Yes to our democratic leaders to look to the north for inspiration and get your game up already! That was the kind of message and “grit” we needed right now!
Sadly true, and yet Mr. Chrétien, in defending Canadian sovereignty, affirms the better angels of our nature as well. One bit of his wisdom jumped out at me as practically apropos to our own circumstances:
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"But you don’t win a hockey game by only playing defence. We all know that even when we satisfy one demand, Mr. Trump will come back with another, bigger demand. That’s not diplomacy; it’s blackmail."
J L Graham, That jumped out at me as well, Something I've been kvetching about forever. The Democrats keep playing defense, like during the election, trying to praise themselves for the IRA, ARP, and CHIPS act, people don't care about what you have done, you can't run on yesterdays merits and victories.
If anything the world should have learned from the experience of Winston Churchill, he led the free world to Victory, (and he did), but he was booted from office (not re elected) immediately after the war.
The public voted their fears and needs, as artificial and invalid as they are and were, they were none the created by the Republican party and it's constituents of technofeudalists, Christian feudalists, racists and patriarchs.
And By the way I just read something in Salon. Trump never lies: WHEN HE IS TELLING YOU WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO. He told you he would be a dictator on day 1, he told you he was going destroy the "deep"(administrative ) state. What he lies about is what he has done, what he believes, what he did. Then he will say anything and woe on the media, but when he says he will take revenge or become a dictator, believe him.
And in that regard the media is his handmaids, his facilitators, complicit as they make excuses, minimize or ignore
There is nothing that Trump is doing at this time, that should be surprising or even controversial, he told us what he intends.
We would better spend our time checking off a check list of Trump promises kept and formulating a rapid response to not only his actions, but the actions to come and there is more to come, much more.
Another quote I like from him seems appropriate for Trump's oligarchs::
"I learned early that business is business and politics is politics. The proof is how few important businessmen have made good politicians. They may think that they are very smart about everything because they made millions of dollars by digging a hole in the ground and finding oil, but the talent and luck needed to become rich are not the same talent and luck needed to succeed on Parliament Hill."
Me too- I would take Canada’s side. I fear the Felon would like to put us in a world war-on the side of fascism! Our former allies would be fighting us!
Donald J Trump is threatening Canada, but the people of the US are not — I AM NOT!
Certainly only a small number of MAGAt Die Hards are with Trump. Most of America knows it’s foolish bluster …
But the Tariffs are real … let’s hope he does not follow through again and again, making this worse, because he cannot stand to be seen to back down.
Let’s hope we can return to sanity — maybe even defang this idiot monster T…Show him the limits of his power — and it is NOT the power of Empire … Let us hope …
Be very careful about continuing to call what thump does "foolish bluster" or calling him a "clown" or "buffoon" or other ways of downplaying his plans. He's a conniving con-man criminal, delusional, dangerous. Whatever he says, he is almost always projecting or putting out his intentions. He may be a fool, but he's the worst kind - a dangerous, cunning fool with delusions of grandeur. History and literature are full of tales of madmen who believe themselves to be kings. We live in a country where too many voters apparently thought that would be a cute experiment, to give one such broken human opportunities to rule over us all.
And he's proven that his troops of flying monkeys will do all of his dirty work, including war-making, and thus - once again - others will do every low and vile thing for him. His thug army is at the ready.
He has a stated and demonstrated love of conflict, chaos, dominance, cruelty and power. What better "arena" than war. He seems to be fomenting internal war inside our country as well as international war. Does he imagine he will not be affected by whatever hell he summons?
Our most shameful error. Hey, it was even copied by South Africa when they "invented" apartheid. Not that we need to worry about anyone from South Africa. Oh wait...
Blessed Canada took in resisters of that duplicitous horror of a war and blessed Jimmy Carter gave the resisters amnesty to return "home." Where IS home these days? thump is like those awful squatters who steal deeds, move in, take over the homeowners' house, and can't be evicted. Squatter. Felon. Pure evil.
really don't want to be disparaging of Robert, I like and respect him too much.
But his closing remark got to me" ". Nobody ever loved the cut-and-thrust of politics more than me, but I always understood that each of us was trying to make a positive contribution to make our community or country a better place.
As a first time voter in 1960, and an observer of American politics for the last 64 years, what I have noticed is that there is one faction in the US that were indeed trying to make the country a better place, FOR THEIR SPONSORS, THEIR FACTION, THEIR GROUP. and not for all of us.
That faction until LBJ was the business community, the moneyed class, in the form of the Republican party, the Democratic Party was pro labor, white labor to tell the truth.
With the Great Society, and the Civil/Voting Rights Act, white labor began cumping ship to align with their economic exploiters,the economic royalists of FDR.
That has left the Democratic party trying to form a coalition out of factions of marginalized an/dor oppressed minorities.
What we have is hardly a system where factions are trying to make our community or country a better place for all, a better place for factions, on that I will agree, but not for all.
That which the economic royalists, the moneyed factions, don't see is that
if they run roughshod over the people, if they disregard them, use and abuse them, they are actually cutting their own throats.
Henry Ford, an antisemitic racist, recognized this when he decided to pay his assembly line workers a living wage, because if they could feed, cloth and house themselves and their families and had enough left over for disposable income, they could buy the cars that the assembled, and they did.
The U.S. of A has accumulated a lot of fat since 1945, and now Trump his technofeudalist and his culture war idiots, are going to live off that fat.
Madame USA is going to lose weight, it will take time, but she will become a shell of herself, anorexic,.
The IT age is marvelous, 15 year old kids become rich as Tic Toc influencers, but It and AI don't sow, or reap vegetables of fruit, they don't drive trucks, operate gantries and off load ships, they don't sort and direct traffic and with a demoralized and fearful potential workforce nothing gets done, and soon even the exports we depend upon, no longer show up on our shores, for as our economy crumbles, so does the world
If there is truly a will to defeat China, then bankrupt America and turn it into a shit hole country, and Trump, Musk, Jamie Dimon, Zuckerbeg, Sacks, Cook, et al have taken the first step.. they have kicked the ball and got it rolling.
They know it, google billionaire bunkers and see what they are up to
Trouble is, that they are only buying time, for a societal collapse means that store food, equipment which needs parts and repair, will run out.
You do understand that this column was not written by Robert Reich but by Jean Chrétien, a former Prime Minister of Canada. Robert was merely reposting it as he appreciated the writing.
Sweeping and interesting analysis. What used to glue the different factions together was pride in all American achievements and inventions, successes, and positive role in the world.
You can only apply in Canada for political asylum if you are fleeing your country because you fear persecution or risk to your life. And to ask for that you have to be present in Canada or apply at a legal port of entry. I doubt Canada would accept those applications at this point in time, because so far, no one has been threatened with jail or death yet, under the current US government, so no basis for asylum claims.
I’d join the fight on the Canadian side too. I’m a 76 year old lady with not much to lose and a tendency to be very cranky. And perhaps even trigger happy….
Not to be a wet blanket, but this is an internet forum. Draw whatever conclusions you wish about what I mean by that.
Just remember:
Just as the Democratic Party's "anthem" was always "Happy Days are Here Again," the following has been the de facto anthem of the Republican Party - now the RepubliMob - since FDR: https://youtu.be/yhuMLpdnOjY?si=o9n0UBrgj5brsuVT
And more than ever, they're intent on doing just that!
