FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Jan 19

Is Kevin O’Leary a Wanna-be-Trump?

by bcurry

On January 18th, Kevin O’Leary announced that he is running for the Conservative leadership in Canada, suggesting that as a businessman, he is better qualified than the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to work with president-elect Donald Trump. What does he have in common with Trump?  Yes, he has had some success as a businessman, but most would argue that he is no “financial guru” and he is not in Trump’s league in terms of wealth and influence.  Being a reality TV star, as a judge on the popular CBC-TV show “Dragons’ Den”, he does have certain celebrity recognition in Canada similar to that of Trump. However, like Trump, O’Leary has no real political or public service experience.

Simply asserting that as PM he would be in a better position to deal with President Trump and his administration than his fellow Conservative leadership candidates is not enough for him to win. At least it shouldn’t be!  In addition, the political, economic and social conditions are not the same as in the U.S. Canada has universal health care and illegal immigration is not considered a major issue. Like the U.S., Canada has had to tackle the results of the great recession primarily through infrastructure development and increasing the public debt. Employment opportunities for the middle class continue to exist and the social safety net is helping people to cope with unemployment.  Is there really enough anger out there for a similar “populist” movement to emerge comparable to that in the U.S.? I doubt it.

Canadians tend to support a more centrist approach when it comes to political and economic platforms. A move to the hard right is very unlikely in the near future.  O’Leary is far more moderate than Trump and understands the need for a centrist Conservative approach.  Like Trump during the Republican primaries, O’Leary will be a target for the other 13 leadership candidates — a number of whom represent the existing political establishment in Ottawa. O’Leary’s entrance into the Conservative leadership race has caused a stir and a fair amount of interest, at least in the media.  Like Trump, his name will raise greater media attention, hopefully not to the same detrimental extent as down south.

There is little doubt that Trump’s success has encouraged a neophyte like O’Leary to throw his hat into the political arena. While well-known in Canada and a Party outsider, he is not a member of Ottawa’s political establishment and is a reasonably successful businessman. However, are his qualifications enough for the Conservative Party and the rank-and-file?  Only time will tell.  One thing is for certain.  He is happily no wanna-be-Trump.

Canada Donald Trump Leadership Uncategorized US US Politics

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Jan 8

One Word for Life in 2017 – “Uncertainty”

by bcurry

Well, another year has gone and the New Year is about to bring with it a great deal of uncertainty. After the inauguration of Donald Trump, expect all hell to break loose.  No one seems to know what will happen, even the Republican-controlled Congress.  All corners of the world are facing old and new challenges, brought about by globalization, climate change, terrorism, populace movements, the Middle East crisis, economic downturns, free trade disputes, Brexit, Russian aggression, Chinese arms build-up, energy issues, and on and on.

Uncertainty breeds instabilities. As the world’s most powerful nation, the U.S. again is expected to play a major, steady and balanced leadership role. However, with loosely defined policies and a lack of specifics, no one is really certain as to what the President-elect and his cabinet have in mind.  They appear to be talking mainly about doing away with numerous policies and programs, but without offering anything specific to replace them.  One is against free trade agreements, for nuclear-arms build-up, smaller government, lower deficits, greater job creation, lower taxes, etc., etc.  Exactly how the new American administration is going to go about accomplishing and paying for these general goals is still very much a mystery!

Here we have the future leader tweeting on a daily basis, causing havoc in the markets and creating unclear and often conflicting domestic and foreign policy directions. Is this governance now by tweet?  How will a cabinet full of multi-billionaires deal with conflict of interest issues?  After all, this is the wealthiest cabinet in modern American history.  How will ex-military cabinet members handle sensitive matters when dealing with political allies and economic trade partners?  How will a cabinet with little or no experience in government and public policy deal with daily governance?  Can one expect that they will run government like a business?  Only time will tell.

For all these reasons, I’m not looking forward to the next dozen months. Let’s hope that cooler heads and reason prevail.  Please Mr. Trump, stop with the tweets.  Think before you open your mouth.  Words do matter, especially when they are uttered by the President of the United States. Work closely with your Congress, including both Republicans and Democrats.  Take into serious consideration the expert advice of senior bureaucrats.  Avoid being influenced too much by lobbyists and special interest groups.  Put aside your business interests and put the interests of your fellow Americans first.  Otherwise, 2017 could be a very rocky year.

