[Dr Caleb]

Interesting questions. I can answer one: <br /> <br />[quote] <br />Why, if the highest speed limit in Canad is 100km/h, do they make cars that can go 200km/h? Has it not been proven that speed kills? [/quote] <br /> <br />There are speed limits up to 110km/h. Lower engine RPM at speed means better fuel economy. That leaves the rest of the engine RPM range open to speeding. Most cars, if they are capable of higher speeds, are limited to 165km/h. <br /> <br />Limiting a car to a maximum speed can only be done through software in the car's PCU (Powertrain Control Unit) and that software is easily defeated. Legislation of such limits is a waste of time. <br />

[whelan costen]

Most of those questions can be answered fairly simply, 'greed'. It is part of our make-up, varying degrees in each person, but mostly the inability or desire to control it. I want what I want,when I want it, whether it is a faster car or having something that doesn't belong to me, be that a person or thing. The reason I say it is in our make-up is basicly because we need the desire to eat, etc in order to survive, but when we don't control those desires, that is the problem. Loss of self-control and greed. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/cry.gif' alt='Cry'> <br /> <br />It is reality, but if we focus on the negatives, we'd all go insane, so better to accept that they exist and try to do our part to make the world better, one person at a time.

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= whelan costen] Most of those questions can be answered fairly simply, 'greed'. It is part of our make-up, varying degrees in each person, but mostly the inability or desire to control it. I want what I want,when I want it, whether it is a faster car or having something that doesn't belong to me, be that a person or thing. The reason I say it is in our make-up is basicly because we need the desire to eat, etc in order to survive, but when we don't control those desires, that is the problem. Loss of self-control and greed. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/cry.gif' alt='Cry'> <br /> <br />It is reality, but if we focus on the negatives, we'd all go insane, so better to accept that they exist and try to do our part to make the world better, one person at a time.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br /> <br />If we want to make the world a better place, then we had better start having kids. I have no confidence in the ability of of over 40s to change.

[Crankster]

"If we want to make the world a better place, then we had better start having kids. I have no confidence in the ability of of over 40s to change." <br /> <br /> There is so much truth in that statement,Perturbed.Except for the "more kids" part.We need to better educate the children we have now instead of adding more. <br /> Now don't get me wrong,I love kids,I have four of my own.They vary in age from 5yrs to 15yrs.They have all been taught to respect,thats,R-E-S-P-E-C-T,the planet and those around them.Of course,they are kids,they make mistakes,who dosen't. <br /> It all begins at home.If the home front is volitile,chances are,kids will have an esteem challenge and grow up with a huge chip on the ol' shoulder.I know i have. <br /> Being "over 40",it has been a challenge to change my thinking patterns and establish a healthier outlook on life.Judging from some of my posting(ranting),you can see for yourself it ain't easy being me.I'm not asking for forgiveness,or a shoulder to cry on. Just showing how damn easy it is to fall into what some call'stinkin thinkin'. <br /> Being over 40 means that we should have the wisdom to initiate change in ourselves and see that our kids are brought up well adjusted. <br /> After all,the world is going to someday be in the hands of the youngest child in our midst.I'd like to think they will be capable of handling the mess we leave behind. <br /> <br />

[Crankster]

Just had to put this up while on the topic of kids. <br />In my work place,I am responsable for severl young adults.I am thier teacher so to speak.It is a wood shop,where production is key to a paycheck.Simply put,no production,no pay. <br /> Not all young'uns are suited to this.By work habits alone(those that stay long enough),one can deduce with a certainty,what kind of family life a person has been brought up in. <br /> In this shop,we have everything from the classic'don't care' type to the eager beaver.Through key performance traits,one can see how the child blossomed into the young adult and retained the traits that made his /her life bearable in the face of the turmoil they grew up in. <br /> Makes teaching and administrating to them very interestin.Also,the insite gained is very valuable to how to place them in the shop and at what job. <br /> In essence what I'm saying,peek-a-boo,i see you!In your kid that is.

[Calumny]

