Democratic win means more love for Canada
It has been a generation since a Canadian pri me minister was asked to dinner at the White House. Since 2009, President Obama has held state dinners for China twice and once for Mexico, India, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Japan. Canada has been shut out because relations have been frosty due to the Keystone snafu. Before that, Canada got the cold shoulder over Iraq.
While this week’s invitation was belated, it was a grand gesture of fencemending. The significance is that it was rooted in the fact that both leaders begged to differ. Obama rejected Keystone and Trudeau was gracious. Trudeau withdrew from the air combat mission in Iraq and Obama didn’t make a fuss. In future, we can only hope the respect and love-in continue.
But a new presidency is imminent and Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are defying all odds. Their popularity is rooted in the same three issues: fixing the “rigged economy,” ending campaign finance corruption and being more protectionist.
They are supported because both are beyond reproach: Sanders has raised more independent money than any candidate in the history of elections and Trump is self- financing his campaign so far.
They are also unequivocal. Sanders attacks the one per cent agenda, and Trump explains why big shots get favours for donations. “Hillary Clinton, I said, be at my wedding, and she came to my wedding. She had no choice because I gave to a foundation,” he said bluntly in the first GOP debate in August.
Americans are fed up with political payola. Ever since 2010, when the Supreme Court opened up campaign contributions, their government has been auctioned off to the highest corporate and billionaire bidders. The result is that politicians and policies are not aligned with public opinion on everything f rom same- sex marriage to marijuana legalization, gun controls, health care. In these matters, Americans and Canadians are in sync.
For instance, a January poll showed that 80 per cent of Democrats and 25 per cent of Republicans support a single- payer system like Sanders is proposing, known there as “extended Medicare.” Endorsement grows.
For Canadians (and Americans), the worst outcome would be a Donald Trump victory. He would build fences against both neighbours, actual or virtual. He’s pledged a bigger wall with Mexico and says Canada wouldn’t require one, but the warning is obvious. For example, a Trump presidency would react decisively if smuggling resulted from legalization of marijuana in Canada. Perhaps we would face a “cannabis” toll at border crossings or, certainly, a more clogged border for our goods.
It’s also not a leap to expect that Trump would revise trade deals in America’s favour and also invoice Canada, along with Japan and Germany, to pay for America’s military umbrella. But fear not. The Republican Party is imploding around him, mostly because the Bush regime ruined everything. The odds favour another Democrat and, if so, Canada will continue to feel the love.
The trend toward Democrats is well- established. Since 1992, 21 large states, along with the District of Columbia, ( mostly states bordering Canada or contiguous to border states) voted for the Democratic candidate at least four out of five times, while 22 smaller states consistently voted for a Republican. The remaining seven states were Nevada, West Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, Florida, Colorado and Missouri. Since 2008, most voted Democrat and will again.
The most i nfl uential leader is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. He has rollicked from nowhere to the top based on the Canadian/ European “socialist” policy playbook: single-payer medicine, low or no post- secondary tuition, high minimum wages and a more nuanced foreign policy. Even Hillary is migrating toward his positions in the hopes that he won’t become the 2016 Obama to her 2008 Hillary campaign flop. She’s in trouble.
I vote in both countries and the border re- l abels everyone. I’m a “conservative” in Canada, concerned about “liberal” profligacy — which puts me left of the Democrats. So to me, a Democrat in the White House would be good news all around.
This is because, to my way of thinking, America needs a little more “socialism,” and Canada needs a little less.