Having listened to the much anticipated meeting today between 60-year old Canadian Prime Minister Mark J. Carney (born March 16, 1965) and 78-year old American President Donald J. Trump (born June 14, 1946) in the Oval office of the White House it is apparent to me that, while neither party moved from its publicized initial position regarding trade between the two countries, there is a favourable spirit between the two political leaders. Carney was adamant about Canada not being “for sale”; Trump dismissed the assertion with the colloquial expression “Never say never!” What however remains in spite of that expected posture is the sense of mutual cooperation to serve the best interests of either leader’s country while doing what is possible for mutual benefit.
Meanwhile in Gaza food trucks destined for starving children are lined up and blocked by Israel trucks. The Middle East remains in seemingly perpetual turmoil. The United States (through Trump) – in addition to profiting politically by marginalizing transgender persons further – continues to grandstand about immigrants and the horrible crimes they have committed. It nonetheless makes one question who, exactly, do the Americans expect is going to do all the labour necessary to effect the growth of companies which Trump contends are positioning themselves on American soil to overcome international trade barriers?
During the past several days I have read or listened to material (from Americans and others) about the colonial, imperial, war mongering characteristics of the United States of America. Included in all of the articles was the notion that America is facing a catastrophic decline globally. Unwittingly it seems the Trump administration is fuelling the progression by its critical isolationist propaganda – excluding international trade, excluding immigrants, diminishing any blur internally from anything resembling DEI, Woke or traditional male/female rôles and attributes. If making America great again amounts to sanitizing and isolating its population, then I wish them good luck because the resources they are so-called “escaping” are going to benefit others. Nor do I imagine that what they are doing – instead of embracing the capital available to them – will enable them to climb from the pit in which (according to Trump) they now find themselves (because of the maladministration of prior leaders – according to Trump once again). All I have heard from the pundits, professors and other leaders of the world is that the Trump agenda is doomed. Trump – meanwhile – remains obdurate and instead devotes the only other thing approaching a political agenda to petty grievances feeding popular opinion and narrowness. While his fractious leadership may constitute votes (at least from his so-called “base”) it does nothing to address the pervasive issues of education, medical care, infrastructure and technological advancement.
The good news is that, not unlike the end of a sad relationship destined to end ultimately, other countries have awoken to both the possibility and necessity of new horizons together, twisting themselves away from America which seemingly wishes to be left alone. Certainly it is possible that Americans can make themselves great again but it appears to be reactivation of an old and out-dated image which amounts to making Americans taller by standing on others. This gradation of intolerance from desperate immigrants to global trade associations is all-encompassing. This is not the great American hope which once supplied the dreams of millions. The doors are CLOSED for business. Americans have to accept that, even if investors can be persuaded to build in America (and by the time those industries are up and running) other countries may have already transitioned their purchases to other partners.
The global shift is underway. Already Canadians (America’s largest trading partners) have begun distancing themselves from America – culturally, recreationally and commercially. The Trump infection runs deep within the wound. Americans remain a suspicious lot who, in spite of all proof of Trump’s illegality, social irresponsibility and economic absurdities continue to support of the entire Republican party (though with increasing evidence of cracks). What remains indisputably is a collection of oligarchs (many of whom have the dignity to remain anonymous – though some like Musk have done both themselves and America a great deal of damage).
The gated communities, the private roads, the select neighbourhoods may indeed feel more comfortable for a while but just as this epoch of history has repeated itself, so too may the French revolution revive – and then we’ll see who likes cake.
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