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Ahmadinejad engages in debate at Columbia University Met with protests and applause Transport for London wins first Anti-Social Behaviour Order against graffiti vandal A persistent graffiti vandal from South East London has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) banning him from the top deck of buses in England and Wales for three years.

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Interview with U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Tom Tancredo Wikinews recently spoke with U.S. Congressman Tom Tancredo, a Republican candidate in the 2008 Presidential election.

Wikipedia Current Events
The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe passes legislation transferring control of all foreign-owned businesses to Zimbabweans. A lack of chlorine for water sanitation in Iraq has led to an outbreak of cholera which has now reached Baghdad. Superior Courts of California judge Larry Fidler declares the trial of record producer Phil Spector as a mistrial due to the inability of the jury to reach a verdict. The United States Secretary of Defence Robert Gates asks for $190 billion to cover the cost of the war in Iraq and war in Afghanistan during 2008. A photo possibly showing missing Madeleine McCann in Morocco is being examined by British experts. The new Prime Minister of Japan Yasuo Fukuda is sworn into office with his Cabinet. The United Auto Workers announces a tentative agreement with General Motors ending a two-day strike. A bridge under construction over the Hau River in Can Tho, Vietnam collapses leading to the death of at least 60 workers with about 100 more missing. 2007 Burmese anti-government protests: Up to five Buddhist monks are killed Burmese police baton-charge a crowd of 700 anti-junta protestors including Buddhist monks and students. Win Nang, a pro-democracy activist, is arrested. The India national cricket team starts a victory parade in Mumbai after winning the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20.

Myanmar protesters beaten by police
Myanmar police have beaten up to 700 protesters with batons, according to witnesses. The crowd was gathered near a pagoda in Rangoon, and included students and Buddhist monks. AFP reported that only monks were allowed to enter the pagoda, and Reuters has quoted witnesses as saying that tear gas was used to disperse the monks.

Some monks were taken away by police in trucks. This is the first time that Myanmar security forces have used violence against the protests, which are now in their ninth day.

Myanmar authorities have imposed a curfew from dusk until dawn, and have also banned public gatherings of more than five people. Troops and riot police have begun taking positions near monasteries, opposition party headquarters, and the house of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

Comedian Zaganar was arrested at his home overnight. He has previously spoken publically in support of the protests.

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, announced earlier today that the Australian government is following events in Myanmar closely, and urged the Myanmar government to show restraint. He also called for the respect of "the legitimate right of Myanmar citizens to peaceful protest."

Bomb-like device attached to Florida bank teller amid robbery
Police in Hollywood, Florida, United States are investigating a strange bank robbery involving a bomb-like device being attached to a bank teller.

Law enforcement sources said the bomb-like device was cylinders taped together with wires.

The bank teller said that yesterday three armed men came into his house in Dania Beach, Florida and strapped the fake bomb to him. The armed men ordered the man to rob the Wachovia bank in which the man works at.

Hollywood police spokesman Tony Rode said the men questioned the teller about the bank's procedures hours before the robbery.

One of the armed men made the teller and his girlfriend drive to the bank at gunpoint.

The teller entered the bank and stole over US$25,000.

Once the armed man received the money, he drove away, leaving the teller and his girlfriend at the bank.

A robot was used to get the bomb-like device off of the man. That device was then detonated.

Rode said police questioned the teller for hours, but said "There are a lot of holes, a lot of loose ends that we're not quite sure with..."Is this legit? Was this all a hoax? Is he truly a victim?"

Police are looking for the suspects based on some vague descriptions.

Boy survives flight in wheel well of Boeing 737
A Russian teenager has accomplished an unprecedented feat in the history of world aviation. He flew a distance of 1,300 kilometres in a wheel well of a Boeing 737 and lived. The fifteen year old Andrey Scherbakov spent two hours in the wheel well of the airplane at extreme temperature of - 50 centigrade. Boeing 737 does not have an enclosed wheel well; the wheel merely retracts into an opening and remains exposed. The boy managed to bypass security at the Perm city airport to hide in the plane as it took off. Airport workers found the boy after the plane had landed at Moscow. He had collapsed on the tarmac.

