Always a great sign when your geopolitical neighbors quietly start planning for you to go full fascist.
Canada also has plans for if America ever invades them.
But why would they? Let some other country mine resources that you buy at a steal.
I actually have a crackpot theory that Trump's little attempt to buy Greenland (yeah, that happened) was really part of a plan Putin had dictated. And that Putin was trying to align USA+Greenland, Russia, and then Canada. Which is like 25% of Earth's land mass.
I base it on nothing more than maps and stuff.
Like if Putin is trying to play RISK...
Another crackpot theory I've always had is that Trump always sent tweets out around 3am because that's midday in Moscow and when he got his direction from Putin.
Also Adderall
This may have some legs. It would be wildly valuable for Putin.
I think it was more regarding the strategic importance of the emerging northwest passage arctic shipping route.
Because the US is the only country that could feasibly invade Canada.
Apparently Russia regularly invades the far north. Which is why alert is way the hell up there.
Someone can correct me because I'm probably wrong.
Incursions aren't the same thing as an invasion.
Russia can't even hold ground in a neighbouring country, they aren't going to be able to hold ground on another continent LOL.
Canada is drifting alarmingly rightwards too.
Hope that involves a plan for letting lgbt folks immigrate to safety instead of apologizing 80 years later like they did to the casualties of Nazi Germany who were denied safe passage
I've heard Canadians claiming they're already letting LGBT folks from the US achieve refugee status, but that's strange because Canada has a treaty with the US explicitly stating that they can't take in refugees arriving from the US. So it seems like Canadian citizens think they're taking in LGBT refugees from the US, and will likely be confused and push back when people try to tell them that Canada literally can't take US refugees without the refugee doing a big, long legal song and dance. So my guess is that the Canada is going to claim they're already doing it (when they don't actually seem to) and then apologize again in 80yrs.
Edit: y'all wanna tell me how I'm wrong? As someone who's head will probably be on the chopping block should republicans win the next election, I would really like to know if I can count on Canada not turning me around should I find myself having to show up at the border with my belongings.
I would love to say that I have hope that Canada will be willing to break that treaty, but Canada is still financially dependent on the US, not to mention that people who care a lot about "muh Canadian identity" would definitely be against taking Americans.
Honestly I think secessionism has more of a chance than Americans being let into Canada.
not to mention that people who care a lot about "muh Canadian identity" would definitely be against taking Americans.
I know someone who's non-binary that's moved to Canada (I think it was on a work visa), and they've talked about how Canada has been very welcoming to them in regards to their gender. However, they've also said that they're very glad that their coworkers have either forgotten, or aren't aware that they're American because they've heard nothing but hate and vitriol towards Americans. No sympathy towards LGBT Americans, no sympathy towards BIPOC Americans, just generally "fuck Americans, they deserve everything that's happening to them".
That wasn't something I was expecting to hear, and it seriously hurt my view of Canada and my hopes that Canada might act as a safe harbor towards LGBT and BIPOC Americans in the future (assuming republicans succeed with Project 2025).
Iirc the stipulations are convoluted. I moved closer to the Canadian border though, just in case.
Yeah, it'd be nice if I could do that. Sadly I'm not in a position to at the moment. My understanding of the whole situation is that Canada allows asylum seekers from the US, who have to go through a long, drawn-out legal process that involves having a politician personally vouch for them. Refugees, however, are automatically turned away from Canada if they come from or through the US as the US is still considered "safe harbor" for refugees of all kinds.
What's the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee? While asylum seekers and refugees are both fleeing their countries, personally I see asylum seekers as people with options, typically with highly desirable skills or knowledge, allowing them to choose which country to make their new home in. Refugees, on the other hand, show up at the border with the clothes on their backs and whatever they could cram into their backpack or car, because they don't have anywhere else to go.
Canada won't be as eager to take US refugees as you hope. I can't think of a small population dealing with massive refugee inflows from a place that much larger. Think of how destabilising the refugee migrations from Syria were on Europe. Lots of LGBT and sympathetic cases of course but lots of crazy and the amount of entitlement would be overwhelming.
The rest of the industrialised worried will have angry Americans in their faces screaming about their first and second amendment rights every day if there is an exodus.
Or essentially anyone who would be considered an enemy under a new alt-right regime, such as atheists.
Someone better take me in if shit goes south. I ain't staying here, and I'm too poor to move myself.
Someone better take me in if shit goes south. I ain't staying here, and I'm too poor to move myself.
That's not how any of that works at all.
So it "works" by keeping people who are oppressed in the place they are oppressed in with zero fucking sympathy and no way for a country to actually care about people trying to escape somewhere they cannot? I think you believe the way it "works" is how oppressive cultures want you to think it does.
Or women who no longer have control over their own bodies and physical health
I've already checked. I've got enough qualifications that I can just migrate to Canada.
It'll be nice to teach them about what their summers are going to be like.
Canada is going to elect a conservative government, too
The whole world is shifting hard to the right. It's pretty crazy to see happen in real time.
You're a fool if you think that far-right conservatism is exclusive to men (or that only allowing women in power would solve it)
Women buying into patriarchy doesn't make it any less of a phenomenon or any less dangerous.
Good thing that comment I replied to said "male fragility" and not "the patriarchy" or I'd probably agree with them.
You're a fool if you extrapolated that meaning from my words. The male fragility drives the culture of insecurity, greed, and competition. Women can be infected as well, but they are not the drivers of this psychosis.
Male fragility doesn't drive the culture of insecurity. It's an artificially introduced wedge tactic intended to keep the working class infighting.
Everyone with money and power are pretty happy with the status quo.
If you ever find yourself thinking that any regular working person is "the problem", step back and ask yourself who baited the trap. Some external narrative drew one of you in to make the other pissed off.
Like, they kept telling Cletus that the immigrants are why his paycheck is small, and that the big city liberals want to eradicate him. He says "Damn those immigrants" and then you come out of the woodwork telling him he's the problem with the country and then boom: you're suddenly the liberal who he's heard hates him, word made flesh, just as the prophecy foretold.
Like, how goddamn convenient that it's male fragility. How awesome for the 1% that out of everyone and everything, they hand you a loaded term like that that will CERTAINLY be taken out of context as a blanket condemnation of 50% of the population by anyone who doesn't study sociology (spoiler alert, MOST PEOPLE)
Like, if someone said to you that it was a result of a slowness of male development, and thus the Latin for "slow" was appropriate here, and that the accepted term that you should use in the world to try and initiate a thoughtful, respectful exchange of ideas in good faith, so you should say "male retardation", would you say "ya that sounds like a great way to talk to men and I can't comprehend any reason why anyone might be standoffish when hearing it"?
Again, you're a chump. You're brandishing a term INTENTIONALLY loaded to incite division among the working class. You are a useful idiot to the people oppressing you.
Like, they kept telling Cletus that the immigrants are why his paycheck is small, and that the big city liberals want to eradicate him. He says “Damn those immigrants” and then you come out of the woodwork telling him he’s the problem with the country and then boom: you’re suddenly the liberal who he’s heard hates him, word made flesh, just as the prophecy foretold.
Exactly and the flipside of this is targeting the liberals and catering to the idea they can be morally superior, and building this meritocratic notion where the "Cletus" actually deserves to be poor and stupid. This mechanism basically removes individuals from the political economy and moralizes the outcomes caused by it as representative of their individual virtue. This idea of "virtue hoarding" has been used to describe this which I think can be pretty accurate. It can't solve anything either, and it's actually a very conservative approach to the topic at large because it doesn't acknowledge the economic material causes of why they're like this or try to solve the thing that causes these disparities. It makes it all about the individual and their moral choices. A lot of what's ignored from the people who liberals love to appropriate in their ideaology, like MLK Jr, is the radical notion of economic equality that made them so unpopular at the time, even among people who were morally opposed to racism. If you removed these prejduces from "Cletus," a lot of the city liberal types would still find him detestable as a person, and he would probably be asked to leave if he tried to enter one of their workplaces. Despite him having more materially in common with the liberal professional worker, the liberal likely believes themselves to have more in common with their bosses.
Exactly! And again, it's absolutely manufactured.
The anti-trans agenda is the most brilliantly executed wedge issue I've seen in a long time. Most "yokels" don't have any personal experience with trans people. They have no reason to hate them. Even if they're creeped out by what they don't understand, the numbers are so few that you couldn't under any stretch of the imagination convince them that they're a threat.
But the "foaming at the mouth big city liberals who hates anyone from outside the city" archetype? THAT looks like a threat. There are tons of city folk. They run the government. Do they really hate me?
