I would venture to say it's more of an obsession with Trump. My 90 something year old parents, lifelong Conservatives, voted for Carney because Poilievre was "too much like Trump." They fell lock, stock and barrel for TDS. And I know lots of people 50 and over who feel the same way. I can't even have decent conversations these days because it's all Trump this, Trump that. For fuck's sake, care about your own country. It's depressing and frustrating. If Canada had a leader (sans Trump's multitudinous idiosyncracies) who cared as much about his country as Trump does we would be sitting pretty. Instead, we have a net zero globalist zealot who is more interested in being part of Europe and in driving us all into penury. I fear for my children and my grandchildren.
It seems to me that Carney is forcing the closure of Canadian economic infrastructure, manufacturing, logging, mining, while the banking and housing side of things, oh and transport as well, have been harnessed for use in drug and human trafficking and money laundering. He's saying Canada's going to build all this stuff, but the funding seems to flow to some mysterious secret destination without anything being built. The country is an fire and all our resources go to feed wars in other parts of the world, leaving us to burn and smother in smoke. I think he wants to crush Canadians and then he and his globalist and ccp cronies can swoop down and buy it all up for a song. Most likely while being cheered on by the insane elbows up morons.
Excellent essay James, and I lived that you added that important clip from Victor Davis Hanson, whom I watch regularly. I would add that imo, is Lord Black despite many great attributes not a chess piece on King Charles' chessboard, in 250 year old ongoing battle between the Brits(Globalists) and the Sovereign Republic if the USA ? Keep up the great work.
Well done. We are dealing with 'thick skulls' in Canada, the kind of pride that goes before a fall. However, there is a little elephant in the room you omit. Canada's lefty electorate seems a subsidiary of the Democrat Party in the US. I am sure they are whispering into Carney's ear. "Hold on. Do little, say less. Trump has until January, when a new House will take over and quickly trash both him and his agenda."
For decades USA tolerated Mexico, a narco-state to routinely flood the southern border with millions of illegal migrants, massive quantities of drugs, in "exchange" for having cheap labour who sent extracted wealth back to Mexico via remittances.
Reagan made a half-hearted try with NAFTA, thinking manufacturing jobs in Mexico might help create a middle class and stabilize their gubbermint. Needless to say, that didn't work.
Only Trump managed to make any impact on border security. So much so, the mainstream media stopped talking about it because they don't want to acknowledge Trump's success.
So will USA tolerate Canada becoming a failed state? Not if Trump is in office but any Democrat administration will cheers us on as we slide into 3rd world shit-hole country status.
funny as i read this, i was thinking, finally, someone speaks the truth about canada US relations. Who is this brave soul? this will reverbarate through the country. then, when i finished, i remembered it was james pew, who is effectively cancelled, and marginalized, who is writing on a substack that no one in power acknowledges, and i realize that it was all basically just a dream.
Problem is — even though I am a conservative, I also understand the requirements to be “of the world” instead of an isolationist. As well, Trump is almost completely out of it and has lost most of his support with MAGA — the likes of which are two groups — the poorly educated and those who should “Know better” but are taking advantage of Trump and MAGA to secure an isolated future. That would be a future that does not exist by the way.
There is no such thing as TDS. The derangements are all in the MAGA Cabinet, a mostly useless group of sycophants who are politically motivated to undo all the good America stands for — in order to achieve their isolationist status. A status which will protect them from the world. Just like in the 1930s.
Thanks for the comment Grube. You got me thinking and I might turn my reply into an essay (if there's time....there's never enough damn time).
Anywho, here is what I have so far:
The isolationist argument is somewhat of a relic from Trump’s first term. I don’t think anyone is arguing convinvcingly in 2026 that Trump/MAGA is isolationist. A nation that practices isolationism withdraws from the world. Examples include North Korea and Afghanistan. Instead, and along with all of the coutnerrevolutionary steps he is taking to reform American culture, Trump has withdrawn from the globalists system of multilateral trade, to one that favours bilateral trade agreements. He has reached new trade arrangements/frameworks with nearly two dozen blocs or nations (including major entities like Japan, the UK, the European Union, and China). So far his second term has seen a massive influx in foreign investment – $600B+ pledged from the EU, $550B from Japan, $350B from South Korea. These trade frameworks and investments are the polar opposite of isolationist – they represent the tip of an iceberg that is likely to be a greater (and fairer) level of foreign entanglement than existed under the globalist system of multilateralism.
What Trump is smashing to bits is the globalist system of political economy; what he is re-installing in its place – which is consistent with the history of American political economy – is something that holds to the principles of a developmentalist and protectionist system (a middle road between capitalism and communism) rooted in the ideas and policies of Alexander Hamilton. This newly resuscitated system, also known as the American System, is one which encourages strong national sovereignty (both for America and the nations it reaches bilateral deals with) as it sees the nation as the core foundation. It is not isolationist. Although it may use protectionist measures like tariffs inter ali (government infrastructure investment being another key measure), it attracts foreign entanglement through the prosperity its system generates. The American system, if its installation is permitted to proceed, far from isolating America from the world, will lead to a far more resilient, prosperous, and integrated world (but only in the most mutually advantageous ways).