The boy was delivered to the hospital by the airport staff and is said to be in a critical condition. His arms and legs were so severely frozen and swollen that the rescuers were not able to remove his coat and shoes. There is a probability that his hands may have to be amputated. However, according to the medical staff at the hospital, it is nothing short of a miracle that the boy survived the ordeal. The Boeing 737 has a cruising speed of 900 kilometres per hour and was flying constantly at an altitude of 10,000 metres for two hours. As a result, the boy suffered severe frostbite in both of his hands. Doctors in Ural city would have to remove his fingertips, which contracted gangrene after they had frozen, but they were committed to do everything within their power to stop it from spreading.

When Scherbakov finally came to his senses, he told the police that he had run away from his family so as to escape his alcoholic father. He said that he was wandering around the territory of the airport and noticed a hole in the fence. He fell asleep during his examination of the stowaway of the plane. He woke up when the plane was already flying. It is curious how the inspection staff and the technicians found nothing on their inspection of the aircraft just before the flight. The boy claims that he fainted soon after and came around only when the plane had landed in Moscow after traveling hundreds of kilometres from Perm.

The airport did not confirm the report. However, Moscow's air and water transport control department said that the claim was true. A department spokesperson said that the incident happened on Friday, and the boy's parents were immediately informed and flew into the capital on the same day.

Stowaways in wheel wells risk freezing to death after take-off or being crushed when the wheels retract. This year, a body was found in the wheel well of a jet in San Francisco after a flight from Shanghai and another body was found in Atlanta after a flight from Dakar, Senegal.

Michael Vick placed under tighter restrictions after failing drug test
After testing positive for marijuana amid the latest drug test, former NFL star Michael Vick was placed under tighter restrictions by U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson.

Vick must be home between between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and he must submit to random drug tests that will be conducted in the future.

Hudson also ordered that Vick may have to attend and pay for inpatient or outpatient substance therapy and mental health counseling if a supervising officer deems so.

A document filed in U.S. District Court today said Vick tested positive amid a urine sample that was submitted on September 13, 2007.

Vick is scheduled for sentencing on December 10 for bankrolling a dogfighting operation on his property.

Students pass out forcing Michigan school to evacuate
A Catholic school in Michigan, United States was evacuated today after several students became sick during a church service.

Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Director Rick Matott said St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic School evacuated its 860 students around 9 a.m. EDT today. At least three children had passed out during the church service. Two children reportedly had to be taken to area hospitals.

Medical crews and hazardous material experts responded to the school to determine the cause of the illness.

However, it is still not known what caused the students to become sick.

Students walked to the nearby Oakland Community College campus while they waited for their parents to pick them up.

St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic School is about about 15 miles northwest of Detroit.

Torrent tracker Demonoid.com down, possibly shut by Canadian Recording Industry Association
Demonoid, a popular semi-private torrent tracker, is reported to have been shut down by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). This is the latest in many shutdowns of peer-to-peer websites by anti-piracy groups. Earlier this week, trackers Torrentbox and Podtropolis were disabled for visitors in the United States due to a law suit by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Demonoid is one of the largest torrent trackers on the internet, second only to The Pirate Bay, and tracks over a million torrent files. The site has recently moved its servers from the Netherlands to Canada in June after a Dutch piracy group BREIN subpoenaed Demonoid's ISP, demanding that the site be taken offline.

The site founder and administrator Deimos has not commented yet regarding the shutdown. Both the tracker and the website are inaccessible as of September 26 at 0700 UTC.

Some within the company have suggested that it all simply is a case of heavy maintenance.

Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science officially deemed a charity
The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science was recently approved as a charitable foundation in the United States. Started by biologist Richard Dawkins in April 2006, the IRS has approved the foundation's effective date of the tax-exemption as 20 April 2006. As a result, the donors who gave money before the 2007 IRS decision can deduct their donations when they file taxes in 2008.

