by MacDuff » 21 Jun 2012, 03:55
Those who are lending the money have to assess risk. Before we criticize them, we have to ask ourselves whether we ourselves would be prepared to lend our own money to Greece following their profligate policies of the past - and if the answer is "yes", what interest rate we would charge? Yes D and E it is correct that students and others in Quebec have been marching and rioting about their Provincial Liberal Government announcing that it intends to gradually increase their academic fees over a period of five years - at the end of which they would still be lower than those in any other province. There appears to be much support by the public for that Liberal government. At the last Federal election Quebec votors ceased their support for the separatist Bloc Quebequois and switched to supporting the NDP (Socialist)Party. In consequence the NDP became the official Federal opposition party with over 50% of their MPs being from Quebec and replacing the Liberals. As Quebec is a net recipient of Federal funding under the equalization policy, they would be poorer out of Canada than within it. We in Alberta provide much of those equalization payments. Our student fees are considerably higher than those of Quebec and our students are not rioting! We in Alberta do not object to helping to support Quebec even although their departure from Canada would result in a much higher percentage of Conservative voters in the remaining Canada. I suppose it is similar to the UK position where the absence of Scottish MPs would almost ensure a permanent Conservative majority at Westminster - I think I am correct in saying that Scotland elects only one Conservative (Wigton). The excesses of the Federal public sector here are such that they are to be trimmed by over 19.000. To other matters - at last! Cuba - all subscribers to this site are welcome to contact me directly if they are contemplating a visit - prior to deciding exactly where they wish to go or booking a trip to one of the resorts. But remember I usually spend mid July to mid October and late December until mid-late April in Cuba when thanks to the regime, I like Cubans, become incommunicado. But it is a fascinating country and I would love to sit and discuss PPE with any of you - there being first-hand conditions to debate. Having last visited the UK in 2008, I am looking forward to travelling there in August - it will also be interesting to observe my wife's reactions as she has never previously left Cuba.