Leave No Tree Behind

Attention backpackers, hunters, campers, hikers and all who love trout fishing. Plan your trips to paradise now, because much of paradise will soon be spoiled.

The loggers, miners and gas-drillers are coming to America’s national forests, and they’re coming soon. With the stroke of a pen in May 2005, the President opened nearly 60 million acres of protected US National Forest land to development and road-building.

In what critics dub “No Tree Left Behind,” Bush opened forests in 39 states to development, 97% of them in 12 western states. Among them are areas in some of the most beloved, beautiful and oldest US wildernesses, including:

- The Grand Canyon
- Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Forests in California
- California’s Sierra Nevada backcountry
- Oregon’s Wild Rivers area
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest
- Boise National Forest in Idaho
- Colorado’s Rocky Mountain backcountry
- Olympic National Forest in Washington
- White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire
- Tongass & Chugach National Forests in Alaska
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail
- Continental Divide Scenic Trail

Background In the early 1900s, Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to protect millions of acres of America's most stunning national forests. It was the advent of the auto and the world’s thirst for petroleum, as well as timber.

Bill Clinton preserved US national forests as a special mission of his administration. After 600 public meetings over 2 years and 4 million public comments, Clinton signed into law the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, issued by the US Forest Service in January 2001, to take effect in March. The rule protects 60 million acres of forest, one-third of US forests.

Mr. Clinton wrote “The wild lands that are now protected by the Roadless Rule are a fragile and priceless gift to all Americans. Once lost, they are gone forever.”

In one of his first Executive acts, Bush stopped the landmark Roadless Rule from becoming effective. In July 2004, he revoked the entire rule. In May 2005, the Bush team issued a “final rule” that invites input from governors as to why their states should be exempted from development.

This state petitioning process imposes tight deadlines and cumbersome reporting and analysis requirements at a time when states are short of funds due to massive federal budget cuts by the Bush Administration. And Bush is under no obligation to follow state petitions.

Why Protect National Forests? Roadless forest areas are havens for fish, wildlife and thousands of endangered plants and animals. They also supply clean, unpolluted drinking water for 60 million Americans.

And these natural refuges from modern life offer some of the nation’s best backcountry fishing, hunting, hiking and camping.

What Happens When Forests Are Not Protected? More than half of US forests have already been degraded by logging, road building and other destructive activities. Per the Sierra Club,” The 440,000 miles of roads that scar our National Forest--most built for the logging industry and paid for with tax dollars—have destroyed wildlife habitats, caused mudslides and polluted water.”

The National Resources Defense Council contends that roadless areas serve as buffer zones that help prevent wildfires.

Who Wants to Remove Forest Protections? The timber industry, of course. The Independent Petroleum Assn of America said that 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be developed in previously restricted areas. It's all about corporate profits.

What’s Next? Bush “temporarily” exempted two Alaskan forests from the Roadless Rule in 2003, despite 250,000 opposing public comments. Private industry has complete freedom for large-scale logging in the Tongass National Forest, the largest old-growth temperate rainforest on earth. Fifty timber sales are now moving forward there.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed in federal courts on both sides of the issue. On May 4, 2005, the Denver-based Court of Appeals started hearings aimed at overturning another federal court’s decision to uphold scrapping the Roadless Rule. An attorney for Earthjustice believes that Bush is rushing forward before the Denver judge can reverse the previous ruling.

The Final Word From New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who calls the move anti-environment and a wholesale assault to drill more oil and gas and cut more timber. “It’s going to start a war in the West.”

What Can You Do? Support the groups fighting to save US forests from destruction: the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace and others. Write to your governor and federal elected officials.

And be sure to contact the US Forest Service by phone at 202-205-8333, by email at www.fs.fed.us/contactus, or by mail at USDA Forest Service; 1400 Independence Ave SW; Washington DC; 20250-0003.

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Victoria Facts

Victoria is the capital city of the province of British Columbia, Canada. Victoria is a gateway to the Pacific Rim, is close to U.S. Markets, and has many sea and air links that make it a business hub. With the mildest climate in Canada, Victoria is known for its gardens and is a clean and charming city. Victoria holds many reminders of both its native and British heritage, and views of totem poles combine with afternoon tea. The focus of downtown Victoria is the inner harbour, overlooked by the Parliament Buildings and the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

19.68 sq. km (7.6 sq. miles) (Statistics Canada, 2006 Census)

78,057 (Statistics Canada, 2006 Census)

1862

1871

Victoria municipal elections are held every three years on the third Saturday in November.

Date of the last Victoria municipal election: Saturday, November 19, 2011

Date of the next Victoria municipal election: Saturday November 15, 2014

Victoria's city council is made up of 9 elected representatives: one mayor and 8 city councillors.

Major attractions in the capital city include:

Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada, and with an eight-month frost-free season flowers bloom year-round. The average annual rainfall for Victoria is 66.5 cm (26.2 in.), far less than in Vancouver, BC or New York City.

Summers in Victoria are pleasantly warm and dry with an average maximum temperature in July and August of 21.8°C (71°F).

Victoria winters are mild, with rain and the occasional light snow. The average temperature in January is 3°C (38°F). Spring can start as early as February.

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David Johnston

David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, is a bilingual legal scholar with a long career in university administration. He was the President of the University of Waterloo from 1999 until 2010, and before that was the Principal of McGill for 15 years. His legal specialties are in the fields of securities regulations, corporation law and labour law.

October 2010 to present

Born June 28, 1941 in Sudbury, Ontario. He was raised in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.

AB - Harvard UniversityLLB - University of Cambridge, Cambridge UKLLB - Queen's University, Kingston, OntarioLaw professor at Queen's University, University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario and McGill UniversityPrincipal of McGill UniversityPresident of the University of Waterloo

David Johnston began his academic career as an assistant law professor at Queen's University in 1966. He moved to the law faculty at the University of Toronto, first as an assistant professor, then as a full professor. In 1974, he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario in London.

In 1979, David Johnston was appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University in Montreal. In 1994, when he stepped down as Principal of McGill, he went back to McGill's Faculty of Law once again as a full professor. In 1999, he became President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. David Johnston has also served as President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Over the years, David Johnston has served on many associations, committees and task forces of both federal and provincial governments, including head of the Information Highway Advisory Council and the founding chair of the National Roundtable on Environment and the Economy.

In late 2007, he was selected by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to define the parameters for the Oliphant Commission of Inquiry to examine the business dealings between Brian Mulroney and Karlheinz Schreiber.

David Johnston also served as the moderator of the 1979 and 1984 federal election leaders debates.

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Role of Chief Justice

The Chief Justice of Canada is chosen by the governor in council, in effect the Prime Minister of Canada in consultation with the federal cabinet.

The role of the Chief Justice of Canada has four main parts - judge, administrator of the Supreme Court, head of the Canadian judiciary and a public representative for the Supreme Court of Canada.

Major responsibilities of the Chief Justice of Canada include: The Chief Justice of Canada presides at all sittings of the Supreme Court at which he or she is present. The Chief Justice also chooses the panels of Justices which hear Supreme Court of Canada cases. The Chief Justice of Canada heads the Supreme Court staff of over 150 employees who are members of the federal government public service. The Chief Justice of Canada chairs the Canadian Judicial Council, made up of the chief and associate chief justices and judges of all courts whose members are appointed by the federal government. The Canadian Judicial Council provides continuing education for judges, handles complaints about federally appointed judges and coordinates the discussion of issues of importance to the judiciary in Canada. The Chief Justice of Canada, as well as other Justices of the Supreme Court, acts as a deputy to the Governor General of Canada for giving Royal Assent to bills and signing other official documents. If the Governor General of Canada dies, or becomes incapacitated or is out of the country for more than one month, then the Chief Justice of Canada becomes Administrator of Canada and assumes the duties of the Governor General.

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Liberal Guide - Newt Gingrich

On May 11, 2011, former House Speaker became the first top Republican leader to announce his 2012 presidential candidacy. He's also the first U.S. presidential contender in history to announce via social media outlet Twitter.

Ten-term Congressman Newt Gingrich from Georgia served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms, from January 1995 to January 1999. Another historic first for Gingrich: he's the only sitting House Speaker in U.S. history sanctioned for a Congressional ethics violation.

Gingrich was Time's Man of the Year in 1995 for leading the Republican Revolution, powered by the Contract with America, that enabled Republicans to retake control of Congress after Bill Clinton's 1992 election to the White House.