I'm with you! I'm a Veteran and with tRump and his ilk in office it's more like FU for your service than thank you I'll fight for Canada's freedom, they resist fascism 🇨🇦
Canada should have a military recruitment center set up all along their southern border. Lots of patriotic Americans would sign up. Pay us in maple syrup; it is more valuable than the junk and trinkets trump and strumpet are huckstering all over the place!
I hate to have to ask, but the only law that Trump may have any hesitation over breaking is INTERNATIONAL law.
I recall once a small town in West Virginia appealed to the Soviet Union to repair an important rural bridge that was being ignored by local officials, and the SU complied.
Perhaps we Americans need to begin to appeal to international courts to consider the violent and discriminatory acts against American women, the LGBTQIA+ community, people of EVERY non-Christian faith (and even no belief) and all People of Color (including indigenous Americans. And SO MANY more.)
The Supreme Court may be of limited assistance to the GOP then.
Trump's whole thing is not being accountable to any form of law. He will break any law whatsoever if he thinks he can get away with it. Witness his contempt for due process.
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“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”— Frank Wilhoit
SCOTUS has assured him he can get away with anything now. Just has to say it was an official act and he really CAN shoot someone on 5th avenue and get away with it.
That should explain why I'm not particularly an ACLU fan. Although they've been a driving force in many good causes, they're a force that can cut both ways without regard to common sense - and as such, I consider them an unreliable ally.
I've become quite skeptical of the kind of freedom many people seem to support, these days - and how the very spirit of the word "freedom" seems to have been stood upon its ear, of late.
People are people and Canadian politics makes it's own messes, but seemingly less toxic than ours. Stephen Harper, who was prime Minister for 9 years seemed a GWB wannabee. A real foe of the environment. Trudeau II just resigned. Our continent's true north is not utopia, but less insane. The USA has good bones if $COTUS would stop abusing them. We could still learn a lot from the successes and failures of other countries.
‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’ - Churchill
No they are just interested in moving $50 trillion dollars from the bottom 90% of the population to the top 1% in roughly forty years. And White Christian Nationalism.
Hopefully, no one is actually fooled by trump's "fentanyl crossing the border" scam.
Yes, it's possible for China to ship fentanyl to Mexico, and then cross the US/Mexico border, where it spends days (without eyes on it) reaching the point (geographically) where it can finally be sold. And this does occasionally happen with large shipments. (Fox News used to get SO ANGRY when one of these rare large shipments was stopped at the border, and now that makes perfect sense! Trump would be needing a dishonest narrative, and Fox exists to do just that.)
But doesn't it make FAR more sense to have mules carry it, by plane, from China to whatever American city they wish, and be making money within 24 hours, without ever taking eyes off the product? That is what is actually happening, and those of us desperately in need of chronic pain treatment have not believed this lie from the start. (Meaning, the lie that prescription opioids are the OD problem, rather than smuggled fentanyl.)
Even for the "under-educated", it's really not that complicated: fentanyl has almost ZERO connection with illegal border crossings.
..he's already done that to them, i n his last term he promised a wonderful healthcare plan (nothing) a beautiful Infrastructure plan (nothing), am incredible jobs plan (nothing), and lower taxes (that only applied to the rich and corporations) .
During this last election campaign he promised to lower prices, only afterwords said that it would be too hard to do. However , his faithful flock keeps smiling and nodding in approval every time.
Makes me wonder if T**** shouldn't be classified as a Schedule One narcotic substance as he certainly is both mind altering and addictive.
Will definitely read! I fought against these monsters for years while promoting sensible palliative care with the ladder approach for opioids in multidisciplinary settings. I know too much sometimes.
I'm starting my non-cooperation and "Don't buy anything but food, medicine and gasoline." cutting back to the bare necessities in those categories as well. I'm on strike.
Just like he fixed health care by refusing to even consider any option presented by a Black president, and devoting his life to never allowing Obama any credit for the things that the ENTIRE WORLD knows he accomplished.
I'm sure the world will be just just as accommodating toward Trump's biggest (and only) accomplishment:
Receiving pat on head from Putin for winning election that compromises American democracy
Mike, with the US Dem Party right now attempting to elect a party leader your comment would best be high on the party's agenda. "get your game up!" Thank you.....
Great article Agree with all the recommendations. However, nothing is perfect. This would have been a perfect time to talk about how some in Canada have treated its Jews lately. You write: "We have built something here that is the envy of the world — when it comes to compassion, understanding, tolerance and finding a way for people of different backgrounds and faiths to live together in harmony." This would have been a perfect time to mention the lack of compassion especially in regard to people of different backgrounds and faiths, perhaps.
Just something to ponder on…if Canada lets millions of Americans into our country, what’s to stop us from becoming more American as opposed to them becoming more Canadian? Will Americans who come be willing to give up their “right” to have guns? And understand our gun laws are completely different? Will they understand that our free speech laws make hate and discriminatory speech illegal? Will they try to change those more to their liking? Or will they learn to accept the difference?
While I appreciate all those who would come to Canada’s aid, it would be better if you stayed and took your country back. The USA is going to need every patriotic American to stand up for what’s right and decent, and save yourselves from devolving into a fascist Oligarchy, and you must try.
Canada can defend itself, at least for now. But if the shit hits the fan we’ll all be manning the defences together in the end.
Not to be impertinent, but the last time I saw a plane looking like it was hit as deliberately as the footage of the crash in WDC shows was a SAM taking out a Russian fighter in Ukraine footage. Not to indulge in conspiracy-speak, but that crash looks fishy at face value, to me.
I'd just be interested in knowing how the photographer(s) managed to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time pointing their cameras to the exactly right spot for catching these videos:
He was a fantastic, no nonsense Prime Minister that gave his all for his country. My proudest day as a Canadian was when he stood up and said “Non” to GWB and the immoral Iraq invasion.
Barbara Lee of California is the ONLY ONE who fearlessly put her career on the line to denounce that fake war. All the other Democrats spinelessly sided up with the lies and propaganda of Dear Leader. We need more Barbara Lees, she is a national treasure.
I agree. I wrote to PM Chretien at the time expressing my thoughts about following the US into war and received an answer from his office, not an auto-reply, but one that spoke to my concerns.
It's a crying shame that Trudeau has to leave NOW when Canada needs him to protect his country for "The Bigly Man-Baby," but HE is smart enough to know when he is too old. Bunkerboy's Alzheimer's prevents It from doing something so noble. (75% of America did NOT vote for It. WE are with CANADA.)
Trudeau is not old, but he knows that after more than 9 years as Prime Minister, it is time for new leadership. Canadians are grateful for his service to our country. He has represented us well. 🇨🇦
Thank you for posting what many Canadians are feeling! For the most part we love the USA, we just don’t want to BE the USA. We have worked too hard to have what we have. 🇨🇦. Thanks for being a friend!
Living in SC, where Tim Scott, Nancy Mace, Lindsey Graham (and worse) are my "representatives", they just use my letters to justify their "Liberal Tears" mugs.
(But I did give it a shot with HR 9495, and I heard back from a couple. But nothing else will ever matter in the ONLY state on the eastern seaboard to be a guaranteed lock for Trump in 2016.)
We in Canada have our share of maga morons but, thankfully, it's a small bunch of lowlife ignoramuses who want to stick it to our Libs - certainly not enough for Canadians to hop aboard the sinking, stinking trump pirate ship. If trump decides to invade Canada he will have NO adoring base and be met with massive resistance. My heart goes out to the majority of Americans who are having to deal with the escalating 'crisis' of trump. If he goes after journalists, politicians, judges etc, we must offer these folks asylum, a safe refuge so they may carry on the fight against this madman and his cabal of fascist ghouls to reclaim their country.