You want to keep the working class infighting? Drop a trans issue into the mix. The country man says "Boy, now I tell you h'what, I'm not sure about that" and some genius will come out of the woodwork and say "FACIST!" and then boom, they have presented as the rabid threat. Sides are entrenched. Dialogue immediately erodes to ad hominem, both sides paint their strawmen, and they're convinced that it isn't a dispute over ideas but rather of the other side being intrinsically defective as people.
And in the squabble, education funding is cut. Class sizes grow. More money funneled to defence. Raytheon gets a contract to vaporize brown kids. CEO gets a 200 million bonus. The system works as intended.
It's way more likely someone knows a gay person than a trans person at this point so there's that unknown factor to exploit. It's also just more of a reality that your gender identity doesn't matter as much materially to the sort of path in life you're expected to take, and there's a lot of economic reasons for that. One being the cost of living and housing has already required two working adults in many places, another is industry specialization and professionalization. We also have a lot more identity technologies available to us, ways we can construct and inhabit identities and validate other people's identities. The funny thing is in many cases these virile straight male types are actually using the same gender ideology as the trans person, they're just as much discovering and finding out how to express their male-ness as the trans person is discovering how to best display the gender or non they prefer to be seen as. Even the adage "you aren't born a man, you become one" is basically the same notion Judith Butler presents under feminist theory. And of course the male identity stuff is commodified to shit just like anything else can be.
All the queer meme pages were making fun of Raytheon's DEI program this year so I think there's more awareness about this stuff in general now. I'm at a place where they've been putting in a top-down program like this and it's also the non-conforming people in the company asking the hard questions in the sessions to the diversity industry consultants which is great to see. I've also experienced the liberal "ally" condemnation in public once which was very uncomfortable, all because they heard a friend (who had transitioned) and I call each other "dude," which they were quick to point out very loudly to the entire party, "UH SHE'S A WOMAN!" Thankfully my friend loudly responded back "women can be dudes too" which shut her down, but I was just like girl get out of our business, and why are you listening to my friend and I greet each other, you don't know anything about our relationship. The worst thing is she was sober doing this lol.
Everyone with money and power are pretty happy with the status quo.
Counterexample: Disney in Florida.
Fascism is not actually good for business. Fascism demands that the most successful business in the state must lick boots or be punished.
I agree that Disney is having a spat with specifically Ron DeSantis, and I think it does make them uncomfortable.
That being said, it's a very personal feud. DeSantis thought he could use them as a punching bag for some political points... and he was wrong. The actual law came down on Disney's side, no matter what DeSantis as an individual thought.
And this is why I'd still think that as a whole I personally would still say that Disney is still happy with the status quo.
The kinda icky reason why Disney knew the law would come down on their side is the same reason Mickey Mouse is still protected under copyright: Disney WRITES the law. They shovel money at politicians and LITERALLY write the bills they want them to pass.
So as uncomfortable as a spat with a man is, a system in which they can pay-to-legislate is still a status quo they're very happy with, and I don't think that was ever in jeapordy.
I will say that I was pleasantly surprised at what appeared to be a social conscience from Disney. I'm skeptical that it's strictly rooted in benevolence, but at this point even if the Ulta powerful do the right things (even if for maybe less-than-perfect reasons), I'm tired enough to just accept it as a W and move on.
Counterexample: Disney in Florida.
They gave 50k to a single-candidate super PAC called American Leadership Action which supported Dr Oz's candidacy last election cycle lol.
The last half century has basically been the US propping up fascist governments who will cater to private business interests of the US, like every coup they've sided with and helped fund in socialist countries that was basically the whole point.
Except you're ignoring the entire reality of male fragility in your attempt to shift the blame. The alpha males, the CEO billionaires, the dickhead fascists; they're all fragile males. (Like you.)
I'm not ignoring anything. Male fragility is absolutely a thing, and I'm telling you that it is intentionally manufactured.
Beyond that, I'm telling you that the vocabulary and channels of discourse around male fragility are ALSO manufactured in a way to make those discussions as least likely to be successful as possible.
How often does bringing up male fragility outside of your echo chambers result in positive outcomes? Never?
It's nurtured in foolish young males by insecure and fearful old males. It's still fragile, and it's still a male dominated phenomenon that is STILL going to kill us all, and you throwing a tantrum won't change anything.
If my tantrum won't change anything, then I take sincere comfort in the knowledge that yours will. Good luck.
Please explain to me in detail how a matriarchal social structure would solve this, with relevant historical examples to support your claims.
Also, "women are too dumb to think for themselves, they must be brainwashed" is one of the strangest supposedly left-wing takes I've seen on this site.
Please explain in detail how you arrived at the conclusion that I'm advocating for a matriarchal social structure.
Hilarious that you're demanding historical examples when you know they were all murdered by fragile men like you.
Ah yes, let's red herring with gender politics and sexism.
Seriously, this isn't productive, it's toxic, and belongs back on Reddit and back on the gate communities there.
Lemmy "progressives" would rather argue about social politics than actually solve problems. It's one of the far-rights greatest strengths, left-wing groups fragment at the drop of a pencil over the slightest disagreements
It's due to all the propaganda BS everyone needs a fairness doctrine for media at this point
I think it's more "tech has created extremely reliable and granular methods to hijack a democracy". Pair that with wealth inequality, and you have a recipe for billionaires able to buy their way into becoming nobility without putting a target on their backs.
This wasn't some accident or an artifact - a small group of billionaires bought up the Western media over the last few decades, have run astroturfing operations to misrepresent public sentiment to lawmakers, and more recently have started to use social media to shape discourse. And I think we all know they do a whole lot more behind, but these are the things that are well documented publicly if you care to look
Humanity has plenty of cycles, but this was something done intentionally and systematically by a number of individuals that could fit in one room
Which is hilarious because I look at PP and all I see is a weak man and yet that's what we will probably elect.
We won't elect PP. We will elect whoever isn't Mr.T.
PP isn't doing very well even for the conservatives but they will still vote for him and the swinger voters have already made up thier mind and switched to the CPC.
Why wouldn't you elect Mr. T? I would love to have BA Barakas leading my country
His main policy of "pity the fool" isn't great.
Maybe if the leftwing was actually capable of doing something it would have some support.
The NDP got us national dental and doubled CERB payments, all while not even the opposition.
Also the NDP is the only party that wants to push public transit and better city design. Even if it isn't a federal mandate.
The liberals are also pushing for 15 minute city infrastructure.
They don't need to elect anything. Fascism is inherently militaristic.
If the US goes full fascist, then it's only a matter of time.
No place in the world will be safe.
Most places in the world were never safe from the US anyway, it has had aggressively competitive foreign policy for the last 80 years.
No argument there, but it can always get worse.
Meh, the USA won't invade Canada. Even if we go full fascist Canada is way better as a frenemy.
Our largest trading partner won't be able to give us a reason to invade.
Mexico on the other hand should watch out, given the amount of scapegoating our right wing throw their way.
Mexico is their largest trading partner now, just a heads up.
Facts have never had an effect on conservative feelings, despite one of their favorite sayings being “facts don’t care about your feelings”
Yeah but the fascists are already talking about invading them. And like hey, last time we did it we got our most profitable state out of it
Who's? Canada's or the USA? In both cases that's false.
The Canadian economy is inextricably linked to ours (USA). Any plans they have to deal with a racist USA has to take that, and the military disparity, into account. Canada is in a very shit situation if the USA falls to fascism. Appeasement is their only realistic option.
Canada is in a very shit situation if the USA falls to fascism. Appeasement is their only realistic option.
Ah, yes, the famous stopper of fascist expansion: Appeasement.
Canada has already been identified as a valid target for decades due to South Parks "blame Canada."
Our largest trading partner won't be able to give us a reason to invade.
Water and farmable land?
Poilievre isn't conservative. He's pretty much far right.
He supports Ukraine, climate change targets, new housing construction, abortion rights, immigration, legal weed, and gay marriage. He has plenty of other extremely problematic positions and I hope he loses badly, but nevertheless, the gap between him and basically any Republican is pretty substantial.
He’s voted against abortion rights, he’s voted against gay marriage, he’s lukewarm about legal weed but tbf prob wont illegalize it, and his solution to climate change is producing more oil.
Wikipedia:
In 2020, he changed his position and said that a government led by him would never introduce a bill on the topic, and no private ones would be adopted. In 2021, Poilievre opposed a private member bill prohibiting sex-selective abortion.
