[PRCo] Re: US APPRECIATION

[tompark at telus.net]

I don't know why we got into politics on this list but I can't let John Bromley's atypical right-wing views pass for all Canadians.

The USA is a wonderful country. It saved the world twice. Its can-do attitude has economically commercialised many of our great conveniences; from electric traction, through domestic electrification, mass production of automobiles, to today's advanced and affordable telecommunications and computers. But it has flaws and I cannot support wars of aggression, removal of freedoms in the Patriot Act, not separating government and religion and the growing lack or equality.

John, if you don't like it up here, emigrate. I lived south of the border for five years. It was great, but I was glad to get back to a kinder, gentler society where we cannot pack guns, pay more taxes but get full medical services including marijuana for my arthritis, have one ninth the proportion of our population in jail, accept refugees at four times the rate of the US, contribute seven times as much of our GDP to international aid and don't care who marries whom. 

Canada is a social democracy that has consistently elected moderate centre-left governments. I contribute, work and pray that it will continue to do so. I'm about to walk a block from my home and ride a 99 year old BC Electric interurban to the farmer's market. Now lets get back to talking about PRCo and electric traction. 
 
Tom Parkinson P.Eng
Transport Consulting Limited
Vancouver BC 604 733-5430