…’we must offer these folks asylum’. Yes! As long as they have a way to break through the idiotic US/CDN journalism wall. Thank goodness for Substack. Blusky et al.
I am a dual citizen🇺🇸🇨🇦 and jean Chretien is a true Canadian.quebecois pur laine and Canadian. Trump is an international bully and needs to be opposed at every turn and threat. Vive les deux payees.
Read in UK Guardian that the Democratic party is being labeled the Vichy democrats, a reminder of Vichy surrender to Hitler in France. It seems like an accurate comparison sadly.
It seems more fair to say that it is former GOP, led by hypocrites McConnell and Graham, that’s playing the role of Pétain and the Vichy government. There is still hope for the Democrats. They may mount a strong resistance yet.
I appreciate your comment. Millions of us are struggling to find effective ways to resist, to oppose, to push back. We do need strong young voices to fill loudly and clearly our current leadership vacuum.
You’re right, there’s a whole lotta Vichy going on. It’s alarming, partly because the people and entities that are participating in it don’t seem to have a clue about what they’re actually doing. Have we learned nothing?
It's ALSO a crying shame dear Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are not in their 40s or even 50s! THEY, especially the universally beloved Senator Sanders, could have easily rallied the 75%.
"Can you name ANY legislation either proposed by or supported by the GOP, that was intended to assist working-class, middle-class Americans...anytime in the past 75 years?"
In all the time I've been asking this, I've yet to hear a correct answer. But of course, the DEM list is a long one, with things like FEMA, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the ACA.
Why? I don’t get it. Please give me specific, concrete examples. And don’t include my senators Merkley and Wyden, as THEY don’t deserve your description, and are far from it. What democrats, specifically, and what they did, please, as your contention is very damning.
I think it's time for Republicans to grow some also. It's sickening to watch the Republican "leaders" in Congress give away the powers assigned In Article 1 of the Constitution. It looks like Trump must have Congessional Republican backbones and gonads in storage at Mar-a-Lago. Maybe it's time to organize an expedition to Florida to take them back. Of course, Trump will insist that they belong to him since they were freely donated.
Yes, the constitution plainly gives Congress the sole power to levy taxes. Tariffs are taxes. The president should not be allowed to raise taxes by decree.
We just read the words of a Real Leader. Not only does he speak of Canadian values and resistance, but his proposals that other threatened countries, along with the head of the European Union need to join together, and act to protect each other, as well as bringing cases to the International Court regarding illegal acts against certain groups in the U.S,
And, of course, we know this is basically the same as Steve Forbes "flat tax" (1996.)
The goal is a "consumption tax", and both serve that purpose. By consumption tax, I mean it's a tax on each individual's consumption, or purchases.
So someone who earns $10B but manages to "get by" on just 10% of that (a measly $1B), is essentially taxed on 10% of earnings.
But the poor, needing to spend every cent to survive, are effectively taxed at 100% of their income. Middle-class Americans fall somewhere between.
This is all the GOP ever wanted, and I suspect we'll see the IRS laws changed to reflect a flat tax ("You're entire tax return on the back of a postcard!"), rather than graduated very soon, and the Supreme Court will approve.
And after that they may just call up every American billionaire, and just say, "Screw it! Just take whatever you want!"
Oops. Adding this.: P. M. Criétien appears to understand our laws better than many of us: tariffs are taxes, which are imposed/determined by the Congress. The tariffs set to go into effect tomorrow, Feb 1, are therefore illegal.
How can Canada prevent guns flooding into the country from the U.S. any ideas?
Thank you again, Robert Reich for publishing an inspiring letter, with the kind of concrete ideas we, in the free world need.
Thanks, Joan. I have been calling and writing Republican and Democratic Senators about these hideous nominees. I will add Chuck to the list. Especially now after the horrific response to the plane tragedy.
I wish I could move to Canada. I’m afraid we will never get rid of these people who have kidnapped our once proud and fair government. I’m embarrassed to be an American right now. 🫣😞
As embarrassed as many of us are of what is happening in our country now, and as much as we admire the qualities of Canada and other fine places, some of us are not able to move, and we need support here to come through this challenging time, the most challenging of my life in this second half century I am living. I am especially grateful to every person everywhere who recognizes our challenges and is trying to help. I believe we and our Constitutional freedoms are worth saving. I believe our valuable friendships within and beyond our country are worth saving.
That attitude is what Trump is trying to engender in Americans so he can do whatever he wants. It's a demoralizing time but we must resist the fear. It will be our undoing if we give in to fear and give up. It helps me to do whatever I can for my friends and neighbors so all of us stay connected and build community which are powerful acts of Resistence.
Next to arresting him, the best way to deal with Trump is to ignore him. I do,. and you should, too. Ignore him, and mute the TV when he appears on the screen.
I agree. If every single news station ignored him, it would get under his skin more than telling the truth about him. Like a spoiled toddler, he thrives on the attention.
Except I don't think he cares whether we're listening or not. He's playing to his base, and trying to spread both fear and intimidation--fascism 101. How did trying to ignore Hitler circa 1933 pan out???
Sadly, I understand your point in spite of still believing what I just wrote. How can we manage this situation? I know many good people who do not share my ideas. Believe me, even though I respect the good in everyone, it is very hard to see this situation. I know my experiences are not novel now or throughout history. That does not mean that I know how to handle my feelings though.i care about everyone who is good, and i wish we could all understand the goodness in everyone.
Self care is essential in order to come through this dark time in America. Do whatever nurtures your soul: time spent in Nature, walk in grass barefooted in order to ground yourself, meditate or learn how to do it by checking various web sites or YouTubes.
Hitler appealed to a citizenry that was flat on its back after WW1 andwho would listen to anyone who promised a return of national pride and a productive economy. We’re not there yet, but it might not be long. We can only hope that Trump self-destructs as Nixon did.
I thought news media should ignore him when he ran for office the first time. That thought never changed. He is not what I want to see in my news. There are lots of good people with good intentions and kind ways of expressing them and achieving them, all respectively within the realm of our Constitution. Can we let that be our main focus so everyone of any party or attitude can see good and help it prevail?
I cannot imagine wanting to be him! Neither can I understand why anyone would want to harm another person. I do know that many people are fed lies through what they consider is news.
On the other hand, it's hard not to imagine a particularly ignorant person (either by choice or unfortunate circumstances) not welcoming what Trump offers...freedom from any sense of personal responsibility or obligation whatsoever.
No matter what they do or who they harm, it's NEVER their fault, but rather the fault of the woman, or PoC, or queer American. ALWAYS someone else.
Living in the midst of them here in the rural Deep South, I've no doubt some of them believe even his most unbelievable lies, and are quickly coming to think of him as being LITERALLY able to forgive their sins.
Thank you for an explanation I was unable to recognize. As sad as such recognition is, you broadened my scope. I am very sorry for the needs of people in that category or any similar situation. Maybe I will understand more people better now, but I hope we can overcome the dangers we are facing and do so without harming anyone and without losing precious friendships.
Partly agree, except that we must pay attention to his stupid policy decisions in order to mount resistance to them. The Federal money freeze is a good case in point, as is the renewed vigor and vociferousness of D Senators involved in the cabinet hearings--all due to widespread anger. Thst's Cretien's message--don't sit there and "take it". To do nothing is to give in to the bully.
