23 Comments
User's avatar
John Maton's avatar

A very positive take on events. Fingers crossed that this all becomes reality.

Gratia Pelliciotti's avatar

I'm still shocked by the NSS but so appreciate your well-argued (compelling yet calming) analysis!

François Desrosiers's avatar

One should consider the fact that the USA is giving both Europe and Canada a very cold shower which will force both in growing up and assuming an adult role in the world. The pressure has to be kept on if we want this change to be permanent. Also he is forcing us to address the change in our cultural makeup and that the radical Islam issue must be addressed before it’s too late.

Both Europe and Canada have been free loaders for too long. It’s no2 up to us to prove the USA and Trump wrong.

Lyon Rich's avatar

I wish I had something additional and worthwhile to say OTHER than this piece should be a headline in every publication in the “free world” …. Congratulations!!

Robin Bury's avatar

Superb analysis. The writing is on the wall for Trump and the only question is how to remove him now.

John Gallacher's avatar

What I enjoyed about your excellent piece, Diane, was its emphasis on facts usually overlooked by the Trump Administration.

You have painted a colourful and attractive political picture, in face of the businessman approach by the Trump team which is grey and boring.

So thank you once again for this uplifting appraisal of the real world, which is a real tonic.

Leigh Horne's avatar

From your lips to god's ears. But let's not forget that we need to oust Trump and his handlers in order to move in such a direction. He is a Putinesque wannabe, wrapping himself in a tissue of patriotic lies and other nonsense, pretending to be a 'good Christian' and pretending he gives a rat's a** about the people of his country, who he is busily impoverishing for the advantage of his coterie of delusional tech broligarchs and financial miscreants.

Richie Vieques's avatar

Come on Diane ! Get real about all this. Trump is a Russian Asset... and due to Russian messaging in cyberspace and elsewhere... we elected a Russian Asset to be the US president TWICE ! 'Russia Hoax' ? No... Russian intelligence operational success. See: < https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/explainers/russian-asset-trumps-policy-behavior-confirms-evidence-groomed-kremlin-since-1980's/ >

Patrick's avatar

Resources, quality, and fair governance will decide the EU and US fates, not dictatorships. Intelligent coms will ensure honesty. Therefore, Canada is in a good spot.

David Pearson's avatar

No mention of Canada ?

Gary Seehagen's avatar

Canada remains insignificant in the world, with a government that impedes the development of its massive resources in any meaningful manner. A country, slowly spinning in circles, held hostage by indigenous rights groups.

Diane Francis's avatar

Canada is an autonomous economic region of the US

Diane Francis's avatar

Canada is a de facto part of the American economy

Richard Gimblett's avatar

I’m curious about the non-mention of Canada. It’s a”hinge moment” for us (to borrow a phrase) — do we remain part of the US autocracy of the Americas?, or is there really a better future in hitching back to our European liberal-democratic roots? A quarter century ago I was sensitive to the then-looming “civilization erasure” of Europe within the decade (ie by 2010-ish), which clearly did not come to pass, and ergo less likely now. But a quick turn to Europe would bring on the wrath of Trump, and I am not so sure Europe is opening its arms wide to make up the difference in the short term. A telling case will be the coming decision on fighter jet procurement — US F-35 or Swedish Gripen?

Diane Francis's avatar

Geography is destiny, and so is Canada's trajectory -- it's always going to be a part of the American economy.

Richard Gimblett's avatar

Agreed. And sharing the northern half of an island continent means shared responsibility for its defence.

k.paschal's avatar

TRUMP BELIEVES WHAT HIS PUPPET MASTERS TELL HIM, AND LEAVES ALL THE DETAILS TO THEM ( RUSSELL VOUGHT /STEPHEN SMITH/SCOTT BESSENT. ALONG WITH THE SUPREME COURT THEY REPRESENT THE AMERICAN OLIGARCHY.

Rene St. Cyr's avatar

Perfect summary of the situation, and certainly hope the events materialize. I'm all in to support the EU and Ukraine.

Adrian Guldemond's avatar

Going with the premise that international politics follows economics, we should soon see the return of the Monroe Doctrine in Washington. Judging from my family contacts with Venezualan immigrants in Canada, Trump should get rid of Maduro now.

Perhaps Canadians should get used to the fact that they live in the Western hemisphere and that natural resources are their only hope for prosperity. And then they can afford to buy those fighter jests from both American and Swedish companies.

Diane Francis's avatar

look for the Donroe Doctrine in my archives I wrote all about that and why

paolo christiano's avatar

ppp gives another picture, a desolate picture of the decline of EU and US

https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PPPSH@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC

Diane Francis's avatar

from AI:

Nominal GDP uses market exchange rates to compare countries, showing the total market value of goods and services at current prices. GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) adjusts for differences in the cost of living by converting currencies to a common currency based on the cost of a standardized "basket of goods". Nominal GDP is useful for international market comparisons and a country's economic performance on the world stage, while GDP (PPP) is better for comparing living standards and real economic output because it accounts for how much a currency can actually buy domestically.