Why would someone put a dumpster right next to their front door?

As a former ex-pat Canadian who worked for a major US tech company, this was my message to my former colleagues. I thought some folks here might enjoy it as well.

At the very least, joining with their economic standards is a path we should move towards.

I find writing to be a good outlet for my passion.

Have you considered writing up guides on how others can take similar steps, based on what you’ve done and what you’ve learned along the way?

Imagine if a home grown Costco type place sprouted up using the hbc real estate?

If this happens as per the polls, can my dear friends in the NDP please convince Charlie Angus to run one final leadership campaign? Specifically the not-holding-back version we have right now? I’m no pollster but the mood in this country feels absolutely ripe for that were a leadership campaign to happen now.

What is ironic about that? It affects them too. They are among the best-funded sources of journalism and have been pretty consistent in standing up to report on the consequences of the actions that Americans have taken.

Agreed. My concern is that he and his team are closely allied with MAGA and embrace. their propaganda. With his weak personality and his desperation to win the praise of his ideological idols, I expect with a high degree of certainty they will let the US completely steamroll us.

I see lil PP much like someone like Mitch McConnell in the US senate who theoretically knew better but stood aside, and enabled bad things to happen just because it was the “same team.”

Maybe you’re right… I don’t know. I wasn’t kidding when said part of me agreed with you from the start. But regardless, we can’t change the past.

Perhaps you can choose different words than me and reach the Canadian right in a way to help them understand where the path they are going down leads. That they need to choose a different path. I’ll stand with you when you do.

Spraytan and lil PP think we are stupid.

We can and we will prove them wrong.

I don’t know that we have an accurate perspective on what the actual reasons were. Perhaps she’s telling the truth, perhaps she’s selecting truths that paint her actions in the best light.

But to me it doesn’t matter. She had a somewhat reasonable expectation of special treatment because we had been given special treatment before. We are surprised because it is new, this is why it’s being published as news.

The specifics of her mistake don’t matter because we all make mistakes. So if I make a mistake I will be treated like I’d expect them to treat the mistake made by a Muslim person or a Haitian. And that isn’t a risk I’d willingly take, because I do make mistakes sometimes.

This is awesome, can’t wait.

Imagine if this takes off? What about next going to Deep Cove, Ambleside, Horseshoe Bay, Tsawwassen?

Years ago I was visiting Sydney and as a tourist I was impressed with how well they utilized their waterfront for commuting. Really happy to see this happening here and hope it finds success and beyond

The shift from being part of the “safe” group to the vulnerable group took a lot of Canadians by surprise, including me.

And indeed, many in the American left still doesn’t see this in that way. Because the barrel isn’t yet pointed at them. Which implies that many of us — maybe including me — wouldn’t either if the focus was solely on Mexico and central/south America and China.

Reminder that Americans and their defenders in the CPC will tell you that she did something wrong, and why should she expect special treatment?

And indeed yes, the biggest difference now is that the horrid treatment that minorities have long face is applied to Canadians now. Even conventionally attractive white Canadians.

We liked the special treatment, but the regular treatment was never okay. We should have rejected the special treatment then but we were cowards and getting special treatment felt nice. You can save a few bucks on cheese, after all. The weather was nice.

Because anyone can make a mistake. Marooney did, but I make mistakes sometimes and you could too.

Don’t let this happen to you, do not choose to enter the United States.

When it comes to current geopolitics, as for climate change, I’m struggling to hold on to any belief in our collective willingness to do something, anything about what’s coming.

I’ll try to shine some optimism here.

The absolute collapse of Tesla sales around the world is inspiring. People are willing to change and vote with their wallets. US tourism and exports are suffering. Europe and Canada and others are collaborating on security and trade.

Canadians have recognize the danger we are in and have began to rally against the weak-kneed PP and his fellow MAGA. Even most of our right-wing Premiers are working for Canada and against this.

It’s not all lost, not for us. Not if we keep pushing — and I’m going to keep pushing.

Not too long ago I would have made the same argument you did here. Now, I’m less sure.

Part of me is still inclined to agree, but another part wonders if they were just better at recognizing patterns and acknowledging the kinds of difficult truths contained in my op-ed.

Bush2 did instigate a war which coincided with getting public support for his second term. He only got into power in the first place because their courts decided not to count the votes on a partisan split. Republicans deny US citizens in Washington DC or Puerto Rico the right to vote, gerrymander districts to disenfranchise minorities, and work to limit ballot access whenever the demographics suit them.

Is this fascism? Especially with the benefit of hindsight it feels at least a little like the beginnings of it.

How much of my willingness to stand up and say that here and now, these patterns are fascism — how much comes from the fact that their barrels are pointed at me now? Now it’s serious, because a middle-aged white guy like me is affected? At least part of my brain is telling me that actually no I was the coward with my head in the sand the whole time.

In the end I don’t know for certain you’re wrong. But either way, many of us in Canada are seeing this now and we can stand up to it. It might be too late for the Americans but it isn’t for us.

He’s so slimy that everything he says will hurt him.

Conversely, I don’t imagine nihilistic choices ever feel particularly good or right.

Exactly correct. I was spiraling in depression about the hopelessness of it all until I decided to actually do something myself.

And then I realized that feeling of trying was at least part of what I was missing all along.

So I boycott, I protest, I volunteer, and dare to be vulnerable and admit I care — not in an ironic or smug way but actually care. And it feels great, especially these days when it feels like many others are beginning to as well.

I believe you. Perhaps I’m underestimating the effects of the positive energy coming from how many have joined us across the country and the world.

But my life experience is the opposite of what you describe. I let the devils of nihilism and cynicism cloud me, to rationalize and justify taking the easy route of inaction.

So my message here is not to you and folks like you who were ahead of me in this. You’re better than me. I looked down on people like you because your actions didn’t make a difference. Why should I, a rationalist, take irrational actions that don’t make a difference.

So my message here is to people like me, who have talked themselves out of doing something. To them I say: it feels good to act. And no one can take that away from me.