Everything you wrote, Fred, can be said of my journey with politics in our country in the last two years.
Furthermore, we are among thousands across our country coast to coast to coast who felt frustrated and disgusted with what was happening in our government with the Trudeau-Poilievre Silly Bugger Games through the summer into autumn of 2024.
By the holiday season, many of us were in despair for our options and worried for our beloved country's future.
Then I just happened to watch a Canadian guy on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on January 13, 2025 and my life has been forever altered 100% for the better.
Every day since has been a process of purposefully awakening my Canadian pride, raising my elbows, sharing my hopes for the future, and making positive decisions. I traded in my former federal party affiliation for the Liberal Party of Canada with some initial trepidation, but now, great pride and relief. It's actually like a miracle.
All because of one man whom you have correctly identified as the pilot. And even with the three things that PM Carney has said and done that irked me somewhat, I have never lost the one thing our whole country really needs right now: Trust in the Leader, along with it's very important corollary — Confidence.
Carney gives me Confidence in Canada! And for this and your Substack that keeps reminding me of this, I am really grateful.
A LOT of us voted Liberal because we voted for Mark Carney. In the past, a lot of us voted Liberal because elections had been reduced to a 2-way race and we were actually voting in hopes of preventing a so-called CPC "majority". We did not want to hand 100% of the power to a right wing party even while many of us recognized that the Liberal Party had also drifted towards the right. Many of us would describe ourselves as democratic socialists who have been dismayed that the NDP had drifted so far towards the centre that voters in general didn't see much daylight between them and the Liberals. Especially since Liberal campaigns offer "lefty" promises that they don't follow through on once in power. Trudeau's "promise of electoral reform" clinched votes from many NDPers during the 2015 election. A majority of eligible voters were determined to at the very least take away Harper's majority. The age old concern that our archaic FPTP electoral system would once again split the progressive vote ended up in strategic voting that handed Trudeau an unexpected majority. With his majority he conveniently found an excuse to change his mind on electoral reform. In the next election he only got a minority. FINALLY during that session, the NDP were able to force the Liberals to pass some progressive legislation including bringing in the first stage of denltalcare an anti-scab law. The Liberal govt took full credit and once again the majority of voters missed the point of the strength of a minority government. More importantly, voters missed the point of how valuable it is to have serious debate and discussion in parliament. I believe that under Avi Lewis the NDP has a fearless truly progressive leader and a serious politician who has the best interests of the people at heart. I wish that instead of repeating every blathering idiotic statement coming out of PP's mouth that fair consideration will be given to the points that Lewis makes.
I have followed the same path but I am only 'hopeful' when it comes to Avi. At the same time I agree with GeezerWise that Carney is the best pilot for this time. If using the same metaphor, I think we're on a short haul flight with Carney being the best pilot but the next legs will require a different type of plane and someone other than a great technocrat of the neoliberal system.
Yes. On certain fronts Mark Carney stepped forward at the right time. For many of us who have long been advocating for REAL climate action in the face of climate change, AND for electoral reform in the face of well funded, international attacks on democracy, it became obvious that we had run out of time. All of our "progressive"concerns and issues had to take a back seat in response to the current threats from Trump and in the face of the MapleMAGA campaign from PP. Mark Carney intends to steer Canada's economy through this storm. But he is not a career politician. Meanwhile, as predicted, climate change has become climate collapse. In the early 70's one of my Environmental Studies profs at the University of Waterloo outlined why "future" wars would be fought over water, not oil. The future is here and our water and other resources are in the crosshairs. Democracies don't attack other democracies. Trump won't be here forever, but he really is just the crazy front man who extremists allied with billionaires counted on to be in place long enough to deal the death blow to withering US democracy.
Canada will need a Zelensky to be in the trenches fighting on many fronts.
"It’s impossible to foresee who exactly triumphs in the end. Although, many signs already point to one strong likelihood: MAGA, in the post-Trump era, becoming even more extreme."
Fred, thank-you! You wrote exactly what I have been thinking and saying, and yes even the reasons for my voting! I certainly haven’t stated it as eloquently as you, but I am definitely aligned with you! Mark
Thank you for this. You said what I have been thinking.. and yes - I also voted Liberal in the last election. Here in Alberta - a Liberal is very rare. Hoping we can find more like-minded folks that will give the corrupt UCP in this province the boot! Keep up the good work Geezer!
That's our shared nightmare, Fred. People are impatient. They will expect an eight year construction project to be completed in three days. They won't like increased costs if the trade war accelerates.
I'm thinking of Canada 5 to 15 years from now and I'm ready to work for it, go hungry for it, suffer for it. My uncles and grandfathers went to war for it. Our children and grandchildren are worth it.