Poilievre supports same-sex marriage; in a 2020 interview, he called it a "success" and stated "I voted against it 15 years ago. But I learned a lot".
And yeah, he wants to produce more oil, but so does Biden. And for that matter, Trudeau also wants to build more oil pipelines. I wish there were more mainstream politicians who were genuinely anti-fossil-fuel but those are, unfortunately, few and far between.
Ya I don’t think that Pollievre would restrict access to gay marriage, but if he voted against it with his gay father in attendance, if that isn’t a sign of a piece of shit I don’t know what is. ( he also is courting the voters and MP’s that do want to restrict it)
Then vote for Singh and the NDP as he’s the only Federal Leader that kind of has a chance to become PM, that opposes oil, and at least the Trudeau government is talking about removing oil subsidies.
Honestly the most daming thing about PP is that he's been in goverance since he finished uni, never held a real job in his life. Also I'm 100% sure he's never made a woman cum.
Two years still. Lots can change and people will see through the piss poor attempt at the Conservative rebranding of Poilievre.
People the world over have been remarkably bad at seeing through cheap far-right populist pandering. I don't trust the electorate.
We basically flip between Liberal and Conservative on schedule. Trudeau took a gamble on positive numbers calling the last election early but I think his brand is essentially dead. PP is getting a huge image treatment right now if you've seen his tanned face and new persona, like they're throwing full weight in to making him relatable, and you can tell what a massive effort that is lol. I don't see too much of a material difference between LPC and CPC though, CPC is more shameless but the things LPC does to sovereign nations inside our country should be setting off more alarm bells than they are. People forget those treaties are with the Crown not the Canadian government. Also fuck the Liberals for not changing the vote, they campaigned so hard on that and I can't believe I fell for it first time around. NDP are polling decently well too but with the voting being what it is they're screwed. Although I'm not a huge fan of Jagmeet and how he became leader and think NDP need to do better with their branding and messaging, right now it's like "we're liberals but more authentic" but they need to be more forthcoming with the economic vision and why it will benefit everyone regardless of their identity. A straight white tradesman needs to get the message that he has just as much interest in voting NDP as a nonconforming individual, and I think they really need to tie these messages back to the economic benefit and power of having solidarity with others in achieving material political goals.
Great summary, and good insight imo
A lot of NDP voters where I am at, but PP is going to get my vote. Cost of living is my #1 voting issue and Pierre is the only one I’ve even heard talking about it.
NDP and Liberals just don’t care about how much money I have left in my pockets at the end of the month, they think it’s all theirs anyways
On housing PP wants to "remove beurocracy" for developers which means they can build what will maximize their profits with less regard for regulations, and with the huge demand for housing this allows them to cater to mid-upper range of home buyers and cut corners. Milton and north Oakille are good case studies for this strategy where it's basically all dual-income managerial workers and white collar professionals living in blocked out subdivisions with cheaply made "luxury" homes.
Liberals just pulled their move today by waiving GST for rental unit developers but as usual it's a pandering half-measure.
NDP share the tax GHT/HST waiving for renters in their housing policy on top of using under-utilized federal land to build social and co-op housing right away, as well as forcing developers to build affordable housing with the communities and municipalities having more say. They also want to extend CMHC insured mortgages for first-time buyers to 30 years so people's monthly payments would be less. Although I think the down payment is the hurdle for most.
I'll tell you a secret nothing he does well influence it. Sure cost might godown but won't be because of any one running the country. If the president doesn't matter for the Is economy I would assume it's the same for us.
Short memory huh? Why do you think we are in such a mess in the first place?
I'm both curious and personally invested on what their outlook on refugees would look like. I've definitely considered the possibility of having to flee to Canada as a trans woman, but I guess the question is how legitimately I'd be able to enter the country and whether I'd have to go into hiding once I get there.
Right now, yeah a trans person can seek asylum in Canada. But the leader of the Conservative Party is a culture war fashy type not too dissimilar from Ron Desantis. If he gets in, it'll be dark days north of the border too.
I'm genuinely confused as to why, knowing that the Conservative/Republican brand has always been to serve big business, deregulating while also lowering taxes for the wealthy while cutting services to working class families, why people en masse would vote for them.
I get it, 2 sides of the same coin and all that jazz, but one side of the coin is just greedy, while the other side of the coin is greedy and is actively stoking the fires of a civil war.
Because some people bel8ve taking any kind of welfare is as immoral as molesting a child.
Don’t forget the racism so bad they’ll screw themselves as long as it also screws “the wrong people.”
It's not that they believe welfare is immoral. They believe welfare that comes without the Jesus Strings attached (i.e., welfare from the state) undermines their ability to market Jesus by giving fully Jesus-encumbered welfare to the hard up.
Not in my experience. MY family has no problem with family help, or church help just government help.
Most of them don't really believe that. In fact I'm pretty sure most of them don't actually have many beliefs other than "if i just moving goalposts fast enough, I'll never have to form a new opinion on anything."
It doesn't matter who did what so long as their side is right.
Ironically, the other half of their brand is actively screwing with interests of big business. Big businesses also want stability and predictable government fiscal behavior, and republicans are now famous for throwing tantrums and threatening to screw up borrowing and repayment if they don't get their ways on issues that businesses flat out don't care about.
I'm guessing the whole world has been doing some hard mulling since 2016...
Funny story, the whole world will arrive at the same place, just in time to kick off a third world war of stupidity.
The US DOD and intelligence services have been doing it.
We need electoral reform to avoid the same in Canada. The official opposition is actively siding with fascists.
And just like the Democrats in the USA, the Liberals don't seem to recognize the danger. The middle of the road will never save us from the far right.
I don't blame them. As an American I'm mulling the same.
I just hope their plan includes an asylum path for Americans sick of this doubling-down on ignorance. Not to say Canada isn't without their dumb dumbs either...
Trade Alberta out. It’s been stinging to join the parade of idiots.
Smith and Ford give enthusiastic, limp-wristed waves.
We've got our dumb-dumbs, and they're definitely importing some culture war bullshit from you guys, but the party they fall in behind (Progressive Conservatives) is closer to democrats than the republicans, in general.
Build a wall and make us pay for it!
Best get across before Canadians start dropping anti-migrant barriers in the Great Lakes.
let me in. LET ME IN!!!!!
Is it them taking a hard right authoritarian shift?
No. Canada is centre-left and backed by mid left. The right and far right parties will never have enough seats to go without challenge. Most of the authoritarian parties are far right fringe parties that will like see no more than a handful of seats.
You should take another look at what the CPC is focusing on. At their convention this month they voted on what to focus on as a party; two anti-trans policies passed the policy for affordable housing did not. Is the CPC as far right as the US Republican party, no they're not, but Poilievre is happy to court people who are.
Also he won't answer non-vetted questions which is a different issue but still rubs me the wrong way.
And more horrifyingly: polling might not mean much this far out, but right now, the CPC is leading. Big. Skippy is terrifying, and terrifyingly close to power.
Only you guys can help your democracy internally. Never fail to vote, get your friends voting and obviously never vote for conservatives.
I mean, Canada might get there first, right? I feel like we both are not doing so hot.
Whole of the West is dealing with it to some degree imo. America is just as always the most noticeable due to the attention it gets in the news around the world.
Yea I noticed in the news recently that Germany is having trouble with the rise of fascist groups as well. I hope there are non-violent course corrections for us all this time.
Personally I think in four years time it's possible Australia and UK (but even then UK Labor is transphobic) might be the last bastions of progressivism in the West (Australia voted out their right wing party last year, and the UK Conservatives don't seem to have a path to re-election.) The rest don't have recent enough memory of how right-wing populism doesn't solve problems. USA does, but USA has the problem of hyperpartisanship to a degree that some argue Democrat and Republican constitute two separate nations.
Oh that's good to hear, I thought both of those countries were going conservative as well. As long as there's some civilly practical place left, I'll just go there.
I hear about how different Democrats and Republicans in the states are a lot, but there are so many civil and practical issues that Americans agree on regardless of which political party they're part of that at this point I've drawn the conclusion that the 'progressives" in the states simply haven't been taken in by the media empire that pours capital into advocating for conservative ideals and a manufactured schism in the way of life in the United States.
Conservatives have purchased so much air time and always appeal to the basest vices and fears that it seems like their civil rights abuses and antiquated perspectives on race and authority are more widely held than they actually are if you poll all Americans. And that checks out with the people I've talked to around the country in the last couple years.
