Okay, Dems, What Went Wrong? And How Can We Fix It?

"I'm the kind of fellow who does what he thinks is right, and will continue to do what I think is right."

Quote:

"I'm the kind of fellow who does what he thinks is right, and will continue to do what I think is right."

Translated meaning, "I don't care what anyone else thinks. I take my orders from Dick."

Stop whining, george.

We are certainly self-righteous, but we don't whine.

Stop whining, george.

"family member" interesting. After I came home from the dirty little asia war my brother was up for the draft (lottery by then) and my brother made plans to go to canada depending on how his number came up. Our uncle proclaimed quite loudly that if my brother went to canada, he would personally go to canada, find him and drag him back to the draft board. Family ties are not always what one would hope for.

I intended to drive my brother as far as north as need be.

george...this is the dumbest fukking thing you've ever written here. You confuse 'friend' and 'spineless sycophant', which might lead one to wonder about your friends. What allegiance Canada holds with the US is derived from shared histories, culture, and principles. When you get an administration that operates in violation of such culture and principles, and yet thinks we ought to sign on, we'll send over a sovereign 'fuk you'. Do you have any glimpse at all of how ego-centric your charge above is? The US, being 'a close friend or family member' ought to, obviously, support and help fund Canada's quest to alleviate the drug problem through our three-pronged strategy including needle exchanges and safe houses for intravenous users. You know, being our friend and all.

And like McG above, you'll probably speak of how the US has protected Canada's security. This argument might have some credence if your economy wasn't utterly dependent upon the promotion of war and the production and sales of weaponry and military 'services'.

The divergence continued with over policy & relationships with Cuba, issues with respect to its military commitments in NATO and other matters as well. Things warmed up again during the Reagan-Mulroney years, but turned back down under Jean Cretien, particularly after out 2000 elections. This is often portrayed as Canada's reaction to President Bush, but the facts indicate otherwise.

No big surprise re Mulroney. The man has corporate ties that link him in to the top power corporate power structures in America (he's on the board of ADM and god knows who else) and he never met an American ass he didn't bend over to kiss. The corruption of his government was so egregious that after his tenure as PM, he and his party became so hated by Canadians that his party was destroyed...actually destroyed...it no longer exists. And you've got your facts wrong re Chretien, buddy. The relationship between Canada and the US while Clinton and Cretien were in office was as agreeable as any other point post-war. It WAS the arrival of the Bush administration that marks the decline in our relationship - which I heartily and robustly salute.

The U.S. is Canada's principal trading partner by a large margin. With respect to all her other trading partners, Canada is a substantial net importer. However Canada enjoys an enormously favorable balance of trade with the U.S., one which far overcomes her negative trade balance with all her other partners, leaving Canada with a very large overall favorable trade balance. Canada is very quick to dispute any regulatory action on our part that directly or indirectly reduces her exports to the U.S. , but generally unwilling to accommodate U.S. exports on an equal basis.

Oh come on. Canada is also the US's main trading partner. And as to the US's benevolence and charity in trade matters, how many WTO disputes have found in favor of US demands or sanctions, and how many for Canada?

Moreover, Canada has been fairly deaf to the requests of the U.S,. Government for regional border controls and the enforcement of drugs laws.

Perhaps because we think your country is more than a little nuts on either matter. The fellows responsible for 9-11 were allowed in by your own immigration services, not that of your neighbors. As to drugs, your nation is, or is very near to, the world leader in drug consumption, legal and illegal. Your 'war on drugs' (a great boon for pseudo-warfare rhetoric, weapons manufacturers and the Pentagon) is so deeply counter to almost every empirical study that has ever been done that the continuance of it can only be considered pathological. If there is rot to be found, it is in yourself, not your neighbors.

There is no doubt that being the close neighbor of the United States can be exasperating for Canadians at times. However the reverse is true as well. I find Canadians increasingly self-righteous and particularly tiresome in their constant whining.