Dawkins started the foundation to combat pseudoscience and attacks on the Enlightenment through educating the British and American publics via research, humanitarian efforts, and lectures. It intends to finance research into the psychology of belief and religion, finance scientific education programs and materials, and publicize and support secular charitable organizations. In addition, the foundation has helped sponsor the "Out Campaign," which encourages atheists to come "out of the closet."

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Progressive Conservative candidate Penny Lucas, Kenora—Rainy River
Penny Lucas is running for the Progressive Conservative in the Ontario provincial election, in the Kenora-Rainy River riding. Wikinews' Nick Moreau interviewed regarding her values, her experience, and her campaign.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process? Why did you choose to run in this constituency?

I have always been interested in politics. I remember as a kid, sitting around the table with my family and discussing the issues. As an adult I have always been involved in my community. I am currently an elected representative on the Kenora District Services Board – Vice-Chair and I am also Vice-Chair of the District of Kenora Homes for the Aged Board of Governance. You can find all the other things I have been involved in by checking out my Resume on my web site at www.pennylucas.com

I have chosen to run in Kenora-Rainy River because this is where I live and have lived all my life.

What prior political experience do you have? What skills and insight can you bring to office, from other non-political positions you may have held?

I am past-president of Reform, Canadian Alliance and Conservative riding associations. I have been a Volunteer Area Coordinator for the 10 Northern Ontario Ridings. I have been Campaign Manager and co-campaign manager in a number of elections.

I have been Chair, President and founder of a number of organizations.

I can bring communication and people skills to the office. I am an organizer and a worker.

Which of your competitors do you expect to pose the biggest challenge to your candidacy? Why? What makes you the most desirable of all candidates running in the riding?

Having the Leader of the NDP as my opponent is a daunting challenge. His organization will be trying very hard to ensure that he doesn’t loose his seat.

However, I am the most desirable candidate because I will be sitting at the table of the next governing party – not on the outside looking in.

What do you feel are the three most important issues to voters in your riding? Are these the same top three issues that are most important to you? What would you do to address these issues?

Jobs and in particular, jobs lost over the last few years in the forestry sector.

Health care – the shortage of professional health care workers and the difficulties in getting timely treatments.

The decaying infrastructure – the deplorable and dangerous condition of our highways.

What should be the first order of business in the 39th Legislative Assembly?

Provide funding for long term care homes for the aged to hire nurses and personal support workers.

Are the property taxes in your riding at a fair level for the amount of services received in the municipality?

In my riding I have a number of taxation levels, depending on the community in which you live or whether you live somewhere in the large unincorporated area of the riding. Some people pay all kinds of taxes and some people pay hardly any taxes. Some people receive all kinds of municipal services and some people receive nothing.

How can the province lead the way in stimulating job creation?

By fostering a business friendly climate.

What are your views on the mixed member proportional representation (MMP) referendum?

Personally, I think it will just be more confusing. A lot of people already think their votes count for nothing – they are really going to be disappointed if we change the system to a partial proportional representation.

What role, if any, does "new media" play in your campaign, and the campaign of your party? (websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube videos, etc) Do you view it as beneficial, or a challenge?

I'm all for technology. I think it allows us to reach more people than ever before. I have a website and I'm in Facebook. Technology also allows us to feel more included in the rest of society – especially to those of us in isolated communities.

Of the decisions made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?

I can't think of anything that the Liberals did that was beneficial to me, my riding or the province. They did nothing to lower the cost of electricity in Northwestern Ontario. They did nothing to help Municipal governments repair their aging infrastructure. They did nothing to alleviate taxes paid by businesses or to boost investment in my communities. They did nothing to bring jobs into my riding. They talked the talk, but they didn’t walk the walk. They did nothing!!!!!! And then, just before the writ was dropped, they started handing out my hard earned tax dollars left, right and centre with no thought as to where they were going to get it from – my pocket.