Our example for the world is incredibly meaningful. We see what even a single speech had done for the world. I can't imagine how hard Carney has been working. Surely, we must love our country as much!
Completely right. People can be very stupid. Things in Canada will get worse before they get better, but Canada has to tough it out--it doesn’t have a choice. And people will take advantage of that hardship and tension to further their own interests.
Thank you for this article. I voted for our PM Carney. For first time I see Canadians standing together to move forward. The feeling is good. We must all work together to make Canada strong. 🇨🇦 the world sees us now.
Am voting for Avi next — sure, cons are voting for Carney as the MAGA maple led by PP head is for backward racists n misogynists. I know many right wingers squirm at this truth n pretend it is not politically important, but as Pope Leo shows, not so miraculously— all is political. Let the cons w a brain n heart go to Carney. Lefties, let’s get the Left back up —the best of why canada 🇨🇦 is so far ahead, comes from the Left —Health Care, day care, dental care — legalization of cannabis that gives con premiers billions n what are they spending it on ????? Not housing not healthcare not treatments not shelters… cops n developers ?
American here. I'm so jealous you have a Leader for these uncertain times. I vote for the lesser of two evils but both parties are corporate in nature.
I also have picked the lesser of 2 or more poor choices over the years.
Your post nailed it.
The pride I have in our PM, who has never been a ‘Politician’ prior to this engagement, is eye opening to me. I knew that we had people out there who would qualify but they were out there working hard getting educated and being productive without the theatre.
Everything you wrote, Fred, can be said of my journey with politics in our country in the last two years.
Furthermore, we are among thousands across our country coast to coast to coast who felt frustrated and disgusted with what was happening in our government with the Trudeau-Poilievre Silly Bugger Games through the summer into autumn of 2024.
By the holiday season, many of us were in despair for our options and worried for our beloved country's future.
Then I just happened to watch a Canadian guy on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on January 13, 2025 and my life has been forever altered 100% for the better.
Every day since has been a process of purposefully awakening my Canadian pride, raising my elbows, sharing my hopes for the future, and making positive decisions. I traded in my former federal party affiliation for the Liberal Party of Canada with some initial trepidation, but now, great pride and relief. It's actually like a miracle.
All because of one man whom you have correctly identified as the pilot. And even with the three things that PM Carney has said and done that irked me somewhat, I have never lost the one thing our whole country really needs right now: Trust in the Leader, along with it's very important corollary — Confidence.
Carney gives me Confidence in Canada! And for this and your Substack that keeps reminding me of this, I am really grateful.
Thank you! ❤️🇨🇦
Cath, that line about trust and confidence… that’s it right there.
I think a lot of us were running on empty before this.
Doesn’t mean we stop watching...
but for the first time in a long time, it feels like there’s something worth watching closely. ❤️🇨🇦
A LOT of us voted Liberal because we voted for Mark Carney. In the past, a lot of us voted Liberal because elections had been reduced to a 2-way race and we were actually voting in hopes of preventing a so-called CPC "majority". We did not want to hand 100% of the power to a right wing party even while many of us recognized that the Liberal Party had also drifted towards the right. Many of us would describe ourselves as democratic socialists who have been dismayed that the NDP had drifted so far towards the centre that voters in general didn't see much daylight between them and the Liberals. Especially since Liberal campaigns offer "lefty" promises that they don't follow through on once in power. Trudeau's "promise of electoral reform" clinched votes from many NDPers during the 2015 election. A majority of eligible voters were determined to at the very least take away Harper's majority. The age old concern that our archaic FPTP electoral system would once again split the progressive vote ended up in strategic voting that handed Trudeau an unexpected majority. With his majority he conveniently found an excuse to change his mind on electoral reform. In the next election he only got a minority. FINALLY during that session, the NDP were able to force the Liberals to pass some progressive legislation including bringing in the first stage of denltalcare an anti-scab law. The Liberal govt took full credit and once again the majority of voters missed the point of the strength of a minority government. More importantly, voters missed the point of how valuable it is to have serious debate and discussion in parliament. I believe that under Avi Lewis the NDP has a fearless truly progressive leader and a serious politician who has the best interests of the people at heart. I wish that instead of repeating every blathering idiotic statement coming out of PP's mouth that fair consideration will be given to the points that Lewis makes.
Fair point Lorna... a lot of us have been voting around the system for years.
This time feels different… but I’m still watching.
I have followed the same path but I am only 'hopeful' when it comes to Avi. At the same time I agree with GeezerWise that Carney is the best pilot for this time. If using the same metaphor, I think we're on a short haul flight with Carney being the best pilot but the next legs will require a different type of plane and someone other than a great technocrat of the neoliberal system.