Through Liberal Eyes - In 2011, Newt Gingrich is a brazen provocateur and opportunist, poised to utter any partisan comment or take any extremist stance to draw attention to himself.

He's particularly fond of attaching catchy, albeit misleading, labels to gain political advantage over opponents. (Example: Obama is the "the most effective food stamp President in history.")

The bottom line: Newt can capture the Republican 2012 presidential nomination only if Perry, Cain, and Bachmann continue to stumble with Republican voters, and if Romney continues to lack coalition-building momentum. Which means he has a decent chance to win the nomination.

An achilles heel for Newt Gingrich in a 2012 presidential race will be his apparent proclivity for lavish living (six-figure Tiffany charge accounts, Greek Island cruises) in the 21st century with third wife Callista.

Competitors - For most of the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nod, Newt has trailed top contenders Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and media personality/businessman Herman Cain.

In mid-November 2011, though, Gingrich bumped up in several polls due mainly to gaffes by competitors Rick Perry and Herman Cain.

Newt Gingrich in Elected Office - After unsuccessful bids for Congress in 1974 and 1976, Gingrich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, where he served for twenty years. Soon after his election, Rep. Gingrich established the House Military Reform Caucus.

Outspoken, bright and then brimming with fresh conservative ideas, Gingrich rose through House ranks to Minority Whip by 1989. He served as Minority Whip until elected House Speaker in 1995, when Republicans gained control of the House.

Gingrich was chief architect and spokesman for Republicans' 1994 Contract with America. The Contract was a "list of eight reforms the Republicans promised to enact, and ten bills they promised to bring to floor debate and votes, if they were made the majority following the election," per Wikipedia.

Gingrich's House tenure was also marked by headline-grabbing personal failings... among them, 84 ethics violations charges, most related to income taxes and use of nonpartisan forums for politicking, and a six-year affair with a staffer, now his third wife, while Gingrich was pursuing impeachment charges against President Clinton for lying about an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Newt Gingrich's Personal Background
Birth - June 17, 1943 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to parents, Newton and Kathleen McPherson, who were divorced before he was born.

Newt was adopted at age three by his mother's second husband, Robert Gingrich, an Army officer whose assignments required frequent family moving, including overseas posts. Three half-sisters.

Education - Graduated in 1961 from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia. BA in History, 1965, Emory University. MA, 1968, and PhD, 1971, in European History, Tulane University. Family - Married to third wife Callista Bisek, a political staffer for Gingrich, in 2000. Congressman Gingrich was divorced from his first two wives, both times after messy public allegations of infidelity. First wife was Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher. Second wife was Marianne Ginther, also a political staffer.

Two adult daughters with first wife Jackie: Jackie Gingrich Cushman (b. 1966), conservative commentator, author and founder of Learning Makes a Difference Foundation; and Kathy Gingrich Lubbers (b. 1963), President/CEO of Gingrich Communications, Newt's media and public relations operation.

Faith - Christian. Converted to Roman Catholic in 2009. Southern Baptist for 40 years.

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Plastic Bank Notes

The Bank of Canada plans to issue a new series of bank notes in 2011 and they'll be printed on a plastic material. The Polymer series bank notes will not only be more secure than current bank notes and easier for both retailers and the public to verify, they will also be cheaper to produce and have a smaller environmental impact. The plastic bills are expected to last at least 2.5 times longer than earlier bank notes in use in Canada, which are printed on cotton-paper.

The first Canadian polymer bank note will be the $100 bill which is scheduled to begin circulating in November 2011. A polymer $50 bill is scheduled to follow in March 2012. The other denominations – the $20 bill, then the $10 and $5 bills – are due out by the end of 2013.

As well as having leading edge security features specially designed for use with polymer, the plastic bank notes will have new visual designs, although the new bank notes will stay the same size as current ones, and keep the same dominant colours as past series. In order to give time for retailers and the public to become familiar with the appearance and security features of the new bank notes, the design of each bank note in the Polymer series will be unveiled a few months before it goes into circulation.

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Canadian Workforce Statistics

Analysis by Statistics Canada of the Census 2001 statistics on the population of Canada shows that the three factors that had a major impact on the Canadian workforce over the last decade were new immigrants, the demand for highly skilled workers, and the aging population in Canada.

Canada Census figures show that in May 2001 there were 15.6 million people in the workforce in Canada, an increase of 9.5 percent from the decade before.

Census figures show that in May 2001, about 20 percent of the Canadian workforce, or approximately 3.2 million people, was born outside Canada and that a large part of the growth in the Canadian workforce was due to new immigrants. A total of 977,500 immigrants who arrived in Canada in the 1990s were part of the Canadian workforce in 2001, making up about 70 percent of the growth in the workforce for the decade. Over half of these workers were in Ontario.

However, statistics from the census also show that there is a gap between employment prospects for immigrants and those for Canadian-born workers. The gap first appeared during the recession years of the early 1990s, and continued when the economy recovered in the later half of the decade. In 2001, the unemployment rate for new immigrants aged 25 to 44 was double that of Canadian-born workers.

Highly skilled jobs led the growth in the workforce in Canada in the 1990s.

By May 2001, 2.5 million of the 15.6 million people in the Canadian workforce were in occupations that required a university education - a 33 percent increase from the decade before and a growth rate triple the growth rate for the Canadian workforce as a whole.

In contrast, skilled occupations - those requiring a community college diploma or apprenticeship training - grew at only 3.3 percent, or a third of the growth rate for the workforce as a whole in Canada. The number of people in some construction trades decreased by as much as 40 to 60 percent.

Occupations requiring a high school diploma or less had a growth rate of 5.4 percent, well below the growth rate of the total Canadian workforce.

The Canadian workforce is also aging. The average age of Canadian workers rose from 37.1 years in 1991 to an average age of 39 years in 2001. About 15 percent of the workforce was within 10 years of retirement age at the end of the last decade, and projections are that by 2011 nearly a fifth of baby-boomers in Canada will be at least 61.

Added to this is the fact that birth rates in Canada have been low for the last 30 years, so fewer young people are entering the workforce to replace those getting close to retirement.

This aging of the Canadian workforce raises the potential for shortages in some highly skilled occupations, and the likelihood that Canada will need to continue to turn to immigration as a source of highly skilled workers.

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Canadian Charities

If you're in a giving mood but not sure where to start, take a few minutes to look at the many nonprofit organizations and charities in Canada which could do with a bit of your time or cash to help those who really need it.

Here are some good places to find Canadian charities and causes that strike a chord in your heart.

One of the nice things about Charity Village is that is has Canada-wide volunteer opportunities, sorted by region. They aren't always the volunteer roles you'd expect, either. You may find requests for a woodworking volunteer, casino hall help, festival organizers, a wildlife researcher, gift wrappers, and history museum curatorial assistance. Many, many more people with a bit of time to give are always needed.

Charity Village also has a well-organized directory of charities and non-profit organizations.

Volunteer Canada is the national umbrella organization of volunteer centres and bureaus in Canada. You can easily locate the volunteer centre nearest to you, and if you need a little push, read about volunteering.

If you still haven't found a group that appeals to you, there are hundreds of Canadian non-profit organizations listed on the idealist.org site. Just type "Canada" (without the quotation marks) in the Search box to find Canadian non-profit organizations, volunteer jobs, and programs.

For a traditional Canadian way of giving at Christmas, the Canadian Lung Association has adapted their Christmas Seals campaign to the Internet. You can make a donation online to help make sure that medical research into the causes and cures for lung disease continues in Canada.

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Veterans Week

Remembering the past. Understanding the present. Facing the future. Those are call words for Veterans Week, the week leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11. So why not take more than just the traditional two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day to remember Canadians who fought and died in war?

To get a feel for the human side of war, here are first-hand stories from Canadians who fought in one of Canada's major wars.

The Oral History project at Veterans Affairs Canada has recorded over 1500 hours of conversations with Canadian veterans. Some of these memories are available in the Recollections - First World War series of videos.

Reading diaries and letters of young Canadians who fought for Canada helps in understanding the reality of war, its day-to-day struggles, fear and bravery, loneliness and camaraderie, excitement and boredom. Veterans Affairs Canada has excerpts from wartime diaries, letters and stories from World War I and World War II.

My Grandmother's Wartime Diary was a project for Women's History Month in which Veterans Affairs Canada employees contributed stories from their mothers, grandmothers, and friends about their war experiences both in service and at home. The stories of these women give a unique and heartwarming look at wartime Canada.

