I am Canadian. A statement that transcends generations. First used as a slogan for a Molson beer commercial, as of late it has taken on a much more serious meaning. A "battle-cry", if you will, of Canadians everywhere who pride themselves in their love of this sovereign country. Like all countries, Canada is not perfect. I'm sure it's easy to get lost in the illusion that it is, especially if you are living south of the border right now, but we have our issues. Those issues mainly take the surnames "Poilievre" and "Smith", but perhaps those are discussions for another post. This one is about why I have started this blog. I like to believe I am informed. Perhaps more than the average Canadian, when it comes to global politics at least, and whether that is a good thing or not is for my therapist to decide.

For better or worse, I do stay on top of what is going on especially when it comes to the proverbial elephant that is sleeping next to this nervous mouse I call home. I see the way the regime to the south weaponizes law enforcement against its political rivals and citizens alike. I see how the majority leaders in congress have seceded power over to the White House. I see how the other pillar of their fragile government, the judicial branch, has taken orders directly from the president. I know how these branches are supposed to be independent of one another in order to provide checks and balances on each other. I didn't grow up watching school-house rock, but rather Canadian Heritage Minutes, yet I know how to recognize a system that is broken. It wasn't always like that. On paper, and for the past 250 years in practice, the government that ruled the free world worked the way it should because the people who used it recognized how important it was to preserve it. Unfortunately, much like a child who wants to fit that square block in the round hole, Trump has broken and bent that system to suit his own desires. What are those desires? Well I think we catch glimpses in real-time. First was installing sycophants who would let him break the system. Gone are the days of "traitors" like Mike Pence who certified the 2020 election, and Mark Esper who wouldn't shoot protestors in the legs. Then came the private police force - ICE. A bunch of pissed off goons who believed Trump's narrative that outsiders are eating the cats and dogs, and taking away their paycheques. Then came the tariffs. A way for Trump to isolate the U.S. from the rest of the world. An excuse to wave the finger of shame at allies for "taking advantage of America" all these years. All the while spewing rhetoric regarding the fifty-first state of Canada, and questioning Denmark's claim on Greenland... This of course was all to set up the next, and arguably scariest, phase of the plan: imperialism. Bombing Venezuela in the middle of the night to kidnap their leader (as illegitimate as he may be). Then turning his sights on Colombia, Panama, Cuba, and back to Greenland. The "Donroe Doctrine" he calls it. Definitely a quip too cleaver for him to have come up with himself. One thing I will give him, and it isn't much, is that he's honest about his intentions. When Bush invaded Iraq he at least pretended it was about weapons of mass destruction and not oil. Trump just outright says it's about oil. Hell he went to the oil companies before the invasion instead of congress!

All that being said, this blog is about what is going on, and what to expect next. If you think Trump has gotten bored of his threats to Canada's sovereignty I have a golden ballroom in D.C. to sell you. We are only a year in to his second term, and I highly doubt it will end in three years, unless some very important people who are getting very rich off of this presidency decide to grow a spine... oh and also forget that they like money. So stay tuned for all the wonderful power-grabs, human-rights violations, and NATO demolishing acts to come! I'll be here to cover it all.