The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/
EDITORIAL PAGEs ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/
CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Another slow step along the way Post a comment
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=209940&sc=30
CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Clarifying the facts about the seal hunt
Ottawa is right to argue Atlantic Canada's case for being exempt from the EU's proposed seal import ban.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=210126&sc=103
CAPE BRETON POST -
Climate issue an uphill battle
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=209894&sc=151
HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
A promising debut for Iggy
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/9010278.html
MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Vancouver's Olympic pain is nothing to sneer at
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Vancouver+Olympic+pain+nothing+sneer/1171039/story.html
OTTAWA CITIZEN -
The right not to believe
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/right+believe/1171127/story.html
Enemies of science
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Enemies+science/1171128/story.html
Dubya was no dummy
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Dubya+dummy/1173270/story.html
Lessons from Iraq
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Lessons+from+Iraq/1173272/story.html
BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Feeling harsh realities of repatriation
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1384337
TORONTO STAR -
Obama's timely trip to Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/comment
For a national regulator
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/569772
GLOBE & MAIL -
Single market, single regulator
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090112.weRegulator13/BNStory/specialComment/home
Selective on rights
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090112.weIsrael13/BNStory/specialComment/home
Well-placed priority
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090112.weObama13/BNStory/specialComment/home
NATIONAL POST -
Vancouver should pay
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1170078
HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
Our government is making a fool of uS
http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/494673
THUNDER BAY CHRONICLE JOURNAL -
The rush to higher learning
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stories.php?id=157914
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Melting ice cools debate over passage
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/melting_ice_cools_debate_over_passage.html
SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Let's trust our collective wisdom
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=c80ad01a-6984-4aa4-baaa-eb3367eb9c14
Ensure police move to adopt full disclosure
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=ff25808e-c0d4-4052-9716-5f30713214cf
Pay for recklessness
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=88296fba-e380-4318-a9e4-3faaed3db621
REGINA LEADER-POST -
Searching for a way out of drive-through snarls
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=4cafaa5a-0144-4d47-a0d6-b2f19e07d19f
CALGARY HERALD -
Bad law makes thousands guilty of polygamy
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=bce30bb2-9f52-4693-8d3d-833a5bbce48f
Notwithstanding polygamy
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=ceab8ece-792f-44bf-952e-3c25ad821b1b
Youth justice act needs tweaking
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=f523231e-057e-4073-91dc-c366d8172dc7
GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Idling bylaw hard to rev up for - Enforcement would be biggest problem
http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1385172
VANCOUVER SUN -
Bush unmourned
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/editorials/Bush+unmourned/1170771/story.html
VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Evicting seniors and their pets no solution
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/editorials/Evicting+seniors+their+pets+solution/1171291/story.html
VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Move fast or lose on infrastructure
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=0a399b61-5f22-4989-b309-fa19da082182
ISSUES
ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -
Brazeau affair sparks rift in native group
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090113.wbrazeau13/BNStory/politics/home
AFGHANISTAN -
Canada Renews Financial Aid to Afghanistan
http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2386&Itemid=48
Royal Marines uncover Taleban bomb factory
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5512034.ece
Attacks renewed on Nato supplies
A Nato supply depot in north-west Pakistan has been attacked by suspected militants, the first such raid since a major army offensive against them http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7825809.stm
![[]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tYAIposSbOGUTl-ZGCGrct4bi9XSXBMFJdSU8Jtn8ewe-eyeQ6fWUeOR3piuhIXzPaJW56h4zoJkGYGrsO73oal2FSpaHtyNTASN8=s0-d){kind=small}
Kyrgyzstan threatens to shut key US airbase
Telegraph (01/13/2009)
Afghans fear US plan to rearm villagers
FT.com (01/13/2009)
Talking Afghan Politics
The New Yorker (01/13/2009)
Afghan insurgency inspiring new fighters: analysts
AFP (01/13/2009)
How US tries to limit civilian deaths in Afghanistan
The Christian Science Monitor (01/13/2009)
U.S. Construction in Afghanistan Sign of Long Commitment
The Washington Post (01/13/2009)
CANADIAN FORCES -
Forces on the march
Access to information documents show growing number of troops not re-enlisting.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/01/13/8004411-sun.html
Radical defence launched