We need to remember that with perhaps the exception of mathematics/science a lot of the best work done in many 'human' oriented fields is done by those in their forties and beyond. <br /> <br />The nasty trick played on humans is that the years where they have all the piss and vinegar aren't those were most have the experience or wisdom (although, I like most of us figured I did at the time.). But the time you have the tools to use, the energy thing becomes an issue for most. <br /> <br />Oddly enough, I've found as I've aged my thinking has become more open to new lines of enquiry. <br /> <br />The answer to all the questions come to one, which is 'choice'. <br /> <br />We have the world we've chosen to have, either through omission or commission. People have the choice to think, or not; to aacept, or not; to truly live, or not. <br /> <br />It's funny because I remember many jokes made when I was a kid about the Dutch getting Manhattan island from the natives for a few beads and trinkets. <br /> <br />The funny part is, that's what most have us have done to ourselves, i.e., sold our lives for a few beads and trinkets we don't need anyway. <br /> <br />Now, in the native's defense and given the free market, it might not have been a bad deal, e.g., trade off a piece of land, when you have much more, for items that are scarce or non-existent in your own culture, and as such 'of value' to the human mind. It's a bit more difficult to justify our own actions. <br /> <br />Fact is, it's easier to throw ones hands up in the air because 'there's nothing I or any one person' can do and surrender our brains to the powers that be in exchange for a new T.V., then moan about the society and the world in general, with a good dose of 'someone should do something' added. <br /> <br />I'm not criticizing anyone, I'm as guilty myself of the above as anyone. <br /> <br />But, as was pointed out bu Mr. Bin Laden in one of 'his' communications, no one is innocent. Sins of ommission are no less sins than those of commission. If you choose, and make no mistake about it, you are choosing, to sit blindly by and accept what is good for you out of actions that are not good overall, you are in the same group as those performing the undesirable actions, regardless of not participating directly. <br /> <br />Crankster, you made some very valid points. The education system and societal values in general should not be left out of the mix. <br /> <br />I was amazed by the 'touchy-feely' 'everything you do is good, regardless of effort expended' nonsense and the concept that one's 'self-esteem' should be based on just being alive, rather than what they do, e.g., even the laziest, nastiest, etc., person should feel good about themselves, my kids often got in school. <br /> <br />I'm equally amazed at the crap we allow on television, i.e., Survivor, Apprentice type shows that reward the worst in humans, shows with yappy, smart mouthed kids and moronic parents, etc., and in advertising, e.g., thirteen year olds tarted up to look like twenty year olds. Not because I'm a prude, just because none of this garbage can in anyway be of benefit to society. <br /> <br />In terms of the family, I was raised in a small business environment and learned the notion of the 'work ethic' at an early age (didn't enjoy learning it, but learned it anyway.). <br /> <br />You see a lot of teenagers out working in part-time jobs. But you also see a lot who have everything handed to them by their parents without ever having to earn it and a lot with parents who in the brief times they see them are 'friends' more than parents. <br /> <br />So you end up with a lot of kids who have had everything handed to them, both at home and school, never been taught the difference between quality effort and no effort and have been given the impression in the school system that 'voicing their opinions' is (regardless of sound basis, content or context) of some immense value to everyone. <br /> <br />Not surprised not all the "young'uns" don't work out. Still, guess they don't have to, as there'll always be a place in mom and dad's basement. <br /> <br /> <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/biggrin.gif' alt='Big Grin'>

[robert_fisher]

Wow, everyone made some good points. <br /> <br />Dr Caleb you are such a scientist. Whatever that means, but yes, I realised that was the answer to the km/h question as well. I just though omitting it wouldn't be do the author any justice. I do appreciate your answer though, I love being proved wrong or right through logical explanation rather than coming to a stalemate via arguments and opinion. <br /> <br />Whelan, I wish I could be so optimistic. You do make a good point though, that we must work on the problems 'one person at a time.' Unfortunately I am loosing sanity. Hopefully it is a bump on the path towards the acceptance of the greedy person's existance and I will come back around again. <br /> <br />Perturbed I am with you. The only hope is in the future, there are too many people profiting and leading lives that could only survive when things are as FUBAR as they are. It's just a shame things always seem to have to get worse before they get better. <br /> <br />Crankster, it's nice to know that people are raising their kids with some ethics and morals. My parents did a good job of that, work ethic and resepct for other people, I still think there is more to teach. I know that is easy for me to say, as I don't have a child in my immediate future, but kids need to be educated in the areas where the school stops. Areas such as social, and environmental responsibility, something that the mainstream learning environment doesn't teach to any extent. <br /> <br />Calumny, being filled with piss and vinegar is about all I have right now, I am working on the experience and wisdom. Until then I am trying to find my place to make positive change. I think the most frustrating part about my issues with society is that despite my lack of experience and wisdom most of the world's problems are easily solved. The only problem with the solution is that society is too comfortable with the way things are to make the sacrafices needed to make the world a better place in the future. This is probably obvious to other people as well, the one thing that I suppose we can all do to make the world better is to simply stop it from getting worse. <br /> <br />It's just a shame that the system we have now allows us to make change, but in practise there is so much compteting economic interest that things never do actually get changed. Catch 22.