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Family Coalition Party candidate Blaise Thompson, St. Paul's
Blaise Thompson is running for the Family Coalition Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the St. Paul's riding. Wikinews' Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process? Why did you choose to run in this constituency?

"We all want to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate!"

I entered politics because you don't stand by when your mother is being attacked.

I chose to run in this constituency because I live here and generations of my family have lived here.

This is as good a place as any to make a stand. If not here, where? If not now, when?

What prior political experience do you have? What skills and insight can you bring to office, from other non-political positions you may have held?

I have no prior political experience and I'm nobody's corporate whore.

I'm bringing the same skills to office that a passenger in a car brings to a driver who is heading for a wall.

Which of your competitors do you expect to pose the biggest challenge to your candidacy? Why? What makes you the most desirable of all candidates running in the riding?

The big parties have money and money can buy votes.

As the Family Coalition Party candidate, I represent both past and future Ontarians, which is the best way to represent current Ontarians. Our population pyramid is no longer in the shape of a pyramid; it's in the shape of a hand-grenade. (Link)

If the anti-life, anti-family policies of the other parties continue to be applied, our infrastructure, way of life, and society itself will be crippled. The other parties have responded to the coming demographic tsunami by drawing the curtains. They have, in effect, disqualified themselves.

What do you feel are the three most important issues to voters in your riding? Are these the same top three issues that are most important to you? What would you do to address these issues?

Housing, health care, and school funding are the top issues to voters in my riding.

The greater includes the lesser. As I say, if we do not address the fact that we are killing our future then the other issues will not signify. The best way to ensure a healthy economy is to promote a healthy society that can sustain itself. If this is not done, we are just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

What should be the first order of business in the 39th Legislative Assembly?

The first order of business is to end the assault on the unborn and on the family. We must promote a Culture of Life or head into a demographic winter.

Are the property taxes in your riding at a fair level for the amount of services received in the municipality?

The question betrays a certain confusion of mind. The game of hot potato between the Province and the Cities is a smokescreen for a much more serious issue.

Our province, and indeed our country, is heading for the retaining wall of reality. If present trends continue, our shrinking tax base will be unable to sustain even present levels of service, not to mention the greatly increased demands caused by the Boomer Generation retiring. No one's math is creative enough to disguise that fact, hence the slight air of unreality (and desperation) in all of these fiscal discussions.

Health care currently accounts for 46% of the Ontario budget. This percentage is bound to increase as more and more people retire, yet fewer and fewer people are taking their place in the work force. At this rate, the present system cannot be sustained. It is beyond the realm of sanity to suggest otherwise.

How can the province lead the way in stimulating job creation?

The best way to ensure a healthy economy is to promote a healthy society that can sustain itself, so the province can lead the way in stimulating job creation by promoting Life and the Family. If this is not done, all measures will fail.

What are your views on the mixed member proportional representation (MMP) referendum?

It's red herring time again.

Any system presupposes a moral people (just ask a bank manager). To MMP or not to MMP, that is not the question: Ontarians must choose between the present culture of death and a Culture of Life. A change of method without a change of heart will be an exercise in futility.

What role, if any, does “new media” play in your campaign, and the campaign of your party? (websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube videos, etc) Do you view it as beneficial, or a challenge?

Any system that favours the status quo by definition favours the incumbent. I have been shut out of every face-to-face debate (which the old-boy network still controls), whereas the Net tends to reroute around obstacles. It definitely has levelled the playing field for the little guy.

Of the decisions made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?

The least beneficial decision made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly was to ignore the fact that they are literally bleeding us white.

The most beneficial decision was to call an election so they can be tossed out.

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Family Coalition Party candidate Mark Morin, Chatham—Kent—Essex
Mark Morin is running for the Family Coalition Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the Chatham—Kent—Essex riding. Wikinews' Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

He did not reply to the questions "Which of your competitors do you expect to pose the biggest challenge to your candidacy? Why?" and "Of the decisions made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?" Some spelling corrections have been made.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process? Why did you choose to run in this constituency?

I have been conflicted in past elections because there were no candidates I could vote for with a clear conscience.