I concur largely with what you state — but it is not so much what he does but how he does it. He is essentially a failed businessman (6 bankruptcies and many, many failed ventures). He is also extraordinarily (deliberately?) ignorant in his dealings with other nations such as the tariffs issue and the Iran War (not so much with Iran but with supposed allies who he dissed constantly until he suddenly needed help). As for Iran that was at one point sorted out completely by Obama and company, the agreement for which was tossed by Trump in his first term, after which Iran supposedly started making nuke weaponry tech again.
The so-called TDS has absolute legitimacy and is based on how he works (or doesn’t) with others. His manner and tone are completely confrontational and results in exactly what one would expect. His polling amongst Republicans is dropping fast.
If you don’t think he is unsuitable then take a moment to read his Truth Social offerings. I have met many MAGA say they don’t bother to read it because it means nothing. Far from true. If he puts it in TS, it will almost always be raised officially subsequently — but perhaps not those aspects that indicate an extraordinarily disturbing mental decline which are not something to be taken lightly.
I could well be wrong, but I think the challenge for the Maga movement is much the same in the states as here. The 'left' has had so many years to infiltrate all levels of government, media, education and courts, that they own the message, and the message is loud, clear and consistently anti Trump.
Yes but some of what the left does or wants makes sense and much of what MAGA does or wants makes sense. The key is to blend this in some sort of atmosphere which is less contentious than what we now see. What we see now are in some cases some extraordinarily stupid or silly comments by both sides but lately mostly by Trump and Trumpsters which completely undermines what could be a message and potential trend that is positive. It then turns into a fight for the public forum.
It is all distructive and divisive distraction. I really would love to see Canadians focus on what's happening here instead of hating someone who has had nothing to do with what our unelected government is actually doing with our laws. If Canadians don't wake up very soon, when they do they will find a country more like China than like the Canada they grew up in.
I don't understand the obsession with Carney. People are losing jobs and losing their houses but still they support the liberals.
I would venture to say it's more of an obsession with Trump. My 90 something year old parents, lifelong Conservatives, voted for Carney because Poilievre was "too much like Trump." They fell lock, stock and barrel for TDS. And I know lots of people 50 and over who feel the same way. I can't even have decent conversations these days because it's all Trump this, Trump that. For fuck's sake, care about your own country. It's depressing and frustrating. If Canada had a leader (sans Trump's multitudinous idiosyncracies) who cared as much about his country as Trump does we would be sitting pretty. Instead, we have a net zero globalist zealot who is more interested in being part of Europe and in driving us all into penury. I fear for my children and my grandchildren.
Well said!
yes or how they voted for him after ten years of trudeau! incredible
Carney is much worse. My financier relative says he's a very dangerous man.
VDH is excellent.
"Hanson explains that Trump is “a true counter-revolutionary,” who is “trying to undo the entire half-century progressive project within 4 years.”
100%
It seems to me that Carney is forcing the closure of Canadian economic infrastructure, manufacturing, logging, mining, while the banking and housing side of things, oh and transport as well, have been harnessed for use in drug and human trafficking and money laundering. He's saying Canada's going to build all this stuff, but the funding seems to flow to some mysterious secret destination without anything being built. The country is an fire and all our resources go to feed wars in other parts of the world, leaving us to burn and smother in smoke. I think he wants to crush Canadians and then he and his globalist and ccp cronies can swoop down and buy it all up for a song. Most likely while being cheered on by the insane elbows up morons.
Excellent essay James, and I lived that you added that important clip from Victor Davis Hanson, whom I watch regularly. I would add that imo, is Lord Black despite many great attributes not a chess piece on King Charles' chessboard, in 250 year old ongoing battle between the Brits(Globalists) and the Sovereign Republic if the USA ? Keep up the great work.
Well done. We are dealing with 'thick skulls' in Canada, the kind of pride that goes before a fall. However, there is a little elephant in the room you omit. Canada's lefty electorate seems a subsidiary of the Democrat Party in the US. I am sure they are whispering into Carney's ear. "Hold on. Do little, say less. Trump has until January, when a new House will take over and quickly trash both him and his agenda."
indeed. the establishment is either fully liberal, or worse, the type of "conservative" that just wants everyone to like them. CINO.
"There are no voices in Canada that might help Canadians deal with their derangements concerning Trump and his MAGA project."
None. Zero. Opposition benches included. When it comes to our relationship with the US, Poilievre is just another strutting chicken.
For decades USA tolerated Mexico, a narco-state to routinely flood the southern border with millions of illegal migrants, massive quantities of drugs, in "exchange" for having cheap labour who sent extracted wealth back to Mexico via remittances.
Reagan made a half-hearted try with NAFTA, thinking manufacturing jobs in Mexico might help create a middle class and stabilize their gubbermint. Needless to say, that didn't work.