Thank you, Dave Parrish. Because messages follow various comments by the time I finish, tapping all these letters out. I put your name on there so you would know which message I am answering.
Nah, turn it to another channel. Drop viewer ratings into the toilet. As long as the TV stays on the channel, muted or not, still counts as view points.
Watch the Meidas Touch Network on YouTube. Their ratings are killing everyone but Fox and depending on the day they beat Fox. The Meidas Touch Substack is excellent. Ron Filopowski does a nightly political roundup that is second to none. Check them out and ignore the bought and paid for corporate media.
Agree. Medias Touch is excellent. People on here quit watching TV stations that have shown their true colors ever since 2016. Read MT instead and some YT podcasts.
That may have worked the first time, but it's imperative this time we do not stick our heads in the sand. project 2025 is already trying to take our freedom, our jobs, and our money! We can ill afford "tuning him out".
i get your point-and it might have been true when he was out of power-but he's now in power ,by hook or by crook ,and we ignore his machinations and evil at our peril
How I love that comment and the pressure it helps remove from shoulders! I try to stay informed without watching him, to maintain an awareness without becoming worn down, and I know it is important that we each live our lives while caring about each other. Ignoring matters; so does paying enough attention to take any necessary action to preserve what matters. I am working to see how much I can ignore and how much I should give my attention. Thank you.
I never thought I would side against my country but I'm all in with Canada. Trump has no inkling about what love of one's country actually means. He doesn't love America. He loves himself and money - nothing else! I want to see all these countries he is making these ridiculous threats to "take over" push back. I am willing as an America to put up with higher prices if that is the punishment we get for his ridiculous ways to bully the world. Because in the long run people will finally wake up and push back as our economy fails. Go Canada!
And now Trump is planning on slamming a big tariff on Canada, as well as on Mexico. And when Canada reacts appropriately, this will directly impact those magats to the south of Canada. Good.
Absolutely thank you! I also love the Robert Reich suggestion of paying more attention to what T. does than to what he says. That helps. I thank everyone who has contributed and is contributing suggestions for managing this crisis.
I understand your feelings or thoughts. Once I had an instructor from another country, long ago. His comment was, “Why end it when you can mend it!” I do not recall the references, but it had to do with our country. I hope we can mend our country. We shall not turn “belly up”. At least, I think that is the expression for giving up and/or giving in to something we do not approve.
You do that Kathleen! If I were younger, and had family in the US, I would do the same. Substack is a great place to find ways to resist! At this point all I can do is throw money at them, which I am delighted to do!
Inspiring essay. Trump should consider that the United States is not more powerful than all the rest of the world put together. And the fact that Republicans acquiesce to Trump's every demand doesn't mean that other countries' leaders will.
I think Canada and Mexico should promise that if Trump imposes tariffs on them, they will not help one bit in stemming the flow of migrants into our country. Maybe they should even encourage them. Other countries are finding that they are not powerless against Trump's temper tantrums.
Yes to our democratic leaders to look to the north for inspiration and get your game up already! That was the kind of message and “grit” we needed right now!
As an American. If Trump invades Canada I'd join the fight on behalf of canada if they gave me citizenship. Fuck this fascist country.
Me too. Fuck the Fascist
What an international embarrassment we have become.
Sadly true, and yet Mr. Chrétien, in defending Canadian sovereignty, affirms the better angels of our nature as well. One bit of his wisdom jumped out at me as practically apropos to our own circumstances:
.
"But you don’t win a hockey game by only playing defence. We all know that even when we satisfy one demand, Mr. Trump will come back with another, bigger demand. That’s not diplomacy; it’s blackmail."
.
Exactly!
J L Graham, That jumped out at me as well, Something I've been kvetching about forever. The Democrats keep playing defense, like during the election, trying to praise themselves for the IRA, ARP, and CHIPS act, people don't care about what you have done, you can't run on yesterdays merits and victories.
If anything the world should have learned from the experience of Winston Churchill, he led the free world to Victory, (and he did), but he was booted from office (not re elected) immediately after the war.
The public voted their fears and needs, as artificial and invalid as they are and were, they were none the created by the Republican party and it's constituents of technofeudalists, Christian feudalists, racists and patriarchs.
And By the way I just read something in Salon. Trump never lies: WHEN HE IS TELLING YOU WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO. He told you he would be a dictator on day 1, he told you he was going destroy the "deep"(administrative ) state. What he lies about is what he has done, what he believes, what he did. Then he will say anything and woe on the media, but when he says he will take revenge or become a dictator, believe him.
And in that regard the media is his handmaids, his facilitators, complicit as they make excuses, minimize or ignore
There is nothing that Trump is doing at this time, that should be surprising or even controversial, he told us what he intends.
We would better spend our time checking off a check list of Trump promises kept and formulating a rapid response to not only his actions, but the actions to come and there is more to come, much more.
I used to think I would suffer from brain fog for the rest of my life..."𝐛𝐮𝐭" this changed everything.... https://t.co/7tKMxnA90j
Another quote I like from him seems appropriate for Trump's oligarchs::
"I learned early that business is business and politics is politics. The proof is how few important businessmen have made good politicians. They may think that they are very smart about everything because they made millions of dollars by digging a hole in the ground and finding oil, but the talent and luck needed to become rich are not the same talent and luck needed to succeed on Parliament Hill."
Me too- I would take Canada’s side. I fear the Felon would like to put us in a world war-on the side of fascism! Our former allies would be fighting us!
Donald J Trump is threatening Canada, but the people of the US are not — I AM NOT!
Certainly only a small number of MAGAt Die Hards are with Trump. Most of America knows it’s foolish bluster …
But the Tariffs are real … let’s hope he does not follow through again and again, making this worse, because he cannot stand to be seen to back down.
Let’s hope we can return to sanity — maybe even defang this idiot monster T…Show him the limits of his power — and it is NOT the power of Empire … Let us hope …
Be very careful about continuing to call what thump does "foolish bluster" or calling him a "clown" or "buffoon" or other ways of downplaying his plans. He's a conniving con-man criminal, delusional, dangerous. Whatever he says, he is almost always projecting or putting out his intentions. He may be a fool, but he's the worst kind - a dangerous, cunning fool with delusions of grandeur. History and literature are full of tales of madmen who believe themselves to be kings. We live in a country where too many voters apparently thought that would be a cute experiment, to give one such broken human opportunities to rule over us all.
I also feel he's looking for a war.
Perhaps her is looking for a war....complete cowards and blowhards like him do that sometimes, but they would never ever serve themselves.
And he's proven that his troops of flying monkeys will do all of his dirty work, including war-making, and thus - once again - others will do every low and vile thing for him. His thug army is at the ready.
He has a stated and demonstrated love of conflict, chaos, dominance, cruelty and power. What better "arena" than war. He seems to be fomenting internal war inside our country as well as international war. Does he imagine he will not be affected by whatever hell he summons?
If we're smart we will. Some of our best Canadian citizens are those, and their decendents, who fled the Vietnam war.
We will solemnly swear to defend Canada, pay taxes, obey laws.... I'll even learn the rules for hockey. ❤️
I'm from Boston, so I already know them! Half Canadian already!
Michele,
I’m with you. We are with you.
Here in Beantown, we love Canada. We love our Canadian neighbors.
Drump does not speak for us.
He embarrasses us.
He places all of us in danger.