What prior political experience do you have? What skills and insight can you bring to office, from other non-political positions you may have held?

I have been an elected committee person for the Canadian Security Union and an appointed Rep for the CAW. I am experienced in responding to the concerns of those I represent.

What makes you the most desirable of all candidates running in the riding?

My best asset is that I am not a modern day politician. I believe in saying straight out where I stand on the issues. I believe in truth as opposed to the moral relativism that is so prevalent today.

What do you feel are the three most important issues to voters in your riding? Are these the same top three issues that are most important to you? What would you do to address these issues?

Education

Economy

Agriculture and industry

I would add fighting to end the tragedy of abortion and providing women with choices they can live with when facing an unexpected pregnancy.

What should be the first order of business in the 39th Legislative Assembly?

Ending legalized abortion.

Are the property taxes in your riding at a fair level for the amount of services received in the municipality?

No.

How can the province lead the way in stimulating job creation?

Providing incentives to businesses to create jobs and encouraging the feds to reintroduce good legislation like the Autopact. We are reaping the rewards of bad agreements like FTAA and NAFTA. Capital is flowing out of Canada to countries with cheap labour and poor conditions for workers. In return we get substandard products like antifreeze flavoured toothpaste.

What are your views on the mixed member proportional representation (MMP) referendum?

In favour.

What role, if any, does “new media” play in your campaign, and the campaign of your party? (websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube videos, etc) Do you view it as beneficial, or a challenge?

Any medium that makes our message more accessible is very positive. I am excited by the potential to reach more youth by these means.

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Family Coalition Party candidate Bill McMaster, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
Bill McMaster is running for the Family Coalition Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the Lambton—Kent—Middlesex riding. Wikinews' Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process?

Partly because I have always been interested in to politics of the country, and because I do not believe in the Progressive Conservatives School funding program. I felt that as a conservative, I could not support it. The Family Coalition Party best represents my political views at this time.

Why did you choose to run in this constituency?

I live in the riding.

What prior political experience do you have?

Limited. Church politics, local hockey politics

What skills and insight can you bring to office, from other non-political positions you may have held?

I am not afraid to ask the hard questions or challenge a position even if it causes controversy

Which of your competitors do you expect to pose the biggest challenge to your candidacy? Why?

The conservative or the liberal. The conservative because he IS one of the good guys, although he has to follow the agenda of the leader, and the liberal because she is the incumbent.

What makes you the most desirable of all candidates running in the riding?

I am the only candidate willing to speak openly against abortion and the marriage issues.

What do you feel are the three most important issues to voters in your riding?

Health care, education, and farming.

Are these the same top three issues that are most important to you?

Yes.

What would you do to address these issues?

The Family Coalition Party has a platform for Health and Education. Has started a platform for farming, but believes that farmers voices are needed, not just politicos.

What should be the first order of business in the 39th Legislative Assembly?

Cut taxes.

Are the property taxes in your riding at a fair level for the amount of services received in the municipality?

No.

How can the province lead the way in stimulating job creation?

Cut taxes across the board and put more money in peoples pockets.

What are your views on the mixed member proportional representation (MMP) referendum?

I'm unsure, but leaning toward no, only for the reason that I believe there are better ways than the one proposed.

What role, if any, does “new media” play in your campaign, and the campaign of your party? (websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube videos, etc) Do you view it as beneficial, or a challenge?

I have a lot of support from www.freedominion.com, a site of principled conservatism. Other candidates for the party are also members there, and the owner is running for the Freedom Party.

The other sites are helpful as far as finding out information, but freedominion is still by far the best source of information, and you are required to provide proof of what you post.

Of the decisions made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?

Of the decisions made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?

I don’t know if any were beneficial, I know the health care tax and the largest tax increase in Ontario’s history was certainly detrimental as it hurt the auto sector in this area. Schools have been closed, and hospitals have cut essential staff but created more management.

