Although I applaud the attempt to separate emotions from logic, I think in this day and age the success of Trump and other populists show that emotions matter and speak to the masses. I am voting for emotion and glad that Canadians have become patriotic.
Regarding your point, yes if the integration was proposed not by a bully, but perhaps by someone like Biden, maybe Canadians would have been opened to it. But it comes from Trump who likes Putin, as we can all see lately, so it’s a no. The other point is that Canada is different that the States, and USA like any big empire is in decline. Why would we become part of country that is in decline, that has more inequality, where it’s great to be rich but very very bad to be poor? With all the problems Canada has, we are not as divided as the USA.
I think this is an opportunity for Canada to become ambitious, economically to focus on the entire world, to invest in défense and innovation.
Thanks for engaging. I’m wanting to challenge Canadians to think about what Canada means to them, and then compare that to the actual institutions of Canada. If Canada doesn't match, maybe they should become active to make Canada what they believe is true?
If we spend all our time looking south, how would Canadians ever notice if Canada was in decline?
"I think this is an opportunity for Canada to become ambitious, economically to focus on the entire world, to invest in défense and innovation."
This feels to me like the Democratic Party part of the United States: a strong belief in exceptionalism, regularly harnessing the military industrial complex to intervene to "improve" other parts of the world (make everyone mirror their worldviews, make trade easier, etc), a very Western European/Capitalist conceptualization of what "science", "technology" and "innovation" were and how they should be harnessed.
Canada's political divisions are growing as more of the same flawed US policies and practices are being adopted. I live in Ottawa, and experienced the self-called "Freedom Convoy", where "Freedom" meant "Freedom from Responsibility" (the primary Freedom protected by the US government).
Canada is about to head into a federal general election, with the only reason being that Canada (starting with the Liberal party) abandoned the way party leaders are decided under Westminster parliamentary democracies (elected caucus members from among themselves). Now all the "Canadian" parties use US-style party conventions (Leadership Primaries, under a Presidential-like system). Canadian political parties over the last century have deliberately adopted US practices, making the separation smaller and smaller over time.
If Canadians don't want to be the USA, maybe they should insist "Canadian" political parties abandon adopting policies to become more like the USA?
BTW: I’m not a fan of the US Empire, the British Empire (which Canada remains part of, despite rebranding), the French Empire (many loyalists in Canada), or the Russian Empire (To focus on the most powerful of the WW1/WW2 allies). I oppose empire and colonialism.
I believe that logic and emotions are inseparable, but I agree that the vast majority of Canadians are not currently able to think about these issues logically (yet). Great post. 👊
As an Autistic person, separating out emotions is the only way I've been able to make any sense of the world (myself or others). It is a technique I started as a child, even though I only accepted I'm autistic in the last few years (in my 50's).
Emotions can and will be exploited, and I worry that those who want to make Canada even more like the USA are using emotions against the current regime to accomplish that: I see so many calls for "drill baby drill" and discussions of pipelines and Alberta oil linked to Canadian Patriatism. That is simply a rehash of British loyalism (Canada created to be a resource extracting branch of the British Empire) or US (narrow focus on economy as defined by older unrestricted English Capitalism).
We are about to head into a Federal Election -- the only reason being that the Liberal Party of Canada insists on using US-style leadership primaries. A healthy Westminser Parliamentary system (Which Canada is not) should have caucus being able to change leaders without ever needing a general election.
Although I applaud the attempt to separate emotions from logic, I think in this day and age the success of Trump and other populists show that emotions matter and speak to the masses. I am voting for emotion and glad that Canadians have become patriotic.
Regarding your point, yes if the integration was proposed not by a bully, but perhaps by someone like Biden, maybe Canadians would have been opened to it. But it comes from Trump who likes Putin, as we can all see lately, so it’s a no. The other point is that Canada is different that the States, and USA like any big empire is in decline. Why would we become part of country that is in decline, that has more inequality, where it’s great to be rich but very very bad to be poor? With all the problems Canada has, we are not as divided as the USA.
I think this is an opportunity for Canada to become ambitious, economically to focus on the entire world, to invest in défense and innovation.
Thanks for engaging. I’m wanting to challenge Canadians to think about what Canada means to them, and then compare that to the actual institutions of Canada. If Canada doesn't match, maybe they should become active to make Canada what they believe is true?
If we spend all our time looking south, how would Canadians ever notice if Canada was in decline?
"I think this is an opportunity for Canada to become ambitious, economically to focus on the entire world, to invest in défense and innovation."
This feels to me like the Democratic Party part of the United States: a strong belief in exceptionalism, regularly harnessing the military industrial complex to intervene to "improve" other parts of the world (make everyone mirror their worldviews, make trade easier, etc), a very Western European/Capitalist conceptualization of what "science", "technology" and "innovation" were and how they should be harnessed.
Canada's political divisions are growing as more of the same flawed US policies and practices are being adopted. I live in Ottawa, and experienced the self-called "Freedom Convoy", where "Freedom" meant "Freedom from Responsibility" (the primary Freedom protected by the US government).
Canada is about to head into a federal general election, with the only reason being that Canada (starting with the Liberal party) abandoned the way party leaders are decided under Westminster parliamentary democracies (elected caucus members from among themselves). Now all the "Canadian" parties use US-style party conventions (Leadership Primaries, under a Presidential-like system). Canadian political parties over the last century have deliberately adopted US practices, making the separation smaller and smaller over time.
If Canadians don't want to be the USA, maybe they should insist "Canadian" political parties abandon adopting policies to become more like the USA?
BTW: I’m not a fan of the US Empire, the British Empire (which Canada remains part of, despite rebranding), the French Empire (many loyalists in Canada), or the Russian Empire (To focus on the most powerful of the WW1/WW2 allies). I oppose empire and colonialism.
I believe that logic and emotions are inseparable, but I agree that the vast majority of Canadians are not currently able to think about these issues logically (yet). Great post. 👊
As an Autistic person, separating out emotions is the only way I've been able to make any sense of the world (myself or others). It is a technique I started as a child, even though I only accepted I'm autistic in the last few years (in my 50's).
Emotions can and will be exploited, and I worry that those who want to make Canada even more like the USA are using emotions against the current regime to accomplish that: I see so many calls for "drill baby drill" and discussions of pipelines and Alberta oil linked to Canadian Patriatism. That is simply a rehash of British loyalism (Canada created to be a resource extracting branch of the British Empire) or US (narrow focus on economy as defined by older unrestricted English Capitalism).
We are about to head into a Federal Election -- the only reason being that the Liberal Party of Canada insists on using US-style leadership primaries. A healthy Westminser Parliamentary system (Which Canada is not) should have caucus being able to change leaders without ever needing a general election.
The article was clear that I'm a Canadian.
Explain to me why I should care : not with emotions, but with logic and a discussion of exactly how Canada and the USA are legally different.