The Canadian Letters and Images Project is an online archive of wartime correspondence, photographs, and other personal materials from Canadians in war. A partnership between Malaspina University College and the University of Western Ontario, this project preserves the personal experiences of Canadians in war and tells a remarkable story of Canada at war.

The Dominion Institute's Memory Project hosts the Digital Archive, an online database with stories about thousands of Canadians whose lives were touched by war. You can search the database by veteran's name, home province, war and branch of service, as well as by theme.

Every time you see a picture of Canada's Parliament Buildings, remember that the central spire Peace Tower was named in memory of Canadians who sacrificed their lives in World War 1. The Memorial Chamber on the second floor of the Peace Tower holds seven Books of Remembrance, which list the names of more than 100,000 Canadians who fought in wars and died.

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Canadian Bank Mergers Decision 1998

Dateline: 12/14/98

It's official. Canadian Finance Minister Paul Martin has rejected the proposed mergers of the Royal Bank with the Bank of Montreal and CIBC with the Toronto-Dominion Bank.

The reasons for the bank mergers decision are no surprise. The Finance Minister concluded that the mergers are not in the public interest as they would result in too much concentration of economic power in Canada in the hands of too few financial institutionsa reduction in competition in the Canadian financial services sectora reduction in the Canadian government's flexibility to address future concerns.

The last round of reports delivered to the Minister of Finance last week appear to have sealed the decision.

Canada's Competition Bureau concluded that the proposed bank mergers would substantially lessen competition, would result in bank branches being closed, and mean that Canadians would have to pay more for less. The Competition Bureau's conclusions on each of the mergers are provided separately in letters to the bank presidents for the Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank merger and the CIBC and TD Bank merger.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) also weighed in with concerns. A summary letter to the Minister of Finance raised issues about the impact of mergers on the Canadian financial system as a whole. It noted that if one of the merged banks were to run into trouble, the policy options for government would be severely reduced. For example, the possibility of a sale to a domestic competitor would be less, since it would result in further reducing competition. And a sale to a competitor from outside Canada would have a negative impact on Canadian ownership and control.

On the political side, both the House of Commons Finance Committee and the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee tabled their reports on the financial sector.

The four banks have been using the line "the status quo is not acceptable" to push their case for mergers. Martin has turned that around to say the status quo must be changed before bank mergers are considered.

To that end, the government plans to develop a new policy framework for the financial sector in Canada. It will probably take at least a year. The new framework is expected to include a new review process for major bank merger proposals. It is likely the new process will require merger proposals to meet the same conditions though.

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Prime Minister John Turner

John Turner was a Prime Minister in waiting for too long. By the time John Turner had waited out the Trudeau era and was elected Leader of the Liberal Party to become Prime Minister in 1984, the country was fed up with Liberal government. Turner seemed out of touch, made a number of political gaffes, including calling an early election, and the Conservatives won a massive majority.

For six years as Leader of the Opposition, John Turner fought, unsuccessfully, against free trade with the United States.

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Louis St. Laurent

Fluently bilingual, with an Irish mother and a Québécois father, Louis St. Laurent was an apolitical lawyer when he went to Ottawa in 1941 to be Minister of Justice and Mackenzie King's Quebec lieutenant "temporarily" until the end of the war. St. Laurent did not retire from politics until 1958.

The post-war years were prosperous in Canada, and Louis St. Laurent expanded social programs and began many mega-projects. While the influence of Britain on Canada was gradually decreasing, the influence of the United States on Canada grew.

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Christopher Coons profile

Christopher Coons, former County Executive of New Castle County, was elected in November 2010 as U.S. Senator from Delaware. New Castle County has about 500,000 residents as of the 2000 census, representing 64% of all Delaware residents.

Coons was elected to a four-year terms as County Executive in 2004 and 2008. Coons' first political race was in 2000 when he was elected as New Castle County Council President.

After law school, Coons clerked for federal Judge Jane R. Roth of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, whose husband was the late Sen. William V. Roth, Jr., Republican U.S. senator from Delaware from 1971 to 2001.

Coons next worked for the nonprofit I Have a Dream Foundation in New York, until departing to be legal counsel in 1996 for W.L Gore & Associates, Inc, manufacturer of high-tech fabrics. Mr. Coons' stepfather is W.L. Gore, company president, and his mother is Human Resources director. Gore is one of the 200 largest privately held U.S. companies. Mr. Coons was Gore legal counsel for eight years.

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Remembrance Day

On November 11 Canadians wear poppies and gather at war memorials across Canada to pay tribute to those who died in war. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the time the Armistice of World War I was signed in 1918, we observe two minutes of silence to remember.

As we continue to fight the war on terrorism, it is important to remember and teach about the wars in which so many Canadians died.

Seven Books of Remembrance are kept in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill to honour those Canadians who died serving Canada in war. There is one for each of the wars: the South African War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. There is a separate Book of Remembrance for the Merchant Navy, and another one for Newfoundlanders, since Newfoundland did not join Confederation until 1949. The Seventh Book of Remembrance was dedicated in 2005 to honour Canadian Forces men and women who gave their lives for Canada since October 1947. It is ongoing and will honour Canadian Forces members who paid the ultimate sacrifice for generations to come.

The Books of Remembrance provide a beautiful and touching testament to the Canadians who died in military service. You can scroll through the names, and also see the decorative pages.

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Kyoto Protocol and Canada

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement reached in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan to address the problems of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canada signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998, and after a Parliamentary debate formally ratified it in December 2002. The Liberal government at the time agreed to reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by the five-year commitment period of 2008 to 2012. The Canadian Conservative government elected in January 2006 says that the Kyoto Protocol targets are unrealistic and unachievable. The government plans to focus on developing "made-in-Canada" solutions, to spend all money for the environment on the Canadian environment rather than on international credits, and to put the emphasis on the development and deployment of clean technology. CBC reports that 40 percent of the climate change budgets at Environment Canada and Natural Resources have been cut. Programs cut include the One Tonne Challenge, a high-profile public education campaign on climate change, and the popular EnerGuide Retrofit Incentive Program of grants to help make Canadian homes more energy-efficient. Both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose have been expressing interest publicly in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, also called AP6 or Kyoto Lite, as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol. Rona Ambrose has come under fire from both political and environment opponents who say she is trying to sabotage negotiations on the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is a UN-led international agreement reached in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan to address the problems of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol went into force in February 2005. The Kyoto Protocol involves moving away from fossil fuel energy sources - oil, gas, and coal - to renewable sources of energy - hydro, wind and solar power - and to less environmentally harmful ways of burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are mainly generated by burning fossil fuels. Higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions cause global warming and climate change. The Kyoto Protocol commits 38 industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-2012 to overall levels that are 5.2 percent below 1990 levels. Targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction were established for each industrialized country. Developing countries including China and India were asked to set voluntary targets for greenhouse gas emissions. The Canadian target for the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six percent below their 1990 levels by 2012. The United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and in February 2002 introduced the Clean Skies and Global Climate Change initiatives, in which targets for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions are linked directly to GDP and the size of the U.S. economy. In April 2005, the Liberal government issued a revised implementation plan and pledged $10 billion to cut greenhouse gases by 270 megatonnes a year by 2008-2012. Emission targets for large industrial polluters were relaxed. During the 2006 federal election campaign the Conservatives said they did not support the Kyoto Protocol. However, since winning the election with just a minority, the Conservative government members have been a little more circumspect in their comments, and instead talk about the targets being unrealistic or unachievable.

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Julie Payette

Julie Payette has been a Canadian astronaut since 1992. A professional engineer, Julie Payette is also a singer and pianist, is fluent in English and French, and has conversational skills in Spanish, Italian and Russian. In 1999, Julie Payette flew on her first space mission. She was the first Canadian to participate in an International Space Station (ISS) assembly mission and to board the ISS. In 2009, on her second mission to the ISS, she met up with Canadian Astronaut Bob Thirsk who is on an extended stay on the ISS. It marked the first time two Canadians have been in space at the same time.

Mission Specialist on Space Mission STS-96 - Space Shuttle Discovery - May 27 to June 6, 1999 Mission Specialist on Space Mission STS-127 - Space Shuttle Endeavour - Launched July 15, 2009

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Louise McKinney

A temperance advocate, Louise McKinney was one of the first two women elected to the Alberta Legislative Assembly and one of the first two women elected to a legislature in Canada and in the British Empire. An excellent debater, she worked on legislation to help people with disabilities, immigrants, and widows and separated wives. Louise McKinney was also one of the "Famous Five" Alberta women who fought and won the political and legal battle in the Persons Case to have women recognized as persons under the BNA Act.