Only Trump managed to make any impact on border security. So much so, the mainstream media stopped talking about it because they don't want to acknowledge Trump's success.
So will USA tolerate Canada becoming a failed state? Not if Trump is in office but any Democrat administration will cheers us on as we slide into 3rd world shit-hole country status.
funny as i read this, i was thinking, finally, someone speaks the truth about canada US relations. Who is this brave soul? this will reverbarate through the country. then, when i finished, i remembered it was james pew, who is effectively cancelled, and marginalized, who is writing on a substack that no one in power acknowledges, and i realize that it was all basically just a dream.
Problem is — even though I am a conservative, I also understand the requirements to be “of the world” instead of an isolationist. As well, Trump is almost completely out of it and has lost most of his support with MAGA — the likes of which are two groups — the poorly educated and those who should “Know better” but are taking advantage of Trump and MAGA to secure an isolated future. That would be a future that does not exist by the way.
There is no such thing as TDS. The derangements are all in the MAGA Cabinet, a mostly useless group of sycophants who are politically motivated to undo all the good America stands for — in order to achieve their isolationist status. A status which will protect them from the world. Just like in the 1930s.
Thanks for the comment Grube. You got me thinking and I might turn my reply into an essay (if there's time....there's never enough damn time).
Anywho, here is what I have so far:
The isolationist argument is somewhat of a relic from Trump’s first term. I don’t think anyone is arguing convinvcingly in 2026 that Trump/MAGA is isolationist. A nation that practices isolationism withdraws from the world. Examples include North Korea and Afghanistan. Instead, and along with all of the coutnerrevolutionary steps he is taking to reform American culture, Trump has withdrawn from the globalists system of multilateral trade, to one that favours bilateral trade agreements. He has reached new trade arrangements/frameworks with nearly two dozen blocs or nations (including major entities like Japan, the UK, the European Union, and China). So far his second term has seen a massive influx in foreign investment – $600B+ pledged from the EU, $550B from Japan, $350B from South Korea. These trade frameworks and investments are the polar opposite of isolationist – they represent the tip of an iceberg that is likely to be a greater (and fairer) level of foreign entanglement than existed under the globalist system of multilateralism.
What Trump is smashing to bits is the globalist system of political economy; what he is re-installing in its place – which is consistent with the history of American political economy – is something that holds to the principles of a developmentalist and protectionist system (a middle road between capitalism and communism) rooted in the ideas and policies of Alexander Hamilton. This newly resuscitated system, also known as the American System, is one which encourages strong national sovereignty (both for America and the nations it reaches bilateral deals with) as it sees the nation as the core foundation. It is not isolationist. Although it may use protectionist measures like tariffs inter ali (government infrastructure investment being another key measure), it attracts foreign entanglement through the prosperity its system generates. The American system, if its installation is permitted to proceed, far from isolating America from the world, will lead to a far more resilient, prosperous, and integrated world (but only in the most mutually advantageous ways).
I concur largely with what you state — but it is not so much what he does but how he does it. He is essentially a failed businessman (6 bankruptcies and many, many failed ventures). He is also extraordinarily (deliberately?) ignorant in his dealings with other nations such as the tariffs issue and the Iran War (not so much with Iran but with supposed allies who he dissed constantly until he suddenly needed help). As for Iran that was at one point sorted out completely by Obama and company, the agreement for which was tossed by Trump in his first term, after which Iran supposedly started making nuke weaponry tech again.
The so-called TDS has absolute legitimacy and is based on how he works (or doesn’t) with others. His manner and tone are completely confrontational and results in exactly what one would expect. His polling amongst Republicans is dropping fast.
If you don’t think he is unsuitable then take a moment to read his Truth Social offerings. I have met many MAGA say they don’t bother to read it because it means nothing. Far from true. If he puts it in TS, it will almost always be raised officially subsequently — but perhaps not those aspects that indicate an extraordinarily disturbing mental decline which are not something to be taken lightly.
I hope that Alberta stands all this bullshit on its headby dumping the Laurentiancriminsls and pursuing independence
I could well be wrong, but I think the challenge for the Maga movement is much the same in the states as here. The 'left' has had so many years to infiltrate all levels of government, media, education and courts, that they own the message, and the message is loud, clear and consistently anti Trump.
Yes but some of what the left does or wants makes sense and much of what MAGA does or wants makes sense. The key is to blend this in some sort of atmosphere which is less contentious than what we now see. What we see now are in some cases some extraordinarily stupid or silly comments by both sides but lately mostly by Trump and Trumpsters which completely undermines what could be a message and potential trend that is positive. It then turns into a fight for the public forum.
It is all distructive and divisive distraction. I really would love to see Canadians focus on what's happening here instead of hating someone who has had nothing to do with what our unelected government is actually doing with our laws. If Canadians don't wake up very soon, when they do they will find a country more like China than like the Canada they grew up in.