Traditionally, I have adhered to the strict social custom of avoiding open discussion of the politics of a nation of which I am not a citizen. This rigorous etiquette is particularly observed when I am in that country and among its inhabitants. However, recent developments in the days immediately following the inauguration of the new president of the United States have altered this perspective. Canadians are now unwittingly immersed in and entwined with American politics. The once-standard retort of “None of your business!” has been bluntly and shockingly set aside. Speaking as a Canadian, it is now very much our business. Americans have vicariously adopted the less-than-ambivalent insinuations of their president, which foment an invasion of Canadian sovereignty.

My primary interest in this matter is not an assessment of the politics of either nation—an intricate affair beyond my expertise—but rather a documentation of events as they unfold. I am convinced that things will progress rapidly and unpredictably, and I wish to capture the details as they emerge.

At my advanced age, I am well aware that little of lasting consequence is likely to unfold within my remaining lifetime. However, given the volatility of these matters, I consider it useful to maintain a contemporary record of developments on a frequent and changeable basis. This U.S. presidency promises to be remarkable for as yet unspecified reasons. The actions of this government are being closely observed worldwide as a measure of popular “conservative” politics. The shift in American politics away from its perceived liberal stance is influencing the character of the Western world. Simultaneously, the evolution of Russia and China cannot be ignored, as their influence extends deeply into Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and South America.

Historically, technological advancements have amplified global interest in political affairs, much as the popularization of television once did—though now to a far greater degree. It is widely acknowledged that the “Make America Great Again” campaign is not entirely without its retrospective elements, among them a governance bias favoring white, Christian individuals of privilege or position. Compounding this trend is the recognition that America is losing economic ground to more technologically advanced societies. The desire to reclaim its former trade dominance is understandable, but this transition cannot occur overnight, nor can it be achieved without due consideration for longstanding allies such as Canada and Mexico.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine serves as an exemplar of resurgent national identity. Simply overtaking a country and its capital is neither a sufficient nor a tolerable solution. While Russia seeks to restore the boundaries of the former Soviet Union and the U.S. speaks of “invasion” of Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal for resource and security reasons, Europe is coalescing around a markedly different model. Meanwhile, the political parallels among the governments of the U.S., China, Russia, and other oligarchical or autocratic regimes are increasingly evident.

Personally, I am not inherently opposed to oligarchy, as it is a structure within which I have had the privilege to be raised and to live. However, I am acutely aware of the unwritten limitations of such governance for many others. I do not harbor any illusions about oligarchs possessing the purity of leadership that may have once been attributed to the ancient Roman Republic, with its Senate and four assemblies: the Comitia Curiata, the Comitia Centuriata, the Concilium Plebis and the Comitia Tributa. Over time, power in Rome became increasingly concentrated in the hands of wealthy, land-owning families (patricians) who dominated the Senate. Eventually, the democratic system transitioned into an empire under an autocratic ruler. The trajectory of history suggests that similar patterns may yet unfold in the present political landscape.

NOTE: The USA dropped below the “democracy threshold” (+6) on the POLITY scale in 2020 and was considered an anocracy (+5) at the end of the year 2020; the USA score for 2021 returned to democracy (+8). Beginning on 1 July 2024, due to the US Supreme Court ruling granting the US Presidency broad, legal immunity, the USA is noted by the Polity Project as experiencing a regime transition through, at least, 20 January 2025. As of the latter date, the USA is coded EXREC=8, “Competitive Elections”; EXCONST=1 “Unlimited Executive Authority”; and POLCOMP=6 “Factional/Restricted Competition.” Polity scores: DEMOC=4; AUTOC=4; POLITY=0. The USA is no longer considered a democracy and lies at the cusp of autocracy; it has experienced a Presidental Coup and an Adverse Regime Change event (8-point drop in its POLITY score).

January 20, 2025 (new administration/presidential coup) – Former-president Donald Trump won re-election in presidential elections held on November 4, 2024, and was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, despite felony convictions on 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to influence the 2016 presidential election rendered on May 30, 2024. He was also under indictment for his part in the January 6, 2021, assault on Congress that tried to stop/overturn the confirmation of the Electoral College results from the 2020 presidential election and, separately, for hoarding classified national security documents after he left office following his first term.

Adding to his legal troubles were civil judgements imposed for fraudulent business practices in the State of New York and slander regarding claims made concerning a sexual assault committed by him. The indictments were dropped due to a long-standing policy of the Justice Department not to prosecute sitting presidents. Adding to confusion regarding Trump’s legal standing was a July 1, 2024, ruling by the US Supreme Court that appears to grant both sitting and former presidents with some combination of “absolute” and ”presumptive” legal immunities for “official acts.” A broad interpretation of this ruling would claim legal immunity for the chief executive for all executive actions, putting the president “above the law” and, so, not subject to any constraints on executive authority; impeachment would stand as the sole legal remedy. On “Day One” President Trump began ruling by decree, issuing hundreds of Executive Orders to impose his will without regard to constitutional or lawful limitations on executive authority.

Additionally, President Trump began remaking the federal bureaucracy by ordering the removal or prosecution of any individuals who were assumed “non-cooperative” or opposed to the President’s directives or political agenda; he has also threatened prosecutions or other forms of political harassment and restrictions against his perceived “enemies” in the highly polarized (factional) political landscape.