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Dec 29

After Trump’s Distortion of Facts, Who Do We Trust With the Truth?

by bcurry

Recently, I started reading “Lies, Incorporated (The World of Post-Truth Politics)” by Ari Rabin-Havt and Media Matters for America, published in 2016. The book was most likely written prior to the presidential primaries and election, during which Donald Trump’s cavalier distortion of facts became well documented.  Post something on social media or allude to something in a speech as fact, and everyone believes it!  Indeed, we now have organizations, such as lobbyists and politically-connected consultancy firms, who make it their business to distort the facts in favour of an interest group’s position, be they political or business in nature.  Even worst, they often will disseminate lies.

History is full of examples of such manipulative efforts, including those related to cancer and tobacco, health care, climate change, immigration, guns, abortion, gay marriage, etc. Both so-called conservatives and liberals have chosen certain facts to support their particular positions on most issues, often referred to as ‘bias predisposition’.  However, while it’s one thing to stretch the truth in one way or another, it’s a lot more serious to deliberately disseminate lies.  Can we truly rationalize that the end justifies the means?

Donald Trump and his electoral/transition teams have taken the premeditated dissemination of lies to a whole new level. One can only surmise how this Machiavellian approach in handling social-economic issues will affect the new administration’s dealings on the domestic and world stages.  Are truths to be swept aside in support of purely ideological reasoning?  Instead of basing decisions on facts, scientific-based or statistically proven, are we expected to support decision-making on fabricated truths?

It was once said that if one were to repeat something often enough, people will actually begin to believe it as fact. One of the dangers of ‘social media’ is that this is exactly what is happening.  Maybe, we’ve become lazy and complacent about questioning what is being fed to us everyday through media sources suffering from a lack of the normal journalistic verification and validation.  Perhaps, our biases, discontent and anger encourage us to simply seek out any information that conveniently backs up our interests and positions.  This is exactly what the likes of Trump are counting on.  “We will interpret the truth for you.” has become slogan of the day.  Just trust us.

Donald Trump US US Politics

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Dec 16

With Donald Trump, What Can Canadians Expect in the New Year?

by bcurry

Back in July 2015, I blogged that Donald Trump could become the next president of the United States. Well, low and behold for all the reasons that I had alluded to back then, he is now the president-elect to the surprise of many.  Whether you like it or not, Americans will most probably be stuck with Trump and a Republican controlled congress for the next four years.  Indeed, his impact will no doubt be felt in the rest of the world, but in particular in Canada. After all, the U.S. is Canada’s biggest trading partner and political ally. Why is this so important?  Here are a few notable reasons based on past statements by Trump himself:

  • He plans to revisit the current terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.
  • He intends to increase border security measures, most likely forcing Canada to allocate more resources to the border.
  • He will nullify President Obama’s attempt to have greater relations with Cuba, a country with which Canada has long had economic and diplomatic dealings.
  • He wants Canada to greatly increase its defence spending, especially as it concerns the country’s contribution to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
  • He will most likely support the proposed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline between the Alberta oil sands and the American Gulf Coast, despite continuing environmental fears.
  • He does not believe in ‘climate change’, and intends to pull the S. out of the Paris climate agreement which Canada supports through proposed carbon reduction goals.
  • Etc., etc., etc.

Just remember, when the elephant below Canada’s southern border sneezes, we catch a cold if not pneumonia! Trump’s unpredictability makes it even more difficult to predict what will happen next year.  At no time in U.S.-Canada relations have there ever been such potentially serious tensions and uncertainties.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will have to adjust quickly to the situation in order to maintain normal positive and reciprocal relations with the U.S. administration. On the other side, Americans, especially those living in the northern states along Canada’s border, must make it abundantly clear to Trump that good relations are extremely important to each country.  After all we are close friends who live, work and play together on a regular basis.  However, like any nation state Canada has every right to defend its interests — be they domestic or international.

Donald Trump Foreign Policy U.S. Canada Border US US Politics

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Dec 6

27 years after the Montreal massacre, gun control in Canada is as lax as ever

by bcurry

On December 6, 1989, Marc Lépine shot and killed 14 women at Université de Montréal’s École Polytechnique, before turning his (legally registered) semi-automatic gun on himself. That tragic event set in motion a new chapter in the history of gun control in Canada. On this day, numerous campaigns, marches, vigils and related events are held every year across Canada.