Louise McKinney was a teacher in Ontario and then in North Dakota. She moved to a homestead near Claresholm, Northwest Territories in 1903. Louise McKinney became involved in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) while in North Dakota, and organized a chapter in Claresholm. She continued as an organizer for the WCTU for more than 20 years, eventually becoming acting president of the national organization. Louise McKinney was elected to the Alberta Legislative Assembly in 1917, in the first election in which Canadian women could run for office or vote. Suspicious of the political donations made by large brewing and liquor companies to the major parties, Louise McKinney ran under the banner of the Non-Partisan League, an agrarian movement. With the help of Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney introduced the bill that became the Dower Act, which guaranteed a woman a third of the family estate when her husband died. Louise McKinney was defeated in the 1921 Alberta election and did not run again. Louise McKinney was one of four women to sign the Basis of Union forming the United Church of Canada in 1925. Louise McKinney was one of the "Famous Five" Alberta women in the Persons Case which established the status of women as persons under the BNA Act in 1929.

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Premier Jean Charest

In 2003 Jean Charest led the first federalist government to victory in Quebec in nearly a decade. A federal Progressive Conservative turned Quebec provincial Liberal, Jean Charest wasted a lot of good will with a series of bungled and controversial decisions at the local and regional levels. In spite of improved federal-provincial relations and balanced budgets, the Liberals lost 26 seats in the 2007 Quebec provincial election and left Quebec with its first minority government in nearly 130 years.

In late 2008 Charest called a snap election saying he needed a majority to help Quebec through the world economic crisis. His risk paid off and he and the Liberals won a slim majority government. It was the first time in more than 50 years that Quebeckers gave a provincial government a third straight mandate.

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AFL-CIO Profile

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations ("AFL-CIO") is the largest federation of U.S. labor unions, with 57 member unions representing 12.2 million working Americans.

Leadership Team
The top three officers are: President Richard Trumka Secretary-Treasurer - Liz Shuler Executive Vice-President - Arlene Holt Baker 43 Vice Presidents elected by membership Mr. Trumka has proven to be a bold, intelligent, hands-on leader and activist visionary who supports aggressive, nonviolent methods to push for changes. He was elected AFL-CIO President in 2009 after serving since 1995 as secretary-treasurer. Trumka spent 1982 to 1995 as President of the United Mine Workers of America union, an AFL-CIO member.

Richard Trumka hails from an immigrant family of Pennsylvania coal miners. He labored in mines while working his way through college and law school. For more, see Profile of Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President.

Governance of the AFL-CIO is primary done via the Executive Committee, which is comprised of President Richard Trumka and 19 vice presidents.

President Obama on Labor Unions
Per President Obama, "Much of what we now take for granted—the 40-hour work week, the minimum wage, health insurance, paid leave, pensions, Social Security and Medicare—were made possible by the hard work and dedicated struggle of America’s labor movement.

"It was labor unions that led the fight to improve working conditions and labor standards. In doing so, we have helped to build the largest middle class in history and demonstrated that we are stronger together than as individuals."

Mission of the AFL-CIO
"The mission of the AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our nation. To accomplish this mission we will build and change the American labor movement," per the AFL-CIO website. This mission is accomplished by: Broad Movement - Building "a broad movement of American workers by organizing workers into unions. We will recruit and train the next generation of organizers, mass the resources needed to organize and create the strategies to win organizing campaigns and union contracts." Strong Political Voice - Building "a strong political voice for workers in our nation. We will fight for an agenda for working families at all levels of government... We will build a broad progressive coalition that speaks out for social and economic justice. We will create a political force... that will empower workers and speak forcefully on the public issues that affect our lives." Vibrant, Effective Voice - Changing the "labor movement by creating a new voice for workers in our communities. We will make the voices of working families heard across our nation and in our neighborhoods. We will create vibrant community labor councils that reach out to workers at the local level... We will speak out in effective and creative ways on behalf of all working Americans."Member Labor Unions
Largest of the 57 labor unions that affiliate with the AFL-CIO are: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - 1,467,138 members American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - 889,347 members International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - 725,000 members United Steel Workers (USW) - 705,190 members International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) - 646,933 members International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) - 400,000 members National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) - 300,000 members International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) - 272,000 membersOther AFL-CIO affiliated labor unions represent nurses, police officers, pilots, school administrators, painters, office workers, engineers, writers, musicians, and professional athletes, including the National Football League Players Association.

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Obama health insurance reform

Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty ImagesOn July 29, 2009, President Obama outlined aggressive plans to reform health insurance plans offered by private insurers such as United Healthcare, Wellpoint, Kaiser and all other private U.S. health insurers.

In 2009, over 200 million Americans are covered by health insurance plans provided by private insurers.

Called Health Insurance Consumer Protections by the White House, Such reforms are urgently needed to combat egregious practices commonly used by insurers to exclude people from health coverage, and to avoid paying for health care services used by people who have paid their premiums.

In summary, President Obama's health insurance plan reform agenda includes the following: No Pre-Existing Conditions to Exclude Coverage

Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history. Per President Obama: "We will stop insurance companies from denying you coverage because of your medical history.

"I've told this story before -- I will never forget watching my own mother, as she fought cancer in her final days, worrying about whether her insurer would claim her illness was a preexisting condition so they could wiggle out of paying for her coverage.

How many of you have worried about the same thing? A lot of people have gone through this. Many of you have been denied insurance or heard of someone who was denied insurance because they got -- had a preexisting condition. That will no longer be allowed with reform. We won't allow that."

Will Cap Out-of-Pocket Expenses Annually

Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses. Per President Obama: "With reform, insurance companies will have to abide by a yearly cap on how much you can be charged for your out-of-pocket expenses. No one in America should go broke because of an illness."

No Lifetime Caps for Health Care Coverage

Per President Obama: "We will stop insurance companies from placing arbitrary caps on the coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime."

No Dropping Coverage Due to Serious Illness

Per President Obama: "No longer will insurance companies be allowed to drop or water down coverage for someone who's become seriously ill. That's not right, it's not fair."

No Gender Discrimination

Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

100% Coverage for Check-Ups, Preventive Health Care

President Obama: "We will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies, eye and foot exams for diabetics, so we can avoid chronic illnesses that cost not only lives, but money."

Coverage for Young Adults

Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

Guaranteed Insurance Renewal

Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

President Obama summarized at a healthcare townhall in North Carolina, "... if you're one of the 46 [million] Americans who don't have coverage today, or you've got that coverage where you got a $10,000 deductible,... then you'll finally be able to get quality, affordable coverage.

But what a lot of chatter out there hasn't focused on is the fact that if you've got health insurance, then the reform we're proposing will also help you because it will provide you more stability and more security.

Because the truth is we have a system today that works well for the insurance industry, but it doesn't always work well for you. So what we need, and what we will have when we pass these reforms, are health insurance consumer protections to make sure that those who have insurance are treated fairly and insurance companies are held accountable.

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Obama Middle East Victories

President Obama's bold foreign policy and national security victories and successes in 2011 will cede him commanding leadership of the issue in the 2012 presidential elections.

In contrast, the President's top 2012 Republican competitors... former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, media personality and businessman Herman Cain... possess no foreign policy experience whatsoever.

President Obama proudly announced in his October 22, 2011 weekly address:

"This week, we had two powerful reminders of how we’ve renewed American leadership in the world. I was proud to announce that—as promised—the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of this year. And in Libya, the death of Moammar Qadhafi showed that our role in protecting the Libyan people, and helping them break free from a tyrant, was the right thing to do...

"These successes are part of a larger story. After a decade of war, we’re turning the page and moving forward, with strength and confidence. The drawdown in Iraq allowed us to refocus on Afghanistan and achieve major victories against al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. As we remove the last of our troops from Iraq, we’re beginning to bring our troops home from Afghanistan"

Obama Successes vs. Republican Failures

The bold success of President Obama's Middle East policies sharply contrast with Republican foreign policy miscalculations, including the bumbling failures of George Bush/Dick Cheney administration: Osama bin Laden - On May 2, 2011 by command of President Obama, U.S. Navy Seals killed international terrorist and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, who was hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The CIA-coordinated covert operation was exquisitely executed, and resulted in bin Laden's burial at sea.

