I have noticed distress, anxiety, rationalization and denial, amongst my immigrant and first generation Canadian friends.
This is the whole bully tactic in a nutshell: activate a traumatic response by whatever means, and take whatever you please while the victim remains in freeze.
It's certainly not a 'genius' move by any stretch, and people who call it that are fawning.
Thank you Nate for reminding us that humanity has survived as a species because of cooperation not force, not power-over. In light of the systemic dismantling of the rule of law and other key principles of our imperfect democracies, our elected representatives cannot afford to be lukewarm in using their spheres of influence to call out, "Enough. "
Peter, your points, in particular the two made in reply, are quite apt and accurate both historically and in political argument too. However, I give Nate much leave since your position tries to narrow Nate to a lane that is probably more left and less flexible than Nate really is--it may suit your interest as a Tory--which I tend to be as well--but to be fair--be careful and I applaud Nate for his guts as a liberal/Liberal as well. So should you even if you are correct on most of the history stuff. Hey, for fun, let's talk Brock ans what he says? I know what I think--it is pretty drastic and quite "un-American". Ha! Happy New Yew Year Mate!
I take great comfort in your refusal to regurgitate Carney's mealy-mouthed non-condemnation. You have proven yourself highly principled, which I'm afraid makes you a rarity. Thank you.
Peter, it’s key to Canadian morale that Canadians hear our leaders stand up for the rule of law. Of course the PM shouldn’t be unnecessarily confrontational but appeasement is a mug’s game.
Appeasement--without fail in history as one of you said--"a mug's game". Indeed. e ware of that. We lost people who are buried or in Davey Jones over that one! Aha!
Nate, You have written and also recorded an excellent analytical piece on the current state of affairs vis Canada, geo-politics, U.S. folly, and other rather nasty geo-political and economic concerns dear to our fairly informed
Canadian hearts. Thank you. I agree with every point you made--every single one. Keep it up. Please stay undaunted and steady in your assertions of truth for us all.
Believe it or not this whole situation might be about money. So many countries base their money's value in " comparison" to the American dollar and in central America some places are using the American dollar as the country currency. We need to defend against "comparison" to other sovereign nations. Comparison is a form of abuse. No two persons are a like in sovereignty. Only likeness by agreement. We must defend our uniqueness through agreement not by comparison.
Yes, nonetheless, the writer still makes a valid point in observing that Le Pen is actually articulating a position flowing from her stated nationalist far-right principles, which leads her to oppose the US action in Venezuela, while many others ostensibly espousing such views immediately turned around and argued in favour of interventionism: https://bsky.app/profile/dieworkwear.bsky.social/post/3mbntvx2buc2n
So what this is showing is that Donald's actions in Venezuela are creating a rift on the nationalist far right, or, at least, exposing who might actually be principled and who was just a grifter.
(The article furthermore was initially published on another site, linked at the end. You might not care for that site much either, but it isn't original to the source I linked.)
I do not understand why there isn't any discussion or focus on the fact that the US drug problem is created by the US. If there was a desire to stop the flow of drugs, then the focus should be on the demand, in other words the Americans that are buying it. The problem is not Venezuela or Mexico or Canada, it is the US's own leaky border and lack of desire to address their drug dependency problem. Trump doesn't have a leg to stand on blaming everyone else for the US demand for drugs. Stop the demand, stop the flow, pretty simple. If this was a mainstream, widespread discussion, it would weaken Trumps misinformation about why he really wants tariffs and wars. Time to start repeating it and getting it into the mainstream media.