He places the world in danger.
We’ll do our darned to contain him.
Wishing our you, our neighbors to the north, good health and peace.
Please pray for us.
Doc
My daughter is a Canadian Permanent resident, married to a Canadian. He is a man of exceptional integrity.
You'll have to teach me. Up here in the PNW hockey isn't as dominant as it is in Boston 😉
I'll even watch hockey!! :)
Take up curling.
And that’s saying something!
Curling. A cerebral sport.
Oooh. Love curling!
And slavery including Jim Crow.
Our most shameful error. Hey, it was even copied by South Africa when they "invented" apartheid. Not that we need to worry about anyone from South Africa. Oh wait...
And apartheid in Palestine. Israel is behaving so appallingly badly, and we, the US, are helping them.
Blessed Canada took in resisters of that duplicitous horror of a war and blessed Jimmy Carter gave the resisters amnesty to return "home." Where IS home these days? thump is like those awful squatters who steal deeds, move in, take over the homeowners' house, and can't be evicted. Squatter. Felon. Pure evil.
Oh, Canada. Let us come in again, won't you?
I've wondered if asking for political sanctuary would work? If it did, I'd be in Canada before you read this.
I’m Canadian and I’ve wondered the same.
Me too
really don't want to be disparaging of Robert, I like and respect him too much.
But his closing remark got to me" ". Nobody ever loved the cut-and-thrust of politics more than me, but I always understood that each of us was trying to make a positive contribution to make our community or country a better place.
As a first time voter in 1960, and an observer of American politics for the last 64 years, what I have noticed is that there is one faction in the US that were indeed trying to make the country a better place, FOR THEIR SPONSORS, THEIR FACTION, THEIR GROUP. and not for all of us.
That faction until LBJ was the business community, the moneyed class, in the form of the Republican party, the Democratic Party was pro labor, white labor to tell the truth.
With the Great Society, and the Civil/Voting Rights Act, white labor began cumping ship to align with their economic exploiters,the economic royalists of FDR.
That has left the Democratic party trying to form a coalition out of factions of marginalized an/dor oppressed minorities.
What we have is hardly a system where factions are trying to make our community or country a better place for all, a better place for factions, on that I will agree, but not for all.
That which the economic royalists, the moneyed factions, don't see is that
if they run roughshod over the people, if they disregard them, use and abuse them, they are actually cutting their own throats.
Henry Ford, an antisemitic racist, recognized this when he decided to pay his assembly line workers a living wage, because if they could feed, cloth and house themselves and their families and had enough left over for disposable income, they could buy the cars that the assembled, and they did.
The U.S. of A has accumulated a lot of fat since 1945, and now Trump his technofeudalist and his culture war idiots, are going to live off that fat.
Madame USA is going to lose weight, it will take time, but she will become a shell of herself, anorexic,.
The IT age is marvelous, 15 year old kids become rich as Tic Toc influencers, but It and AI don't sow, or reap vegetables of fruit, they don't drive trucks, operate gantries and off load ships, they don't sort and direct traffic and with a demoralized and fearful potential workforce nothing gets done, and soon even the exports we depend upon, no longer show up on our shores, for as our economy crumbles, so does the world
If there is truly a will to defeat China, then bankrupt America and turn it into a shit hole country, and Trump, Musk, Jamie Dimon, Zuckerbeg, Sacks, Cook, et al have taken the first step.. they have kicked the ball and got it rolling.
They know it, google billionaire bunkers and see what they are up to
Trouble is, that they are only buying time, for a societal collapse means that store food, equipment which needs parts and repair, will run out.
You do understand that this column was not written by Robert Reich but by Jean Chrétien, a former Prime Minister of Canada. Robert was merely reposting it as he appreciated the writing.
Sweeping and interesting analysis. What used to glue the different factions together was pride in all American achievements and inventions, successes, and positive role in the world.
Where did that go?
He was quoting Chretien.
You can only apply in Canada for political asylum if you are fleeing your country because you fear persecution or risk to your life. And to ask for that you have to be present in Canada or apply at a legal port of entry. I doubt Canada would accept those applications at this point in time, because so far, no one has been threatened with jail or death yet, under the current US government, so no basis for asylum claims.
Just wait.
Exactly. trump has already threatened as well as carried out those threats to punish those who have spoken out against him. :(
What if they get a few million request?
Me too!!
Absolutely! I would gladly defend Canada.
Me too!
I’d join the fight on the Canadian side too. I’m a 76 year old lady with not much to lose and a tendency to be very cranky. And perhaps even trigger happy….
No doubt you wouldn't need citizenship to fight. We welcome political refugees.
Oh, bless you for that. Do you think we'd need to explain to your border agents what we were running from, or will it just be that obvious?
As a 🇨🇦I say, come on up, eh?
Carring arms with you Brother, the facism has to cease now!
Not to be a wet blanket, but this is an internet forum. Draw whatever conclusions you wish about what I mean by that.
Just remember:
Just as the Democratic Party's "anthem" was always "Happy Days are Here Again," the following has been the de facto anthem of the Republican Party - now the RepubliMob - since FDR: https://youtu.be/yhuMLpdnOjY?si=o9n0UBrgj5brsuVT
And more than ever, they're intent on doing just that!
I'm with you! I'm a Veteran and with tRump and his ilk in office it's more like FU for your service than thank you I'll fight for Canada's freedom, they resist fascism 🇨🇦
I agree.
Canada should have a military recruitment center set up all along their southern border. Lots of patriotic Americans would sign up. Pay us in maple syrup; it is more valuable than the junk and trinkets trump and strumpet are huckstering all over the place!
I’m applying for my Canadian Citizenship to get out of this Fascist country!
I agree with Andy. I would love to move to Canada away from all the maga lies. I do not want US to lose her democracy.
I hate to have to ask, but the only law that Trump may have any hesitation over breaking is INTERNATIONAL law.
I recall once a small town in West Virginia appealed to the Soviet Union to repair an important rural bridge that was being ignored by local officials, and the SU complied.
Perhaps we Americans need to begin to appeal to international courts to consider the violent and discriminatory acts against American women, the LGBTQIA+ community, people of EVERY non-Christian faith (and even no belief) and all People of Color (including indigenous Americans. And SO MANY more.)
The Supreme Court may be of limited assistance to the GOP then.
Trump's whole thing is not being accountable to any form of law. He will break any law whatsoever if he thinks he can get away with it. Witness his contempt for due process.
.
“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”— Frank Wilhoit
True, but he's still testing his limits.
And no matter his claims, he can't be unaware that he entered office with historically low poll numbers.
His numbers dropped after the first week already, hopefully that continues.
SCOTUS has assured him he can get away with anything now. Just has to say it was an official act and he really CAN shoot someone on 5th avenue and get away with it.
Sounds like Cold War jargon. Not very helpful.
Good idea! I like it! Please provide some useful links to those authorities we can use.
I suspect they're being set up, and will make themselves known.
After all, the sake of every human on Earth is at stake.
But this might just be a good start:
"The Hague"
https://www.icj-cij.org/home
👍
Internally, I think the ACLU will prove very helpful.
My problem with the ACLU is this:
https://www.aclu.org/news/free-speech/the-skokie-case-how-i-came-to-represent-the-free-speech-rights-of-nazis
That should explain why I'm not particularly an ACLU fan. Although they've been a driving force in many good causes, they're a force that can cut both ways without regard to common sense - and as such, I consider them an unreliable ally.
