It is no doubt a reflection of my ignorance that what is happening now in the United States of America is something I didn’t see coming – though it was succinctly put to me this morning that it has been in the works for over 40 years since the election of Ronald Reagan. His tenure constituted a realignment toward conservative policies in the United States, and he is often considered an icon of American conservatism.

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, in an apartment in Tampico, Illinois, as the younger son of Nelle Clyde Wilson and Jack Reagan. Nelle was committed to the Disciples of Christ, which believed in the Social Gospel. She led prayer meetings and ran mid-week prayers at her church when the pastor was out of town. Reagan credited her spiritual influence and he became a Christian.

While tricycling about the neighbourhood this morning I encountered two people at different locations. They each had related stories.  The first, a woman (born in the United States but living here), confided that she is disturbed today because it is her daughter’s 50th birthday. The daughter lives in the United States of America.  The mother is fearful to visit her daughter. The mother recently heard an account of a Canadian family who, when crossing the border, stopped at a restaurant.  From the back room of the place someone emerged and asked, “Who has the Ontario plates?”  When the family answered that it was they, the proprietor replied, “We’re not serving you!”  As unimaginable as that story may be, it repeats another account I recently heard of Canadians being asked upon crossing the border, “What do you think of President Trump?” That curious enquiry is, if nothing else, disarming.

The second person whom I met along the street today was a gentleman who advised that recently, when seated in a local coffee house, he overheard people speaking Spanish. As he has had familiarity with Spanish, he began chatting with them.  It turns out that they were from South America. Though I didn’t get further details, my understanding is that these people deliberately chose to visit Canada instead of the United States of America. This tale reflected another intelligence recently heard that the loss of foreign visitors to the United States of America from Canada, Europe and further abroad is costing Americans vast sums as well as loss of employment.  And when I related these accounts later this morning I was advised that the economic projection for the upcoming autumn and winter in the United States of America is not favourable.

Blended with these reports is that the “Christian Right” is vitally important to the continued development of the United States of America – although in the same breath it was posited that many of those who are promoting the development are obsequious bootlickers whose only interest is financial gain. Slowly I am learning that the combination of hate, religion and money is good for business. Already I have noticed the dilution of much of what I read on news media such as CNN, MSNBC and of course FOX NEWS.The governing theme now is, “Whatever sells!”

In fairness to the majority of Americans, one of my correspondents this morning asserted that it is only one-third of Americans who suffer the weakness of Texan farmers (“straw for brains”). Meanwhile however there are many Americans who are willing to get on the band wagon and conveniently overlook the disparity inherent in this latest persuasion. The gentleman continued by remarking that many of the states which foster government aid of the disadvantaged and general advancement of popular welfare will continue to do so independently of the federal government; while those states which persist to survive by fictitious religious proclamations and expenditure of tax dollars only upon what benefits those who pay taxes, will crumble and be overcome by poverty and crime. I have heard it said that the majority of the Christian right survives in the so-called “southern states”.

The conclusion is what I hear again and again; namely, people are not returning to the United States of America.  To be clear the obstruction affects foreigners generally, whatever their native birth or current intentions. Internationally there appears to be a marked shift of focus away from the United States of America.

Editor’s Note: Featured Image Substack