[whelan costen]

You know it is true that I am an optimist, but I didn't grow up in an all rosy world either, most of us didn't. The difference is in how we look at the world and each situation. Someone once told me that it isn't the situation that is crazy it is how you decide to handle it. That is how I see the world, a little crazy but with help we can manage. Kids are definitely the future, but if we continue to have children and not raise children, we will end up with more of what we have today. 'Me first' mentality and many brag about having it, they don't see it as a negative, but rather they see it as being better than the rest. <br /> <br />I think the over forty crowd, myself included have a great deal to teach the younger generations, and the easiest way to do it, is by our actions. Everyday we have opportunities to conduct ourselves in a positive way, to treat youth with respect and demand the same in return. Yes I mean demand. A fair number of people my age thought it was a good idea to be their children's friend, and their friends friend; it may seem great at the time all sitting around drinking beer together, or playing cards or whatever, but kids do not want adults to be their friends, they want someone to be in charge, someone to set limits, to show an example, someone to look up to and rebel against. (Funny thing I thought I was on the right track when I was raising my kids, but they have confirmed it since, by saying they didn't respect those parents, and the poor kids just didn't have a chance, no direction Mom, no discipline, really rotten lifestyle...so say my kids now...and I laugh, 'cause I was a really strict, rotten 'so and so' back then but now I'm ok) <br /> <br />(Oh and if you happen to be one of those kids living in that kind of environment, tell your parents in a nice way, hey we would prefer to look up to you and not have you as a buddy.Most parents would be surprised but honesty does work) <br /> <br />The world will be better when we stop laughing at racist jokes, stop complementing the speeder for not getting caught, stop ignoring the trash thrown on the street, etc etc. When we speak out on issues that are important if we use language that elevates the mind, instead of cursing at someone else, we'll be sending a message to others and setting an example. If I sound preachy, it's cause I have my mother hat on tonight...sorry if it's too much, just count yourself lucky you didn't have to grow up with me. <br /> <br />These are just my thoughts, but I don't think the world is helplessly falling into a pit of hell, it's just that we need a nice cool bucket of water to throw on it and I think we can all be a part of it, if we want to. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/wink.gif' alt='Wink'> Whatever you do, dont' give up!

[4Canada]

How many kids do you have Perturbed? <br /> I don't agree with your answer to the future being having more kids because you don't trust us old people to change things. I do believe the young people today are very gifted and do need to be given a progressive atmosphere to be at their best but baby factories belong to the past. Ironically you'd likely have to go back to my mother's generation or to Jesusland to find many woman in agreement with you. <br /> <br /> Being number 5 in a family of 12 children was horrible! If you think women today are going to just keep having children you better figure out a way to make their jobs as mothers a whole lot easier. By the time I was 16 I was never getting married and I was never having kids! I understood how serious it was to raise a village. It was important to be emotionally and mentally stable to do a good job. I know women that are just having child after child and they are in their twenties and like all young mothers they're flying by the seat of their pants. Most of the young parents I know today are divorced. These kids are without one of the parents and there isn't enough social support because everyone else has the same tired life. I don't think parents under this kind of stress are capable of raising well adjusted adults. <br /> <br /> What about all the little African children that have no parents to care for them? There's 7 year olds looking after their younger siblings because their parents have died from AIDS. These little babies will never know what it felt like to have loving arms rock them and hold them when they needed to feel safe. It makes me wonder what kind of adults will they be? <br /> <br /> As it happens I found a great guy that also didn't want kids so I did get married and we're still together. <br />But I made sure before I said "yes" that kids were not an issue. I would have walked away had they been. I do believe that all of our problems on the planet stem from the way we raise adults. If we want to change the world we need to change the way we value our children and our senior citizens. Having more kids just to save the world is not the way to save the world or make it a better place. We need to learn how to be compassionate and empathetic. Knowing how it feels to walk in anothers shoes is a valuable gift we can give to the "adults" we are raising. If you're too stressed out you're only going to repeat the same child rearing I got which was you're flying by the seat of your pants kid.

