It's early, I know. But this might take some planning and soul-searching.

On Nov. 11, we will all mark the day with pious speeches about how our soldiers volunatrily gave their lives for defend Canadian freedom.

For the moment, let's forget that a lot of them died because military service was the only employment available. I knew many like that when I was a kid. And some joined for the thrill - because they were kids. And some joined to dump their wives and children. I knew a few of th ose.

The Economist is probably the world's leading, English news commentary magazine. It is also politically conservative. The June 2010 issue has an interview with a Bush Republican, a distinguished educator who designed much of the currently trendy standardized testing of schools, ranking them, adding charter schools - all along the lines advocated by,say, The Fraser Institute and other propaganda fronts for the very rich.