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/9010258.html
CANUSA/USACAN -
Canada shelves trade complaint over U.S. meat rule
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090113/canada/canada_us_trade_canada_livestock
Bush asserts U.S. sea power over Arctic straits
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=1169665
Arctic sovereignty not under threat despite U.S., European policies: Cannon
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/u_s__cda_arctic_policy
New American Arctic policy emphasizes U.S. interests in Northwest Passage
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090112/national/us_cda_arctic_policy
Chance to bring Obama up to speed
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/569783
BMO buys AIG's Canadian unit
http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090113.wbmo0113/BNStory/Business/home
Oilsands on agenda for Obama visit: Harper
http://www.financialpost.com/news/story.html?id=1172643
An agenda for Obama, Canada
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=e5fea671-33d8-4afb-8cfe-071afcdc33d8
Khadr trial date up in air after 'secret' refiling of charges: defence lawyer
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/13/khadr.html
Obama's Guantánamo challenge: a boy soldier's trial
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/14/barack-obama-guantanamo-human-rights
Harper doesn't see Obama push to rework NAFTA
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090112/canada/canada_us_trade_usa
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS -
Pomegranates Usurp Afghan Poppies
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138982
National securities body would override provincial laws
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090112/securities_regulator_090112/20090112?hub=Canada
Plunging gas prices zap sales for new fleet of electric vehicles
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090113.AUTOS13//TPStory/Front
FOREIGN AFFAIRS -
Canada votes alone for Israel
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/569872
Gaza: A pawn in the new 'great game'
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KA14Ak02.html
The problem of the 'other Gitmo'
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KA14Df02.html
Escaping the unilateral rut
A fundamental rethink of military strategy can turn failure under Bush into success under Obama
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/14/barack-obama-us-foreign-policy
JUSTICE SYSTEM -
Jewish group claims pro-Gaza protests have violated Canadian laws
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/israel_gaza_protests
Analysis: Bar owners and their responsibility for your drunkness
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1173392
Shooting down polygamy law not necessarily a slam dunk
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/569784
My money, my choice
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1170135
POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES -
Financial debate could derail first ministers meeting: Sources
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Financial+debate+could+derail+first+ministers+meeting+Sources/1173435/story.html
Red tape blamed for stalled job plan
$355M training scheme has room for 20,000, but just 3,300 sign up
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/569878
FEDERAL POLITICS -
Maverick MP Casey won't be running again
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9010283.html
Harper, Flaherty in B.C. to woo voters ahead of Jan. 27 federal budget
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/harper_flaherty
Flaherty not backing down on regulator plans
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1172933
RCMP investigates
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2009/01/rcmp_investigates.html
RCMP follow up on NDP complaint over tapes
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090113.wrcmp14/BNStory/politics/home
Deficit dilemma
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2009/01/13/8005571-sun.html
NDP 'highly unlikely' to support budget
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1173227
Window for defeating Harper minority government closing, says NDP
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/budget_economy
NDP refuses to rule out support for budget
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/570297
PROGRAMMES -
Tories want to trim environmental assessment process to speed projects
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/baird_mayors
Government considers fingerprinting entire PS
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Government+considers+fingerprinting+entire/1171079/story.html
DEFENCE FIRMS TO HEAR PLANS FOR $100M FORCES UPGRADE
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Defence+firms+hear+plans+100M+Forces+upgrade/1171162/story.html
Ottawa to examine economic impact of climate change
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Technology/Ottawa+examine+economic+impact+climate+change/1170932/story.html
Ottawa seeking to speed up process for works projects
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090113.wbudget13/BNStory/politics/home
Cities to Ottawa: Let's get building now
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/569863
Gun registry will live on for a while
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/sports/article/538206
CIDA in hotseat over wine and lingerie
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/cida_wine_lingerie
OPINION AND INFORMATION -
Canada has role to play in Mideast
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/569785
Obama focuses on next generation innovation
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/569685
Power and prestige of MPs on the wane
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Power+prestige+wane/1170494/story.html
Do Harper's Conservatives "walk the line" or cross it?
