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| Subject: Does anyone else share my concerns? | |
Author: Bruce | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 18:10:12 10/22/04 Fri There are numerous issues presented on this forum that need attention yet all we seem to do is "TALK". Don't these issues deserve close scrutiny and perhaps action to reach agreement, perhaps consensus and thus action? It seems from our discussions that we are all very concerned about the direction our nations are taking and have even expressed fear that these nations as we know them will soon disappear if nothing is done yet all we do is "TALK" and work as individuals. Don't our nations and hopes deserve more perhaps a plan and concerted actions upon it. Not wanting to sound like a rabid socialist but remember the chant "The people united will never be defeated". I joined this group hoping that there was really something developing here but I am disappointed that to date it seems we are only a "talking shop". Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed the chat. I have learned a lot from each of you and I am grateful but I want more. I would like to see us working more closely together to form an organization that will attract others to us and which will give us some sort of political strength. QUESTIONS: 1. Does anyone share my concerns? 2. Is anything happening that could be recognized as leadership, moving us forward in our aspirations and ambitions TOGETHER? I would really appreciate a discussion on these issues either on this forum or individually by writing to me directly at growandprosper@shaw.ca [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: I do | |
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Author: Owain (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:29:16 10/22/04 Fri Yes I think many of us share your concerns. It has been brought up before, when I first joined the society there was a similar discussion. As to your second question I do not feel led in anyway, but nor do I feel like I'm making a good effort to follow. It feels like we as an organisation exist only on the internet, like we have no physical existance. When I first came on I begged for physical activity, however I had no idea what to suggest other than a meeting of British FC. Many people said thye liked the idea but it just didnt happen. Any suggestions on what we could each do to further our interests and I would be very keen to participate. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: My own project... | |
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Author: Brent (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:58:29 10/22/04 Fri Well, everyone has their own approach, but here's mine: 1. My book, "The Case for Commonwealth Free Trade", is currently being prepped by my publisher. I already have 2 current Canadian MP's (one of whom has a draft) agreed to come to the book launch. 2. I have reserved the domain www.commonwealthfreetrade.org and plan on trying to start a grassroots group, including political activists, business people, academics, etc. The idea is to not only lobby for an agreement, but to help promote inter-Commonwealth trade. This dovetails into the work of Hon. Sinclair Stevens and his "Commonwealth Advantage" initiative. Further to this, I would be interested in discussing any suggestions on this idea... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: I want to order two copies of your book, Brent | |
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Author: Jim (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 20:15:01 10/22/04 Fri [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Book | |
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Author: David (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 02:11:28 10/23/04 Sat Great work on writing your book, Brent. I look forward to reading it. One of my main motivations for creating a Federal Commonwealth is to promote free trade. When will I be able to order a copy? [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> Subject: Book... | |
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Author: Brent (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 13:43:14 10/25/04 Mon The publisher has it now, and I am waiting for my spec. copy. Once I sign off on it, it goes into production. It will be available on amazon.com (or .co.uk), barnesandnoble.com, and chaptersindigo.ca Easier still, you can get it from me and I'll throw a few pennies off the retail price. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: What can I do? | |
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Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 22:56:11 10/22/04 Fri I spread the word in the ways that are available to me. I write letters to newspapers, I write articles, I write to politicians, I discuss the idea with people who might be receptive. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Absolutely... | |
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Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:47:13 10/22/04 Fri Yes Bruce, I share your concerns exactly. However, we are limited to what we can do with our resources. I am certainly open to any suggestions that people may have. What we want to achieve can only be done through the political process, and this requires money and many like-minded people. How many members do we have anyway? There certainly seems to be no more than ten people that post here. I'm afraid we will be a voice in the wilderness until we get the numbers and funding arrangements to make a difference. Good luck with your endeavours Brent... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Concerns | |
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Author: Paddy (Scotland) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 15:53:31 10/23/04 Sat In answer to your questions: 1. Partially. & 2. My opinion on the matter is that if this is to be a serious movement as opposed to a small society of like-minded people we need to move on. My suggestions have only received a luke-warm response thus far from "national" presidents (my impression) and as a full-time student doing a 12 month postgraduate degree I cannot at present formally commit any of my personal time to this society lest I should let it down. When I do a job I like to do it properly. I shall set down my plan of what I strongly feel should be done within the following months: a) The society should try to turn itself into a policy thinktank, rather than just a message board linked to an idea. Articles for the society can be posted as official reports outlining the advantages of our case (for example, Brent might write a summary of the case for commonwealth free trade if actually asked to). These articles could be ordered in a coherent way even though they would initially be few in number. With most such publications, the content would not become out-dated very rapidly so high-maintenance would not be a problem. The President of the FCS must ask on this forum whether members/contributors approve of the main policy document, let it be debated on and then declare exactly what the policy document is. For example, it should be decided whether PNG & Jamaica would be welcome in an initial FC and other such cloudy issues. b) The "International" & "National sites" system is very confusing to a visitor. The FCS Canada site is excellent, outlining the case well (in both languages) and actually giving a lot of in-depth stuff such