Yeah our last PM here in Australia was very religious and a useless prick (who had to hire an 'empathy coach' I shit you not) and thankfully people realised he was an idiot. Sadly most of our parties have drifted right over the last 50-odd years so even our Labour is further right than a lot of people are happy with, and the Liberals (with a big L, they're fiscal liberals but social conservatives) got their arses kicked last election.
Greens have some support at least and some teeth to fight where they can but they're not terribly well organised.
But we do have issues with far-right groups popping up and the importing of terrible US ideology. There are SovCits, Neo-Nazi groups and very open racism from groups too. I've even heard a protest group chanting "Let's Go Brandon" because something something
The bizarre transference of American conservative bigotry and greed rubbing off abroad was what I was aware of.
Frickin' rupert Murdoch News.
The export of fear-mongering news is abhorrent, I traveled a lot recently and was shocked every time someone said, "but you know Trump makes good points", what happened multiple times in countries separated by distance and I assumed political and ideological temperament.
Like this romanian or Australian or Portuguese beach bum sitting with me, having a beer and eating the local cuisine will suddenly just bust out "Good thing about that Mexican wall though, right?" or "Q knows what he's talking about with pizza gate" or the equivalent and I'll be stunned at the presumed insider "knowledge" of American conservative talking points and that someone thousands of miles away has somehow assimilated (or been poisoned with) these weird American conservative biases and misinformation and it's become part of their personality.
I don't think the context is so much military related but rather diplomatic and economic.
Does the last sentence really come as an obvious conclusion from the first two?
I believe the opportunity cost of increasing military production does not seem to be worth it, so it follows to me.
Theres other considerations beyond state to state war with the US.
I'm not Canadian and don't actually have an opinion, but here's other reasons they might increase their defense budget because of US destabilization. Decreased global stability due to loss of neighboring super power. Non state actors like terrorists or refugees leaving the US.
I don't think that Canada will be fighting the New Confederacy or the New England Union of Democratic Socialists in 2028, but there are still reasons that a diminished US would mean Canada should spend new money on defense.
Military spending on what though? The CAF is woefully dependent on the US for basically everything. Hell they probably could turn off those F-35s by pressing a button.
I meant in the context of general self-reliance because Canada may not be able to rely on the US.
That's a fair point, but does Canada have a geopolitical enemy? I genuinely don't know enough about Canadian politics, and this is a real question.
Just a reminder that political affiliation is not a protected class and can be discriminated against with impunity.
University of Ottawa national-security professor Thomas Juneau said many Canadians might find it far-fetched to talk about Washington falling drastically out of step with Canada.
Let's also pay some attention to the fact that Canada may be about to fall drastically in step with the US Republicans at the next election.
Even if the PCs get elected, they're basically democrats if you look at the policy positions and set aside the stupid culture wedges they like to grab onto
The democrats are pretty fucking bad though. Nothing like the Republicans domestically but in foreign policy, which is more relevant to us foreigners, they might be even bigger warmongers.
Why wouldn't Canada and the rest of the world fall in step? The same environmental and economic pressures exist everywhere. Again, not as bad as in the US, but it's going to get worse everywhere.
The Gilead plan.
Under His eye.
This article is from August 17th. Is there a plan or not?
Might take a little longer than a month to figure out what to do if your next door neighbor who also has the biggest military the world has ever seen goes full fascist.
I use a spray bottle on my cats. Has Canada even tried that?
Bad America, no!
You joke, but I almost guarentee it would work on 3 of the last 4 US Presidents.
There is not
Uh? How bad does it have to get? We're already there.
I'm not all that worried about authoritarianism in America, for this reason: America is a big country full of lazy, entitled fucks who hate their jobs. And our police are the most lazy / entitled / job-hating of them all.
You are never, ever going to get the number of dedicated spies / censors / secret police you would need to pull off authoritarianism in America; they'll absolutely cut taxes and cut social services, fuck up the economy seven ways to Sunday, and let overseas strongmen run roughshod over smaller countries, but that's what they're about. Even on the limited occasions where Americans do dabble in policing thoughtcrime - the recent spate of book censorship for example - it's half-assed and sloppy and only ever meant as a means to some other end (in the case of book bans, destroying public schools), never something people are actually that excited about in its own right.
So yes, we certainly have to worry about Republicans winning things because they're going to make everybody's lives miserable in a hundred different ways if they do, but authoritarianism is beyond their power to pull off.
Do you have any idea the level of big brother spying already going on in the U.S.? Not to mention the propaganda here is so good you don't even realize you're consuming it.
I've lived in China and I can assure you that by comparison our domestic spying and propaganda are as laughable as our attempts at manufacturing consumer electronics. (and indeed the reasons for our failures at both of those things are somewhat related)
I've been to China, their spying is different and more blatant. But, if you think it isn't happening here, and we're all a bunch of lazy idiots, then you've been duped hard core.
I'm honestly kind of shocked that you could visit China and come back with the conclusion that we aren't a bunch of lazy idiots.
You can paint everyone broad strokes all you want, doesn't make it true. Sure, a sizeable portion of our country has a cult of moron dickheads following trumps every word. That doesn't make the entire country lazy.
Umm. . .
“If?”
"Canada thinks it might get worse."
Is the US "doing a Germany"?
If?
So is the plan to build a wall?
To flee to Europe (hint: that won't work)?
To invade in order to install democracy (hint: the US tried that 83 times, it never worked — they never tried very hard though)?
To take notes and copy whatever they did?
Lol, Canada is about to take a far-right turn too. Be sure that Polievre share most of the values of the GOP, he just avoids to talk about it too much. He and his friends are anti lgbt, abortion, immigration, etc. . They dont give a fck about climate change and want to close CBC. He was openly supportive of FreedOMtards truckers parrading with nazi flags downtown Ottawa 2 years ago. So yeah, we are not different from US and most of Europe who elected far-right government, we'rebjust a bit late to the party.
What in the Hearts of Iron
Canada
Aren't they like, third or fourth place in the list of US's harem starring the UK? Canada's gonna open their legs to the US, as they are wont to do.
I hope the U.S. is mulling ‘game plan’ if Canada takes far-right, authoritarian shift.
Heh "far right" in Canada would be America's Democratic party. America's "far right" is straight up blossoming fascism.
Nah, the right in dangerous up here as well. We've imported alt-right fascism wholesale.
I agree our far right is absolutely dangerous for us domestically, but we do not control a plethora of nukes or have the largest army in the world, our courts are not packed with Christian Supremacists, and our political right has historically flirted with extremist factions but actual policy is usually somewhere closer to the centre, so yeah it's absolutely dangerous but nowhere near the scale that it is in America. One dementia-induced order from that con-man former president (assuming he wins again) can literally end civilisation as we know it. 100% on board with what you're saying domestically though, PP absolutely cannot be allowed to form government.
Lol did you just use the freedom convoy as our version of Jan 6th? Riiiight
Yes, it was an attempt at our very own maple flavoured coup. The organizers literally had a "Memoradum of Understanding" written up with demands that the current government be dissolved and replaced with their own people.
Just because it failed spectacularly doesn't mean there wasn't the same basic inspiration behind it.
You'd think so, but that poison is spreading up here pretty quietly and quickly.
quietly? It's loud as fuck.
The world is, loudly, starting to become a little too much like the first quarter of the last century. And it isn't good, man.
Definitely not looking like we're heading for happy or prosperous times for most people.
Well their gameplan for when Brazil lost its far-right authoritarian was to let him just vibe in Florida despite charges against him, so I'm gonna say if they do have a plan, it's probably not gonna make you happy.
Unjustified removal of rights of the people. The US has already done this with its bans on abortion and removal of some rights for transpeople.
Radical Conservativism. We are seeing this in the US with book banning and burnings and the fact that the state and church is tied tightly together, despite its claims that its not.
Ultra-Nationalist ideals. The US exhibits this already in many facets.
The US also has a strong xenophobia towards non-Americans and refugees.
While America is not quite there yet, they surly are on track to being far right.
The points that the article suggested were political refugees and NATO weakening due to US isolation starting from Obama. Not sure how xenophobia or removal of rights has anything to do with how Canada operates.
But i know I was asking how to determine far right so thats fair. As of now, I cant tell the difference between right and far right. What I usually expect to hear is anything that isnt chosen by progressives is far right lately.
If you have to ask...
I have to ask what... if I ask then im a far right? Is that the metric you go by? I absolutely love how all i did was ask what people consider far right and i get downvoted with no explanation except 'hurrr why are you asking, you should know! Isnt it programmed into your blood?'
"Maybe having a father in the home is good for society"
Always a great sign when your geopolitical neighbors quietly start planning for you to go full fascist.
