Comments on: The Tyranny of State Legislatures http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html The Life and Thoughts of a Modern Day American Heathen Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:30:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Pom http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1732 Pom Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:46:36 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1732 I'm wondering - if I design t-shirts to sell in Christian bookstores that say "I'm God's Bitch" - do you think I could fund my escape from the USA? ;o) I'm wondering – if I design t-shirts to sell in Christian bookstores that say "I'm God's Bitch" – do you think I could fund my escape from the USA? ;o)

]]> By: Hrafnkell Haraldsson http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1731 Hrafnkell Haraldsson Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:45:35 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1731 Makarios, thank you for the description of Canada. I've seen Canadians forced to defend their healthcare system on Digg and I think they've done an admirable job of bashing the Right's horror stories (not that anyone on the Right believes them - they can't - it's against the rules) but it reassured me at least (since I'd no reason to imagine they were lying). It's rather interesting that being so close, and with so many Canadians crossing the border back and forth, that the Right thinks it can easily and convincingly mislead Americans about Canadian healthcare. Makarios, thank you for the description of Canada. I've seen Canadians forced to defend their healthcare system on Digg and I think they've done an admirable job of bashing the Right's horror stories (not that anyone on the Right believes them – they can't – it's against the rules) but it reassured me at least (since I'd no reason to imagine they were lying). It's rather interesting that being so close, and with so many Canadians crossing the border back and forth, that the Right thinks it can easily and convincingly mislead Americans about Canadian healthcare.

]]> By: Hrafnkell Haraldsson http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1730 Hrafnkell Haraldsson Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:42:51 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1730 Nikki, thank you for commenting. As I've said, sometimes it's difficult to tell whether this is the 13th or the 21st century. Enlightenment seems no more within our reach - perhaps further away in some respects - than it did when Thomas Jefferson and James Madison sat down to write. Nikki, thank you for commenting. As I've said, sometimes it's difficult to tell whether this is the 13th or the 21st century. Enlightenment seems no more within our reach – perhaps further away in some respects – than it did when Thomas Jefferson and James Madison sat down to write.

]]> By: Makarios http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1729 Makarios Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:50:42 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1729 With regard to choice of countries to which to emigrate, one could have the best of both worlds by moving to, say, Gimli, Manitoba, which was originally settled by Icelanders and, as New Iceland, had a semi-autonomous government until late in the 19th century. Its Icelandic roots still figure strongly in the local culture.<br /><br />I moved from the U.S. to Canada over forty years ago and have never regretted it. Canada declined to join the U.S. in the Vietnam quagmire, as well as in the Regan and Bush versions of Star Wars and the "coalition of the willing" in Iraq. It was Canada who gave the UN and the world the concept of using troops as peacekeepers, for which Lester Pearson was awarded the Nobel prize.<br /><br />Anent the issue with which you began your blog post, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited by the federal and most (if not all) provincial human rights codes, and same-sex marriages have full legal status. Canada is officially multicultural. We see ourselves as a mosaic rather than a melting pot, and we pride ourselves on our diversity.<br /><br />One thing that you won't find here is the level of religious crankiness that bedevils the U.S. Anyone who seriously suggested teaching "intelligent design" in Canadian schools would be hooted out of the hall, and I can't imagine any Canadian politician ending a speech with "God bless Canada."<br /><br />And, of course, Canadian residents enjoy universal access to state-funded health care--and don't believe the scare stories that you hear from the GOP regarding this.<br /><br />Sorry, I didn't mean to turn this into an ad for our Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Nor did I intend to convey the impression that Canada is perfect (as what country is?) Just some food for thought. With regard to choice of countries to which to emigrate, one could have the best of both worlds by moving to, say, Gimli, Manitoba, which was originally settled by Icelanders and, as New Iceland, had a semi-autonomous government until late in the 19th century. Its Icelandic roots still figure strongly in the local culture.

I moved from the U.S. to Canada over forty years ago and have never regretted it. Canada declined to join the U.S. in the Vietnam quagmire, as well as in the Regan and Bush versions of Star Wars and the "coalition of the willing" in Iraq. It was Canada who gave the UN and the world the concept of using troops as peacekeepers, for which Lester Pearson was awarded the Nobel prize.

