As the subject line notes, I'M SELFISH.

Allow me to elaborate.

I believe the world needs a 'reboot'. There is far too much wrong in the world that I think we need to start over.. not as cavemen, but the governments of the world need to be replaced, as does the allocation of wealth. I don't mean wealth resdistribution, as I am a capitalist, but the way things are now, capitalism can't work... too much control (patents, copyrights, barriers to entry) for people to bring themselves up. Too many roadblocks. Not to mention the problems (yes I consider them problems) of surveillance, too much government control, taxes, over-population, censorship and so many other ills of the world. Of course this could blow up in my face, but I do belive most of the world is corrupt and in need of rebuilding.

Secondly, as has been noted recently, it would appear that Russia and Canada could very benefit from climate change. As a Canadian, I would welcome some warmer weather, and I VERY resent having to pay someone, somewhere for alleged damage, without considering the good, for something that I can benefit from, and actually want. Notice that I'm not denying it, or skeptical of it... I am looking forward to it, and I hope I live to see it.

I also have a wife and 2 kids, including a 3 year old whom I love very much, but I fear for their future the ways things are now.

Call me selfish, but I want the world rebooted, and my home just a touch warmer ;)

If you happen to live in southern BC, try www.myshiphappens.com. Costs $5 and works wonders. I believe there are similar services across the country. This won't work though if not relatively close to the border to make it worthwhile.

Cheers,

I believe the OP point is that being racist in America is OK and acceptable as long as being white is disadvantageous... not necessarily that this policy is anti-white.

Not being American myself, the most glaring example of this that I can think of is 'Affirmative Action'. As I understand it, and correct me if I'm wrong, the point of AA was to encourage, even by quotas, the hiring of aborginals, minorities, women, people with disabilities. This of course will leave white males at a distinct disadvantage, through no fault of their own, even if they're qualified for the position. This was acceptable and Ok because the common belief was held that white males had it so good for so long, that now they have to pay the piper. This is the kind of racism that the original poster was alluding to.

All of this is more commonly called 'reverse racism', and there is no outcry about it.. because 'whitey' needs to pay in perpetuity for the injustices of their ancestors.

As a Canadian...

KEEP THEM.. don't bring us into this please..or we'll hold back the maple syrup.

We don't want your nutjobs

Warum?

Well, by mentioning that you're a 'dude', you've already done half the work for them. Now instead of 7 billion possibilities, there are only 3.5 billion possibilities. Way to go Einstein.

from your comment..

The most fair way to finance roads is to pay by the mile traveled with the weight of the vehicle factored in

so does that mean government odometer checks every few months... being required to keep a logbook (as truckers do), or have some monitoring equipment in the car (that you of course can't hack)?

Also, the criteria you describe 'pay by the mile' and 'weight of the vehicle' are exactly how gas taxes work..

more distance > more gas > more tax
more weight > more gas > more tax

It already works that way.

The one question I have, especially from the non drivers/environmentalists is.

When all personal vehicles are electric, and gas tax revenue drops by 50% or more, are you willing to make up the difference on your personal taxes?

I did read TFA, and I truly apologize for that, but in there was this little tidbit:
A toll-taker's base pay starts at $48,672 a year and tops out at $54,080

Does it strike anyone else that this is a ridiculously high salary for the work involved? Is it possible that pay structures such as this for snivel servants are part of the problem with Californias' budget?

I say this from Vancouver, where the cost of living is higher than S.F.

As a fellow lower mainlander, I think I got very lucky on December 26, at 10:12 am. I saw very bright light from the above me, that looked eerily similar to what's being described. However, since it only lasted a minute, I was unable to confirm.

On a positive note, others have told me that this bright light does in fact happen once a year, there's just no way to predict when.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go outside and take a shower before I swim to work.

I like your comments. They are valid and well thought out. I would like to add one thing though. Even though we are societys' pariah right now, we are not yet criminals. Please consider a comfortable place for the smokers to go. Of course this will depend on local laws, but some reasonable accommodation can be made I'm sure.

Thanks,

How anyone, except those that will profit from this, can think this a good idea is beyond me. Should enough politicians be bought, and sheeple swayed that this makes it into Canada and the US, I'm going to have to move into the mountains, or under a bridge. I've got a sneaking suspicion that this one of the 'boiling frog' ideas where the original is so outlandish that a watered down version would be accepted. This is just a bad idea on so many levels. I will refuse to participate.

Since the information would be kept in a private companys' database, I can't help but think of the movie Robocop, where all of society is run by a single corporation. I genuinely hope that I, or my family don't live to see such a society.

In response to your sig..

I've taught at both union and non-union schools. Unions are better for students and teachers.

[citation needed]