Canada also has plans for if America ever invades them.
But why would they? Let some other country mine resources that you buy at a steal.
I actually have a crackpot theory that Trump's little attempt to buy Greenland (yeah, that happened) was really part of a plan Putin had dictated. And that Putin was trying to align USA+Greenland, Russia, and then Canada. Which is like 25% of Earth's land mass.
I base it on nothing more than maps and stuff.
Like if Putin is trying to play RISK...
Another crackpot theory I've always had is that Trump always sent tweets out around 3am because that's midday in Moscow and when he got his direction from Putin.
Also Adderall
This may have some legs. It would be wildly valuable for Putin.
I think it was more regarding the strategic importance of the emerging northwest passage arctic shipping route.
Because the US is the only country that could feasibly invade Canada.
Apparently Russia regularly invades the far north. Which is why alert is way the hell up there.
Someone can correct me because I'm probably wrong.
Incursions aren't the same thing as an invasion.
Russia can't even hold ground in a neighbouring country, they aren't going to be able to hold ground on another continent LOL.
Canada is drifting alarmingly rightwards too.
Hope that involves a plan for letting lgbt folks immigrate to safety instead of apologizing 80 years later like they did to the casualties of Nazi Germany who were denied safe passage
I've heard Canadians claiming they're already letting LGBT folks from the US achieve refugee status, but that's strange because Canada has a treaty with the US explicitly stating that they can't take in refugees arriving from the US. So it seems like Canadian citizens think they're taking in LGBT refugees from the US, and will likely be confused and push back when people try to tell them that Canada literally can't take US refugees without the refugee doing a big, long legal song and dance. So my guess is that the Canada is going to claim they're already doing it (when they don't actually seem to) and then apologize again in 80yrs.
Edit: y'all wanna tell me how I'm wrong? As someone who's head will probably be on the chopping block should republicans win the next election, I would really like to know if I can count on Canada not turning me around should I find myself having to show up at the border with my belongings.
I would love to say that I have hope that Canada will be willing to break that treaty, but Canada is still financially dependent on the US, not to mention that people who care a lot about "muh Canadian identity" would definitely be against taking Americans.
Honestly I think secessionism has more of a chance than Americans being let into Canada.
I know someone who's non-binary that's moved to Canada (I think it was on a work visa), and they've talked about how Canada has been very welcoming to them in regards to their gender. However, they've also said that they're very glad that their coworkers have either forgotten, or aren't aware that they're American because they've heard nothing but hate and vitriol towards Americans. No sympathy towards LGBT Americans, no sympathy towards BIPOC Americans, just generally "fuck Americans, they deserve everything that's happening to them".
That wasn't something I was expecting to hear, and it seriously hurt my view of Canada and my hopes that Canada might act as a safe harbor towards LGBT and BIPOC Americans in the future (assuming republicans succeed with Project 2025).
Iirc the stipulations are convoluted. I moved closer to the Canadian border though, just in case.
Yeah, it'd be nice if I could do that. Sadly I'm not in a position to at the moment. My understanding of the whole situation is that Canada allows asylum seekers from the US, who have to go through a long, drawn-out legal process that involves having a politician personally vouch for them. Refugees, however, are automatically turned away from Canada if they come from or through the US as the US is still considered "safe harbor" for refugees of all kinds.
What's the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee? While asylum seekers and refugees are both fleeing their countries, personally I see asylum seekers as people with options, typically with highly desirable skills or knowledge, allowing them to choose which country to make their new home in. Refugees, on the other hand, show up at the border with the clothes on their backs and whatever they could cram into their backpack or car, because they don't have anywhere else to go.
Canada won't be as eager to take US refugees as you hope. I can't think of a small population dealing with massive refugee inflows from a place that much larger. Think of how destabilising the refugee migrations from Syria were on Europe. Lots of LGBT and sympathetic cases of course but lots of crazy and the amount of entitlement would be overwhelming.
The rest of the industrialised worried will have angry Americans in their faces screaming about their first and second amendment rights every day if there is an exodus.
Or essentially anyone who would be considered an enemy under a new alt-right regime, such as atheists.
Someone better take me in if shit goes south. I ain't staying here, and I'm too poor to move myself.
That's not how any of that works at all.
So it "works" by keeping people who are oppressed in the place they are oppressed in with zero fucking sympathy and no way for a country to actually care about people trying to escape somewhere they cannot? I think you believe the way it "works" is how oppressive cultures want you to think it does.
Or women who no longer have control over their own bodies and physical health
I've already checked. I've got enough qualifications that I can just migrate to Canada.
It'll be nice to teach them about what their summers are going to be like.
Canada is going to elect a conservative government, too
The whole world is shifting hard to the right. It's pretty crazy to see happen in real time.
Something something "weak men" something something "hard times"
Male fragility will kill us all.
Male Fragility Will Kill Us All
You're a fool if you think that far-right conservatism is exclusive to men (or that only allowing women in power would solve it)
Women buying into patriarchy doesn't make it any less of a phenomenon or any less dangerous.
Good thing that comment I replied to said "male fragility" and not "the patriarchy" or I'd probably agree with them.
You're a fool if you extrapolated that meaning from my words. The male fragility drives the culture of insecurity, greed, and competition. Women can be infected as well, but they are not the drivers of this psychosis.
Male fragility doesn't drive the culture of insecurity. It's an artificially introduced wedge tactic intended to keep the working class infighting.
Everyone with money and power are pretty happy with the status quo.
If you ever find yourself thinking that any regular working person is "the problem", step back and ask yourself who baited the trap. Some external narrative drew one of you in to make the other pissed off.
Like, they kept telling Cletus that the immigrants are why his paycheck is small, and that the big city liberals want to eradicate him. He says "Damn those immigrants" and then you come out of the woodwork telling him he's the problem with the country and then boom: you're suddenly the liberal who he's heard hates him, word made flesh, just as the prophecy foretold.
Like, how goddamn convenient that it's male fragility. How awesome for the 1% that out of everyone and everything, they hand you a loaded term like that that will CERTAINLY be taken out of context as a blanket condemnation of 50% of the population by anyone who doesn't study sociology (spoiler alert, MOST PEOPLE)
Like, if someone said to you that it was a result of a slowness of male development, and thus the Latin for "slow" was appropriate here, and that the accepted term that you should use in the world to try and initiate a thoughtful, respectful exchange of ideas in good faith, so you should say "male retardation", would you say "ya that sounds like a great way to talk to men and I can't comprehend any reason why anyone might be standoffish when hearing it"?
Again, you're a chump. You're brandishing a term INTENTIONALLY loaded to incite division among the working class. You are a useful idiot to the people oppressing you.
Exactly and the flipside of this is targeting the liberals and catering to the idea they can be morally superior, and building this meritocratic notion where the "Cletus" actually deserves to be poor and stupid. This mechanism basically removes individuals from the political economy and moralizes the outcomes caused by it as representative of their individual virtue. This idea of "virtue hoarding" has been used to describe this which I think can be pretty accurate. It can't solve anything either, and it's actually a very conservative approach to the topic at large because it doesn't acknowledge the economic material causes of why they're like this or try to solve the thing that causes these disparities. It makes it all about the individual and their moral choices. A lot of what's ignored from the people who liberals love to appropriate in their ideaology, like MLK Jr, is the radical notion of economic equality that made them so unpopular at the time, even among people who were morally opposed to racism. If you removed these prejduces from "Cletus," a lot of the city liberal types would still find him detestable as a person, and he would probably be asked to leave if he tried to enter one of their workplaces. Despite him having more materially in common with the liberal professional worker, the liberal likely believes themselves to have more in common with their bosses.
Exactly! And again, it's absolutely manufactured.
The anti-trans agenda is the most brilliantly executed wedge issue I've seen in a long time. Most "yokels" don't have any personal experience with trans people. They have no reason to hate them. Even if they're creeped out by what they don't understand, the numbers are so few that you couldn't under any stretch of the imagination convince them that they're a threat.
But the "foaming at the mouth big city liberals who hates anyone from outside the city" archetype? THAT looks like a threat. There are tons of city folk. They run the government. Do they really hate me?
You want to keep the working class infighting? Drop a trans issue into the mix. The country man says "Boy, now I tell you h'what, I'm not sure about that" and some genius will come out of the woodwork and say "FACIST!" and then boom, they have presented as the rabid threat. Sides are entrenched. Dialogue immediately erodes to ad hominem, both sides paint their strawmen, and they're convinced that it isn't a dispute over ideas but rather of the other side being intrinsically defective as people.