I so agree with you Mr. Ball. I grew up in the 60's. 70's and 80's when the USA was our friend/neighbour/relative, lived in San Fran for a bit, saw the drug fallout, the so-called War on Drugs, all of which in typical American fashion becomes its own self-serving self-perpetuating industrial complex, much like the military-industrial complex that fed the Vietnam War, the same US formula elsewhere, the Perdue-Oxy big Pharma corruption, the lack of focus and caring to which you alluded that gives rise to a drug problem in the first place. America--sick puppy--needs healing...Indeed, Sir!
in the 1960s, John Lennon and others talked, sang, and danced about peace and love. Mahatma Ghandi showed us all, that ideals are stronger than armies. ice agents in Minneapolis have shown us, where greed and self interest can lead to. Don't be wishy - washy. Get to work!!!!! - r
Great observation but what to do? Oh my--I think to tend to trade with china and scare the US. Screw Trump and scare him--he is a bully. yet like Australia, keep China at bey in the homeland so we avoid the other stuff we had with them and to some extent still do. We can stay secure and good and limit our exposure. We did it a long time ago and we can do it again. Plus--perhaps--we just have to dammit! Ouch,eh?!
Great observation but what to do? Oh my--I think to tend to trade with china and scare the US. Screw Trump and scare him--he is a bully. yet like Australia, keep China at bey in the homeland so we avoid the other stuff we had with them and to some extent still do. We can stay secure and good and limit our exposure. We did it a long time ago and we can do it again. Plus--perhaps--we just have to dammit! Ouch,eh?!
Great observation but what to do? Oh my--I think to tend to trade with china and scare the US. Screw Trump and scare him--he is a bully. yet like Australia, keep China at bey in the homeland so we avoid the other stuff we had with them and to some extent still do. We can stay secure and good and limit our exposure. We did it a long time ago and we can do it again. Plus--perhaps--we just have to dammit! Ouch,eh?!
It's not a good precedent at all.
I have noticed distress, anxiety, rationalization and denial, amongst my immigrant and first generation Canadian friends.
This is the whole bully tactic in a nutshell: activate a traumatic response by whatever means, and take whatever you please while the victim remains in freeze.
It's certainly not a 'genius' move by any stretch, and people who call it that are fawning.
Thank you Nate for reminding us that humanity has survived as a species because of cooperation not force, not power-over. In light of the systemic dismantling of the rule of law and other key principles of our imperfect democracies, our elected representatives cannot afford to be lukewarm in using their spheres of influence to call out, "Enough. "
Peter, your points, in particular the two made in reply, are quite apt and accurate both historically and in political argument too. However, I give Nate much leave since your position tries to narrow Nate to a lane that is probably more left and less flexible than Nate really is--it may suit your interest as a Tory--which I tend to be as well--but to be fair--be careful and I applaud Nate for his guts as a liberal/Liberal as well. So should you even if you are correct on most of the history stuff. Hey, for fun, let's talk Brock ans what he says? I know what I think--it is pretty drastic and quite "un-American". Ha! Happy New Yew Year Mate!
I take great comfort in your refusal to regurgitate Carney's mealy-mouthed non-condemnation. You have proven yourself highly principled, which I'm afraid makes you a rarity. Thank you.
What next? Greenland, Columbia, Cuba, ‘maybe’ Mexico … and Canada.
Peter, it’s key to Canadian morale that Canadians hear our leaders stand up for the rule of law. Of course the PM shouldn’t be unnecessarily confrontational but appeasement is a mug’s game.
And appeasement can be downright suicidal, as demonstrated by Chamberlin (2nd World War).
Appeasement--without fail in history as one of you said--"a mug's game". Indeed. e ware of that. We lost people who are buried or in Davey Jones over that one! Aha!
Lest We Forget.
Nate, You have written and also recorded an excellent analytical piece on the current state of affairs vis Canada, geo-politics, U.S. folly, and other rather nasty geo-political and economic concerns dear to our fairly informed
Canadian hearts. Thank you. I agree with every point you made--every single one. Keep it up. Please stay undaunted and steady in your assertions of truth for us all.
Believe it or not this whole situation might be about money. So many countries base their money's value in " comparison" to the American dollar and in central America some places are using the American dollar as the country currency. We need to defend against "comparison" to other sovereign nations. Comparison is a form of abuse. No two persons are a like in sovereignty. Only likeness by agreement. We must defend our uniqueness through agreement not by comparison.