In contrast, the Bush administration wasted billions over almost eight years ineptly chasing bin Laden, with no success. Immediately after 9/11, President Bush had declared that bin Laden's capture was a top priority. In fact, a 2009 government report showed that the Bush administration bungled a late 2001 opportunity to kill bin Laden.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi - Brutal despot Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan dictator for 32 years, was killed on October 20, 2011 as a direct result of President Obama's leadership in forging a U.N.-based coalition to protect the Libyan people.

In March 2011, the President declared, "... we cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy... where innocent men and women face brutality and death at the hands of their own government."

Republican lawmakers decried and parodied the President's Libya strategy, dubbing it "leading from behind" because the U.S. was working in concert with other countries... not taking the lead role in bombing and occupying Libya.

President Obama's successful Libya strategy proved, over only seven months, the worthiness and credibility of The Obama Doctrine on Foreign Intervention and War. Said the President, "Without putting a single U.S. service member on the ground, we achieved our objective."

"'The contrast between Bush's handling of Iraq and Afghanistan and Obama's handling of Libya is breathtaking,' said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. 'No ground footprint, no U.S. casualties and no responsibility for the day after,'" reported the Los Angeles Times.

Iraq War Withdrawal of U.S. Troops As he promised in his 2008 campaign, President Obama has ordered withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

"The announcement triggered some foolish criticism from neo-conservatives — who remain shamefully unapologetic for their role in unleashing this war — accused Mr. Obama of abandoning Iraq now. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, said Mr. Obama 'unnecessarily put at risk' hard-won victories. Like most of what Mr. Romney says about national security, that was absurd," opined the New York Times on October 21, 2011.

Through September 30, 2011, nearly 4,500 U.S. military have been killed in the Iraq War, and about 33,000 gravely wounded. The Bush/Cheney-led attack on and occupation of Iraq has cost American taxpayers almost $1 trillion, much of it lost through corruption and fraud. Yet nine years later, stability and democracy remain elusive in Iraq.

When President Obama was sworn into office, 142,000 U.S. solidiers were fighting in Iraq. At the end of September 2011, only 40,00o remained. "... today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over," announced the President on October 21, 2011.

Obama's former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, now Chicago mayor, summed up the 2012 politics of foreign policy when he told the New York Times, "Osama,... Qaddafi and now Iraq all underscore one thing: When it comes to being commander in chief, there is not a single Republican who can measure up to that."

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Convention Delegate Diary

I was elected in January 2007 to be a voting delegate for both the 2007 and 2008 California Democratic Party Conventions.

The 2007 convention my first as a delegate, and I blogged an online diary to be able to share the experience with About.com readers.

This I can tell you: I found the experience of being a convention delegate to be more rewarding and eye-opening than I ever imagined. And much more fun than anyone told me...

Day One of the California Democratic Party Convention - April 27, 2007

EXCERPT:
"Thousands of exuberant Democrats descended on the San Diego Convention Center today for Day One of the California 2007 Democratic Party Convention... much to the confusion of 12,000 eye doctors who are also convening here...

The time I enjoyed most today, registration... but not because of the long, friendly, unruly, joyous lines, or because of the delegate goodie bags... but because of the people I met, and the warm, challenging discussions that ensued...

Hospitality suites tonight feature several bashes & buffets, Funk Fest 07 hosted by 3 Sacramento lawmakers, a 007: Democrats Are Forever party co-hosted by California Young Democrats and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and... I'm serious... a 1970s-style folk music hootenanny hosted by Dennis Kucinich."

Day Two of the California Democratic Party Convention - April 28, 2007

EXCERPT:
"Twenty-one speakers addressed the 2,000 delegates to the California Democratic Convention today. Among the speakers were 3 U.S. House members, all of California, as well as former Governor Jerry Brown, and five other state officials.

Oh... and did I mention Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd and Dennis Kucinich?

Hillary Clinton looked tired, and her voice was raspy and hoarse. She's more attractive in person than I imagined from the horrid photos so often published of her...

Obama delivered a superbly inspiring speech that brought the delegates to their feet time and time again. But one disappointment about Senator Obama's speech was.. "

Final Day of the California Democratic Party Convention - April 29, 2007

EXCERPT:
"Starbucks in hand, delegates waded through swarming Edwards supporters to find our regions on the massive main floor. We settled into our too-familiar seats and relaxed for what we secretly hoped would be a slow morning. On the platform, the 21 regional chairs were awarding Democrat of the Year for hardworking activists in their district. The chatter was easy... peaceful... comfortable...

But we were dead wrong!

... John Edwards surprised me with his charisma and effectiveness at connecting intimately with the delegates.

He worked the convention floor brilliantly, pressing the flesh as he made an entrance worthy of a heavy-weight boxer, surrounded by exuberant, placard-waving supporters. "

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Prime Minister Paul Martin

Paul Martin entered politics after a successful business career as Chairman and CEO of Canada Steamship Lines, but he had been exposed to politics and the Liberal Party from an early age. His father, Paul Martin Sr., was a Liberal cabinet minister under four different prime ministers. Paul Martin made his mark in the Chretien government as finance minister, erasing a multi-billion dollar deficit, paying down debt and bringing in five budget surpluses in a row.

Paul Martin had lofty goals of reforming Parliament and giving Canada a place on the world stage, but he was indecisive in leadership and his government was overshadowed by scandal. Paul Martin himself was exonerated by the Gomery Inquiry into the sponsorship scandal, but the Liberal Party "culture of entitlement" was soundly rejected by Canadians. The Liberal minority government was defeated in the 2006 election and Paul Martin announced he would not lead the party in another election.

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New Canadian \$100 Bill in 2011

A new Canadian $100 bill will begin circulating in November 2011. The $100 bill is the first in the Polymer series of Canadian bank notes which will be printed on a plastic material. The plastic bank notes will be more secure, longer lasting and cheaper to produce than the current Canadian Journey series which is printed on cotton paper. The new bills will be lighter and smoother than the ones we're used to, and they might even feel a bit slippery. The new $100 bills will still be the same size and colour as the old ones, and still feature Sir Robert Borden. There are many other features that have changed however.

Like the other bills in the Polymer series, the $100 bills will have new security features to protect them from counterfeiting and make it easier to check if they are real. Those features include: raised ink two transparent areas. One runs from top to bottom on the front of the bill and contains a metallic portrait and building, small numbers, and transparent text. The second is a frosted maple leaf window with a transparent outline. on the reverse side of the note, the features in the large window are repeated. hidden numbers also allow users to verify a note.

The front of the Polymer $100 bill has an updated picture of Sir Robert Borden, Canada's Prime Minister through World War I. The reverse side of the new $100 bill pays tribute to Canadian innovations in medicine: the discovery of insulin, the invention of the pacemaker, and mapping the human genetic code.

The Bank of Canada is Canada's central bank. As well as being responsible for Canadian monetary policy, for promoting sound financial systems in Canada and abroad, and providing funds-management and central banking services for the federal government, the Bank of Canada also designs and issues Canadian bank notes.

The Bank of Canada will spend about six months making sure that retailers, banks, police and the public are fully aware of how to check the new bills to make sure they are authentic.

To see the features of the new $100 bill, watch the video from the Bank of Canada.

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Liberal Issues for 2010

Look for finalization of health care reform legislation to be excruciatingly difficult!

On November 7, 2009 by a vote of 220 to 215, the House passed health reform which included a watered-down public plan option, and the Stupak amendment, which restricts womens' access to all abortions if coverage is purchased through a government exchange.

On December 24, 2009 by a party-line vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed health reform which excluded any public or Medicare-like option, but contained less restrictive language on funding of abortions.

A Congressional conference committee must reconcile the two bills into one package that can survive another vote by both the House and Senate, which will than be signed into law by President Obama.

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Top '08 Issues in Nevada, Key Battleground State

Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis,
In May 2008, for the the 17th consecutive month, the state of Nevada experienced the highest forclosure rate in the nation.

One in every 118 Nevada households received a foreclosure notice in May 2008, per ConsumerReports.com. One in 43 Nevada homes is "in financial trouble" per MSNBC on August 5, 2008.

While the Nevada legislature is contemplating new laws to confront the foreclosure crisis, Nevada voters will flock to support the presidential candidate who offers aid to frustrated homeowners and to financially-strapped lower-income and middle-class wage earners.

Immigration Reform
Reform of U.S. immigration laws is a key issue in Nevada, particularly in the Las Vegas area, where Latinos comprise 22% of the massive entertainment and tourist services workforce. The vast majority of Latinos employed by hotels and casinos labor in hourly wage jobs. In Nevada, Latino workers also comprise 81% of the agricultural workforce 47% of the construction and mining workforce.