The federal government passed stricter gun control policies just six years after the tragedy, including the establishment of a long-gun registry. However, the Conservative government under Stephen Harper unfortunately dismantled the long-gun registry in 2012, and eased several restrictions on restricted or prohibited weapons. The same 2012 law abolishing the long-gun registry also relieved private gun sellers from the obligation of asking to see the buyer’s firearms permit.

The U.S., with the least gun control laws among industrialized countries, saw 181 mass public shootings with at least four fatalities since 1900. One of the most recent was the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida, which saw 49 people killed by a shooter carrying a legally purchased AR-15 assault rifle. Rather than introducing stricter gun control initiatives, most states have made it easier to carry concealed weapons and to purchase guns, all the result of the Supreme Court’s nonsensical decision endorsing the ‘right to bear arms’ in their constitution.  Thankfully, Canada doesn’t have such a precarious right, despite what the Canadian Firearms Institute may advocate.

Today, Canadians continue to remind young people of the need to avoid tragedies such as that at the École Polytechnique 27 years ago. We must strive to ensure that there are much needed controls on the lawful possession and use of firearms.  The three pillars of gun control are licensing of gun owners, control on guns and a ban on weapons that are designed solely for the purpose of killing other human beings.  Whether such laws work in preventing deaths is a matter of politics. What is real are the lives that might potentially be saved.

Canada Gun Control Gun Laws US

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Nov 27

Fidel Castro – A Legend In His Own Time

by bcurry

When I was just a lad, I remember watching on television Edward R. Murrow, a well-known American broadcast journalist, who interviewed Fidel Castro shortly after coming to power in Cuba in 1959. Castro was in New York City at the time, and was welcomed by the American administration and people as a hero. Of course, Castro was casually dressed in olive-drab fatigues and combat boots, while typically smoking his large Cuban cigar. At the time, I didn’t really know much about Castro, but found him to have a larger than life presence.  Castro was not a Communist at that moment, but more a devoted socialist.

As the years passed, I followed closely the success and failures of the Cuban revolution. For whatever reason, the U.S. had supported the previous Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista Zaldívar, who had negotiated lucrative relationships with the American Mafia and with large U.S.-based multinationals who in turn were awarded lucrative contracts. The Mafia controlled the drug, gambling, and prostitution businesses in Havana.  In a manner that antagonized the Cuban people, the U.S. government used its influence to advance the interests of and increase the profits of the private American companies.  These companies dominated the island’s economy.  Batista, who murdered thousands of his political opponents in what was then a police state, fled Cuba for Portugal in 1958 with the arrival of Castro’s movement.

After Castro kicked out the Mafia and U.S. multinationals (expropriating billions of dollars in U.S. property), the U.S. turned on Castro. This led to the C.I.A.’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion involving hundreds of Cuban exciles and American strict embargo on Cuban sugar, tobacco and other products.  Given the severe hit on Cuba’s economy and the constant fear of American military campaigns against Cuba, Castro was forced to turn to the Soviet Union for economic and military assistance.  It was at this point that the Americans declared his regime as Communist.

Despite such adversity, Cuba introduced and developed the best free education and universal health care systems in the region, whereby over 90% of Cubans became literate. Castro dispatched Cuban-educated doctors and Cuban-developed vaccines to the poorest corners of Latin America. Superbly trained Cuban musicians and athletes have travelled the world, reflecting excellence in their various disciplines.  Cuban diplomatic and military assistance was provided in the fight against South African apartheid and poverty in various West African nations. In recent years, Cuba has eased its restrictions on religious and individual economic freedoms.

Unlike the U.S., Canada maintained diplomatic relations and trade with Cuba. Canadian tourists and officials frequented Havana and the surrounding country side.  Canadian students volunteered to travel to Cuba to help with the yearly sugar cane harvest.  Just recently, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Cuba, reiterating the strong ties between the two peoples.  Unfortunately, Fidel Castro died shortly after.  However, Cuban-Canadian friendship will live on.  Indeed, Castro is a legend in turbulent times.