Peace Happy 2026.
how many boats were blown out of the water to distract voters and financial supporters ?
https://bsky.app/profile/cristianfarias.com/post/3mbjlwkmb6c24
Also, every time Donald does something like this, you should increase your guess on the number of minors he abused.
Further, even Marine Le Pen is calling out her fellow-travellers on the nationalist far right: https://www.actforcanada.ca/p/marine-le-pen-is-right-about-venezuela
And on another note, Stephen Miller has all but outright admitted that the US plans to invade Greenland: https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbplld6hxw2z
As a heads up, the website website actforcanada.ca referenced above is associated with the far-right in Canada.
For example, their January 2026 features a “special interview” with Tommy Robinson, the far right British activist.
Yes, nonetheless, the writer still makes a valid point in observing that Le Pen is actually articulating a position flowing from her stated nationalist far-right principles, which leads her to oppose the US action in Venezuela, while many others ostensibly espousing such views immediately turned around and argued in favour of interventionism: https://bsky.app/profile/dieworkwear.bsky.social/post/3mbntvx2buc2n
So what this is showing is that Donald's actions in Venezuela are creating a rift on the nationalist far right, or, at least, exposing who might actually be principled and who was just a grifter.
(The article furthermore was initially published on another site, linked at the end. You might not care for that site much either, but it isn't original to the source I linked.)
I do not understand why there isn't any discussion or focus on the fact that the US drug problem is created by the US. If there was a desire to stop the flow of drugs, then the focus should be on the demand, in other words the Americans that are buying it. The problem is not Venezuela or Mexico or Canada, it is the US's own leaky border and lack of desire to address their drug dependency problem. Trump doesn't have a leg to stand on blaming everyone else for the US demand for drugs. Stop the demand, stop the flow, pretty simple. If this was a mainstream, widespread discussion, it would weaken Trumps misinformation about why he really wants tariffs and wars. Time to start repeating it and getting it into the mainstream media.
I so agree with you Mr. Ball. I grew up in the 60's. 70's and 80's when the USA was our friend/neighbour/relative, lived in San Fran for a bit, saw the drug fallout, the so-called War on Drugs, all of which in typical American fashion becomes its own self-serving self-perpetuating industrial complex, much like the military-industrial complex that fed the Vietnam War, the same US formula elsewhere, the Perdue-Oxy big Pharma corruption, the lack of focus and caring to which you alluded that gives rise to a drug problem in the first place. America--sick puppy--needs healing...Indeed, Sir!
in the 1960s, John Lennon and others talked, sang, and danced about peace and love. Mahatma Ghandi showed us all, that ideals are stronger than armies. ice agents in Minneapolis have shown us, where greed and self interest can lead to. Don't be wishy - washy. Get to work!!!!! - r
100%
Taiwan for China; Donbas region for Russia; and Cuba and Panama for USA.
Great observation but what to do? Oh my--I think to tend to trade with china and scare the US. Screw Trump and scare him--he is a bully. yet like Australia, keep China at bey in the homeland so we avoid the other stuff we had with them and to some extent still do. We can stay secure and good and limit our exposure. We did it a long time ago and we can do it again. Plus--perhaps--we just have to dammit! Ouch,eh?!
Great observation but what to do? Oh my--I think to tend to trade with china and scare the US. Screw Trump and scare him--he is a bully. yet like Australia, keep China at bey in the homeland so we avoid the other stuff we had with them and to some extent still do. We can stay secure and good and limit our exposure. We did it a long time ago and we can do it again. Plus--perhaps--we just have to dammit! Ouch,eh?!
Great observation but what to do? Oh my--I think to tend to trade with china and scare the US. Screw Trump and scare him--he is a bully. yet like Australia, keep China at bey in the homeland so we avoid the other stuff we had with them and to some extent still do. We can stay secure and good and limit our exposure. We did it a long time ago and we can do it again. Plus--perhaps--we just have to dammit! Ouch,eh?!