Nevada Democratic voters will stand with a presidential candidate who wholeheartedly supports liberalizing immigration laws, including:

Storage of Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain
All Nevadans, liberals and conservatives, are quite concerned over the U.S. Department of Energy's determined plans to dump high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

Writes Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada at his Senate website, "I have been fighting this project because it threatens our health and safety. Nevadans are overwhelmingly opposed to this Project, and some have been led to believe that its completion is inevitable. I disagree. We have solid scientific evidence behind us, and I believe we can defeat this ill-conceived project."

For more, see Environmental Issues: Nuclear Energy & Nuclear Waste.

Look for all Nevadans to ask Barack Obama and John McCain about their intentions for Yucca Mountain.

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Occupy Wall St endorsements

As of October 6, 2011, the fledgling Occupy Wall Street Movement had been directly endorsed by more than 50 organizations and labor unions, and supported by Democratic political leaders, local officials and celebrity-activists across the nation.

This article features a samplng of these endorsements and statements of empathy and support for the Occupy Wall Street Movement, also known as the 99 Percent Movement. Also read: From President Obama
"I think it expresses the frustrations the American people feel, that we had the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, huge collateral damage all throughout the country ... and yet you're still seeing some of the same folks who acted irresponsibly trying to fight efforts to crack down on the abusive practices that got us into this in the first place..." --- October 6, 2011 Press Conference From Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Paul Bernank
"Well, I would say very generally I think people are quite unhappy with the state of the economy and what’s happening. They blame, with some justification, the problems in the financial sector for getting us into this mess, and they’re dissatisfied with the policy response here in Washington...

"I can’t blame them. Certainly 9 percent unemployment and very slow growth is not a very good situation." --- Congressional Testimony, October 4, 2011

From the Los Angeles City Council, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
"Protesters who have gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles to show solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protesters in lower Manhattan received 100 rain ponchos from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Wednesday morning...

"The mayor of the city is not the only official to support the demonstration. Seven of the 15 councilmembers on Wednesday voted to support 'peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by Occupy Los Angeles'." --- Los Angeles Times, October 5, 2011

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
"The focus is on Wall Street and justifiably so. The message of the American people is that no longer … will the recklessness of some on Wall Street cause massive joblessness on Main Street...

"God bless them for their spontaneity. It’s young, it’s spontaneous, it’s focused and it’s going to be effective." --- Comments to Press, October 6, 2011

From Sen. Russ Feingold, former three-term senator from Wisconsin
"I’m really encouraged by what I’m seeing. People around the country are finally organizing to stand up to the huge influence of corporations on government and our lives. This kind of citizen reaction to corporate power and corporate greed is long overdue." --- Washington Post, October 5, 2011 From Richard Trumka, President of AFL-CIO, representing 11 million U.S. workers
"I think it’s a tactic and a valid tactic to call attention to a problem. Wall Street is out of control... We need to bring back balance to the financial economy, and calling attention to it and peacefully protesting is a very legitimate way of doing it.

"I think being in the streets and calling attention to issues is sometimes the only recourse you have because, God only knows, you can go to the Hill, and you can talk to a lot of people and see nothing ever happen…..."--- C-SPAN interview by Brookings Institute, September 30, 2011

From Vice President Joe Biden
"What is the core of that protest, and why is it increasing in terms of the people it's attracting? The core is the bargain has been breached with the American people. The American people do not think the system is fair or on the level." Comments to Press, October 6, 2011 Rep. Barney Frank, 15-Term Congressman from Massachusetts
"I certainly welcome the energy, I would just like to see it better channeled. The problem is, it’s going to get dissipated real fast if the energy is not channeled...

"If I thought there was no chance at success, I wouldn’t urge people to do it... I’m of the opinion they represent a good deal of public opinion." --- National Review interview, October 5, 2011

Related - Also read Occupy Wall Street Movement Could Influence 2012 Elections

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Repubs on Occupy Wall Street

Republican political leaders' reactions to the Occupy Wall Street movement range from condescension and the usual hypocrisy to paranoia, fear, and sheer looniness.

As the movement has flourished, a few have softened their public stances to include politically palatable empathy. But none changed their colorful, core reactions, which are listed below for the 2012 presidential candidates and assorted other Republican reactionaries.

For more about the Occupy Wall Street Movement, see:

Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor - See Liberal Guide to Mitt Romney in 2012
"I think it’s dangerous, this class warfare." --- October 4, 2011 remarks at Florida retirement community

Herman Cain, radio personality, businessman - See Liberal Guide to Herman Cain in 2012
"... I happen to believe that these demonstrations are planned and orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration. Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks, if you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself! --- October 5, 2011 remarks to the press

Rick Perry, Texas governor - See Liberal Guide to Rick Perry in 2012
"Liberals are now pointing the finger of blame at successful employers under the guise of fairness, but when they utter phrases like 'fair share' you just know, heh, they’re once again playing fast and furious with the truth.

"And the truth is you can’t reve up the engine of economic growth by heaping higher taxes on job creators, you can’t spread success by punishing it... " --- October 7, 2011 remarks at conservative Value Voters Summit

Karl Rove, Bush administration senior advisor, Republican strategist
"What are these people for? To the degree that they're for anything, it's left-wing nuttiness." --- October 10, 2011 remarks to Fox News anchor Sean Hannity

Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House
"I think the people who are protesting in Wall Street break into two groups: one is left-wing agitators who would be happy to show up next week on any other topic, and the other is sincere middle-class people who frankly are very close to the Tea Party people who care.

"And actually...you can tell which are which. The people who are decent, responsible citizens pick up after themselves. The people who are just out there as activists trash the place and walk off and are proud of having trashed it, so let’s draw that distinction." --- October 11, 2011 remarks at Republican debate

Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky
"I see the president’s rhetoric of envy inflaming the public and saying, ‘Go get yours because rich people don’t deserve it.'

"I see it as inflaming this Paris mob that I hope doesn't result in a lawlessness where they say, 'Well, gosh, those nice iPads through the window should be mine and why don't I throw a brick through the window to get them because rich people don't deserve to have them when I can't have them.'" --- October 7, 2011 remarks to Fox Business News

Eric Cantor, House Republican Leader
"If you read the newspapers today, I, for one, am increasingly concerned about the growing mobs occupying Wall Street and the other cities across the country. And believe it or not, some in this town, have actually condoned the pitting of Americans against Americans...." --- October 7, 2011 remarks at conservative Value Voters Summit

Michele Bachmann, Congresswoman from Minnesota
"Barack Obama’s policies have put us in one of the worst tailspins economically that we have. Maybe that’s why the protest I saw was within shouting distance of the White House." --- October 9, 2011 remarks to Fox News

Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
""These are the same old folks who have been protesting since the Vietnam war ... they really don't curry much favor in my book." --- October 7, 2011 remarks to CNBC

Paul Broun, Congressman from Georgia
"Well, if you look at what they’ve been telling in the media, they don’t know why they’re there, they’re just mad. And I see people angry in my district too, but this attack upon business, attack upon industry, attack upon freedom, and I think that’s what this is all about." --- October 7, 2011 remarks to ABC News

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Healthcare Definitions

This article lists basic definitions of healthcare plan terms used in the 2009 political debate over policies and issues in connection with President Obama's goal to provide universal health care for all Americans.

Healthcare plan terms are defined in alphabetical order.

Guaranteed Insurance
Means that all Americans would be guaranteed access to healthcare services.

Senate Health, Education & Welfare Committee Chair Ted Kennedy's June 2009 healthcare plan proposal, the Affordable Health Choices Act, would ensure that all Americans are guaranteed "access to affordable and quality health care."

Mandatory Insurance Requirement
Means that all Americans would be required to obtain healthcare insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents.

In 2006, the state of Massachusetts legislated a mandatory healthcare plan, which, in two years, has proven remarkably successful in covering almost all (97%) of state residents of all ages.

Nonprofit Co-op Option
In June 2009, Senate Budget Committee Chair Kent Conrad (D-ND) proposed a non-profit, co-op healthcare plan alternative to both public and private sector plans.

Co-op details are being negotiated behind closed Senate doors. Commented Sen. Conrad about the innovative concept that has caught the interest of top Senate Republicans:

"It would be non-profit, that would have the same plans and would be subject to the same standards (as private plans)... That would provide an alternative to for-profit insurance companies, so that there's a different delivery model for competition."

Private Sector Option
Private sector option refers to healthcare insurance plans provided by for-profit insurance corporations such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Kaiser.