Canada Foreign Policy Foreign Policy US

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Nov 10

Why Does Donald Trump Remind One of Benito Mussolini?

by bcurry

When one thinks of two prominent ‘extreme narcissists’, I cannot help but to compare Donald Trump with Benito Mussolini. Both ran a ‘populist’ regime in their respective countries:  Mussolini in Italy starting back in the early twenty’s and soon Trump in the U.S.  Supported by nationalist sentiments, Trump’s campaign slogan was to “make America great again”. Mussolini wanted to establish a “new Italian Empire” and restore Rome’s former glory. Mussolini praised Germany’s Adolph Hitler, just as Trump has praised Russia’s Vladimir Putin as a strong leader.

Mussolini developed a cult of one-man leadership that focused media attention and national debate on his own personality. As a former journalist, Mussolini proved highly adept at exploiting all forms of mass media.  Remind you of anyone!  Mussolini had quickly gained a reputation for his magnetism and remarkable rhetorical talents, inspiring large disenchanted crowds with populist slogans. Trump adeptly worked his campaign rhetoric to galvanize his supporters at large orchestrated gatherings.

Influenced by Hitler, Mussolini instituted discrimination policies against the Jews in Italy. Trump intends to go after Latinos and Muslims through various bans on immigration and deportation policies.  Mussolini also attacked the existing Italian establishment in Rome, helping his fascist party to eventually establish his dictatorship by eliminating parliamentary elections.  Trump’s platform went after the so-called Washington establishment. Thankfully, the U.S. continues to be a democracy, at least for now!

Mussolini carried out an extensive public works program and reduced unemployment, making him very popular with the people. As an isolationist, he introduced tariffs, particularly in the agricultural sector, and government subsidies to farmers. Trump wants to eliminate certain free trade arrangements, including renegotiating NAFTA, to better favour American manufacturers and create jobs in the U.S.

In 1935, determined to show the strength of his regime, Mussolini used the Italian military to invade Ethiopia. Trump has indicated that he intends to do the same against ISIS in Syria.  However, Mussolini privately admitted that Italy’s ability to fight a major war on its own was seriously limited.  Trump has implied that NATO’s allies have to provide greater financial support to that organization given the already heavy U.S. military spending.  Trump, just as Mussolini did decades ago, will pursue a strong military presence in support of American foreign and economic policies abroad.

A lavish cult of personality centered on the figure of Mussolini and was promoted by the Fascist Party and regime, just as the Republican Party is now apparently tied into President-elect Trump’s cult of personality. Finally, Mussolini was married several times and was reported to have had several mistresses and many brief sexual encounters with female supporters.  Remind you of a current day ‘misogynist’?  When I compare photos and video pictures of Benito Mussolini and Donald Trump in terms of their body language and facial expressions, the similarities are incredibly striking. Let’s just hope that future outcomes under President Trump aren’t the same and as disastrous for the world as they were for Mussolini and Italy.

Donald Trump US US Politics

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Oct 29

The Prescription Drug Industry is Constantly Manipulating Us When It Comes to Mental Illness

by bcurry

Drugs. Our society almost has a drug for every illness or condition that you may experience.  Need to treat a ‘mental illness’.  No problem.  The drug industry has a pill for it.  The 1980s and 1990s saw an explosion of psychotropic drugs for everything from depression to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Numerous drugs developed initially for adults began to be prescribed to children and adolescents, often by pediatricians and family doctors.  Among the more famous drugs were Ritalin, Adderall, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are persons with severe ‘mental illnesses’, including those diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, who have benefited from advances resulting from the psychopharmacological revolution.  Indeed, research has led to us to understand a lot more about brain disorders today.  However, between 1987 and 1996, the percentage of Americans under twenty taking at least one psychiatric drug tripled, from about 2 percent of the youth population to 6 percent, at a minimum an increase of more than a million children.  In both the U.S. and Canada, the number of visits to doctors in which psychotropics were prescribed more than doubled during the same period. We continue to look for quick fixes for complex problems.

Today, the diagnosis and treatment of depression, chronic anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder has further contributed to the growth in the prescription and use of psychotropic meds. Even primary school children are increasingly being diagnosed with depression, never mind the more popular ADHD.  The basic question is what will the side-effects be in the long term for these children?  Researchers have even come up with new mental diagnosis such as ‘oppositional defiant disorder’ for certain childhood disorders.

