American invasion of Canada rehearsal

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

I was born and raised in central Alberta and lived there for 40 years so I know the country and the people. You may know that they recently voted in an NDP government, something I would have thought impossible but even Albertans get tired of feeling screwed over. Alberta is generally conservative country, especially rural areas but they would never have voted for someone with racist and sexist views as well as simple answers to complex problems. That said we all are wishing our American friends a good future and happiness. You may already know that Canadians have more in common north and south than they do east and west. In other words Alberta feels a natural connection to Americans in Montana, not so much with Quebec.

I forgot my profile said PNW (that's where the boat is). I'm in Edmonton and have lived in Alberta for close to 40 years. These days we're almost a miniature U.S. with the radical right getting disproportionately louder and louder. Actually my hope is that Trump is a bigger badder Ralph Klein (the leader of our province for 15 years or so) who was an ex-newspaper reporter famous among his detractors for being willing to jump in front of any parade and lead. In the end it wasn't so bad...

Personally I think the typical Albertan's connection with the US stems from the series of summer beer strikes in the 80s. Since it was way easier — and stupidly, more legal — to head across the border to stock up on beer for the weekend, we spent a lot of time crossing the border. You just can't beat buying beer in the grocery store

I can get behind that way of thinking!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

I was born and raised in central Alberta and lived there for 40 years so I know the country and the people. You may know that they recently voted in an NDP government, something I would have thought impossible but even Albertans get tired of feeling screwed over. Alberta is generally conservative country, especially rural areas but they would never have voted for someone with racist and sexist views as well as simple answers to complex problems. That said we all are wishing our American friends a good future and happiness. You may already know that Canadians have more in common north and south than they do east and west. In other words Alberta feels a natural connection to Americans in Montana, not so much with Quebec.

You’re absolutely right about the N-S affinities Robert, but I wouldn’t be so sure about the other part of your analysis about Canadians never voting for someone with "racist and sexist views [offering]... simple answers to complex problems.” We’ve had our share of these types of politicians as well (although perhaps less so at the federal level).

So, never say never.

BTW, I’ve had the opportunity to live in a few parts of the country, including Alberta. So far, the most ‘conservative’ place I’ve lived was in southwestern Ontario.

[hpeer]

I sure don't want to drag this thread into the sewer of American politics. I'll say this, I know folks who voted for Hillary, I know folks who voted third party, and I know folks who voted against Hillary. I know no one who voted for Trump.

I'd paid $2450/ month for my workbassd health care when on sabbatical.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

You’re absolutely right about the N-S affinities Robert, but I wouldn’t be so sure about the other part of your analysis about Canadians never voting for someone with "racist and sexist views [offering]... simple answers to complex problems.” We’ve had our share of these types of politicians as well (although perhaps less so at the federal level).

So, never say never.

BTW, I’ve had the opportunity to live in a few parts of the country, including Alberta. So far, the most ‘conservative’ place I’ve lived was in southwestern Ontario.

Hey Mike,
Yes I was referring to our Federal level, after all we did have Rob Ford didn't we.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Macblaze

I forgot my profile said PNW (that's where the boat is). I'm in Edmonton and have lived in Alberta for close to 40 years. These days we're almost a miniature U.S. with the radical right getting disproportionately louder and louder. Actually my hope is that Trump is a bigger badder Ralph Klein (the leader of our province for 15 years or so) who was an ex-newspaper reporter famous among his detractors for being willing to jump in front of any parade and lead. In the end it wasn't so bad...

Personally I think the typical Albertan's connection with the US stems from the series of summer beer strikes in the 80s. Since it was way easier — and stupidly, more legal — to head across the border to stock up on beer for the weekend, we spent a lot of time crossing the border. You just can't beat buying beer in the grocery store

I can get behind that way of thinking!

Really big difference between Ralph and Donald, Ralph was the guy that would drop into some of the local pubs and have a beer with you, he wasn't strained through a silk hanky.
I do agree with you that there are rednecks everywhere including me sometimes for that matter but the degree is the key. Calgary is our oil capital and home to many Americans and it wasn't that long ago that they voted in a Muslim as Mayor which was Ralphs old job. Can't see that happening in the South, can you?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Hey Mike,
Yes I was referring to our Federal level, after all we did have Rob Ford didn't we.

So true. But he’s not the only one. Municipal politics produces these types every once in a while. And a few provincial premiers come to mind who would fit your description. So far we’ve not put any real wing-nuts into federal power, at least not in the last couple of generations (remember William Lyon Mackenzie King?), but we’ve certainly elected a few into Parliament. And our previous federal government used shades of fear and loathing to drive its policies. So yes, I think it can happen here as well.

I just think we all need to 'stand on guard for thee' when it comes to the danger of giving into fear and scapegoating. We live in increasingly ugly times. The same trends that have led to Trump are present in Canada.

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

We live in increasingly ugly times. The same trends that have led to Trump are present in Canada.

I dunno about that. The US government has been exposed as corrupt as most third-world countries. The government of bordering states New York and Illinois are more corrupt than all except maybe Nigeria. That was a big driver in Trump's success. Also, I don't think Canada has experienced the level of Islamic terrorist attack that US has (per capita or otherwise). Nor have Canada's workers watched the alt-left burning cities and attacking police. While certainly some of Canada's problems (e.g., vastly increased violent crime in Toronto) have in a way emulated those of USA, they are still a long way off from causing such division between the government and some groups. In USA both the far right and far left (i.e., anyone who's not a soccer mom or schoolteacher) have grown openly hostile to the government in an atmosphere I would best describe as "caustic." It may be coming to Canada, but it's a long way to go.