The primary complaint against private sector healthcare insurance is that existing plans exclude tens of millions of Americans due to high costs, narrow coverage of procedures, pre-existing medical conditions, and capriciously selective payment of benefits.

Public Plan Option, Public Option
The public option or public plan option refers to a government health insurance program similar to Medicare, which would be offered as an option to private-sector healthcare plans.

The public option would be open to anyone, like Medicare, would not exclude coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions, and would cover the millions of Americans who have difficulty obtaining healthcare insurance for health or cost reasons.

A public healthcare plan would cost significantly less than plans provided by for-profit corporations, which is why the private sector fears and fights a public plan option. About 60% of physicians favor a public healthcare plan, similar to Medicare, being offered to all Americans.

Per Rasmussen polling on June 15, 2009, 41% 0f American adults agree, and 41% disagree, that "it would be a good idea to set up a government health insurance company to compete with private health insurance companies."

Single Payer System
Refers to only a public plan option being offered to provide healthcare plan coverage for all Americans. All payments to doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers would be made from a single Medicare-like fund

Many progressives and liberals strongly support a single payer system as the only way to fairly provide healthcare to all Americans.

Conservatives unanimously oppose a single payer system, deriding it as "socialized medicine" and "government healthcare." The main reason for conservative opposition is based on ideological suspicion of government-provided services.

Dozens of countries, including Canada, Australia and Taiwan, have successfully used single payer healthcare systems for many years to cover all citizens.

Universal Health Care
Universal health care is a generic term that refers to the provision of a panoply of healthcare services to all citizens or residents of a country.

"Universal health care is implemented in all but one of the wealthy, industrialized countries, with the exception being the United States. It is also provided in many developing countries and is the trend worldwide," per Wikipedia.

As early as January 2007, then-candidate Obama urged that "universal health care for every single American must not be a question of whether. It must be a question of how."

During the '08 presidential campaign, Obama promised that he "will make available a new national health plan to all Americans."

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In Flanders Fields

The poem In Flanders Field was written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, soldier and poet.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~John McCrae, 1915

During World War I, John McCrae was tending the wounded and dying in the trenches at the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders area of Belgium as the Canadians held their ground against chlorine gas attacks. When a close friend was killed and buried in a quick grave marked with a plain wooden cross, John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields.

First published in Punch magazine in 1915, the poem In Flanders Fields has become an abiding symbol of remembrance worldwide.

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T4A Tax Slips

A Canadian T4A tax slip, or Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income, is prepared and issued by an employer, a trustee, an estate executor or liquidator, a pension administrator, or a corporate director, to tell you and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) how much of certain types of income they paid you during a tax year and the amount of income tax that was deducted.

Income covered by T4A tax slips includes: pension or superannuationlump-sum paymentsself-employed commissionsannuitiesretiring allowancespatronage allocationsRESP accumulated income paymentsRESP educational assistance paymentspayments under a wage-loss replacement planother income, including death benefits, registered disability savings plan payments, research grants, scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, artists' project grants, and prizes.

T4A tax slips must be issued by the last day of February the year after the calendar year to which the T4 tax slips apply.

This page from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) site shows a T4A tax slip. For more information on what is included in each box on the T4A tax slip and how to deal with it when filing your income tax return, click on the box number in the pull-down menu or click on the box on the sample T4A tax slip.

When you file a paper income tax return, include copies of each of the T4A tax slips you receive. If you file your income tax return using NETFILE, TELEFILE or EFILE, keep copies of your T4A tax slips with your records for six years in case the CRA asks to see them.

If you haven't received a T4A tax slip, file your income tax return by the deadline anyway to avoid penalties for filing your income taxes late. Calculate the income and any related deductions and credits you can claim as closely as you can using any information you have. Include a note with the issuer's name and address, the type of income, and what you have done to get a copy of the missing T4A slip. You are required to ask for a copy of the missing T4A slip. Include copies of any statements and information you used in calculating the income and deductions for the missing T4A tax slip.

Other T4 tax information slips include: T4 - Statement of Remuneration PaidT4A(OAS) - Statement of Old Age SecurityT4A(P) - Statement of Canada Pension Plan BenefitsT4E - Statement of Employment Insurance and Other BenefitsT4RIF - Statement of Income From a Registered Retirement Income FundT4RSP - Statement of RRSP Income

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Sen. Ben Cardin of MD

Ten-term Rep. Ben Cardin was first elected in November 2006 as U.S. senator from Maryland.

Sen. Cardin is running in 2012 for reelection to the U.S. Senate.

Cardin is a respected bipartisan legislator who voted against the Iraq War in 2002. He opposes Social Security privatization, and supports embryonic stem cell research. He's widely respected for his ethical leadership.

Ten-term Congressman Ben Cardin was first elected to the House in 1986, where he's focused on pension reform, Social Security, health care and welfare reform.

He's a senior member of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee. Cardin has sponsored a plethora of successful, bipartisan-based bills, and is widely regarded as an ethical leader and able legislator.

He's the ranking House Democrat on the Helsinki Commission, which oversees military, human rights and other US-European matters.

On Working on a Bipartisan Basis

" I’m one of those Democrats who’s been able to work across party lines to get things done. I’ve been able to get major bills passed in a very partisan environment, because I know how to work with Republicans... I’ve done that in health care, I’ve done that in pension changes, I’ve done that in tax code. So I know how to get things done."

--- NBC's Meet the Press on October 29, 2006

On Health Care for All

"Congress should pass a program that provides for universal health insurance coverage. It is not acceptable for us to have 45 to 47 million Americans without health insurance.

It's not fair for those who have health insurance to pay for those who do not have health insurance. That was the frustration in Maryland, where you had companies that were not only paying for their own employees but literally paying for their competitors' employees because of the extra cost for the uninsured.

So the Congress should pass legislation that guarantees that every person in this country has health insurance... "

--- MyDD blog interview on February 6, 2006

On Education

"People on welfare need to have education and training. It should be our number one priority for all Americans. We shouldn't have a second standard for those that are on welfare."

--- Interview with newsman Jim Lehrer of PBS on May 14, 2002

On the Iraq War

"Iraq’s in the middle of a civil war. We need to combine withdrawing our troops with also a political and diplomatic solution. We need to engage the international community and recognize that there’s a civil war going on in Iraq. It’s not in our interests to continue the current policy...

On the first day that we start bringing our troops home, the international community will know that we’re no longer looking at Iraq as an occupational force... On the last day... we will have been successful in engaging the international community for a stable Iraq... "

--- NBC's Meet the Press on October 29, 2006

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2011 Flu Shots and Clinics

Vaccination programs for the 2011 flu season have begun in Canada. There's just one flu shot this year. It covers the same three strains of flu as last year: the 2009 H1N1 strain, an influenza A called H3N2, and an influenza B component. Since the vaccination programs are managed by the provinces, the timing, priorities and whether or not the shots are free depends on the Canadian province or territory. The links below are to information on the seasonal flu virus and vaccinations in each province and territory in Canada, as well as links to help you find a clinic where you can get a flu shot.

If you have any questions about whether the flu vaccine is appropriate for you, ask your doctor or a public health practitioner.

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Manifesto-Occupy Wall St Mvt

The Occupy Wall Street Movement, also known as the 99 Percent Movement, has rapidly grown from a grassroots band of several hundred protesters marching in New York City on September 17, 2011 to, by October 1, 2011, energized protest demonstrations in ten major U.S. cities, as well as a powerful internet presence.

As of October 6, 2011, the fledgling movement had been directly endorsed by more than 50 organizations and labor unions, and supported by Democratic political leaders, celebrity-activists, and local officials across the nation.

This article presents the full-text of Occupy Wall Street Movement's admirably bold and clear declaration, published on the internet on September 30, 2011. Also read:

Declaration and Manifesto of Occupy Wall Street Movement

"As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

"As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.

"We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known. They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage. They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses. They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization. They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless animals, and actively hide these practices. They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions. They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right. They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay. They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility. They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance. They have sold our privacy as a commodity. They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press. They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit. They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce. They have donated large sums of money to politicians, who are responsible for regulating them. They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil. They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives or provide relief in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantial profit. They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit. They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media. They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt. They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad. They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas. They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.*"To the people of the world,

"We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.

"Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

"To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.

"Join us and make your voices heard!"

*NOTE - These grievances are not all-inclusive.

