I didn’t realize just
how good we have it in Canada until recently. Of course, I have always loved
living in Canada and would never choose to live in any other country, and I
always knew that the American political system was (is) way more polarized than
ours here in Canada. But until this election, I never really knew how
much I appreciate what we have up here.
In the last Canadian
Federal election, I was vocally against re-electing Harper and the
Conservatives. I was vocal in person and perhaps more so online. I would
happily debate policy with anyone that would listen about what I felt were the best ways to,
among other things discussed, improve the economy while also addressing climate change.
Recently, because of
what is going on in the US election, I began to reflect on my experiences and
thoughts about our election last year and this led me to one significant ‘AHA’
moment. The one thing I never thought of or considered about Stephen Harper was
that he was not acting in ways that he thought was the best for Canada and for
all Canadians. Even though I disagreed with pretty much everything he stood
for, it never crossed my mind that his motives were anything but love for our
country.
Looking south, I do
not believe the same can be said of Donald Trump, a man who appears to be the
definition of a narcissist.
That is, he is interested in accruing personal wealth, power and fame
above everything else, and will go to any length to get more of those things.
He doesn't truly appear to be interested in improving the USA economically, socially,
or in the world’s standing, as evidenced by his policies – such as they are. Instead
he is interested in what can make him wealthier and more famous, and he is
using this election to achieve those goals. Were he to become the president (he
won't), he will use that position to further his own personal agenda above the
people and country that voted for him.
Thinking about this
from the viewpoint of Trump, we see that President of the USA is the utmost
position of power in the entire world.
There is literally no other single position on this planet that has more power
imbued in what it represents; not a billionaire businessman, not the General
Secretary of the UN, not a world famous athlete, and not the pope. The
President is the Leader of the Free World, controls the worlds largest economy
and the worlds largest military. For Donald Trump, the seat of POTUS would be
the final achievement of greatness. In achieving this final level of prestige
he would go to extreme lengths to defend it; he will wage war (possibly
nuclear), he will use the USA’s economic muscle against countries and people
who spurn him personally, he will use the threat of jail, including against citizens of
the USA, whom he accuses of doing harm to his personal brand, and he will
expand Guantanamo Bay to hold more prisoners without trial – one of the bulwarks
of our Western Democracies. Examples of these are already occurring in his
campaign.
Donald Trump is
interested only in Donald Trump and his ascension to the Presidential Throne. And
it would be ruinous for us all. On earth. All of us.
Seeing the possibility
of such a person running for the highest office in all the land, brings me back
to thinking about what we have here in Canada. We have debate about serious
issues to Canada and the world: heated, sometimes villainous debates. We have issues
we are not proud of and know we need to improve on, such as racism against
First Nations. And we have serious disagreements about ‘Canadian values’
(something I absolutely abhorred during the election, and something that is
still being brought up now for some reason). But I have never once turned to a
peer or a political opposite and thought that what they were saying was not
their own belief of what they felt was best for Canada. Not once, ever.
To be clear, I
disagree with many things my friends and the Conservative Party proposes. I
even disagree with things the Liberal Party does (every so often). The main
point is that I don’t believe they are saying things out of self-interest or
for personal branding. No one could accuse Stephen Harper of trying to ban the
Niqab (in certain instances) because he thought this would get him some more
time in the spotlight. As awful as that discussion was, it was done between
political leaders, and voters, who thought they were doing what was best for
Canada.
I honesty don’t think
Donald Trump really care’s that much about America or Americans, rather he
cares only for himself; his power, his wealth and his fame, and even his children.
And so, as this Canadian
Thanksgiving comes to a close, and as the Jewish New Year begins, I am thankful
for the political discourse we have up here, and for the love of Canada, each in
our own individual ways, of all our politicians.
And woe to us all if
somehow #Drumpf gets elected.
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