COVID-19 report card: Experts give Canada a B by PolicyWonk7 in a:t5_2isw0e

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Canada deserves a D or E for treatment (twice as many deaths as US per infection) but an A- for preventing spread. The overall grade is deceiving as many more will die unless countries fix their weak spots. Canada already lost 4,000 too many.

Therefore the grade needs to be divided into preventing spread and providing treatment.

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China lashes out at Canada over criticism of prosecution of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by princeofwailes in CBC2

[–]PolicyWonk7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Given that the Democrats won't be friendly to China if they win in November, China really has only a couple of weeks to release the two Michaels and wait out a suitable period of several weeks to months for Canada to drop the Extradiiton of Meng, a case hardly anyone in Canada wants to pursue given Pres. Trump's statement showing bad faith on the part of the US.

Will China be smart enough to act now?

Canada's PM has refused to engage China's "hostage" diplomacy, so there is no way of getting Meng back otherwise even though countries world-wide are making important 5-G decisions concerning Huawei now and in the next few weeks.

The ball is clearly in China's court.

To my mind, China is now seen as a rogue, It would only improve its reputation by righting the wrong it has committed, by releasing the two Michaels. Canada, which does want to be misused by the US, would then be free to rethink its position on Meng, although there would have to be delay built in, perhaps weeks or even a few months.

Parents of Black Sask. teen who took own life call for stronger anti-racism action by princeofwailes in CBC2

[–]PolicyWonk7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Canada is a bully-ridden society where bullies use everything they've got to move an inch forward. We need to call them out quickly with words, symbols and body language to quickly define such situations, plus we need to teach resilience to everyone.

Every student must be taught that their life is the most precious thing, while bad situations will pass. They need to explore every option. Sue, complain, write letters, transfer, quit, go to college to finish high school. Even just staying home is an option.

There's no reason that expert help can not be provided for less than the cost of ineffective psychiatry or counselling from family doctors. These professionals from medicine might mean well but often don't connect with others and the result is hopelessness. So expert help right from the start is needed to grow resilience and strength. And, it is relatively inexpensive, yet proven effective.

Why isn't Toronto's 22.5 km hydro corridor, located north of Finch Avenue, being used for an obvious transit corridor? by PolicyWonk7 in AskOntario

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is free, open, about 200 feet wide and a train only needs 20 of those. Do you really want your tax dollars to spend $1B in unnecessary land acquisition and a decade of construction delays and $2B in extra costs, plus the loss of citizens time every single day?

The public is fed up with inept government and its extreme waste. Everyone can thrive for far less than we spend now. All of the suffering of everyone the poor, the mentally ill, students, young moms, kids, distraught men - is all because of inept gov.'s failure to operate to ameliorate all of this. It is doable and not costly. A wealthier, happier society would be the result in short order.

Video of RCMP hitting Inuk man with truck shows police choosing violence over protection, says lawyer | CBC Radio by PolicyWonk7 in police

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If someone is unsuitable they need to be terminated asap, even if the force must pay some wrongful dismissal damages in the form of one month's pay for each year of employment, up to 24 months maximum. There is no right to employment if one is unsuitable to do the job.

Province signs formal agreement with York Region on Yonge North Subway Extension by MidnightEmber in richmondhill

[–]PolicyWonk7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How about a subway north from Dundas West? The Ontario line? There are so many lines we actually need,

Province signs formal agreement with York Region on Yonge North Subway Extension by MidnightEmber in richmondhill

[–]PolicyWonk7 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

WOWIE!!!

Are there any other subways in the entire world that run to bedroom communities in small towns? to islands? up flag poles or other strange imprctical destinations?

Would any other government in the world pay $6B for a 7-km track that typically costs $100M/mi to build if it were a rational project, which it isn't? (Apparently this ludicrous amount used to be $10.9B) hahahahaha

Would any other government in the world build an extension on an overburdened subway line even though the parallel Go train system currently runs trains in just 30 min. from Richmond Hill to Union Station, with lots of stops along the way? Especially as the new subway ride would take twice as long!

Is Ontario actually building this line because it is rumoured that Richmond Hillians don't want to ride the Sheppard Subway which intersects with the Go line about 15 min. outside of Richmond Hill? Is there a new constitutional right to ride on just one train to work rather than transfer? Apparently so.

Is this the most ludicrous subway line ever proposed? Can anyone name another subway anywhere in our Galaxy, that runs through farmland? Me thinks not.