I've become quite skeptical of the kind of freedom many people seem to support, these days - and how the very spirit of the word "freedom" seems to have been stood upon its ear, of late.
Especially to oversee our elections!
We should learn from our northern neighbors. If only Trudeau could run America, we’d have a utopia! Will Canada make it easier for Americans to immigrate as refugees from fascism? https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/moving-to-canada-to-escape-trump
People are people and Canadian politics makes it's own messes, but seemingly less toxic than ours. Stephen Harper, who was prime Minister for 9 years seemed a GWB wannabee. A real foe of the environment. Trudeau II just resigned. Our continent's true north is not utopia, but less insane. The USA has good bones if $COTUS would stop abusing them. We could still learn a lot from the successes and failures of other countries.
‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’ - Churchill
It astounds me that Americans don't have any interest in the successes of other countries. Especially since that is what smart "businessmen" do.
Could it be that Republicans are actually lousy at business 🤔
No they are just interested in moving $50 trillion dollars from the bottom 90% of the population to the top 1% in roughly forty years. And White Christian Nationalism.
Looking at the stock market today, it appears they can't even manage finance.
Hopefully, no one is actually fooled by trump's "fentanyl crossing the border" scam.
Yes, it's possible for China to ship fentanyl to Mexico, and then cross the US/Mexico border, where it spends days (without eyes on it) reaching the point (geographically) where it can finally be sold. And this does occasionally happen with large shipments. (Fox News used to get SO ANGRY when one of these rare large shipments was stopped at the border, and now that makes perfect sense! Trump would be needing a dishonest narrative, and Fox exists to do just that.)
But doesn't it make FAR more sense to have mules carry it, by plane, from China to whatever American city they wish, and be making money within 24 hours, without ever taking eyes off the product? That is what is actually happening, and those of us desperately in need of chronic pain treatment have not believed this lie from the start. (Meaning, the lie that prescription opioids are the OD problem, rather than smuggled fentanyl.)
Even for the "under-educated", it's really not that complicated: fentanyl has almost ZERO connection with illegal border crossings.
Hopefully only maga is fooled.
..he's already done that to them, i n his last term he promised a wonderful healthcare plan (nothing) a beautiful Infrastructure plan (nothing), am incredible jobs plan (nothing), and lower taxes (that only applied to the rich and corporations) .
During this last election campaign he promised to lower prices, only afterwords said that it would be too hard to do. However , his faithful flock keeps smiling and nodding in approval every time.
Makes me wonder if T**** shouldn't be classified as a Schedule One narcotic substance as he certainly is both mind altering and addictive.
He killed more between 2020 and 2024 than fentanyl ever did.
Hundreds of thousands by my count
He’s definitely public enemy #1!
Clearly a hallucinogen that makes half the people see "royal" clothing that doesn't actually exist!
100%
I think most people are simply unaware, or are sick to death of hearing about "oxy", and the horrible Sackler family.
I know I am, but fentanyl patches are the only thing that ever helped my pain effectively, so I try to remain informed.
I practiced pain management so I fully understand!
Thank you, Mike.
After >50 years, somehow I remain above ground while so many good people did not...
https://medium.com/@foofaraw/i-beg-you-to-consider-reading-what-i-desperately-hope-wont-be-my-last-medium-article-bf5cb5052a2c
(No quiz, I promise!)
Will definitely read! I fought against these monsters for years while promoting sensible palliative care with the ladder approach for opioids in multidisciplinary settings. I know too much sometimes.
I'm starting my non-cooperation and "Don't buy anything but food, medicine and gasoline." cutting back to the bare necessities in those categories as well. I'm on strike.
The idea to make Canada a state was after so many USA citizens said they’d move to Canada if Trump was elected. “I’ll fix them,” he said.
I’m expecting him to say he’s solving the immigration problem from the southern border by annexing Mexico. “Now they’re not migrants.”
WOW!
Just like he fixed health care by refusing to even consider any option presented by a Black president, and devoting his life to never allowing Obama any credit for the things that the ENTIRE WORLD knows he accomplished.
I'm sure the world will be just just as accommodating toward Trump's biggest (and only) accomplishment:
Receiving pat on head from Putin for winning election that compromises American democracy
Hmmm. Maybe not...
Mike, with the US Dem Party right now attempting to elect a party leader your comment would best be high on the party's agenda. "get your game up!" Thank you.....
Great article Agree with all the recommendations. However, nothing is perfect. This would have been a perfect time to talk about how some in Canada have treated its Jews lately. You write: "We have built something here that is the envy of the world — when it comes to compassion, understanding, tolerance and finding a way for people of different backgrounds and faiths to live together in harmony." This would have been a perfect time to mention the lack of compassion especially in regard to people of different backgrounds and faiths, perhaps.
There is no wrong time to care or share.
Just something to ponder on…if Canada lets millions of Americans into our country, what’s to stop us from becoming more American as opposed to them becoming more Canadian? Will Americans who come be willing to give up their “right” to have guns? And understand our gun laws are completely different? Will they understand that our free speech laws make hate and discriminatory speech illegal? Will they try to change those more to their liking? Or will they learn to accept the difference?
While I appreciate all those who would come to Canada’s aid, it would be better if you stayed and took your country back. The USA is going to need every patriotic American to stand up for what’s right and decent, and save yourselves from devolving into a fascist Oligarchy, and you must try.
Canada can defend itself, at least for now. But if the shit hits the fan we’ll all be manning the defences together in the end.
Not to be impertinent, but the last time I saw a plane looking like it was hit as deliberately as the footage of the crash in WDC shows was a SAM taking out a Russian fighter in Ukraine footage. Not to indulge in conspiracy-speak, but that crash looks fishy at face value, to me.
I'd just be interested in knowing how the photographer(s) managed to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time pointing their cameras to the exactly right spot for catching these videos:
https://youtu.be/ADvQh3APBv4?si=0CNZQOAwkhq_wGHQ
He was a fantastic, no nonsense Prime Minister that gave his all for his country. My proudest day as a Canadian was when he stood up and said “Non” to GWB and the immoral Iraq invasion.
Barbara Lee of California is the ONLY ONE who fearlessly put her career on the line to denounce that fake war. All the other Democrats spinelessly sided up with the lies and propaganda of Dear Leader. We need more Barbara Lees, she is a national treasure.
Some of us Americans took part in anti-war marches at that time. I did.
I agree. I wrote to PM Chretien at the time expressing my thoughts about following the US into war and received an answer from his office, not an auto-reply, but one that spoke to my concerns.
It's a crying shame that Trudeau has to leave NOW when Canada needs him to protect his country for "The Bigly Man-Baby," but HE is smart enough to know when he is too old. Bunkerboy's Alzheimer's prevents It from doing something so noble. (75% of America did NOT vote for It. WE are with CANADA.)
Trudeau is not old, but he knows that after more than 9 years as Prime Minister, it is time for new leadership. Canadians are grateful for his service to our country. He has represented us well. 🇨🇦
Thank you for standing in support of Canada.
Thank you for posting what many Canadians are feeling! For the most part we love the USA, we just don’t want to BE the USA. We have worked too hard to have what we have. 🇨🇦. Thanks for being a friend!
Trust me, many of us are ashamed as hell that a convicted felon has taken over, and we are struggling to know how to deal with it.
Nag the hell out of your state reps, is the first thing that comes to mind. :).
I wish!