And in the squabble, education funding is cut. Class sizes grow. More money funneled to defence. Raytheon gets a contract to vaporize brown kids. CEO gets a 200 million bonus. The system works as intended.
It's way more likely someone knows a gay person than a trans person at this point so there's that unknown factor to exploit. It's also just more of a reality that your gender identity doesn't matter as much materially to the sort of path in life you're expected to take, and there's a lot of economic reasons for that. One being the cost of living and housing has already required two working adults in many places, another is industry specialization and professionalization. We also have a lot more identity technologies available to us, ways we can construct and inhabit identities and validate other people's identities. The funny thing is in many cases these virile straight male types are actually using the same gender ideology as the trans person, they're just as much discovering and finding out how to express their male-ness as the trans person is discovering how to best display the gender or non they prefer to be seen as. Even the adage "you aren't born a man, you become one" is basically the same notion Judith Butler presents under feminist theory. And of course the male identity stuff is commodified to shit just like anything else can be.
All the queer meme pages were making fun of Raytheon's DEI program this year so I think there's more awareness about this stuff in general now. I'm at a place where they've been putting in a top-down program like this and it's also the non-conforming people in the company asking the hard questions in the sessions to the diversity industry consultants which is great to see. I've also experienced the liberal "ally" condemnation in public once which was very uncomfortable, all because they heard a friend (who had transitioned) and I call each other "dude," which they were quick to point out very loudly to the entire party, "UH SHE'S A WOMAN!" Thankfully my friend loudly responded back "women can be dudes too" which shut her down, but I was just like girl get out of our business, and why are you listening to my friend and I greet each other, you don't know anything about our relationship. The worst thing is she was sober doing this lol.
Counterexample: Disney in Florida.
Fascism is not actually good for business. Fascism demands that the most successful business in the state must lick boots or be punished.
I agree that Disney is having a spat with specifically Ron DeSantis, and I think it does make them uncomfortable.
That being said, it's a very personal feud. DeSantis thought he could use them as a punching bag for some political points... and he was wrong. The actual law came down on Disney's side, no matter what DeSantis as an individual thought.
And this is why I'd still think that as a whole I personally would still say that Disney is still happy with the status quo.
The kinda icky reason why Disney knew the law would come down on their side is the same reason Mickey Mouse is still protected under copyright: Disney WRITES the law. They shovel money at politicians and LITERALLY write the bills they want them to pass.
So as uncomfortable as a spat with a man is, a system in which they can pay-to-legislate is still a status quo they're very happy with, and I don't think that was ever in jeapordy.
I will say that I was pleasantly surprised at what appeared to be a social conscience from Disney. I'm skeptical that it's strictly rooted in benevolence, but at this point even if the Ulta powerful do the right things (even if for maybe less-than-perfect reasons), I'm tired enough to just accept it as a W and move on.
They gave 50k to a single-candidate super PAC called American Leadership Action which supported Dr Oz's candidacy last election cycle lol.
The last half century has basically been the US propping up fascist governments who will cater to private business interests of the US, like every coup they've sided with and helped fund in socialist countries that was basically the whole point.
Except you're ignoring the entire reality of male fragility in your attempt to shift the blame. The alpha males, the CEO billionaires, the dickhead fascists; they're all fragile males. (Like you.)
I'm not ignoring anything. Male fragility is absolutely a thing, and I'm telling you that it is intentionally manufactured.
Beyond that, I'm telling you that the vocabulary and channels of discourse around male fragility are ALSO manufactured in a way to make those discussions as least likely to be successful as possible.
How often does bringing up male fragility outside of your echo chambers result in positive outcomes? Never?
It's nurtured in foolish young males by insecure and fearful old males. It's still fragile, and it's still a male dominated phenomenon that is STILL going to kill us all, and you throwing a tantrum won't change anything.
If my tantrum won't change anything, then I take sincere comfort in the knowledge that yours will. Good luck.
Ignorant projection.
Please explain to me in detail how a matriarchal social structure would solve this, with relevant historical examples to support your claims.
Also, "women are too dumb to think for themselves, they must be brainwashed" is one of the strangest supposedly left-wing takes I've seen on this site.
Please explain in detail how you arrived at the conclusion that I'm advocating for a matriarchal social structure. Hilarious that you're demanding historical examples when you know they were all murdered by fragile men like you.
Ah yes, let's red herring with gender politics and sexism.
Seriously, this isn't productive, it's toxic, and belongs back on Reddit and back on the gate communities there.
Lemmy "progressives" would rather argue about social politics than actually solve problems. It's one of the far-rights greatest strengths, left-wing groups fragment at the drop of a pencil over the slightest disagreements
They were never aligned to begin with
It's due to all the propaganda BS everyone needs a fairness doctrine for media at this point
I think it's more "tech has created extremely reliable and granular methods to hijack a democracy". Pair that with wealth inequality, and you have a recipe for billionaires able to buy their way into becoming nobility without putting a target on their backs.
This wasn't some accident or an artifact - a small group of billionaires bought up the Western media over the last few decades, have run astroturfing operations to misrepresent public sentiment to lawmakers, and more recently have started to use social media to shape discourse. And I think we all know they do a whole lot more behind, but these are the things that are well documented publicly if you care to look
Humanity has plenty of cycles, but this was something done intentionally and systematically by a number of individuals that could fit in one room
Which is hilarious because I look at PP and all I see is a weak man and yet that's what we will probably elect.
We won't elect PP. We will elect whoever isn't Mr.T.
PP isn't doing very well even for the conservatives but they will still vote for him and the swinger voters have already made up thier mind and switched to the CPC.
Why wouldn't you elect Mr. T? I would love to have BA Barakas leading my country
His main policy of "pity the fool" isn't great.
Maybe if the leftwing was actually capable of doing something it would have some support.
The NDP got us national dental and doubled CERB payments, all while not even the opposition.
Also the NDP is the only party that wants to push public transit and better city design. Even if it isn't a federal mandate.
The liberals are also pushing for 15 minute city infrastructure.
The Liberals also pushed for election reform...
Which isn't a high priority.
They don't need to elect anything. Fascism is inherently militaristic.
If the US goes full fascist, then it's only a matter of time.
No place in the world will be safe.
Most places in the world were never safe from the US anyway, it has had aggressively competitive foreign policy for the last 80 years.
No argument there, but it can always get worse.
Meh, the USA won't invade Canada. Even if we go full fascist Canada is way better as a frenemy.
Our largest trading partner won't be able to give us a reason to invade.
Mexico on the other hand should watch out, given the amount of scapegoating our right wing throw their way.
Mexico is their largest trading partner now, just a heads up.
Facts have never had an effect on conservative feelings, despite one of their favorite sayings being “facts don’t care about your feelings”
Yeah but the fascists are already talking about invading them. And like hey, last time we did it we got our most profitable state out of it
Who's? Canada's or the USA? In both cases that's false.
The Canadian economy is inextricably linked to ours (USA). Any plans they have to deal with a racist USA has to take that, and the military disparity, into account. Canada is in a very shit situation if the USA falls to fascism. Appeasement is their only realistic option.
Ah, yes, the famous stopper of fascist expansion: Appeasement.
Mexico has jumped into first, (likely) because the US is desperately trying to lower reliance on China, I'd imagine.
Canada has already been identified as a valid target for decades due to South Parks "blame Canada."
Water and farmable land?
Poilievre isn't conservative. He's pretty much far right.
He supports Ukraine, climate change targets, new housing construction, abortion rights, immigration, legal weed, and gay marriage. He has plenty of other extremely problematic positions and I hope he loses badly, but nevertheless, the gap between him and basically any Republican is pretty substantial.
He’s voted against abortion rights, he’s voted against gay marriage, he’s lukewarm about legal weed but tbf prob wont illegalize it, and his solution to climate change is producing more oil.
Wikipedia:
And yeah, he wants to produce more oil, but so does Biden. And for that matter, Trudeau also wants to build more oil pipelines. I wish there were more mainstream politicians who were genuinely anti-fossil-fuel but those are, unfortunately, few and far between.
Honestly the most daming thing about PP is that he's been in goverance since he finished uni, never held a real job in his life. Also I'm 100% sure he's never made a woman cum.
Two years still. Lots can change and people will see through the piss poor attempt at the Conservative rebranding of Poilievre.
People the world over have been remarkably bad at seeing through cheap far-right populist pandering. I don't trust the electorate.