http://www.ftlcomm.com:16080/ensign/editorials/LTE/hueglin/hueglinList/100/hueglin138/IWtL.html
In the case of Israel v. Hamas, two wrongs don't make a right
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090112.wcoisrael13/BNStory/specialComment/home
Ontario is becoming an increasingly Orwellian province
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1160699
Our complicity in a massacre
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1384407
INFOS -
Le NPD sert un avertissement aux libéraux
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/13/01-817314-le-npd-sert-un-avertissement-aux-liberaux.php
Le NPD dresse sa liste d'exigences pour le budget
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/13/01-817295-le-npd-dresse-sa-liste-dexigences-pour-le-budget.php
Ottawa réexamine un programme de subventions de l'ACDI
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/13/01-817308-ottawa-reexamine-un-programme-de-subventions-de-lacdi.php
Le déficit fédéral atteindrait 40 milliards
http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/article/20090113/LAINFORMER/901130743/5891/LAINFORMER01
À la recherche de soldats qualifiés
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2009/01/13/003-armee-soldats-qualifies.shtml
L'Alberta et le Québec contre Ottawa
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Economie-Affaires/2009/01/13/001-alberta-quebec-marches.shtml
La coalition bien vivante
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2009/01/12/001-duceppe-tournee-coalition.shtml
Harper est ravi qu'Obama effectue au Canada sa première visite à l'étranger http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/090113/N011358AU.html
Québec pourrait contester devant les tribunaux la commission unique
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/090113/N0113172AU.html
BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)
The Canadian Jewish Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation exchanged their latest barbs as the cauldron of emotion in the Middle East, set to boiling by Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, continued to spill over international borders. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/israel_gaza_protests
The Canadian Jewish Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation exchanged their latest barbs as the cauldron of emotion in the Middle East, set to boiling by Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, continued to spill over international borders. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090113/national/israel_gaza_protests
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From: "Brian D. Marlatt" Subject: Why our history tells us an elected Senate is still a bad idea:
The text of the Winnipeg Free Press article by Frances Russell, citing Christopher Moore's
article in The Beaver, should be read by anyone persuaded by Senator Brown's assistant.
"As ugly as its ancestor" http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/as_ugly_as_its_ancestor.html
Subject: A coalition doesn't change the result of an election
Vancouver SunJanuary 13, 2009
Re: Layton and the NDP the big losers in the 'crisis' game, by Lorne Gunter, Issues & Ideas, Jan. 8
http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/letters/coalition+doesn+change+result+election/1171572/story.html
Lorne Gunter repeats the Conservative mantra that the Liberals and the New Democratic Party attempted "to overturn the results of an election less than two months after it was held." This is partisan misinformation. A coalition doesn't change the result of an election or the composition of Parliament. The Governor-General decides who should be called on to form a government based on presumptive support of the House of Commons.
Larry Kazdan
Vancouver
===================================
From: "Jacob Rempel"
To: <michael@liberal.ca>,
Subject:How nations turn to war
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:00:27 -0800
Editor Kevin Potvin reads the Globe and Mail, and finally
understands the rationalization for promoting more war
and more military industry: – It will stimulate the economy.
How nations turn to war
http://www.republic-news.org/archive/204-repub/204_potvin_mo.html===================================
From: Tom Brewer
Yes, we are in terrible times. I still shake my head as I read of impending layoffs in the potash mines.
I dare wonder what big CEO is going to or would get the axe. A few short months ago one company would not alter its stance to give pay increases to those working the mines. At the same time it was reported how much money these big-wigs would take home but today we see no mention as to the big wigs taking pay cuts or having to rely on EI to feed their families.
It is hard to fathom how a few short months ago… production was a concern thus expansion. Today, the opposite. Yes, the world has been hit by massive downturns the problem however and in my opinion still exists where the big-wig decision makers are not taking the hit as bad as employees.