Living in SC, where Tim Scott, Nancy Mace, Lindsey Graham (and worse) are my "representatives", they just use my letters to justify their "Liberal Tears" mugs.
(But I did give it a shot with HR 9495, and I heard back from a couple. But nothing else will ever matter in the ONLY state on the eastern seaboard to be a guaranteed lock for Trump in 2016.)
Keep those cards and letters coming! Don't give up.
You're right.
Thank you, Moira. I needed a reminder.
We Floridians understand. Still, make those calls. Irritate the hell out of them.
Yes that is what many of us are doing. He is a crazy fascist bully right along with musk.
I can tell you how to deal with it based on the last 200 years of history but you won’t like it.
Please don't hate us, Canadian friends and all the other countries he's pissed off. We're angry and ashamed of the Idiots in Charge.
No hate here. Just trying to help in a very awkward situation.
No hate for you! But the more we occupy his time, the less time he has to spend harming you.
Right now I don’t want to be the US either :(. Thank you Canada for standing up to the bully trying to destroy our country.
So far it’s been all talk. We’ll see what the weekend holds in store. Don’t give up!
We in Canada have our share of maga morons but, thankfully, it's a small bunch of lowlife ignoramuses who want to stick it to our Libs - certainly not enough for Canadians to hop aboard the sinking, stinking trump pirate ship. If trump decides to invade Canada he will have NO adoring base and be met with massive resistance. My heart goes out to the majority of Americans who are having to deal with the escalating 'crisis' of trump. If he goes after journalists, politicians, judges etc, we must offer these folks asylum, a safe refuge so they may carry on the fight against this madman and his cabal of fascist ghouls to reclaim their country.
…’we must offer these folks asylum’. Yes! As long as they have a way to break through the idiotic US/CDN journalism wall. Thank goodness for Substack. Blusky et al.
I am a dual citizen🇺🇸🇨🇦 and jean Chretien is a true Canadian.quebecois pur laine and Canadian. Trump is an international bully and needs to be opposed at every turn and threat. Vive les deux payees.
Oui oui! Jean Chrétien est un Québécois “pure laine“ et un grand
Canadien!
I envy you. Love my Quebec City family.
Dems time to grow some!!!
Read in UK Guardian that the Democratic party is being labeled the Vichy democrats, a reminder of Vichy surrender to Hitler in France. It seems like an accurate comparison sadly.
It seems more fair to say that it is former GOP, led by hypocrites McConnell and Graham, that’s playing the role of Pétain and the Vichy government. There is still hope for the Democrats. They may mount a strong resistance yet.
I appreciate your comment. Millions of us are struggling to find effective ways to resist, to oppose, to push back. We do need strong young voices to fill loudly and clearly our current leadership vacuum.
You’re right, there’s a whole lotta Vichy going on. It’s alarming, partly because the people and entities that are participating in it don’t seem to have a clue about what they’re actually doing. Have we learned nothing?
The Democrats desperately need a charismatic leader to rally the apathetic masses.
We had one. Apparently more people thought her cackling was reason enough to choose a demented felon instead. I don’t know what to tell you.
It's ALSO a crying shame dear Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are not in their 40s or even 50s! THEY, especially the universally beloved Senator Sanders, could have easily rallied the 75%.
I've been saying that same thing. Democrats need to find some balls.
The question I'd like Dems to ask?
"Can you name ANY legislation either proposed by or supported by the GOP, that was intended to assist working-class, middle-class Americans...anytime in the past 75 years?"
In all the time I've been asking this, I've yet to hear a correct answer. But of course, the DEM list is a long one, with things like FEMA, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the ACA.
Why? I don’t get it. Please give me specific, concrete examples. And don’t include my senators Merkley and Wyden, as THEY don’t deserve your description, and are far from it. What democrats, specifically, and what they did, please, as your contention is very damning.
I think it's time for Republicans to grow some also. It's sickening to watch the Republican "leaders" in Congress give away the powers assigned In Article 1 of the Constitution. It looks like Trump must have Congessional Republican backbones and gonads in storage at Mar-a-Lago. Maybe it's time to organize an expedition to Florida to take them back. Of course, Trump will insist that they belong to him since they were freely donated.
Yes, the constitution plainly gives Congress the sole power to levy taxes. Tariffs are taxes. The president should not be allowed to raise taxes by decree.
We just read the words of a Real Leader. Not only does he speak of Canadian values and resistance, but his proposals that other threatened countries, along with the head of the European Union need to join together, and act to protect each other, as well as bringing cases to the International Court regarding illegal acts against certain groups in the U.S,
And, of course, we know this is basically the same as Steve Forbes "flat tax" (1996.)
The goal is a "consumption tax", and both serve that purpose. By consumption tax, I mean it's a tax on each individual's consumption, or purchases.
So someone who earns $10B but manages to "get by" on just 10% of that (a measly $1B), is essentially taxed on 10% of earnings.
But the poor, needing to spend every cent to survive, are effectively taxed at 100% of their income. Middle-class Americans fall somewhere between.
This is all the GOP ever wanted, and I suspect we'll see the IRS laws changed to reflect a flat tax ("You're entire tax return on the back of a postcard!"), rather than graduated very soon, and the Supreme Court will approve.
And after that they may just call up every American billionaire, and just say, "Screw it! Just take whatever you want!"
Oops. Adding this.: P. M. Criétien appears to understand our laws better than many of us: tariffs are taxes, which are imposed/determined by the Congress. The tariffs set to go into effect tomorrow, Feb 1, are therefore illegal.
How can Canada prevent guns flooding into the country from the U.S. any ideas?
Thank you again, Robert Reich for publishing an inspiring letter, with the kind of concrete ideas we, in the free world need.
Please, find someone with drawing talents to draw all those ballsacks and spines rotting away at Mar A Lago!
And that’s the truth, Charles.
Oh that is what we Dems are saying. I sent an email to Chuck Schumer this morning. We have to blast all of them.
Thanks, Joan. I have been calling and writing Republican and Democratic Senators about these hideous nominees. I will add Chuck to the list. Especially now after the horrific response to the plane tragedy.
I wish I could move to Canada. I’m afraid we will never get rid of these people who have kidnapped our once proud and fair government. I’m embarrassed to be an American right now. 🫣😞
Don't give up so soon! The founding fathers risked their lives and fortunes for us. We have to do the same.
These asshat magaets want us to give up! Hell nooooo they work on fear and chaos, threats and bullying. There are more of us. Please don’t give up.
As embarrassed as many of us are of what is happening in our country now, and as much as we admire the qualities of Canada and other fine places, some of us are not able to move, and we need support here to come through this challenging time, the most challenging of my life in this second half century I am living. I am especially grateful to every person everywhere who recognizes our challenges and is trying to help. I believe we and our Constitutional freedoms are worth saving. I believe our valuable friendships within and beyond our country are worth saving.
Winston Churchill: Never, never, never give up!
That attitude is what Trump is trying to engender in Americans so he can do whatever he wants. It's a demoralizing time but we must resist the fear. It will be our undoing if we give in to fear and give up. It helps me to do whatever I can for my friends and neighbors so all of us stay connected and build community which are powerful acts of Resistence.
Proud Canadian!
“Trump’s reign is crumbling—Crump is all that’s left!”
Next to arresting him, the best way to deal with Trump is to ignore him. I do,. and you should, too. Ignore him, and mute the TV when he appears on the screen.
I agree. If every single news station ignored him, it would get under his skin more than telling the truth about him. Like a spoiled toddler, he thrives on the attention.