as Currency & Travel arrangements. In fact a lot of the stuff on it should link dirctly from the "main" site. Pop-up adverts piss everybody off. The FCS U.K. is an article from the Daily Mail. The FCS Australia has a summary and F.A.Q.s I would strongly advocate merging these sites into one site advancing the cases for each region somewhere on that site. In general the website needs to look a lot more polished and professional. It is the ONLY available outlet of our ideas. If people are going to refer people to this site on the streets or organise a talk, say at a University, with this site as the main point of contact if people are interrested, it needs to be a very professional-looking front for the organisation. Presently it is not. c) I would urge the organiser to get "not for profit" (if not already done) status for the FCS and set up a bank account with a "paypal" donations link on the website. If there is to be any expansion of the idea then it will require some funds! d) I know that this society is only small but if more questions were asked by the presidents (on this forum for the moment) about who was prepared to do what and when to do it for the FCS that would help matters. Jim came up with some good ideas for contacting the Conservatives Abroad which I am sure will have boosted morale. Perhaps a weekly posting on the forum about who was contacted about the idea and a brief summary of similar initiatives would greatly improve matters. Hope this helps, Paddy [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: FCS Canada site has been moved to www.fcscanada.com with no pop-up ads | |
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Author: Jim (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 04:21:36 10/24/04 Sun [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> Subject: Website | |
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Author: David (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 06:50:17 10/24/04 Sun Great work, Jim. Your website looks very nice and professional, I particulary enjoyed reading the history pages. All of those lovely flags! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> Subject: It is excellent Jim. | |
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Author: Paddy (Scotland) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 12:01:28 10/24/04 Sun The link from the main international site still goes to the tripod site though :0( I also read through the French version again. I didn't notice any mistakes in the text but at the top of the page just below the flags of Quebec, Canada, and New Brunswick there is a link back to the main site that goes to an intermediate page: http://www.fcsworld.com/main.html the link should be: http://www.fcsworld.com/main.htm Apart from that minor point I think that the site is excellent. What do you think of my proposals listed in my posting above, Nick, Jim, Joel, David? [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: I like your proposals and I agree with them. | |
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Author: Jim (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 14:53:50 10/24/04 Sun Paddy, I like your ideas and I think they are worth pursuing. Thanks for the correction in the link on the FCS Canada French page. I will fix it. The link from the International site is under Nick's control as he runs that site. I have let him know about the change, but he has not updated it yet. This week, I will remove the old tripod FCS Canada site and replace it with a page which links to the new www.fcscanada.com site, so you are taken there automatically. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Paddy's Proposals | |
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Author: Nick (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:39:58 11/20/04 Sat I agree with your proposals, Paddy. However, while I don't want to sound defeatist or like I'm making excuses, I really am rather busy at work, and have been running this site for well over 2 years without having much success at recruiting people to come up with more than we are doing. The problem is a lack of communication between the different presidents and other members, and I agree there is a risk people drift away from the organisation because of a lack of direction. However, on the few occasions when I've pushed people for help, they've walked away then too. The reality is everyone who sees this site will have their own slightly different views on our proposals, and there is clearly a limit to how much people are willing or able to do to help. There is the further fundamental problem that with the exception of Jim in Canada, the other 4 committee members are somewhat unwilling in their roles. I set this organisation up because I had a good idea and a desire to do something about it - I hoped I could find some talented and able people via the internet to help get things done, and I have recieved a lot of useful input and ideas. However, just because I have an idea doesn't mean I have the time or ability to lead it into other arenas. I would like to have the time and ability to work closely with a few key individuals to get things moving - but the ideas have to come forward, and so do the people. Hopefully my time situation wil be better next year. If you would like to choose a topic for debate, and volunteer or appoint someone to do som work on it, for say next week, then I am very happy to 'chair' the debate and put any decision to the committee for a vote. I think it's publicity we need, rather than decisions on PNG, though. I don't think there's a definitive answer to this sort of question. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: People have been complaining that the west was "in decline" for over a century!!! | |
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Author: Proud Brit [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 17:18:35 11/20/04 Sat Haven't you heard of Spengler's "Decline of the West"? We need to fight American imperialism and capitalist infiltration on all sides. Our children are corrupted day by day by the Disney channel and advertising to become "hollow souls"... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: american imperialism | |
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Author: Owain (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:12:35 11/20/04 Sat I would rather work with American Imperialism to be honest, though like all proud Britons I dont want total cultural assimialation by the US. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Why it is happening! | |
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Author: Newry Nyuck [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:51:48 11/20/04 Sat It is entirely due to the decline in belief, and church attendance. Immigration of non-Christians, and secularisation! Chuck out Blair and his papist bride! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: I have no problem with people believing in gods and such things | |
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Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 19:45:42 11/20/04 Sat Just as I have no problem with people wanting to play basketball. Their choice seems odd to me, but as long as they don't try to impose it on me, I have no reason to be upset by it. On the other hand, I fail to see why either religious preference or a taste for basketball should be a factor in public administration. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |