Re: Constitutional Differences? In practice or by intention ? (Was Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa)
Hi Mike, Are the Germans still buying up Nova Scotia? REH Michael Spencer wrote: "john courtneidge" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: One ?significant? comparison between the US and Canada lies inthe Constitutions: * The US focus on "Life, liberty and the pusuit of happiness." As compared to: * The Canadian focus on "Peace, order and good government." The former is the personal agenda, the second relates to our social needs The American phrase is from the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution: WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness The Declaration *recognizes* a putatively self-evident state of affairs. I think the impeachment of the Creator and His replacement with Biology leaves the Declaration's observation unchanged. But the authors wouldn't have suggested that people are innately endowed with a right to "good government", as they go on to make explicit: -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, Good government is an artifact which we have to exert ourselves to create and maintain through the exercise of the aforementioned rights. The US Constitution goes on, over a decade later, to institute a "new Government" and is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. So far as I've been able to see over the last 30 years and from the sidelines, Canada is ahead on points on the "good government" scale but it might do even better with a stronger dose of "Consent of the Governed". Of course, that would require a rather larger portion of the Governed to get off our butts and make our consent -- or the withholding thereof -- a force to be reckoned with. - Mike
Re: Constitutional Differences? In practice or by intention ? (Was Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa)
"john courtneidge" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: One ?significant? comparison between the US and Canada lies inthe Constitutions: * The US focus on "Life, liberty and the pusuit of happiness." As compared to: * The Canadian focus on "Peace, order and good government." The former is the personal agenda, the second relates to our social needs The American phrase is from the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution: WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness The Declaration *recognizes* a putatively self-evident state of affairs. I think the impeachment of the Creator and His replacement with Biology leaves the Declaration's observation unchanged. But the authors wouldn't have suggested that people are innately endowed with a right to "good government", as they go on to make explicit: -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, Good government is an artifact which we have to exert ourselves to create and maintain through the exercise of the aforementioned rights. The US Constitution goes on, over a decade later, to institute a "new Government" and is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. So far as I've been able to see over the last 30 years and from the sidelines, Canada is ahead on points on the "good government" scale but it might do even better with a stronger dose of "Consent of the Governed". Of course, that would require a rather larger portion of the Governed to get off our butts and make our consent -- or the withholding thereof -- a force to be reckoned with. - Mike
Constitutional Differences? In practice or by intention ? (Was Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa)
Dear Friends I snip, then comment below. -- From: Melanie Milanich [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa Date: Wed, Sep 29, 1999, 2:02 pm Melanie Milanich wrote: The Globe and Mail, Saturday Sept. 25, 1999, p. D2 Dreary as Ottawa was, it was in the end a better place than New York by Germaine Greer snip Though I love New York, I disapprove of it. Dreary as Ottawa was, it was in the end a better place than New York. Canadians believe that happiness is living in a just society; they will not sing the Yankee song that capitalism is happiness, capitalism is freedom. Canadians have a lively sense of decency and human dignity. Though no Canadian can afford freshly squeezed orange juice, every Canddian can have juice made from concentrate. Thae lack of luxury is meant to coincide with the absence of misery. It doesn't work altogether, but the idea is worth defending. ** It's flattering that Germaine Greer sees more dignity and social justice in Canadian society..but along comes the new right and the Harris government rushing blindly to push us into the same thing --- I worked in Ottawa for two years and love it to pieces. One ?significant? comparison between the US and Canada lies inthe Constitutions: * The US focus on "Life, liberty and the pusuit of happiness." As compared to: * The Canadian focus on "Peace, order and good government." The former is the personal agenda, the second relates to our social needs (I've an essay about this, but i know that I speak and post too much already.) Whether this comparison over-rides (or perhaps? underpins) action-in-legislation I don't know, but the culture of the two countries is as marked as might be (perhaps the results of different banking systems/ethoses - is the plural of ethos ethoses?) Dance well, friends, j ***
Re: Constitutional Differences? In practice or by intention ? (Was Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa)
Well Jolly Roger. I love New York and enjoyed Canada. The point should be made that Germaine Greer lives and has worked in Tulsa for years. I kiss the ground every time I get off the plane from the narrow focused fundamentalism of my home state and I graduated from the school where Greer now teaches. I wouldn't imagine that anyone who enjoys that conservative atmosphere could stand the multiplicities of New York.To many of us that is liberating. REH john courtneidge wrote: Dear Friends I snip, then comment below. -- From: Melanie Milanich [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa Date: Wed, Sep 29, 1999, 2:02 pm Melanie Milanich wrote: The Globe and Mail, Saturday Sept. 25, 1999, p. D2 Dreary as Ottawa was, it was in the end a better place than New York by Germaine Greer snip Though I love New York, I disapprove of it. Dreary as Ottawa was, it was in the end a better place than New York. Canadians believe that happiness is living in a just society; they will not sing the Yankee song that capitalism is happiness, capitalism is freedom. Canadians have a lively sense of decency and human dignity. Though no Canadian can afford freshly squeezed orange juice, every Canddian can have juice made from concentrate. Thae lack of luxury is meant to coincide with the absence of misery. It doesn't work altogether, but the idea is worth defending. ** It's flattering that Germaine Greer sees more dignity and social justice in Canadian society..but along comes the new right and the Harris government rushing blindly to push us into the same thing --- I worked in Ottawa for two years and love it to pieces. One ?significant? comparison between the US and Canada lies inthe Constitutions: * The US focus on "Life, liberty and the pusuit of happiness." As compared to: * The Canadian focus on "Peace, order and good government." The former is the personal agenda, the second relates to our social needs (I've an essay about this, but i know that I speak and post too much already.) Whether this comparison over-rides (or perhaps? underpins) action-in-legislation I don't know, but the culture of the two countries is as marked as might be (perhaps the results of different banking systems/ethoses - is the plural of ethos ethoses?) Dance well, friends, j ***
Re: Constitutional Differences? In practice or by intention ? (Was Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa)
john courtneidge wrote: Dear Friends I snip, then comment below. -- From: Melanie Milanich [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Germaine Greer on N.Y. and Ottawa Date: Wed, Sep 29, 1999, 2:02 pm Melanie Milanich wrote: The Globe and Mail, Saturday Sept. 25, 1999, p. D2 Dreary as Ottawa was, it was in the end a better place than New York by Germaine Greer snip Though I love New York, I disapprove of it. Dreary as Ottawa was, it was in the end a better place than New York. Canadians believe that happiness is living in a just society; they will not sing the Yankee song that capitalism is happiness, capitalism is freedom. Canadians have a lively sense of decency and human dignity. Though no Canadian can afford freshly squeezed orange juice, every Canddian can have juice made from concentrate. Thae lack of luxury is meant to coincide with the absence of misery. It doesn't work altogether, but the idea is worth defending. ** It's flattering that Germaine Greer sees more dignity and social justice in Canadian society..but along comes the new right and the Harris government rushing blindly to push us into the same thing --- I worked in Ottawa for two years and love it to pieces. One ?significant? comparison between the US and Canada lies inthe Constitutions: * The US focus on "Life, liberty and the pusuit of happiness." As compared to: * The Canadian focus on "Peace, order and good government." The former is the personal agenda, the second relates to our social needs (I've an essay about this, but i know that I speak and post too much already.) [snip] I would, once again, urge everyone to get thee to thy friendly local reference librarian, and ask him/her to get thee for a copy of Szczepanski, J. (1981). Individuality and society. Impact of science on society, 31(4), 461-466. \brad mccormick -- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21) Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] 914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua, NY 10514-3403 USA --- ![%THINK;[XML]] Visit my website: http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