Except I don't think he cares whether we're listening or not. He's playing to his base, and trying to spread both fear and intimidation--fascism 101. How did trying to ignore Hitler circa 1933 pan out???
History tells a different story about the German reaction to Hitler. The majority were his willing collaborators.
Sadly, I understand your point in spite of still believing what I just wrote. How can we manage this situation? I know many good people who do not share my ideas. Believe me, even though I respect the good in everyone, it is very hard to see this situation. I know my experiences are not novel now or throughout history. That does not mean that I know how to handle my feelings though.i care about everyone who is good, and i wish we could all understand the goodness in everyone.
Self care is essential in order to come through this dark time in America. Do whatever nurtures your soul: time spent in Nature, walk in grass barefooted in order to ground yourself, meditate or learn how to do it by checking various web sites or YouTubes.
Good luck.
Hitler appealed to a citizenry that was flat on its back after WW1 andwho would listen to anyone who promised a return of national pride and a productive economy. We’re not there yet, but it might not be long. We can only hope that Trump self-destructs as Nixon did.
Asking news organizations to ignore Trump is like asking a drug addict to stop doing drugs. It's just not going to happen.
I thought news media should ignore him when he ran for office the first time. That thought never changed. He is not what I want to see in my news. There are lots of good people with good intentions and kind ways of expressing them and achieving them, all respectively within the realm of our Constitution. Can we let that be our main focus so everyone of any party or attitude can see good and help it prevail?
He would just get someone to buy the TV stations for him.
Except I watched people do that after 1/2021 and it just allowed the right wing disinformation and radicalization to fester…
Exactly.
They find it WAY too easy to amuse themselves and each other with cruelty to the innocent, for them to ever stop.
Besides, every time a small person stands atop someone else, they pretend they feel bigger. Eventually they think they'll even BE Trump.
I cannot imagine wanting to be him! Neither can I understand why anyone would want to harm another person. I do know that many people are fed lies through what they consider is news.
On the other hand, it's hard not to imagine a particularly ignorant person (either by choice or unfortunate circumstances) not welcoming what Trump offers...freedom from any sense of personal responsibility or obligation whatsoever.
No matter what they do or who they harm, it's NEVER their fault, but rather the fault of the woman, or PoC, or queer American. ALWAYS someone else.
Living in the midst of them here in the rural Deep South, I've no doubt some of them believe even his most unbelievable lies, and are quickly coming to think of him as being LITERALLY able to forgive their sins.
Thank you for an explanation I was unable to recognize. As sad as such recognition is, you broadened my scope. I am very sorry for the needs of people in that category or any similar situation. Maybe I will understand more people better now, but I hope we can overcome the dangers we are facing and do so without harming anyone and without losing precious friendships.
Partly agree, except that we must pay attention to his stupid policy decisions in order to mount resistance to them. The Federal money freeze is a good case in point, as is the renewed vigor and vociferousness of D Senators involved in the cabinet hearings--all due to widespread anger. Thst's Cretien's message--don't sit there and "take it". To do nothing is to give in to the bully.
We need to slam Trump and his cronies relentlessly and loudly!
Thank you, Dave Parrish. Because messages follow various comments by the time I finish, tapping all these letters out. I put your name on there so you would know which message I am answering.
Nah, turn it to another channel. Drop viewer ratings into the toilet. As long as the TV stays on the channel, muted or not, still counts as view points.
Watch the Meidas Touch Network on YouTube. Their ratings are killing everyone but Fox and depending on the day they beat Fox. The Meidas Touch Substack is excellent. Ron Filopowski does a nightly political roundup that is second to none. Check them out and ignore the bought and paid for corporate media.
Thank you so much! Medias Touch Substack will be a new source to search!
You won't regret it.
Agree. Medias Touch is excellent. People on here quit watching TV stations that have shown their true colors ever since 2016. Read MT instead and some YT podcasts.
Better yet, do not watch television. I stopped watching soon after Trump came on the scene. Don't miss it!
You get get all the news from good quality podcasts, blogs and sub stack.
I quit TV, too, Maureen. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I think they give me truer reporting of the news.
I do not have television, but I do get news. Thank you for sharing. I especially miss PBS programming.
That may have worked the first time, but it's imperative this time we do not stick our heads in the sand. project 2025 is already trying to take our freedom, our jobs, and our money! We can ill afford "tuning him out".
i get your point-and it might have been true when he was out of power-but he's now in power ,by hook or by crook ,and we ignore his machinations and evil at our peril
That's one hell of a dangerous idea. I'm a retired tier 2 Army Operator, and one concept we learn is "know your enemy."
If you don't intimitely know your enemy, you can't neutralize them.
Thank you!
How I love that comment and the pressure it helps remove from shoulders! I try to stay informed without watching him, to maintain an awareness without becoming worn down, and I know it is important that we each live our lives while caring about each other. Ignoring matters; so does paying enough attention to take any necessary action to preserve what matters. I am working to see how much I can ignore and how much I should give my attention. Thank you.
Well said.
Except he is leading this country to ruin and dragging the rest of the western hemisphere along with him. We have to fight back.
I have a better suggestion but will keep it to myself.
I never thought I would side against my country but I'm all in with Canada. Trump has no inkling about what love of one's country actually means. He doesn't love America. He loves himself and money - nothing else! I want to see all these countries he is making these ridiculous threats to "take over" push back. I am willing as an America to put up with higher prices if that is the punishment we get for his ridiculous ways to bully the world. Because in the long run people will finally wake up and push back as our economy fails. Go Canada!
He only loves our country's money.
And now Trump is planning on slamming a big tariff on Canada, as well as on Mexico. And when Canada reacts appropriately, this will directly impact those magats to the south of Canada. Good.
I have a great deal of respect for Monsieur Chrétien and enjoyed reading his no-nonsense thoughts on America's current orange menace. Thanks, Robert.
Absolutely thank you! I also love the Robert Reich suggestion of paying more attention to what T. does than to what he says. That helps. I thank everyone who has contributed and is contributing suggestions for managing this crisis.
Happy birthday, and Vive le Canada indeed! If only I could emigrate.
I want to also, our country is in ruins. I tear up everyday, but I'm trying to find my place to fight against this tyrant.
I understand your feelings or thoughts. Once I had an instructor from another country, long ago. His comment was, “Why end it when you can mend it!” I do not recall the references, but it had to do with our country. I hope we can mend our country. We shall not turn “belly up”. At least, I think that is the expression for giving up and/or giving in to something we do not approve.
Stay strong and keep hope!
You do that Kathleen! If I were younger, and had family in the US, I would do the same. Substack is a great place to find ways to resist! At this point all I can do is throw money at them, which I am delighted to do!
Whoops. Just realized I am 20 days late on the birthday wishes!
Inspiring essay. Trump should consider that the United States is not more powerful than all the rest of the world put together. And the fact that Republicans acquiesce to Trump's every demand doesn't mean that other countries' leaders will.
I think Canada and Mexico should promise that if Trump imposes tariffs on them, they will not help one bit in stemming the flow of migrants into our country. Maybe they should even encourage them. Other countries are finding that they are not powerless against Trump's temper tantrums.
The GOP thinks that being stubborn is having spine. Canadians do have spine. I admire them. We need to be more like Canada.
Canadians are some of the nicest people I have interacted with, people are friendly and kind which shows their confidence.
Absolutely! There are wonderful Canadians.
Thanks for reposting this!