[bcboomer]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

. Nor have Canada's workers watched the alt-left burning cities and attacking police.

Really? Burning cities?

I know not having tv I miss some news but I didn't know that the leftists were burning cities in the US.

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by bcboomer

Really? Burning cities?

I know not having tv I miss some news but I didn't know that the leftists were burning cities in the US.

East LA, Ferguson, Baltimore. You can do a Google search "[city] burning" and see photos. I'm pretty sure the perpetrators were not soccer moms, centrists or tea party supporters.

I feel pretty safe in most Canadian cities. And Australian, and Thai, and Chinese, Malay, etc. US not so much- in fact not much at all! I suppose it's perspective, those from Lae may feel safe in Nogales.

[Boatguy30]

Illinois is not a border state. It's one of the wealthiest states in the country as is New York so I'm not sure about the corruption. Really unsure where you get your info
Does Rush broadcast in Canada?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I suppose it's perspective, those from Lae may feel safe in Nogales.

Do you mean the people from here?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lae

You're probably correct.

[Sea Dreaming]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

East LA, Ferguson, Baltimore. You can do a Google search "[city] burning" and see photos. I'm pretty sure the perpetrators were not soccer moms, centrists or tea party supporters.

I feel pretty safe in most Canadian cities. And Australian, and Thai, and Chinese, Malay, etc. US not so much- in fact not much at all! I suppose it's perspective, those from Lae may feel safe in Nogales.

Hmmm... I don't watch TV but I did a Google search and I found one photo of burning, it was a trash pile. By the by my source was AL Jazeera from 3 days ago. Perhaps my search was worded wrong. But, even though I don't watch TV, if cities were burning in the US I would have heard about it. So far it look like the closest to a riot has been in Portland but even still, this is not a city burning. "Inflamatory" comments are what got us into this mess. Please post facts and sources concerning your "cities burning" comment. We do not need more shadow, innuendo or half truths. Been there, done that.

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Illinois is not a border state. It's one of the wealthiest states in the country as is New York so I'm not sure about the corruption. Really unsure where you get your info
Does Rush broadcast in Canada?

The Democratic Mayoral machine in Chicago has long had a reputation for corruption, deserved or not. Second only to Louisiana, perhaps, and recently overtaken by Detroit? It takes a long time for reputations to recover from such ill-repute.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I dunno about that. The US government has been exposed as corrupt as most third-world countries. The government of bordering states New York and Illinois are more corrupt than all except maybe Nigeria. That was a big driver in Trump's success. Also, I don't think Canada has experienced the level of Islamic terrorist attack that US has (per capita or otherwise). Nor have Canada's workers watched the alt-left burning cities and attacking police. While certainly some of Canada's problems (e.g., vastly increased violent crime in Toronto) have in a way emulated those of USA, they are still a long way off from causing such division between the government and some groups. In USA both the far right and far left (i.e., anyone who's not a soccer mom or schoolteacher) have grown openly hostile to the government in an atmosphere I would best describe as "caustic." It may be coming to Canada, but it's a long way to go.

Well, I wouldn’t describe the situation in the US in quite this way Tetepare, but I get your thrust. And no, I don’t think Canada is in the same situation, but we are on the same spectrum.

The reason Trump won is b/c he has identified real issues. The American worker has been sacrificed to the alter of globalization, and to enrich the wealthy. The white male has experienced the most significant decline, largely b/c this group had the most to loose. Frivolous and foolish military actions have strained and drained the US treasury, and yes, there is an immigration problem in the USA. Added to this mix is their toxic history of ‘race’ relations, and the Us vs Them politics, and you can see how a Trump was created.

Like all demeauuogs, Trump doesn’t offer answers to these realities. But he does use these truths to churn up anger and fear, turning people against each other, and promotes isolationism and scapegotating.

We face the same economic hollowing out of the middle class. It’s not as advanced, and our stronger social supports insulate Canadians far more than our American brothers and sisters. But the trends around wealth re-distribution (shifting wealth to the rich) are all present here. We have a serious candidate running for the leadership of one of our national parties who appears to support some of the populous panderings that got Trump elected. And Canada's record of race relations with our Aboriginal communities are as dismal as any in the US.

Oh no, we are not immune from a Trump. I don’t think he could happen here yet, but we should not be complacent or smug about the possibility.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Well, I wouldn’t describe the situation in the US in quite this way Tetepare, but I get your thrust. And no, I don’t think Canada is in the same situation, but we are on the same spectrum.

The reason Trump won is b/c he has identified real issues. The American worker has been sacrificed to the alter of globalization, and to enrich the wealthy. The white male has experienced the most significant decline, largely b/c this group had the most to loose. Frivolous and foolish military actions have strained and drained the US treasury, and yes, there is an immigration problem in the USA. Added to this mix is their toxic history of ‘race’ relations, and the Us vs Them politics, and you can see how a Trump was created.

Like all demeauuogs, Trump doesn’t offer answers to these realities. But he does use these truths to churn up anger and fear, turning people against each other, and promotes isolationism and scapegotating.

We face the same economic hollowing out of the middle class. It’s not as advanced, and our stronger social supports insulate Canadians far more than our American brothers and sisters. But the trends around wealth re-distribution (shifting wealth to the rich) are all present here. We have a serious candidate running for the leadership of one of our national parties who appears to support some of the populous panderings that got Trump elected. And Canada's record of race relations with our Aboriginal communities are as dismal as any in the US.

Oh no, we are not immune from a Trump. I don’t think he could happen here yet, but we should not be complacent or smug about the possibility.

I'd have to agree with you Mike, you made a good call here.