We basically flip between Liberal and Conservative on schedule. Trudeau took a gamble on positive numbers calling the last election early but I think his brand is essentially dead. PP is getting a huge image treatment right now if you've seen his tanned face and new persona, like they're throwing full weight in to making him relatable, and you can tell what a massive effort that is lol. I don't see too much of a material difference between LPC and CPC though, CPC is more shameless but the things LPC does to sovereign nations inside our country should be setting off more alarm bells than they are. People forget those treaties are with the Crown not the Canadian government. Also fuck the Liberals for not changing the vote, they campaigned so hard on that and I can't believe I fell for it first time around. NDP are polling decently well too but with the voting being what it is they're screwed. Although I'm not a huge fan of Jagmeet and how he became leader and think NDP need to do better with their branding and messaging, right now it's like "we're liberals but more authentic" but they need to be more forthcoming with the economic vision and why it will benefit everyone regardless of their identity. A straight white tradesman needs to get the message that he has just as much interest in voting NDP as a nonconforming individual, and I think they really need to tie these messages back to the economic benefit and power of having solidarity with others in achieving material political goals.
Great summary, and good insight imo
A lot of NDP voters where I am at, but PP is going to get my vote. Cost of living is my #1 voting issue and Pierre is the only one I’ve even heard talking about it.
NDP and Liberals just don’t care about how much money I have left in my pockets at the end of the month, they think it’s all theirs anyways
On housing PP wants to "remove beurocracy" for developers which means they can build what will maximize their profits with less regard for regulations, and with the huge demand for housing this allows them to cater to mid-upper range of home buyers and cut corners. Milton and north Oakille are good case studies for this strategy where it's basically all dual-income managerial workers and white collar professionals living in blocked out subdivisions with cheaply made "luxury" homes.
Liberals just pulled their move today by waiving GST for rental unit developers but as usual it's a pandering half-measure.
NDP share the tax GHT/HST waiving for renters in their housing policy on top of using under-utilized federal land to build social and co-op housing right away, as well as forcing developers to build affordable housing with the communities and municipalities having more say. They also want to extend CMHC insured mortgages for first-time buyers to 30 years so people's monthly payments would be less. Although I think the down payment is the hurdle for most.
I'll tell you a secret nothing he does well influence it. Sure cost might godown but won't be because of any one running the country. If the president doesn't matter for the Is economy I would assume it's the same for us.
Short memory huh? Why do you think we are in such a mess in the first place?
https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada-s-banks-received-114b-bailout-study-asserts-1.803031
We're the only western country that didn't see a dip in housing in 2008/2009.
Can't wait!
im pretty sure they would close their borders and fast.
Never close your borders to another country's brain drain
https://imgflip.com/i/7z2p9a
Shit. I just DQ'd myself by not knowing how to embed an image on Mobile via Thunder
Wellll maybe not never . . . Looking at operation paperclip
As an American, please nuke us if Trump wins the next election.
I have some bad news for you.
What's the bad news?
I'm both curious and personally invested on what their outlook on refugees would look like. I've definitely considered the possibility of having to flee to Canada as a trans woman, but I guess the question is how legitimately I'd be able to enter the country and whether I'd have to go into hiding once I get there.
Right now, yeah a trans person can seek asylum in Canada. But the leader of the Conservative Party is a culture war fashy type not too dissimilar from Ron Desantis. If he gets in, it'll be dark days north of the border too.
I'm genuinely confused as to why, knowing that the Conservative/Republican brand has always been to serve big business, deregulating while also lowering taxes for the wealthy while cutting services to working class families, why people en masse would vote for them.
I get it, 2 sides of the same coin and all that jazz, but one side of the coin is just greedy, while the other side of the coin is greedy and is actively stoking the fires of a civil war.
Because some people bel8ve taking any kind of welfare is as immoral as molesting a child.
Don’t forget the racism so bad they’ll screw themselves as long as it also screws “the wrong people.”
It's not that they believe welfare is immoral. They believe welfare that comes without the Jesus Strings attached (i.e., welfare from the state) undermines their ability to market Jesus by giving fully Jesus-encumbered welfare to the hard up.
Not in my experience. MY family has no problem with family help, or church help just government help.
Most of them don't really believe that. In fact I'm pretty sure most of them don't actually have many beliefs other than "if i just moving goalposts fast enough, I'll never have to form a new opinion on anything."
It doesn't matter who did what so long as their side is right.
Ironically, the other half of their brand is actively screwing with interests of big business. Big businesses also want stability and predictable government fiscal behavior, and republicans are now famous for throwing tantrums and threatening to screw up borrowing and repayment if they don't get their ways on issues that businesses flat out don't care about.
I'm guessing the whole world has been doing some hard mulling since 2016...
Funny story, the whole world will arrive at the same place, just in time to kick off a third world war of stupidity.
The US DOD and intelligence services have been doing it.
We need electoral reform to avoid the same in Canada. The official opposition is actively siding with fascists.
And just like the Democrats in the USA, the Liberals don't seem to recognize the danger. The middle of the road will never save us from the far right.
I don't blame them. As an American I'm mulling the same.
I just hope their plan includes an asylum path for Americans sick of this doubling-down on ignorance. Not to say Canada isn't without their dumb dumbs either...
Trade Alberta out. It’s been stinging to join the parade of idiots.
Smith and Ford give enthusiastic, limp-wristed waves.
We've got our dumb-dumbs, and they're definitely importing some culture war bullshit from you guys, but the party they fall in behind (Progressive Conservatives) is closer to democrats than the republicans, in general.
Build a wall and make us pay for it!
Best get across before Canadians start dropping anti-migrant barriers in the Great Lakes.
let me in. LET ME IN!!!!!
Is it them taking a hard right authoritarian shift?
No. Canada is centre-left and backed by mid left. The right and far right parties will never have enough seats to go without challenge. Most of the authoritarian parties are far right fringe parties that will like see no more than a handful of seats.
You should take another look at what the CPC is focusing on. At their convention this month they voted on what to focus on as a party; two anti-trans policies passed the policy for affordable housing did not. Is the CPC as far right as the US Republican party, no they're not, but Poilievre is happy to court people who are. Also he won't answer non-vetted questions which is a different issue but still rubs me the wrong way.
And more horrifyingly: polling might not mean much this far out, but right now, the CPC is leading. Big. Skippy is terrifying, and terrifyingly close to power.
Only you guys can help your democracy internally. Never fail to vote, get your friends voting and obviously never vote for conservatives.
It sucks that that’s where we are but it’s smart.
I mean, Canada might get there first, right? I feel like we both are not doing so hot.
Whole of the West is dealing with it to some degree imo. America is just as always the most noticeable due to the attention it gets in the news around the world.
Yea I noticed in the news recently that Germany is having trouble with the rise of fascist groups as well. I hope there are non-violent course corrections for us all this time.
Personally I think in four years time it's possible Australia and UK (but even then UK Labor is transphobic) might be the last bastions of progressivism in the West (Australia voted out their right wing party last year, and the UK Conservatives don't seem to have a path to re-election.) The rest don't have recent enough memory of how right-wing populism doesn't solve problems. USA does, but USA has the problem of hyperpartisanship to a degree that some argue Democrat and Republican constitute two separate nations.
Oh that's good to hear, I thought both of those countries were going conservative as well. As long as there's some civilly practical place left, I'll just go there.
I hear about how different Democrats and Republicans in the states are a lot, but there are so many civil and practical issues that Americans agree on regardless of which political party they're part of that at this point I've drawn the conclusion that the 'progressives" in the states simply haven't been taken in by the media empire that pours capital into advocating for conservative ideals and a manufactured schism in the way of life in the United States.
Conservatives have purchased so much air time and always appeal to the basest vices and fears that it seems like their civil rights abuses and antiquated perspectives on race and authority are more widely held than they actually are if you poll all Americans. And that checks out with the people I've talked to around the country in the last couple years.
Yeah our last PM here in Australia was very religious and a useless prick (who had to hire an 'empathy coach' I shit you not) and thankfully people realised he was an idiot. Sadly most of our parties have drifted right over the last 50-odd years so even our Labour is further right than a lot of people are happy with, and the Liberals (with a big L, they're fiscal liberals but social conservatives) got their arses kicked last election. Greens have some support at least and some teeth to fight where they can but they're not terribly well organised.
But we do have issues with far-right groups popping up and the importing of terrible US ideology. There are SovCits, Neo-Nazi groups and very open racism from groups too. I've even heard a protest group chanting "Let's Go Brandon" because something something
The bizarre transference of American conservative bigotry and greed rubbing off abroad was what I was aware of.
Frickin' rupert Murdoch News.
