Whose priorities?

NATO and the U.S. president are criticizing the amount Canada spends on our military (one per cent). Who establishes Canada’s military budget — foreign military salesmen and warmongers, or the MPs elected by Canadian citizens?

Our PM and cabinet should tell Trump to “buzz off.” My membership in my exercise club does not qualify the coach to critique my banking practices. Just because the U.S. president has world conquest goals does not permit him/her to dictate our military, or any other budgetary spending. Certain economists have overstepped their role definition, and need to be slapped down in no uncertain terms. These characters need some straightening out on who sets our society goals.

My banker has no business telling me how many laps I need to swim or run to be healthy. My doctor has no right to give me financial advice. No questionable president — especially one whose business record includes numerous bankruptcies — needs to give Trudeau or any Canadian government representative the gears on how much money we need to allot to our society goals.

The right-wing (united or not) neocons should not be picking financial military spending percentages out of thin air like petty dictators. If our military does not have the toys to participate in all the games made up by retired generals from the Second World War (70 years ago), maybe we should cancel our membership in the club. If the neighbours across the street criticize my suit style or the length of my wife’s skirt, they would get an earful, even if they were the leaders of the local church.

“Specialist” advice from warobsessed Cold War Two propagandists needs to be ignored by our present-day politicians.

We need a full public discussion about the clubs we want to belong to in today’s financial world.

Don Ryane

Lethbridge