NOBODY IS IMMUNE FROM POLITICAL THEATRE

 

NOBODY IS IMMUNE FROM POLITICAL THEATRE

 

A Canadian election—April 28^th, 2025—has come and gone and Mark Carney will be the nation’s next Prime Minister in a minority government.  The political stakes were high and voter turnout indicated that Canadians paid attention to the issues.  The great Truth and Social contributor south of the border is bound to crow about his impact and that he predicted the outcome.  In all “truth”, he would have bragged about it either way, no matter who won.  The world at large is starting to realize that it would be wise to wean themselves away from America, its staggering debt and deficits, and a volatile leadership that appears to rely on tarot card readings to plot its erratic course through the political universe.  However, although Canadian-American ties run deep—we’re neighbors after all—sitting this close to the fire cannot be ignored.  There are consequences to have a confused—increasingly demented—senior partner, hurdling himself like a raging bull at top speed through the china cabinet.  It is not just Carney, but the whole nation that has to prepare for whatever comes barreling down Trump’s pipe.  Everybody knew that a second Trump term would be bad, but nobody could envision it would be this bad!  You would hope that all political parties, no matter who won, would remain united in their resolve to stand up and willing to fight back.

Hell no, the votes have barely been tallied and the sniping of old has already started back up with Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith, leading the pack.  Grievances of old.  Back with a separation itch as if the province has been hard done by.  Cry me a river!  There are certain truths in our lives that cannot be ignored (unless your name is Donald).  Nobody can ignore Canada’s history and how a new, struggling nation, was determined to connect Canadians from coast to coast to coast; with a national railway stretching across this vast continent.  With national highways.  The building of ports, of canals and improving commercial and industrial potential.  Annual equalization payments transferred wealth from the dominant provinces at the time—Ontario and Quebec—to those provinces who were still finding their feet.  How did Alberta benefit?  You can’t ignore location!  Check with any realtor!  Alberta is landlocked and it was not surrounded by provinces and states oozing wealth and economic confidence.  Oil changed that picture for Alberta and I am happy for them.  New wealth comes with a new attitude and one thing that hallmarks wealth is the simple fact that it is never enough and most definitely you don’t want to share, or remember that at one point in time you didn’t mind the handout and the helping hand. 

For a few months we have shared a renewed sense of nationhood, but it is quickly evaporating.  Politics likes to take sides and it plays all sides.  Personally I don’t care who won and who didn’t.  When it comes to political pickpockets, does it really matter who picks your pocket?

I wish that we could put our differences aside until the storm blows over and it is business as usual.  I have never been a fan of the good-old-days or known to wax lyrically about the past—they have had their moments—but we seem to excel at erecting roadblocks, determined not to get along, as if getting along will lead to an extreme case of STD.  The political theatre will never cease and it will never cease to amaze me.

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