As far as anything coming from the liberal camp, I don’t see much in the way of benefits

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Family Coalition Party candidate Suzanne Fortin, Nepean-Carleton
Suzanne Fortin is running for the Family Coalition Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the Nepean-Carleton riding. Wikinews' Nick Moreau interviewed her regarding her values, her experience, and her campaign.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process? Why did you choose to run in this constituency?

I decided to run because I like to tackle problems when I see them, and not sit one the sidelines. I like to take the initiative to contribute to my community.

Nepean-Carleton needs a candidate to represent fiscal and social conservatism and I wanted to give voters the chance to express their support for those views.

What prior political experience do you have? What skills and insight can you bring to office, from other non-political positions you may have held?

I was involved in the federal NDP youth caucus when I was in college, as well as the provincial Liberals in Quebec (I lived in Quebec City at the time). I also volunteered for the Conservative Party in the last federal election.

I think my background in customer service is an asset. When I was in the paid labour force (I am now a stay-at-home mom) I was a very conscientious employee, always trying to give good service and finding ways to do my job better. I had a lot of initiative and good problem-solving skills. I’m not the kind of person who just does a job for the sake of a paycheque. I find that boring. I think that this attitude will make me attentive to my constituents’ concerns.

Which of your competitors do you expect to pose the biggest challenge to your candidacy? Why?

I believe that the Progressive Conservative party is the biggest challenger because they do attract social conservatives who want to fend off the election of a Liberal government. The social conservative voters cling to the hope that if the PC’s don’t actually implement social conservative policies, they’ll at least forestall a further slide into social breakdown. It’s a natural reaction in our First-Past-the-Post System, where voters tend to vote according to the perceived leader and not according to what they really want. Unfortunately, the PC’s just about never deliver on social conservatism, and their fiscal conservatism isn’t very strong this time around.

What makes you the most desirable of all candidates running in the riding?

Aside from the personal qualities mentioned above, I think my commitment to fiscal and social policies makes my candidacy most attractive.

What do you feel are the three most important issues to voters in your riding? Are these the same top three issues that are most important to you? What would you do to address these issues?

Nepean-Carleton is a very family-oriented riding, so the important issues revolve around education, taxes and healthcare.

On the education front, the Family Coalition Party recognizes the parents as those primarily responsible for the education of their children. We therefore propose a voucher system, where parents receive a voucher for each child and use it to fund the school of their choice, whether public or private, religious or not. This system would stimulate competition between schools and allow for greater local initiative, as there would be a greater opportunity for private individuals to start schools and fill needs without having to go through the public system.

With respect to taxes: we propose that the personal and spousal exemption be raised to $14 000 a year. We also think that there should be tax credits for each child in a family. We promote fiscal restraint so that we can keep down the tax burden.

On Healthcare: We propose a greater involvement of the private sector, while implementing a system of medical savings accounts. This system would be paid by the government, but insurance coverage would be provided by a private insurance company. The account would consist of $2000 for each resident, paid by the government. Whatever part of this account the individual does not use during the year will be rolled into an RRSP to help fund a retirement pension. If treatments cost more than $2000 a year for an individual, the insurance company covers those payments. The patient would not have to spend any of his own money, but he would have an incentive to not use the system, and the money that is not spent would be invested. The insurance company would have an incentive to keep down costs. Hospitals would finance themselves through services rendered. If the patient chooses, he can purchase his own private insurance.

I would say that my three top issues are not entirely the same. Personally, I believe that the most urgent issue is the absence of legal protection for unborn children, and the fact that our tax dollars go towards paying for abortions. Most people favour de-funding abortion, because they recognize that scarce healthcare dollars should go towards treating injury and disease, so I don’t think this is very controversial.

This top issue of mine is interrelated with my other two top issues, as well as taxation that I mentioned above. They are democratic reform and eliminating excessive bureaucracy. Eliminating bureaucracy means less government and fewer taxes. That way, families can rely on themselves and not have the government tell them how to spend their money. In this way they are somewhat interrelated.

What should be the first order of business in the 39th Legislative Assembly?