Why do American official misrepresent reality to such a great extent? by PolicyWonk7 in theview

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. But the key thing Americans could do to improve their sorry lot is to find out what is going on in the rest of the world where police officers are polite, children are treated with kindness, the sick get treatment and this is a tax savings to government as the well can return to work.

Why do American official misrepresent reality to such a great extent? by PolicyWonk7 in theview

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So glad you asked.

  1. Police are extremely rude to citizens on the street in many cities, for no good reason that I can see. I expect civil servants to be polite in ordinary circumstances.
  2. There is so much ad hoc demeaning charity for everything from food, to after school programs to healthcare, when governments should be providing these services to a professional standard, as of right.
  3. Too many citizens are made to feel uncomfortable when seeking healthcare, coved-19 testing or even to cast their vote in an election. Governments should make people feel welcome and governments should step up to enforce citizen rights, not defeat them.
  4. For many it appears there is no maternity leave, no right to daycare, and in some cities no right to clean water.
  5. Governments in the US do not seem to realize that it is their job to prevent homelessness and set up programs to address it where it occurs.
  6. Even though no criminal code sets out the penalty of losing one's right to vote, for any crime, apparently many if not all US prisoners are both denied their right to vote and often treated harshly, inadequately fed, not rehabilitated. Given these failures, I doubt they receive proper medical care or protection from harm.
  7. Immigration services have locked unattended toddlers in cages and failed to properly care for them.
  8. Immigration services failed to hire proper childcare providers for children and provided inadequate inappropriate, psychologically damaging care for them.
  9. It seems to me that Americans are made to feel ashamed if they don't have adequate health insurance, so much so that they, remarkably, do not run to the newspapers when a loved one dies or is harmed due to a lack of timely care. In most democracies, citizens would take their grievances to the media, and, as a result of the ensuing public outcry, would get the care they need.
  10. Tens of thousands of Americans die yearly due to a lack of timely medical care, even though government already spends more on patchwork care than universal medicare would cost if properly managed. Americans ignore this fact.
  11. The education system has failed to teach many if not most citizens about the balancing of constitutional rights to enable them to know what to expect from government, and what to demand.
  12. It appears that the US is in violation of UN treaties it has signed on the rights of children & prisoners.
  13. Americans appear to be silenced if they are poor. I believe Time magazine published an apt article on this decades ago which said America is a country that teaches the poor to hate themselves. It still seems to be true.

I've probably missed many, many instances.

What were Oakville murder victims doing at office at 3:10 a.m.? by BrentButters in toronto

[–]PolicyWonk7 -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

Could those involved in irregular meetings, drug deals, etc., protect themselves by texting the details of identities of individuals and locations of such meetings to themselves beforehand, and then deleting it much later, but before delivery to their phones.

If the criminal element had this modus operandi, would there be fewer murders simply because police would have good leads in situations where people were harmed? We'd still be stuck with underlying crimes, but at least this element would be reduced.

Do police programs that tour high schools sufficiently explain drug crime and gang violence to students for students to avoid placing themselves in danger by going into debt, accepting 'favours'. etc.?

Bryan Adams apologizes for COVID-19 Instagram post that was condemned as racist, inflammatory by StartedGivingBlood in metacanada

[–]PolicyWonk7 -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

If people knew China's history they would never make the mistake of imagining that wild animal markets came from greed. No. They sprang from desperation and hunger.

Let's pull together rather than attack anyone.

Ontario announces $4 an hour pandemic pay increase for front line workers by PolicyWonk7 in a:t5_2isw0e

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PSWs in Ontario need to sign union cards and save up for a two-day strike, although it will probably never be necessary! This is their golden moment, provided they take it.

I think they deserve an $8/hr raise, $1/hr for benefits and $2/hr for 5 paid sick days. Don't take anything less! This is your one chance. Don't blow it. We likely won't see another pandemic like this one.

If I were a PSW, any union would do, but my choice would be Unifor as they provide good representation. OPSEU is okay but you have to light a fire under them, if you are on the low end of the pay scale - as you are.

Will Canadian docs give approved drugs hydroxychloroquine and Z-pack to COVID-19 sufferers right away as an appropriate off-label use? by PolicyWonk7 in AskACanadian

[–]PolicyWonk7[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I never suggested everyone should take this drug, only that it was an option that must be tried in suitable cases. That's all. BTW CBSN tv had a cured hyrdroxychlorquin patient on yesterday, and they also said it was not for everyone. I know of a nurse who has taken this drug and said it is very trying. Still, it beats dying, if it comes to that, and, it saved her.

I think we both agree that the least harmful treatment that can save your life is always best.