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Chris Who

I apologize if my posts are somewhat down and grim.

I feel like the folks who haven't been facing the sharp end of injustice in the last 50 years don't understand how close we are to global authoritarian rule.

I'm Canadian. Even if we vote Green or Progressive, being a resource rich, militarily poor nation next door to a failed state is terrifying.

A lot more is on the line than just US domestic issues.

@chriswho

Is America still a shining beacon of light and hope and compassion and humanity upon the world fellow citizen Chris Who ?

That is what Putin and Jinping and Trump are asking.

And our answer thus far is condemning us to the very fate we fear, and they want, most.
ST

"The truth is that the Constitution fails to defend itself, enduring only in the brave hearts of those who would uphold it."
SearingTruth, A Future of the Brave, 2005

@chriswho

"I'm Canadian. Even if we vote Green or Progressive, being a resource rich, militarily poor nation next door to a failed state is terrifying.

"A lot more is on the line than just US domestic issues."

Boosting to #cdnpoli

@chriswho

It is absolutely terrifying to have a failed state with nukes next door.

@chriswho I wonder why JT is not embarking on militarization.

Perhaps he thinks that means a draft, and a draft is a sure way to defeat.

@melanie

The US has the most powerful, technologically capable military in the world.

There is no conceivable way, even if Trudeau conscripted every man and woman over the age of 19+ that we would have the capability of holding the 49th parallel.

It's the largest undefended border because it's impossible to defend 3000+ miles of territory.

We are completely dependent on the US' goodwill and respect of our borders which under Trump would be non-existent.

@chriswho Really puts a new light behind the Century Initiative (ginger group that wants to increase Canada’s population to 0.1 billion) doesn’t it

@chriswho @melanie Canadians know that if the need arises we would, once again, end up with a volunteer army just like when we needed troops before. History shows Canadians make great soldiers when needed.

@chriswho @melanie We're also dependent on Article 5 of NATO, where someone else might come to our aid.

Probably Britain, since that's traditionally been their role.

Maybe France, as Quebec would likely still be anti-America more than anti-British.

But yeah - defending the border is...rather difficult.

@chriswho @melanie Maybe you've forgotten that the US has a 3,000+ mile undefended border too.

@WestCoastCliche Thank you for that reply, guy. I was aware.

@chriswho OMG, I am trying. What really concerns me is a block of young voters who just want to burn the system down, not realizing they'll leave the inevitable power vacuum that autocrats always fill.
They are throwing away the power provided them in the vote bc they feel like their vote is powerless, without putting the big picture together, without having lived through the Reagan era. I don't have the foggiest how to close this loop for them.
Yes, there *is* a vast difference in candidates.

@chriswho I think a fair bit about the Austrian Anschluss in the run up to WW2.

@chriswho Thanks. I appreciate your perspective. I am a USian and have paid close attention to US politics and society since Nixon, Vietnam and the social unrest of the late 60’s. We have unique challenges today, e.g.; severe inequity, but many challenges we’ve seen before, including charismatic populism, nationalism and racism. It is the same fight since the Enlightenment and throwing off of kings and nobility. We are clearly not done. We will continue to resist and fight together.

@chriswho Canada needs leaders on all sides of the political spectrum. The right come off as sleazy 80s used car salesmen. The left are out of touch and don’t have a backbone. Canada needs real leadership that brings people together. Not just political theatre.

I’m an older millennial and I feel the dread of the upcoming US election.

@chriswho I feel ya. I'm Murican and have often considered trying to move to Canada. That seemed good a decade ago, but now it's starting to feel like, "I'm sick of living with dangerous, unhinged people. I should move next door. ..Um, or across the lake?" If the US falls to authoritarianism, I don't know what happens to Western civilization, and it terrifies me to ponder it. Where would be safe to go? I don't know.