party that will give us our identity.

Personally, I am so glad to be Canadian. Our election was called just the other day and I will be voting for a party in October, less than 6 weeks again. None the American conventions, news bytes, political gossip, endless polls or comments or criticisms that go on and on and on and on and on and on and on. A few commercials for the next 5 weeks from the 5 parties and then the election night converage and than bingo bango a Prime Minister is elected. The electoral process need not last over a year and cost a bizillion dollars, because in the end the person will the most votes wins, and not always the person who spent the most money campaigning, or the person who gave the better sound bytes, or the person who had the most tv coverage or celebrity backing. Just a Canadian view. If I was an American, and if Ralph Nadar was running I would vote for him as he is the most sensible.

The only people in the world that seem to be so bothered by the gas prices are the westernized countries, primarily the US and Canada. Gas prices have always been high in Europe and in Asia. The problem isn’t the price of gas the problem is consumerism. An average family in Europe will have 1 car and in Asia, no car. Yet, they all get to work and to places that they need to go and don’t complain about taking the bus or riding a bike. But, in North America, dad has a car, mom has a car, junior has a car and the young girl will get one for her 16th birthday. People will commute over a hour to get to their well paying job when they could have taken a position closer to home and taken a bus but that position paid less so they wouldn’t be able to buy more stuff. Why does a family of four need a 6 bedroom house with 2300 square feet and keep the heat at 74 degrees and prance around in their designer clothes that they had to drive two hours to get to the city to buy instead of wearing slippers and a sweatshirt. Why can’t someone cook homemade burgers or pizza for dinner instead of driving to the Burger King or having Pizza Hut deliver. I personally hope that the gas prices stay high and people will be forced to face the difference between wants and needs.

Susan B, don’t get me wrong. It may sound like I am criticizing mothers who choose to work full-time and I understand that in this world many woman have no choice. Perhaps I should have worded it more along these lines, that women who choose to love the career, money, or position more than the joy of motherhood are making the wrong choice, and furthermore I also realize that not all working women are like this. There are women in this world who do want it all and like I said, the reality is that we can’t have it. I often think that the worst thing that ever happened to the woman’s movement was the woman’s movement. Before that the only expectation on a woman was to marry, be a good wife and a good mother. Now a woman is expected to be a good mother, wife, cook, housekeeper, taxi service, CEO, and a good bread earner. We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Woman are criticized for staying home and criticized for working full-time. I feel that the in-fighting that now exists among women is the direct result of the woman’s movement.

I find the results of this poll disturbing. The never responses are higher than the always and sometimes. No wonder breast cancer is running rampant among women. Although, by the time a woman feels a lump, it is often advanced. I don’t get regular mammograms, but I do get a yearly ultrasound done on my breasts as it is less evasive and can detect more. Wake up women, we are responsible for our own health.

Hell yah, as long as I have my mind and I am in decent health. Yet, my great aunt as the age of 89 has outlived three husbands and two children. She says that is the hardest part of longevity, losing those you love, especially your kids. But she is marrying again to a younger man of 74 and is hoping that he will live long enough to take care of her when she reaches ‘old age’.

She’ll pull it off just like Angelina Jolie, Madonna, J. Lo, Heidi Klum, or any other modern working mom does it. With a nanny and or daycare. Personally, I feel that woman today want too much. They want to be successful in their careers as well as a successful mother. Truth is, reality is, that you can’t be both. One will always falter whether you must leave work to take a child to the dentist or you are dropping your child off at a daycare or leaving them with the nanny and letting him/her cope with all the responsibilities that go along with motherhood. The role of a mother is the most important job there is and unfortunately in today’s world is not given the credos it deserves and if often taken too lightly on by many woman. When I decided to become a mother, that became my job and like any job I took the attitude that any job worth doing is worth doing well. I was criticized for my decision by many of my women friends. However, I can proudly say that I have two honour students, one is 16, still a virgin, a successful competetive swimmer, with a part-time job. Neither have ever come home drunk or stoned or even experimented. Neither have been in trouble with the law. Both are well loved and respected by their peers. They are good kids and will be functioning, responsible, loving, caring adults of this world. We had dinner together every night,still do, movie night once a week, I volunteered at their schools, we did alot together both one on one and as a family. When I returned to work, I went back part-time. I chose my children over money and prestige and advancement and it was the best decision I ever made, and that decision was made before I even brought them into this world.