A recent survey funded by The Wall Street Journal showed some dramatic changes in the attitudes of our neighbours to the south. For example, two of Americans’ most cherished institutions, religion and patriotism, have suffered a major decline in their popularity. Since 1998, those saying religion was very important to
Continue readingTag: Americans
Views from the Beltline: Compared to Americans, Canadians are happy campers
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center revealed striking differences in Americans’ and Canadians’ attitudes toward their political, economic and health systems. The Pew survey of 17 advanced countries showed the U.S. consistently among the most dissatisfied and Canada among the least. For instance, a full 85 percent of
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S. democracy corrupted by U.S. constitution
In 2016, most Americans voted for Hillary Clinton. They got President Donald Trump. Republicans represent fewer citizens than Democrats, yet they have controlled the Senate for more than half of this century. Senators supporting Bret Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court represented only 44 per cent of Americans, less than those
Continue readingScripturient: I Just Don’t Understand Americans
I’ve long been somewhat of a politics/history junkie, and as such I read a lot about both topics, from ancient times to modern; I read about events, wars, issues, personalities, elections, debates, governance, and the philosophy of politics. I read books, newspapers, websites, magazines, social media, and more books. I
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The Most Consequential Decision of the Decade
This is the time when we commonly look back over the year, or decade, or century, and pronounce our choice of the most significant event or events. There are endless events to choose and a multitude of rationals for our different choices. So many in fact I weary of making
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Waeza Shamsia Afzal, U.S. Evangelicals, and the corruption of dogma
Reading about the courageous young Canadian woman Waeza Shamsia Afzal carried my thoughts to American evangelical Christians and their worship of Donald Trump. The connection is religion. Ms. Afzal is an observant Muslim who has decided to boycott the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Her reason: “The hajj is governed by
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Did the Chinese learn their trade antics from the U.S.?
The China/U.S. trade war heats up. The rest of us get dragged along willy-nilly. Nonetheless, there is a lot of sympathy for the American case. The Chinese have hardly walked their talk about being free traders. Ont the contrary, they have engaged in a number of nefarious trade practices. They
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: World’s richest country and it can’t even do health care. Sad!
Watching the Americans thrash about trying to put together a decent health care system prompts much head-shaking and eyeball-rolling. The Republicans have bitched and moaned about Obamacare for seven years, but in all that time haven’t been able to come up with a plan they can agree on. “It’s complicated,”
Continue readingAmericans—a dangerously fearful people
For nine years we were led by a fearful prime minister, and during the last election he gave us broad hints about who we should fear the most. Not that I am suggesting Mr. Harper was simply being a demagogue and trying to scare us into voting for him. …
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Public health care: We have it, Americans still don’t, they wish they did – there’s a lesson in that
PHOTO: Sorry, no relevant photos tonight. Just this shot of a typical American public servant crossing the rotunda of the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe, deep in thought. She is doubtless wishing the United States had Canada’s system of health care. SANTA FE, N.M. The economy, Harper Fatigue
Continue readingThe Arctic—the U.S. conserves, Canada exploits
Federal cabinet minister Leona Aglukkaq wears a number of hats. She is Minister of the Environment as well as Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. Being a member of a Harper cabinet, the latter is of course the top hat. She illustrated this in her recent two-year term
Continue readingWhy are Americans so frightened?
If you were asked what the American people’s top policy priority was, what would you answer? The economy perhaps? Immigration? Global warming? You would be wrong. According to the Pew Research Center, Americans’ top policy concern is terrorism, with 76 per cent ranking it as a top priority, just edging
Continue readingWhy are Americans so frightened?
ISIS has thrown the fear of God into Americans. According to a poll conducted by the Opinion Research Centre, ninety per cent of Americans believe the group is a direct threat to the U.S. with over seventy per cent believing it already has cells inside the country. All of this
Continue readingThe Americans love us
Everyone likes to be liked and, boy, do our southern neighbours like us. A recent Pew Research Center survey reveals that of all the countries in the world, we are the Americans’ favourite. Eighty-one per cent have a favourable opinion of us. Oddly, Americans are not so well disposed toward
Continue readingAmericans support Keystone
Prime Minister Harper was talking tough about the Keystone XL pipeline this week. On a visit to New York, he told the Canadian American Business Council that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. His bravado may have been bolstered by a recent Pew Research Center survey that showed two-thirds
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: US government reveals memo on killing of Americans abroad using drone strikes
Earlier today, a confidential Justice Department memo was released revealing the legal justification for the US government to conduct drone strikes on American citizens abroad. The most controversial part of the memo, which has caused a group of bipartisan senators to immediately demand answers from the Obama administration, is where
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Now Americans Need To Follow Republican Lead
Voters showed the Republican Party doesn’t represent America, but in losing the election and now facing hard choices, for America’s sake, perhaps Republicans should.
For today, after losing the Presidency, again, and additional senate seats, Republica…
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Rights And Religion Make Us All Fundamentalists
“How dare Islamic fundamentalists kill to protect their religion from such a small and meaningless movie. And though I oppose the hate-filled and misguided film, I would die fighting to protect the studio’s right to release it.” – The irony of fundamentalism. The recent violence in the Middle East over
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: The Tragedy of Sept.11 Only Gets Worse
Every September 11 since 2001 has been a day to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks, but it should also be a day to remember the wars. Because just as we should never forget the men and women who died that day, we should never forget the mistakes we
Continue readingAmericans prefer small government … or do they?
It is a practically a cliche that Americans prefer small government. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center would seem to confirm this. When asked if government regulation did more harm than good, 52 per cent of Americans agreed while only 40 per cent felt regulation was necessary for
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