I would say de-fund abortion and review government spending and departments to find savings and cut taxes.

Are the property taxes in your riding at a fair level for the amount of services received in the municipality?

No, because the jump in property taxes has not been accompanied by an increase in services. The downloading of social services had a very negative impact on municipal finances and they have difficulty in balancing their budgets. Municipal taxes should not go to pay for services that are of provincial jurisdiction. The system has been especially unfair to rural citizens whose cities were forcefully merged without their consent.

As an aside, my party favours eliminating the school portion on property taxes, as it is an unfair system.

How can the province lead the way in stimulating job creation?

The province should create a favourable business climate by paying off the debt and eliminating unnecessary government bodies, or merging others, which in turn would lead to lower taxes and more incentive to do business in Ontario.

What are your views on the mixed member proportional representation (MMP) referendum?

I strongly support MMP as it would lead to a legislature that reflects the wishes of the people of Ontario. One of the reasons why Ontarians don’t get the government they want is that the First-Past-the-Post system provides an incentive to vote for or against the perceived front-runner, but essentially penalizes voting for a smaller party because it gives the impression of wasting one’s vote if the candidate does not win. MMP allows people greater choice in that sense—you do not have to vote for the first- or second-place party for your vote to count.

What role, if any, does “new media” play in your campaign, and the campaign of your party? (websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube videos, etc) Do you view it as beneficial, or a challenge?

Given the fact that I work for a small party, it’s very beneficial. Voters can now have easier access to our candidates and we, as a party, can create more visibility. I operate SoConBlogs.com, which is an aggregator of blogs that support the Family Coalition Party. This has helped raise the party’s presence, especially in the blogosphere, where many politically savvy people get their information and exchange views. Facebook has also been very useful in helping me find supporters and people willing to help out with the party.

Of the decisions made by Ontario's 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?

I really had to jog my memory on this one. I would say the referendum to allow a vote on MMP.

I think the same-sex marriage law. It does not take into account the function of marriage in a society and the interests of the child. The state has no interest in marriage unless it’s about the rearing of children, i.e. future citizens. Formalizing relationships that cannot result in more children (born naturally or adopted), or which deny children a parent of one sex is not in the interest of the common good. Gender is not something that is accidental or human-made. It is part and parcel of human identity, and ignoring the realities of gender and childrearing will only lead to more social upheaval.

I also think the health premium was very negative as it to the tax burden of working families, and Dalton McGuinty had promised not to raise them. He could have found savings by reviewing spending in other departments, but he didn’t have the courage to do that.

Protest in Melbourne against WorkChoices
Thousands of people have protested against the Australian governments industrial relations legislation in Melbourne today. Protestors, including children wearing hardhats and holding anti-Work Choices signs, blocked traffic for up to an hour.

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd linked the WorkChoices legislation to the upcoming election. “The key thing we have to do is make sure that John Howard is not re-elected, that is our number one task over the next coming weeks and months," he said.

Employers were warned before the protests that they should not pay employees who took time off work to attend.

Australian government declares support for Burmese protests
The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, has announced that the Australian government is following events in Myanmar (formerly Burma) closely, and urged the Myanmar government to show restraint. He also called for the respect of "the legitimate right of Burmese citizens to peaceful protest."

The Minister also called for the release of political prisoners. "The continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and over one thousand political prisoners is unacceptable. I repeat calls for the Burmese regime to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally," he said in a media release.

Greens Senator Bob Brown criticised the Australian government, accusing them of hypocrisy over the issue of Myanmar. "Alexander Downer's fear that the military will subject the pro-democracy protest leaders to 'very harsh treatment' is in absurd contrast with the Howard government’s twin policies of training the Burmese military and keeping open unrestricted trade," he said in a media release.

Australian Greens attack government green energy target
The Australian Greens have attacked the governments green energy targets. Prime Minister John Howard announced the national targets yesterday, requiring that by 2020, 30,000 gigawatt hours of electricity each year comes from low emissions sources. The Greens claim that the targets do not go far enough. “John Howard’s 15% ‘clean’ target by 2020 is too little, too late,” said Greens Senate candidate for South Australia, Sarah Hanson-Young.