Anent the issue with which you began your blog post, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited by the federal and most (if not all) provincial human rights codes, and same-sex marriages have full legal status. Canada is officially multicultural. We see ourselves as a mosaic rather than a melting pot, and we pride ourselves on our diversity.

One thing that you won't find here is the level of religious crankiness that bedevils the U.S. Anyone who seriously suggested teaching "intelligent design" in Canadian schools would be hooted out of the hall, and I can't imagine any Canadian politician ending a speech with "God bless Canada."

And, of course, Canadian residents enjoy universal access to state-funded health care–and don't believe the scare stories that you hear from the GOP regarding this.

Sorry, I didn't mean to turn this into an ad for our Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Nor did I intend to convey the impression that Canada is perfect (as what country is?) Just some food for thought.

]]> By: Nikki Stevens http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1728 Nikki Stevens Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:23:23 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1728 Good article, and I totally agree- there's a lot of things the world at large could stand to become more mature about.<br /><br />Thanks for the read,<br />Nicolette<br />http://modern-witchcraft.blogspot.com/ Good article, and I totally agree- there's a lot of things the world at large could stand to become more mature about.

Thanks for the read,
Nicolette
http://modern-witchcraft.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Hrafnkell Haraldsson http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1727 Hrafnkell Haraldsson Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:18:37 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1727 Sorry Mike, missed your comment. Yes, and in Iceland, "Heathen" has never been a bad word. Sorry Mike, missed your comment. Yes, and in Iceland, "Heathen" has never been a bad word.

]]> By: Hrafnkell Haraldsson http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1726 Hrafnkell Haraldsson Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:15:56 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1726 LOL Or were perhaps more sane, Stu. Helluva thing, to flee the tyranny of Catholic religion and leave your ancestors in a land about to be overrun by Protestant tyranny instead of Catholic. LOL Or were perhaps more sane, Stu. Helluva thing, to flee the tyranny of Catholic religion and leave your ancestors in a land about to be overrun by Protestant tyranny instead of Catholic.

]]> By: Anglo-Stu http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1725 Anglo-Stu Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:03:05 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1725 "My father's ancestors were Huguenots who fled Catholic persecution and came to the New World in the 1600s."<br /><br />Hey...me too ('cept on my Mothers side and they escaped to England!)<br /><br />Guess that side of my ancestors weren't as adventurous as yours.....or got on the wrong damn boat! HAHAHA! "My father's ancestors were Huguenots who fled Catholic persecution and came to the New World in the 1600s."

Hey…me too ('cept on my Mothers side and they escaped to England!)

Guess that side of my ancestors weren't as adventurous as yours…..or got on the wrong damn boat! HAHAHA!

]]> By: Mike http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1724 Mike Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:01:11 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1724 A lot of US policies get imposed on Canada because the Canadian government doesn't have the will to stand up to the US. So basically, Canada is not far enough away from the US for my tastes. If I need to leave the US, I don't want to be in a country that shares a border with the US. Iceland is also the oldest continuous Democracy in the world. A lot of US policies get imposed on Canada because the Canadian government doesn't have the will to stand up to the US. So basically, Canada is not far enough away from the US for my tastes. If I need to leave the US, I don't want to be in a country that shares a border with the US. Iceland is also the oldest continuous Democracy in the world.

]]> By: Hrafnkell Haraldsson http://aheathensday.com/2009/11/the-tyranny-of-state-legislatures.html/comment-page-1#comment-1723 Hrafnkell Haraldsson Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:43:29 +0000 http://uncajoe.org/domains/aheathensday.com/?p=1088#comment-1723 Julie & Mike: I've thought about Canada as well. At least the Right's hate speech is controlled there to a degree.<br /><br />France would be amusing. My father's ancestors were Huguenots who fled Catholic persecution and came to the New World in the 1600s. Julie & Mike: I've thought about Canada as well. At least the Right's hate speech is controlled there to a degree.

France would be amusing. My father's ancestors were Huguenots who fled Catholic persecution and came to the New World in the 1600s.

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