One wonders why unions and unionism exists as it still seems sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander! Of course if workers do not unite things would be worse. The big wigs however want to call all the shots. I'm appalled some of the bailout money has not been accounted for… one wonders who grabbed and ran with the loot…but don't worry it is just taxpayers who get to pay and pay and yes pay again!
brewt
===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
To: "Stockwell DayOkanagan" <Day.S@parl.gc.ca>,
"Cummins John Delta" <Cummins.J@parl.gc.ca>,
"Cannan Ron" <Cannan.R@parl.gc.ca>,
"Abbott Jim Kooteney" <Abbott.J@parl.gc.ca>,
"Fast Ed Abborsford" <Fast.E@parl.gc.ca>,
"Harris Richard Cariboo-Princ George" <Harris.R@parl.gc.ca>,
"Hiebert Russ" <Hiebert.R@parl.gc.ca>,
"Kamp Randy Pitmeados-Maple Ridge-Mission" <Kamp.R@parl.gc.ca>,
"Grewal Nina Fleetwood" <Grewal.N@parl.gc.ca>,
"Hill Jay Prince George" <Hill.J@parl.gc.ca>,
"Lunn Gary Saanich" <Lunn.G@parl.gc.ca>,
"Lunney James Nanaimo" <Lunney.J@parl.gc.ca>,
"Moore James Port Moody" <Moore.J@parl.gc.ca>,
"Strahl Chuck Chilliwack" <Strahl.C@parl.gc.ca>,
"Mayes Colin Shuswap" <Mayes.C@parl.gc.ca>,
"Stockwell Day" <days1@parl.gc.ca>,
"Strahl Chuck B.C. CPC MP." <riding@chuckstrahl.com>,
"Mcleod Cathy Kamloops" <McLeod.C@parl.gc.ca>,
"Sexton Andrew Borth Vancouver" <Saxton.A@parl.gc.ca>,
"Wong Alice Richmond" <Wong.A@parl.gc.ca>,
"Cadman Donna Surrey" <cadman.d@parl.gc.ca>,
"Duncon John Vanc.Isl.North" <duncan.j@parl.gc.ca>,
"Weston John West Vancouver" <Weston.J@parl.gc.ca>,
"Warawa Nark Langley" <Warawa.M@parl.gc.ca>,
"Hievert Russ" <info@russhiebert.ca>
Subject: lost their clout
A story worth reading........Vancouver Sun January 13, 2009
Suan H.Booiman
White Rock
How Canada's MPs lost their clout
With no real power, they vent their frustration in the meaningless forum of question period
By Richard Foot, Canwest News ServiceJanuary 13, 2009
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=d7954557-6f5b-4d24-a553-3586be591f06
===================================
Subject: RE: Daily Digest January 12, 2008
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"
A speech By Professor Martin Van Crevel ,Professor and Military
Historian,Jerusalem University.
"Our armed forces are not the 30th strongest in the world, but rather the second or third We posssess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets that can launch them at targets in all directions. Most European capitals are targets of our air force WWe have the capability to take the world down with us. And I can assure you that this will happen before Israel goes under." . http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:QcMu2_F5-tsJ:warincontext.org/2007/09/27/opinion-israel-and-the-world-can-live-with-a-nuclear-iran/+Our+armed+forces+are+not+30th+strongest+in+the+world,&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=ca&client=firefox-a
So with this information, the brainless in our midst, will still go on Parroting "There is a faction in Lebanon and Gaza determined to Destroy Israel." My question to the Parrots would be, what with? Their Toy Rockets? Well Israel flattens these two areas as frequently as necessary for target practise. What would they do without this terrible threat that hangs over Poor Little Defenseless Israel? Where will the sympathy come from?
On the flip side, one can argue that Israel's shown remarkable (and rational) restraint to date. I mean, if outrage from overseas were taken out of the picture, how long would one expect Israel to lay off the atomizing of the nasties at its border?
===================================
Subject: this guy is either brilliant or an idiot
When the system is built upon leverage that is 50 times the actual underlying value, it is like having a house worth $100,000 but the banks lends you $5 million. Even doubling the money supply to say $200,000. will not stop the contraction of leverage. This is what we are really facing.
http://www.contrahour.com/contrahour/2008/12/martin-armstrong-we-need-a-shock-to-the-system.html
=====
.what do you think?
There may be someone able to make an informed value judgement, I can't
Poindexter here says that the other is a US right-wing lunatic. Let me clear about what I mean ... the word 'lunatic' I use in the original sense. It means 'a dreamer of a fellow who's out of touch with the real world' (i.e., something like 'spaced out'). The root word of 'lunatic' is 'luna' ... the Moon. These fellows were considered to be under the influence of the Moon.