Yes. On certain fronts Mark Carney stepped forward at the right time. For many of us who have long been advocating for REAL climate action in the face of climate change, AND for electoral reform in the face of well funded, international attacks on democracy, it became obvious that we had run out of time. All of our "progressive"concerns and issues had to take a back seat in response to the current threats from Trump and in the face of the MapleMAGA campaign from PP. Mark Carney intends to steer Canada's economy through this storm. But he is not a career politician. Meanwhile, as predicted, climate change has become climate collapse. In the early 70's one of my Environmental Studies profs at the University of Waterloo outlined why "future" wars would be fought over water, not oil. The future is here and our water and other resources are in the crosshairs. Democracies don't attack other democracies. Trump won't be here forever, but he really is just the crazy front man who extremists allied with billionaires counted on to be in place long enough to deal the death blow to withering US democracy.
Canada will need a Zelensky to be in the trenches fighting on many fronts.
I just saw this opinion piece in The Walrus:
"It’s impossible to foresee who exactly triumphs in the end. Although, many signs already point to one strong likelihood: MAGA, in the post-Trump era, becoming even more extreme."
https://thewalrusca.substack.com/p/bad-as-trump-is-what-follows-him?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Fred, thank-you! You wrote exactly what I have been thinking and saying, and yes even the reasons for my voting! I certainly haven’t stated it as eloquently as you, but I am definitely aligned with you! Mark
Appreciate that, Mark...
I think there’s more of us in that spot than we realize.
Very good article.
Thanks Ron, appreciate you taking the time to read it.
Thank you for this. You said what I have been thinking.. and yes - I also voted Liberal in the last election. Here in Alberta - a Liberal is very rare. Hoping we can find more like-minded folks that will give the corrupt UCP in this province the boot! Keep up the good work Geezer!
Excellent article, my Man!! You got it right.
That's our shared nightmare, Fred. People are impatient. They will expect an eight year construction project to be completed in three days. They won't like increased costs if the trade war accelerates.
I'm thinking of Canada 5 to 15 years from now and I'm ready to work for it, go hungry for it, suffer for it. My uncles and grandfathers went to war for it. Our children and grandchildren are worth it.
Our example for the world is incredibly meaningful. We see what even a single speech had done for the world. I can't imagine how hard Carney has been working. Surely, we must love our country as much!
My POV - In the 1980’s OPEC funded Reagan..
After winning, Reagan:
- ripped solar panels off the WH
- ripped up Carter’s sustainability plan
- he help create the IDU, founded under the 1st Bush
- removed the fairness doctrine
- opened your media to foreign buyers (ex: Murdoch)
- implemented trickle down economics by giving tax cuts to the rich and gutting programs and a circular economy
My 0.02 - more fanfare needs to be made about the IDU - currently chaired by former PM Harper.
The IDU continues to support RW Maga policies accross the globe and within all level of government (Ie Canadian premiers and city mayors)
Completely right. People can be very stupid. Things in Canada will get worse before they get better, but Canada has to tough it out--it doesn’t have a choice. And people will take advantage of that hardship and tension to further their own interests.
Thank you for this article. I voted for our PM Carney. For first time I see Canadians standing together to move forward. The feeling is good. We must all work together to make Canada strong. 🇨🇦 the world sees us now.
My grandkids future under Carney 🏆🇨🇦, under a Pollievre regime 🏴☠️
As you noted calm with a plan versus rage with no plan.
Alignment with like minded trading partners versus aligning with right wing tRunts.
Team Carney = Team Canada 🇨🇦
This taps into what a lor of Canadians are thinking…Thank you
Am voting for Avi next — sure, cons are voting for Carney as the MAGA maple led by PP head is for backward racists n misogynists. I know many right wingers squirm at this truth n pretend it is not politically important, but as Pope Leo shows, not so miraculously— all is political. Let the cons w a brain n heart go to Carney. Lefties, let’s get the Left back up —the best of why canada 🇨🇦 is so far ahead, comes from the Left —Health Care, day care, dental care — legalization of cannabis that gives con premiers billions n what are they spending it on ????? Not housing not healthcare not treatments not shelters… cops n developers ?
American here. I'm so jealous you have a Leader for these uncertain times. I vote for the lesser of two evils but both parties are corporate in nature.
I also have picked the lesser of 2 or more poor choices over the years.
Your post nailed it.
The pride I have in our PM, who has never been a ‘Politician’ prior to this engagement, is eye opening to me. I knew that we had people out there who would qualify but they were out there working hard getting educated and being productive without the theatre.