And I’ll tell you: there are things happening in America right now that feel like I’m living in a Soviet Union
I was thankfully too young to see, but had the misfortune to live in my first years. A president threatening to jail opponents while the crowd cheers.
TV networks turned into pure propaganda, calling it “news”
Armed militias patroling the streets, calling it “freedom.”
Laws bent to protect the powerful, not the people.
As you know, the U.S.S.R. was already a terrible of a place to live, so that many people ran away at the first chance.
That’s why when I hear Americans say “my vote doesn’t matter” or “all politicians are the same,” I feel something crack inside me
Day by day this is what is happening in the US. It’s unbearably painful watching this scenario unfold. I’m sitting here in Canada on edge, because once full dictatorship is realized in the US, Canada will be under the gun, if not literally, economically, for certain. trump has repeatedly threatened that.
trump says he holds all the cards – I’m not sure what cards Canada holds, some, for sure. But it’s not hard to imagine Canada as Ukraine in the not distant future! Canadians aren’t ready for what could be ahead for us.
I think Carney is smart enough to see this possible reality ahead of us. I’m just hoping he’s smart enough to outmanoeuvre trump. I’m ambivalent about the rescinding of the digital tax this past weekend. Yes, it reinstated the trade talks but trump is braying that we “caved”.
I feel trump is playing cat and mouse – ya, the trade talks are back on for the moment, but he can call them off on any pretext he wants. Look at him side eye and we’re back to the beginning.
Nothing he says or does is reliable. I’m expecting any trade deal that gets hammered out will not be good for Canada. That will leave us feeling betrayed by our government (although nobody would be able to have “negotiated” anything better).
I’m not sure what that will do to Canadian nationalist feeling and tenuous unity we’re experiencing at the moment.
In some ways, Canadians are more aware of what’s going on in the US than most US citizens. We certainly understand the threat trump represents. I’m just nervous that our solidarity isn’t strong enough for us to stand together when the going gets really rough economically; when the 51st state threats become more insistent (those threats are again being made – I hope we’re all hearing them – I hope our boycott of US travel and products holds).
Canadians, like Americans, are used to a basic level of affluence. Our young people expect instant gratification. They’re not used to doing without – they complain if they have to work hard to achieve some goal – many expect opportunities will be handed them on a platter.
It’s our fault – we older folks who grew up making do with a whole lot less – pampered them, we fulfilled the desires of our children and grandchildren because we could afford to. We didn’t ask them to earn that gratification. Hence, they expect life will be easy for them.
It’s been getting harder, and many are struggling to find a way to carry on. When the going gets a whole lot harder – and I’m expecting it will – will they decide to give in to trump’s demands for the 51st state?
So many Canadians have no idea what it could be like living in a US controlled by this dictator! This current BBB (Big Beautiful Bill) would eliminate health care for many Canadians living in a 51st state; it would increase food insecurity for our children; it would mean loss of any environmental protection; no support to help after the harm wrought by hurricanes, wildfires, flooding; and on an on, Most of what’s in that bill is aimed at destroying the lives of middle class and poor Americans so the wealthy can live as they want. A good proportion of Canadians would fall into that group of disadvantaged.
It looks like we’re between a rock and a hard place.
Kravchuk is laying out for us what’s ahead. He’s letting us know, as clearly as he can, that it’s not a life we want to choose.
It’s obvious that there’s no sitting this one out – everybody is going to have to take participate in the resistance if we’re going to survive with any independence, and our values intact!
jmn 
I haven’t seen the news on the weekend. I can’t belive we let go the digital tax – it’s common across many countries. Oh I realize how real the threat is….but sadly 13% of my province thinks being the 51st state would be great. I literally just don’t get it. Are things perfect here – NO. But they are a darn sight better than south of that “line” as the orange glob calls it.
Those folks aren’t paying attention. The Big Awful Bill passed the Senate this morning. Now it’s up to Congress – the resistance groups are fired up to inundate Congress representatives with their opposition. I’m not hopeful because trump continues threatening those mealy mouth folks with Primary challenges. They don’t seem to understand furious voters will destroy them. If/when that bill passes those who want to leave Canada better take a good hard look at that bill. Are they going to OK with NO HEALTH care? Will it fine for their friends/family members to be deported to god knows where for no reason at all, because that 51st state will be suspect for everything! I could go on. I’m sure they’ve not kept up with the cost to themselves were they to fall prey to trump!