The Greens also claim that the inclusion of clean coal technology in the definition of "green energy" is misleading. “Howard’s spin doctors have been at it again. The target is misleading – it includes the unproven ‘clean coal’ technology, so the proportion of genuine clean, renewable energy generated is far less than we are led to believe," Ms Hanson-Young said.

The clean energy target is part of the government's A$3.5 billion climate change strategy

Judge rules stem cell proposal to remain on New Jersey ballot
Superior Court Judge Neil Shuster ruled that a New Jersey ballot proposal to fund stem cell research would stay on the November 6 ballot. Under the proposal, previously approved by the state Senate and Assembly and signed by the governor Jon Corzine, New Jersey would borrow $450 million over a ten year period to be used to fund stem cell research. Shuster's ruling was in response to a suit by the pro-life Legal Center for the Defense of Life on behalf of 15 New Jersey residents and the anti-abortion group New Jersey Right to Life.

The suit asked for an injunction to keep the proposal off the ballot, arguing that the ballot measure was deceptive since it did not reveal that the funding might go to human cloning and that property taxes might be raised as a means of paying off the debt. Proponents of the measure argued that the bill would not in fact allow cloning and that allowing the use of property tax to pay off debt was standard for similar ballot measures.

Shuster ruled that the plaintiffs had waited too long to file their case and that they did not made a convincing enough claim of imminent harm to justify the unusual and disruptive measure of removing an item from the ballot. An injunction now would create complications to military personnel who vote by mail as well as civilians who use absentee ballots.

Stem cell research has been a controversial topic in the United States, where it is wrapped up in the abortion debate. Opponents, principally religious groups, have condemned such research when it would use embryonic stem cells which they view as endorsement of abortion. Since many of them view abortion as murder, the use of embryonic stem cells is in their eyes tantamount to murdering people for scientific research. Also, some have expressed concern that the research is a slippery slope to reproductive cloning. In response to funding restrictions on federal money to stem cell research and an earlier veto by President Bush of a federal bill for stem cell research a number of states such as New Jersey and California have adopted measures to fund stem cell research, which proponents argue could be useful for curing a variety of diseases, including Alzeimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes.

Flights around the US disrupted because of equipment failure
All airline traffic within 250 miles of Houston, Texas was suspended today by the The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) because of an equipment failure at the control center at Memphis International Airport.

Numerous flights from all around the country had to be grounded today because of the problem. It is not known exactly how many flights were affected.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said air traffic control centers from neighboring regions handled flights that were in the air when the problem was discovered around 12:30 p.m. EDT. "The airspace was completely cleared by 1:30 (p.m.) Eastern time," Bergen said.

Bergen also said, "What we did is put a ground stop in place for any flight that would transition through that airspace. We held them on the ground wherever they were, whether it was Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston."

An airport spokesman said the problem was fixed at Memphis International Airport and scheduled flights have resumed.

Today in History
1540 – Pope Paul III issued the papal bull Regimini militantis, approving the formation of the Society of Jesus, a Christian religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

1825 – Locomotion No. 1 hauled the first train on opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first railway to use steam locomotives and carry passengers.

1905 – The physics journal Annalen der Physik published Albert Einstein's paper "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?", introducing the equation E=mc².

1937 – The Bali Tiger, a small subspecies of tiger found solely on the small Indonesian island of Bali, was officially declared extinct.

1988 – Led by pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy, a political party, was founded in Burma (now known as Myanmar).

September 27 is Meskel in Ethiopia and Eritrea; World Tourism Day.

Quote of the Day

Go, go, go, said the bird: human kind

Cannot bear very much reality.

Time past and time future

What might have been and what has been

Point to one end, which is always present.

~ T. S. Eliot in The Four Quartets

Word of the Day

dyscalculia; n

pathology Difficulty in solving mathematical problems.

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2007-09-26T21:31:20