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Canada is our largest trading partner and biggest supplier of our oil imports. Their economy is closely tied to ours, but as you menioned, they are more pragmatic and have a greater degree of national consensus than we do.

I keep on having an argument/discussion with a fellow conservative friend of mine who believes that the Reps need to do a better job of educating the public by laying out the facts and employing graphs, charts, etc. to get out the message.

Although I don't disagree that the Reps need to do a better job of framing the issues--something they should have done for months before the budget ceiling debate--I believe that we have millions of "drones" as Mark Levin calls them, who are impervious to facts and deal strictly at the emotional level. They are easily manipulated by the Dem politicos and the fact that most of them are dependent upon the government in one way or another makes it an easy sell. Our growing culture of dependency is going to make it very difficult to roll back the welfare state. If Obamacare stands, it is well-neigh impossible.

Funny, because while you were posting that I was talking to rodguy about the people who don’t read news or understand what’s going on.

Myself, I think we need to think outside the box for these people.

Here are some ideas:

1. Contests with prizes! First 10,000 people on welfare who get a job and hold it for one year get a $10,000 tax-free cash prize! Students who get through college without taking one student loan get start-up money for a car or apartment!

2. Assemble the coolest, most-attractive young conservatives and star them in reality shows, musical groups, etc. Make them COOL.

3. Early intervention: privately run FREE summer camps (charity not government) who will take inner-city kids and get them re-educated on how to get through school and make money. Teach them real English.

4. Shame. We need to make it a priority to show people that certain behavior is shameful, and that includes both celebrities and government officials. A priest I heard two years ago (older, I must admit) decried that Monica Lewinsky got a book contract instead of retiring to private life in disgrace...not to mention Clinton.

5. Games. We need video games that help children understand economics and self-sufficiency.

Anyway, you get my idea.

Great post. If our side does not have the ability to come up with

are you better off than you were 4 years ago,

and

don't spend more than you take in

and others, we will lose.