Could This Be The End of Soviet Canuckistan?

You’ve got to hand it to the Americans.

Half of them think Canada is just a nation of extras in a Michael Moore documentary. The other half calls us Soviet Canuckistan. Still, one way or another, they all tend to get what they want from Canada, no matter what we do.

That’s put crudely, of course. But if you want to understand anything about what’s happening in Canada these days, you have to take into account what the United States wants.

You also have to know that in 2004, just when Canada overtook Saudi Arabia as the US’s major foreign supplier of crude oil, a right-wing party from Alberta’s oilpatch engineered a coup within Canada’s venerable but enfeebled Conservative Party. And in the January 23, 2006 federal election, fewer than a quarter of Canada’s registered voters picked a Conservative candidate – about two-thirds of us chose center-left parties instead. But because Canada is a multi-party democracy with an antiquated first-past-the-post system, the Conservative Party won. . .

The rest is here. It's from my Adbusters essay this issue.

Despite all that, I can still say this, without hesitation: "The United States of America is a great country and nation. It is the home of a strong democracy with a noble tradition behind it and lasting constitutional and social achievements to its name. Its peoples have produced a vibrant culture that is the pleasure, the source-book and the envy of millions."

Besides, there's dear old Times Square's favourite bard. . .

And this monument to heroes. . .



. . . which would be enough, by themselves, to qualify the United States as a member in good standing of the UN, I reckon. Damn but I love New York.

Meanwhile, back in Toronto, Brian and Stan have been busy at Dooney's, and it turns out I've inspired a comic strip by the great Gareth Lind, in the pages of eye magazine.

And I'm glad to be home at last.