Close X
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Calgary Man Writes New York Times' Most Popular Comment Of All Time

The Canadian Press, 30 Dec, 2015 01:54 PM
    The most popular comment ever made on the New York Times website was penned by a Calgary man.
     
    Bob from Calgary, as he is identified on the site, received some 7,040 recommendations for his comment on a 2010 column about wealth and privilege written by Paul Krugman.
     
    The newspaper, which fields some 9,000 comments each day, says Bob's is the top post "of all time."
     
    The runner-up, posted on a story about the mass shooting in Charleston, S.C., drew roughly 5,489 recommendations.
     
    In his comment, Bob praises Canada's public schools, universal health care and banking system and says his tax bill is only two per cent higher than it would be south of the border.
     
    He also says he doesn't feel Canadians are in any way less free than their American counterparts.
     
    "My household makes just over $250,000 here in Canada. One of the best bargains I get for my money is living in a place where I and everyone I know sends their kids to public schools because they are really good," his comment reads. 
     
    "We end up with few criminals, because students learn how to be productive good citizens in schools."
     
    Other "bargains" of living in Canada include health care "whenever you need it without worry about not being approved," modernized infrastructure and public universities "where my children and the children from all types of households can go to and graduate with a big debt, but not a devastating one," he writes.
     
    Paid maternity and paternity leave also "ensure that parents and kids bond and families have some time to look after one another," he says.
     
    "Lastly (there are more, but I have to get back to my work), we get governance. This includes a banking system that is there to support the economy, not end run it to make a few $$," he says. 
     
    "With all of that said, I have to say that along with this, I enjoy one of the freest countries on earth. Our business freedoms are as extensive as the USA. We are free to hunt and own guns (aside from assault weapons and who needs those anyways). In fact, I have lived in the U.S.A. and I have to say, I can't see any freedoms there that we don't have here."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Toronto Police Doing Immigration 'Dirty Work,' Activist Groups Say Data Show

    Toronto Police Doing Immigration 'Dirty Work,' Activist Groups Say Data Show
    Toronto police denied any racial profiling or proactive reporting to the border agency.

    Toronto Police Doing Immigration 'Dirty Work,' Activist Groups Say Data Show

    Premiers Hopeful Canada Can Shed International Image As Environmental Pariah

    Premiers Hopeful Canada Can Shed International Image As Environmental Pariah
    Arriving for their first formal meeting with a prime minister in nearly seven years, premiers are praising Justin Trudeau's willingness to take national leadership on the climate change file.

    Premiers Hopeful Canada Can Shed International Image As Environmental Pariah

    ICAO To Discuss Airport Security And Other Threats At Expert Panel In March

    While most member countries meet high standards, "sometimes we do find there are deficiencies here and there," he told reporters following the opening of a three-day aviation forum on the economic contribution of global aviation.

    ICAO To Discuss Airport Security And Other Threats At Expert Panel In March

    Friend Of 'Scud Stud' Arthur Kent Says Don Martin Column Was A 'Hatchet Job'

    CALGARY — A friend and campaign worker of former TV journalist Arthur Kent says a column written by Don Martin during the 2008 Alberta election campaign was a "hatchet job".

    Friend Of 'Scud Stud' Arthur Kent Says Don Martin Column Was A 'Hatchet Job'

    Death Of Boy In Forklift Accident A Shock To Members Of Alberta Hutterite Colony

    Death Of Boy In Forklift Accident A Shock To Members Of Alberta Hutterite Colony
    Mike Stahl says the death has been a shock to the 80 people who live on the Lougheed colony near Killam, southeast of Edmonton.

    Death Of Boy In Forklift Accident A Shock To Members Of Alberta Hutterite Colony

    Bail Hearing For Quebecer Arraigned In YouTube Murder Threats Against Arabs

    Bail Hearing For Quebecer Arraigned In YouTube Murder Threats Against Arabs
    The 24-year-old Jesse Pelletier, who has a bone defect from birth and suffered an accident about a year ago, appeared in court last week in a wheelchair.

    Bail Hearing For Quebecer Arraigned In YouTube Murder Threats Against Arabs