What's I'm saying is that Mr. Armstrong seems to be a nice guy who's read many books but who hasn't grasped what everything really meant and how it all worked. Here are some salient points from 'The Collapse of Socialism'.
1. 'The change that we now see and are debating, is still from the view of a fly on an elephant's back. We do not know we are even on an elephant or what is an elephant.'
Uuuuummm ... OK. But the writer's stating that none of us know what we're dealing with (and presumably that none of us knows what he's talking about) kind of undermines one's faith in the writer's argument. I mean, HE'S one of us folks who haven't got a grip on things.
2. 'When man landed on the moon and sent the first pictures of Earth rising, only then could we see what our world truly looked like.'
Uuuummm ... scientifically inaccurate, in two ways.
Firstly, the 'Earthrise' pictures were take when the astronauts were orbiting the Moon. Since the 'same face of the Moon' always faces Earth, the latter's either invisible (if it's over the horizon) or it hangs in teh same place in the sky, at all times. The only way to photograph an 'Earthrise' from the vicinity of the Moon is to swing around it (for example, when in orbit) and then see the Earth pop out from behind it.
Secondly, we got to see 'what our world truly looked like' when astronauts, cosmonauts, and satellites with cameras first orbited the Earth. And that PRECEDED Man's visiting the Moon.
OK, I'm being picky here. But inaccuracies like this undermine one's faith in the writer's argument.
3. 'The way of life prior to the Industrial Revolution remained essentially the same from Greek times, Rome, middle-ages, and the birth of the United States.'
No, it didn't.
4. 'Xenophon was a brilliant, practical man. He began life early on as the commander of the elite Greek force known as the "Ten Thousand."'.
'Elite' Greek force? Perhaps if one considers 10,000 mercenaries hired by a Persian prince out to usurp the Padishah's throne to be 'elite'. Perhaps.
5. 'The same economic model had existed for thousands of years around a self contained farm-like enclave. The Romans called them "villa" and we call them "plantations."'
Actually, the 'villa' was the landlord's house, and the 'latifundia' was the landlord's landed estate (i.e., land). With time, richer landlord's squeezed out poorer ones, who became either urban wage-earners or landless farm workers. With time, estates became larger and larger, and recurrent social upheavals resulted ... somewhat like today's peasant uprisings, when poor rural folk demand agrarian reform (i.e., that large farms be broken up and that the smaller pieces be given to small farmers).
6. 'When Rome fell after 476 AD, the concept of the villa prevailed. Life survived because of this self-contained economic model.'
'Life survived ...'. I believe that the Chinese would contest that.
7. 'In Roman & Greek times, the economy was 90% agrarian. However, that declined to 70% in the 1870s, 40% in 1929, and finally 3% by 1980.'.
What Mr. Armstrong means is that 90%, 70%, 40% and finally 3% of people were farmers at those times.
Etc., etc. You get the general idea.
too hot to distribute?
No. Whether idiot or genius in origin it increases our knowledge base.
Uuuummm ... in the sense of some raw facts, perhaps. But even the 'facts' presented by Mr. Armstrong aren't all ... uuuhhh .. factual. As for what they really mean, the whole is like an aimless walk that goes in circles, loops back, takes sudden turns, etc. In other words, a lunatic's ramble. Anyone seeking to increase his knowledge would best do it by reading extensively from the many books in circulation today: I'd recommend J.K. Galbraith's 'The New Industrial State' and 'Money, Whence it Came, Where it Went' (both must-reads if one's interested in economics and economic history), Livy's history of the Roman Republic, whatsisname's Lives of Great Greeks and Romans, and similar ones. It'll take one 10 years to get a sense of what we've been through and (with some imagination and real-life experience) get an idea of what's coming up. As for what we'll be living 50 years from now ... apart from some things, no one has the foggiest what we're headed for.
That all being said, I WILL say that Mr. Armstrong's quite well read and that he doesn't come across as a knuckle-dragging mouth-breather. Thing is, though, he makes no sense.
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