The export of fear-mongering news is abhorrent, I traveled a lot recently and was shocked every time someone said, "but you know Trump makes good points", what happened multiple times in countries separated by distance and I assumed political and ideological temperament.
Like this romanian or Australian or Portuguese beach bum sitting with me, having a beer and eating the local cuisine will suddenly just bust out "Good thing about that Mexican wall though, right?" or "Q knows what he's talking about with pizza gate" or the equivalent and I'll be stunned at the presumed insider "knowledge" of American conservative talking points and that someone thousands of miles away has somehow assimilated (or been poisoned with) these weird American conservative biases and misinformation and it's become part of their personality.
I for one welcome our future Canadian overlords
Maple syrup and weed for all!
Dump money into military spending, border control, and refugee assistance.
There is no amount of military spending that could protect Canada from the US. The military gap is obscene.
It makes no sense to ratchet up military spending
The US military itself, yeah probably not...But a group of renegade Americans headed North we might be able to do something about.
I meant in the context of self defense because it cannot rely on the US, not that the US would attempt some kind of attack on Canada.
That makes sense
Weaponize the geese
I don't think the context is so much military related but rather diplomatic and economic.
Does the last sentence really come as an obvious conclusion from the first two?
I believe the opportunity cost of increasing military production does not seem to be worth it, so it follows to me.
Theres other considerations beyond state to state war with the US.
I'm not Canadian and don't actually have an opinion, but here's other reasons they might increase their defense budget because of US destabilization. Decreased global stability due to loss of neighboring super power. Non state actors like terrorists or refugees leaving the US.
I don't think that Canada will be fighting the New Confederacy or the New England Union of Democratic Socialists in 2028, but there are still reasons that a diminished US would mean Canada should spend new money on defense.
Military spending on what though? The CAF is woefully dependent on the US for basically everything. Hell they probably could turn off those F-35s by pressing a button.
I meant in the context of general self-reliance because Canada may not be able to rely on the US.
That's a fair point, but does Canada have a geopolitical enemy? I genuinely don't know enough about Canadian politics, and this is a real question.
Just a reminder that political affiliation is not a protected class and can be discriminated against with impunity.
Let's also pay some attention to the fact that Canada may be about to fall drastically in step with the US Republicans at the next election.
Even if the PCs get elected, they're basically democrats if you look at the policy positions and set aside the stupid culture wedges they like to grab onto
The democrats are pretty fucking bad though. Nothing like the Republicans domestically but in foreign policy, which is more relevant to us foreigners, they might be even bigger warmongers.
Why wouldn't Canada and the rest of the world fall in step? The same environmental and economic pressures exist everywhere. Again, not as bad as in the US, but it's going to get worse everywhere.
The Gilead plan.
Under His eye.
This article is from August 17th. Is there a plan or not?
Might take a little longer than a month to figure out what to do if your next door neighbor who also has the biggest military the world has ever seen goes full fascist.
I use a spray bottle on my cats. Has Canada even tried that?
Bad America, no!
You joke, but I almost guarentee it would work on 3 of the last 4 US Presidents.
There is not
Uh? How bad does it have to get? We're already there.
I'm not all that worried about authoritarianism in America, for this reason: America is a big country full of lazy, entitled fucks who hate their jobs. And our police are the most lazy / entitled / job-hating of them all.
You are never, ever going to get the number of dedicated spies / censors / secret police you would need to pull off authoritarianism in America; they'll absolutely cut taxes and cut social services, fuck up the economy seven ways to Sunday, and let overseas strongmen run roughshod over smaller countries, but that's what they're about. Even on the limited occasions where Americans do dabble in policing thoughtcrime - the recent spate of book censorship for example - it's half-assed and sloppy and only ever meant as a means to some other end (in the case of book bans, destroying public schools), never something people are actually that excited about in its own right.
So yes, we certainly have to worry about Republicans winning things because they're going to make everybody's lives miserable in a hundred different ways if they do, but authoritarianism is beyond their power to pull off.
Do you have any idea the level of big brother spying already going on in the U.S.? Not to mention the propaganda here is so good you don't even realize you're consuming it.
I've lived in China and I can assure you that by comparison our domestic spying and propaganda are as laughable as our attempts at manufacturing consumer electronics. (and indeed the reasons for our failures at both of those things are somewhat related)
I've been to China, their spying is different and more blatant. But, if you think it isn't happening here, and we're all a bunch of lazy idiots, then you've been duped hard core.
I'm honestly kind of shocked that you could visit China and come back with the conclusion that we aren't a bunch of lazy idiots.
You can paint everyone broad strokes all you want, doesn't make it true. Sure, a sizeable portion of our country has a cult of moron dickheads following trumps every word. That doesn't make the entire country lazy.
Umm. . .
“If?”
"Canada thinks it might get worse."
Is the US "doing a Germany"?
If?
So is the plan to build a wall?
To flee to Europe (hint: that won't work)?
To invade in order to install democracy (hint: the US tried that 83 times, it never worked — they never tried very hard though)?
To take notes and copy whatever they did?
Lol, Canada is about to take a far-right turn too. Be sure that Polievre share most of the values of the GOP, he just avoids to talk about it too much. He and his friends are anti lgbt, abortion, immigration, etc. . They dont give a fck about climate change and want to close CBC. He was openly supportive of FreedOMtards truckers parrading with nazi flags downtown Ottawa 2 years ago. So yeah, we are not different from US and most of Europe who elected far-right government, we'rebjust a bit late to the party.
What in the Hearts of Iron
Aren't they like, third or fourth place in the list of US's harem starring the UK? Canada's gonna open their legs to the US, as they are wont to do.
I hope the U.S. is mulling ‘game plan’ if Canada takes far-right, authoritarian shift.
Heh "far right" in Canada would be America's Democratic party. America's "far right" is straight up blossoming fascism.
Nah, the right in dangerous up here as well. We've imported alt-right fascism wholesale.
Even is we forget about the attempt at our own Jan 6 with the "Freedom Convoy", the most recent Conservative Party convention had them approving of policies to limit transgender healthcare and ending "forced political, cultural or ideological training of any kind", essentially a giant rejection of "wokeness" and a call to action for a return to "the good old days".
I agree our far right is absolutely dangerous for us domestically, but we do not control a plethora of nukes or have the largest army in the world, our courts are not packed with Christian Supremacists, and our political right has historically flirted with extremist factions but actual policy is usually somewhere closer to the centre, so yeah it's absolutely dangerous but nowhere near the scale that it is in America. One dementia-induced order from that con-man former president (assuming he wins again) can literally end civilisation as we know it. 100% on board with what you're saying domestically though, PP absolutely cannot be allowed to form government.
Lol did you just use the freedom convoy as our version of Jan 6th? Riiiight
Yes, it was an attempt at our very own maple flavoured coup. The organizers literally had a "Memoradum of Understanding" written up with demands that the current government be dissolved and replaced with their own people.
Just because it failed spectacularly doesn't mean there wasn't the same basic inspiration behind it.
You'd think so, but that poison is spreading up here pretty quietly and quickly.
quietly? It's loud as fuck.
The world is, loudly, starting to become a little too much like the first quarter of the last century. And it isn't good, man.
Definitely not looking like we're heading for happy or prosperous times for most people.
Well their gameplan for when Brazil lost its far-right authoritarian was to let him just vibe in Florida despite charges against him, so I'm gonna say if they do have a plan, it's probably not gonna make you happy.
I wonder what you guys consider as "far right".
Some examples of far right include:
Unjustified removal of rights of the people. The US has already done this with its bans on abortion and removal of some rights for transpeople.
Radical Conservativism. We are seeing this in the US with book banning and burnings and the fact that the state and church is tied tightly together, despite its claims that its not.
Ultra-Nationalist ideals. The US exhibits this already in many facets.
The US also has a strong xenophobia towards non-Americans and refugees.
While America is not quite there yet, they surly are on track to being far right.
The points that the article suggested were political refugees and NATO weakening due to US isolation starting from Obama. Not sure how xenophobia or removal of rights has anything to do with how Canada operates.
But i know I was asking how to determine far right so thats fair. As of now, I cant tell the difference between right and far right. What I usually expect to hear is anything that isnt chosen by progressives is far right lately.
If you have to ask...
I have to ask what... if I ask then im a far right? Is that the metric you go by? I absolutely love how all i did was ask what people consider far right and i get downvoted with no explanation except 'hurrr why are you asking, you should know! Isnt it programmed into your blood?'
"Maybe having a father in the home is good for society"
?????
"I wonder what you guys consider as “far right”."
Uhhh...