We have now arrived at the point where the medication generation has grown up. Adolescences and young millennials are taking various meds for which no explanation has been given as to the reasons why, and often without very careful consideration of the potential long-term consequences.  Meanwhile, the prescription drug industry continues to survive, making huge profits and manipulating us when it comes to the treatment of mental illnesses.  No one likes to declare something offhand as a crisis, but this situation should qualify as one.

Health Care Mental Health

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Sep 20

Canadians Are Just As Vulnerable To Trumpism, Including His ‘Basket of Deplorables’

by bcurry

Years ago, it became evident that the ultra-right conservative movement in the U.S. (highlighted by the Tea Party) was creeping into Canadian politics. This was particularly true when the Reform Party of Preston Manning consolidated with the former Progressive Conservative party to create the Conservative party of Stephen Harper.  After 9/11, a certain portion of Canadian society adapted many of the same attitudes of American conservatives, especially toward national security, guns and immigration.

The Conservative federal government in Canada displayed a similar position toward guns as the American right does. Indeed, it eliminated the national gun registry and loosened the criteria regulating restricted and prohibited weapons, including numerous semi-automatic assault rifles.  Canada even has an equivalent to the American National Rifle Association in the National Firearms Association, which lobbies for reduced gun control measures. Trumpism of course supports the right of every American to carry guns, even into bars.

When it comes to immigration, there is a segment of the Canadian population that believes there is a need to institute greater screening processes. Indeed, one candidate in the current Conservative leadership race, Kellie Leitch, proposed that immigrants and refugees be screened for ‘anti-Canadian values’. This position is similar to that of Americans who support stronger screening of immigrants from countries known to have factions opposed to U.S. interests abroad, including banning immigration from certain countries and groups.

Trumpism excels at the ‘blame game’. Former President Harry S. Truman was iconically quoted as stating: “The buck stops here”.  Under Trumpism, the buck appears to always stop elsewhere.  Among Canadians, there are those that refuse to accept responsibility for their conditions and actions.  Instead, it much easier to blame the so-called ‘establishment’, government, free trade, immigrants, ‘lefties’, the media, the weather, and anything else that irritates them.

Whether one agrees or not, there is little doubt that Trumpism appeals to a segment of a population that screams “I’m mad and I won’t take it anymore”. Everything can be put into simple “black and white” terms, omitting the reality that there are many “grey” areas.  Trumpism declares it own truths, even though the facts say otherwise and demonstrate complexities.  Instead, slogans replace well constructed policies and fear takes the place of hope, inclusion and collaboration.  Hopefully, Canadians won’t succumb to Trumpism.

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Sep 8

Canada Should Build A Wall On The Border With U.S. And Make Americans Pay For It

by bcurry

Wow! Do you believe that American voters could actually vote for Donald Trump to be the next President of the most powerful nation on earth – next to China that is? According to recent polls, that could be a real possibility.  Not so good for Canada eh! Canada has often been described as the mouse sleeping next to an elephant. The U.S. sneezes and Canada catches a cold.

Furthermore, the American media has indicated that a substantive number of Americans would seriously contemplate moving to Canada should Trump get elected. The question then becomes whether Canadians really want these confused, disheartened political refugees as part of Canadian society?  The answer is probably “no way”.  We have plenty of confused and malcontent Canadians to go around as it is.

Just what is it that American refugees would have to offer Canadians? Guns, religion in politics, reality shows, more illegal drugs, the Zika virus, militarism, more gang warfare, etc., etc.  Hey Canadians, it may be time to close the border.  So what if 80 percent of Canada’s trade is with the U.S.! Cancelling NAFTA may challenge Canadians to develop their own smart phone and automotive technologies.  One could name our own car the “Loonie Car”.  Canada has plenty of natural resources, technical know-how and highly educated workforce to survive on our own.

Just think, building a wall would create a pile of construction jobs at a time when the Canadian economy could use a boost. It just has to be high enough so that the average American can’t hurdle it – five feet should do.  The wall doesn’t have to be bland and unattractive.  Indeed, there are plenty of Canadian graffiti artists available to decorate the Canadian side of the wall.  Again, employment creation.  Hey, with the Canadian dollar at 75 percent of the foreign exchange value of the American dollar, building a wall at this time would be a bargain for American taxpayers.  So Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, let’s put this idea on the table when you meet with President Trump.

Canada US US Politics

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