Source - NYC General Assembly, Official Website of #OccupyWallStreet

Related - Also read Occupy Wall Street Movement Could Influence 2012 Elections

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Obama's Berlin Speech

 The first half of Obama's extraordinary speech, was of mild interest, and served mainly to set context. The second half, though, was near-perfect political manna for progressives battered by the neoconservative mantra of preemptive aggression and power-seeking, fear-mongering American imperialism. In it, Obama identified seven vital security and moral threats of grave world concern that no country or region, alone, can resolve. For the full critique of Obama's Berlin speech, see Obama's Berlin Speech Was Political Manna for Progressives. "A World That Stands as One"Sen. Barack Obama Berlin, Germany July 24th, 2008 Thank you to the citizens of Berlin and to the people of Germany. Let me thank Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Steinmeier for welcoming me earlier today. Thank you Mayor Wowereit, the Berlin Senate, the police, and most of all thank you for this welcome. I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before. Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen – a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world. I know that I don’t look like the Americans who’ve previously spoken in this great city. The journey that led me here is improbable. My mother was born in the heartland of America, but my father grew up herding goats in Kenya. His father – my grandfather – was a cook, a domestic servant to the British. At the height of the Cold War, my father decided, like so many others in the forgotten corners of the world, that his yearning – his dream – required the freedom and opportunity promised by the West. And so he wrote letter after letter to universities all across America until somebody, somewhere answered his prayer for a better life. Berlin Understands the Dream of Freedom That is why I’m here. And you are here because you too know that yearning. This city, of all cities, knows the dream of freedom. And you know that the only reason we stand here tonight is because men and women from both of our nations came together to work, and struggle, and sacrifice for that better life. Ours is a partnership that truly began sixty years ago this summer, on the day when the first American plane touched down at Templehof. On that day, much of this continent still lay in ruin. The rubble of this city had yet to be built into a wall. The Soviet shadow had swept across Eastern Europe, while in the West, America, Britain, and France took stock of their losses, and pondered how the world might be remade. This is where the two sides met. And on the twenty-fourth of June, 1948, the Communists chose to blockade the western part of the city. They cut off food and supplies to more than two million Germans in an effort to extinguish the last flame of freedom in Berlin. "People of the world, look at Berlin!" The size of our forces was no match for the much larger Soviet Army. And yet retreat would have allowed Communism to march across Europe. Where the last war had ended, another World War could have easily begun. All that stood in the way was Berlin. And that’s when the airlift began – when the largest and most unlikely rescue in history brought food and hope to the people of this city. The odds were stacked against success. In the winter, a heavy fog filled the sky above, and many planes were forced to turn back without dropping off the needed supplies. The streets where we stand were filled with hungry families who had no comfort from the cold. But in the darkest hours, the people of Berlin kept the flame of hope burning. The people of Berlin refused to give up. And on one fall day, hundreds of thousands of Berliners came here, to the Tiergarten, and heard the city’s mayor implore the world not to give up on freedom. "There is only one possibility," he said. "For us to stand together united until this battle is won…The people of Berlin have spoken. We have done our duty, and we will keep on doing our duty. People of the world: now do your duty…People of the world, look at Berlin!" People of the world – look at Berlin! Ties of Trust Between Germans and Americans Look at Berlin, where Germans and Americans learned to work together and trust each other less than three years after facing each other on the field of battle. Look at Berlin, where the determination of a people met the generosity of the Marshall Plan and created a German miracle; where a victory over tyranny gave rise to NATO, the greatest alliance ever formed to defend our common security. Look at Berlin, where the bullet holes in the buildings and the somber stones and pillars near the Brandenburg Gate insist that we never forget our common humanity. People of the world – look at Berlin, where a wall came down, a continent came together, and history proved that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one. Sixty years after the airlift, we are called upon again. History has led us to a new crossroad, with new promise and new peril. When you, the German people, tore down that wall – a wall that divided East and West; freedom and tyranny; fear and hope – walls came tumbling down around the world. From Kiev to Cape Town, prison camps were closed, and the doors of democracy were opened. Markets opened too, and the spread of information and technology reduced barriers to opportunity and prosperity. While the 20th century taught us that we share a common destiny, the 21st has revealed a world more intertwined than at any time in human history. View the original article here

Cairine Wilson

In 1930 Cairine Wilson became the first woman appointed to the Canadian Senate, just months after the Persons Case gave women the right to sit in the Senate. It was 23 years before another woman was appointed to the Senate in Canada. Cairine Wilson was also Canada's first woman delegate to the United Nations.

February 4, 1885 in Montreal, Quebec

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Estate Tax Pros & Cons

President Bush described his rationale for repealing the federal estate tax, calling it "a matter of fairness." He said, "The death tax results in the double taxation of many family assets while hurting the source of most new jobs in this country---America's small business and farms."

Let's analyze his reasons, phrase by phrase.

First, Republicans are calling it a "death tax" because they think that makes it more sellable. It's not a tax on death. It's a tax on multi-million-plus dollar estates. Rep Chris Cox from ritzy Newport Beach, California dramatically declared that those pushing to retain an estate tax "want to pry lots of cash out of the cold, dead fingers of America's deceased entrepreneurs." Cox sounded downright silly.

Second, it IS double taxation, and that is not "fair." The Internal Revenue Code is not intended to be fair to anyone. The Code is riddled with dozens of double taxation situations. For the estate tax, double taxation occurs because the person is taxed annually on their incomes. He is taxed then again on some assets he purchases with income leftover after taxes. Most assets passed on with estates (houses, stocks, bonds) are not taxed until sold.

Is that fair? No. So what? Most of the Code is not fair, least of all to middle class taxpayers. Deal with it.

Third, the President said that if the estate tax remains, small businesses and farms owned by extremely wealthy people will suffer when those people die. This statement is misleading and generally false.

Extremely wealthy people don't accumulate wealth now through small businesses and family farms. Large farms are owned by corporations, and small businesses must grow into enormous corporations to give individuals great wealth. Bill Gates of Microsoft, and Martha Stewart of Martha Stewart Omnimedia are prime examples.

In fact, jobs will be lost if the federal estate tax is repealed, by greatly weakening the economy due to reducing federal tax revenues by $1 trillion.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi summed up the reasons to retain the federal estate tax when she said the bill favored the "super-rich" and would make federal deficits worse.

It's a matter of timing and national priorities, not fairness to rich people. It's a matter of fairness to the nation as a whole, to middle class taxpayers and to the needy in the US.

The US trade deficit, incurred entirely under President Bush, is a world-history high of $61 billion and growing, owed mainly to China and Japan. The US has no plans or methods to repay it. Due to this debt burden, a myriad of scenarios could plunge the US into a drastic economic depression at any time.

Subtracting $1 trillion from the US government would be catastrophic and irresponsible not only in dealing with federal debt, but in funding services for US taxpayers...among them: education, healthcare, local homeland security and, of course, Social Security. These vital programs are already under financial stress. More tax cuts for multi-millionaires will cause even greater erosion of such services.

In truth, the Bush goal to repeal the federal estate tax accomplishes several cherished Republican goals. First, of course, is to give more tax breaks to ultra-wealthy families like the Bushes and Cheneys.

Cutting government revenues is also a "back-door" way to apply more pressure to cut Social Security benefits. President Bush is determined to find ways to eventually stop giving back to the US middle class the money they have paid into the Social Security system.

Repeal of the federal estate tax would require severe cuts in government progams that would be unfair and life-changing to middle class Americans and to the needy, children, elderly and disabled.

Far more unfair than denting the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Legislation to repeal the federal estate tax next moves on to the US Senate for debate. The Senate has historically defeated this measure. The 109th Senate, however, has only 44 Democrats, so conservative conditions may be more favorable to pass this Bush bill.

Per the Washington Post, Senate Democratic filibuster is expected for this measure, and Republicans don't anticipate mustering the 60 votes needed to overcome filibuster.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is actively working behind the scenes to forge a compromise on repealing the federal estate tax. Leading negotiations for Senate Democrats is Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). Rumor is that Senate Republicans'starting position in negotiations would set a minimum estate value taxation threshold at $10 million for an individual.

The federal estate tax issue will likely be addressed by the full Senate in May 2005. A successul compromise with the House bill would be sent to the President for signature.

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plurality electoral system

Definition: A plurality electoral system is an electoral system in which candidates can win seats without receiving a majority of the votes. Most plurality electoral systems use single-member electoral districts, whose boundaries must be changed from time to time to remain relatively equal in population.

In a plurality electoral system, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes wins, but does not have to have a majority.

There are five main types of plurality electoral systems:

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