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE]How many kids do you have Perturbed?[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />None. I'm still a young student. <br /> <br /> <br />[QUOTE]I don't agree with your answer to the future being having more kids because you don't trust us old people to change things. I do believe the young people today are very gifted and do need to be given a progressive atmosphere to be at their best but baby factories belong to the past. Ironically you'd likely have to go back to my mother's generation or to Jesusland to find many woman in agreement with you.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />Kids are getting screwed the most economically, and yes it has been made a burden to have kids, as most people now live in cities, but it doesn't really matter what women think.....Canada is grossly underpopulated. <br /> <br /> <br />[QUOTE]Being number 5 in a family of 12 children was horrible! If you think women today are going to just keep having children you better figure out a way to make their jobs as mothers a whole lot easier.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />Economics incentives--i.e. pay them. <br /> <br />[QUOTE]By the time I was 16 I was never getting married and I was never having kids! I understood how serious it was to raise a village. It was important to be emotionally and mentally stable to do a good job. I know women that are just having child after child and they are in their twenties and like all young mothers they're flying by the seat of their pants. Most of the young parents I know today are divorced. These kids are without one of the parents and there isn't enough social support because everyone else has the same tired life. I don't think parents under this kind of stress are capable of raising well adjusted adults.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />I don't know who your friends are, but most people are not having kids, I can tell you that. The baby boomers had either 1 or none, for the most part, some had two. <br /> <br /> <br />[QUOTE]What about all the little African children that have no parents to care for them? There's 7 year olds looking after their younger siblings because their parents have died from AIDS. These little babies will never know what it felt like to have loving arms rock them and hold them when they needed to feel safe. It makes me wonder what kind of adults will they be? <br /> <br /> As it happens I found a great guy that also didn't want kids so I did get married and we're still together. <br />But I made sure before I said "yes" that kids were not an issue. I would have walked away had they been. I do believe that all of our problems on the planet stem from the way we raise adults. If we want to change the world we need to change the way we value our children and our senior citizens. Having more kids just to save the world is not the way to save the world or make it a better place. We need to learn how to be compassionate and empathetic. Knowing how it feels to walk in anothers shoes is a valuable gift we can give to the "adults" we are raising. If you're too stressed out you're only going to repeat the same child rearing I got which was you're flying by the seat of your pants kid.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br /> <br />I guess you could try Kant's categorical imperative--what would happen if everyone did what you did? <br /> <br />Stephen Leacock mentioned how Canada should try to get to at least 100 million, and he was right. We are grossly underpopulated. Africa and Asia are not--but we are different. There is a food surplus. We can build greenhouses. We are an elite country, capable of greatness, and Canada's leaders have made it less affordable to have kids, and the women's movement had positives, but the negative was that Canadians are not replacing themselves. <br /> <br />I'm not sure how to put it, except bluntly--don't believe the Canada Pension Plan. The baby boomers had few kids--don't expect a pension. Don't expect there to be enough people to fill the jobs society needs to be completed. Don't expect new ideas, new leaders, new talent. <br /> <br />The social phenomena of people having fewer children was recognozed by Stephen Leacock back in 1941.....to get to 30 million, we did it with the baby boom, then immigration. If we continue to rely on immigration, we'll be the perfect globalized country--no soul, competing interests. It's inevitable. Move to Toronto if you don't believe me. Either that, or Canadian society will have to learn that magic number once again, until we find the fountain of youth: <br /> <br />replacement level: 2.1 children/couple <br /> <br />current birth rate: 1.47 children/couple <br /> <br />to increase to 100 million: probably 3-5 children per couple, combined with an increased lifespan over a period of at least 30 years. This would only happen with central planning regarding northern cities. <br /> <br />Don't count on it, but just remember how much our sovereignty would be enhanced with a bigger population, being able to afford a bigger military, a bigger economy........a bigger population is in our interest, when it comes to sovereignty. <br /> <br /> <br />

[gaulois]

The next generation could consider having kids if Canada was more sovereign and there were more economic opportunities. Having more children will not make us more sovereign but more enslaved to the current system. Not a good idea. <br />

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= gaulois] The next generation could consider having kids if Canada was more sovereign and there were more economic opportunities. Having more children will not make us more sovereign but more enslaved to the current system. Not a good idea. <br />[/QUOTE] <br /> <br /> <br />yeah....as long as we have enough younger people to do basic jobs. <br /> <br />At least more children would mean more people who don't think like Paul Martin, though it begs the question, why don't the rich have more kids? At least they can afford to. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'>

[badsector]

The government of Canada does next to nothing to help families. Many other (see European) countries provide assistance to young families. For instance, affordable child care, or several years of financial assistance for stay at home moms. In Canada one parent often has to stay at home because child care would cost as he/she makes. It's very hard to have a mortgage and kids the same time. The problem is that our governments have different priorities. They are more concerned about the well-being of their corporate friends and benefactors, than the rest of us. Our once great social safety net is a distant memory. It's troubling that the trend to undermine our social system is not something we can easily undo. The whole World is taking this direction. This is the age of corporations. We have to teach our kids that there are better ways to live. Hopefully they will have the opportunity to change things around.

[Brent Swain]

With overpopulation being the cause of every environmental problem and most conflicts the last thing we need is to have more kids.That is myopia in the extreme.The world is grossly overpopulated , far beyond any sustainable carrying capacity. What we need to begin doing is to call the makers of more that two kids the irresposible assholes that they are.<br /> Much of the problem described is due to our being oversold, and buying the new religion called "Consumerism" without questioning what our real needs are.Perhaps we should begin to equate the term "Stylish " with "Gullible Sucker "<br /> Brent

[Spud]

Bullseye! <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/wink.gif' alt='Wink'>