Canadian democracy is fully broken. Governments can be formed without getting anything like the support of the majority of the populace, and then ram through wildly unpopular laws with no opposition. And the loyal opposition? Lol. It barely matters who we vote for. They're all on the same team. No actual alternatives.
I wish I had an answer to this but I really don't.
We, as a nation, are not as engaged in politics as our American cousins. As I see it there are a few reasons for this. The first is that while in the US the focus is on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, in Canada it is on peace, order and good government. Consequently Canadians are not used to questioning the government. There’s also the issue of media coverage. Canada does not have the breadth of media coverage that exists in the States and what we do have is partially focused on US news. Finally, in the case of the CBC, honest coverage should not be expected as it is essentially the PR arm of the (Liberal) government.
my theory behind why Canadians act the way they do is that it is in our founding story, when America fought for independance, we were the self-selected cucks who were like "nah we will stay loyal to to crown"
As with all history, things are more complicated than what we’re told. Americans have long been masters of historical narratives.
1. Canada was not the only colony that didn’t rebel as Britain had a number of colonies in the Caribbean as well (which where more important than the 13 at the time). Colonies chose a side based on costs and benefits one of which would have been how strong the British presence was and what they got from the British (navy primarily).
2. If looked at broadly, it was a world war, as it wasn’t just the 13 colonies against the British Empire, but also had the French and Spanish Empires involved against the British as well. The British lost the 13 colonies but gained territories elsewhere.
3. Not everyone in the US was pro independence. Only about 30 to 40 percent. And these didn’t start the war seeking independence. If the British had chosen to negotiate early on, US history would likely be closer to what Canada’s looks like.
There was a time--do I ever remember it--when Americans traveling abroad in some dicey places sometimes tried to pretend to be Canadians. Heck, maybe some Americans still will.
All the rest of us, south of your border, are seriously wondering what the all fuck.
Poilievre has explicitly stated that he will repeal Bill C-11 if elected, don't you have to take a promise at face value, then try to hold them to it if they renege? Not that it hasn't crossed my mind that the potential abuses of C-11 would be available to ANY sitting government...
Some things there's no going back from! And pretty much any legislation based on identity is unrevokeable. But C-11 having universal application, then the Cons could argue it is bad for everyone.
If this is the situation in Canada, I wonder what the situation must be in developing economies, where it's slowly but steadily the entire nations are ushered towards authoritarian regimes.
A.I. as the new “interface” of everything sounds like a probable problem of censorship and narrating the truth to the peasants. It’s not so much these Bills or regulations I’m worried about - it’s how the eyeballs are being guided to just a few places.
ChatGPT, YouTube, TikTok, Google, etc…Generative A.I. might narrow the funnel even further than the algorithmic web did.
The internet was always about controlling information. They even controlled what they shared. Imagine what we don't know that's there and real instead of this version. The mind boggles. Thank goodness more people are questioning and being curious to give us a better chance of breaking through these fake allusions.
I'm not a huge fan of this bill but it wasn't rammed down Canadians' throats any more than other laws passed by Parliament. The CRTC has been regulating what Canadians can watch and listen to for decades under Liberal and Conservative governments by imposing a certain percentage of Canadian content on TV and radio. This is now extended to streaming services such as Netflix and some audiovisual internet content (so... not "the internet"). Lots of countries do stuff to promote their national cultures and no Canadians will have to use a VPN to watch their favourite shows any more than they already do when a show isn't carried in Canada. In fact, the CRTC has announced that is will relax its definition of what counts as Canadian content for streaming shows. Culture is a complex issue for a country with a large neighbour like Canada, and there's no particular reason why the internet shouldn't fall under the umbrella of culture. Just to reiterate: I am not a fan of this bill, but with all due respect I'm very skeptical of overblown critiques like this. I'm Canadian, by the way. A lot of non-Canadians seem to be weighing in on this, and they should butt out.
I don't know what exactly is going to be worse. When the CRTC started regulating Cancon for FM rock radio it meant that we heard a lot more Chilliwack and April Wine, but we still got loads of Led Zep and Styx. If you didn't like Canadian bands, I guess that sucked, sure, but they're OUR bands. This is exactly the same principle. Personally I'm not convinced that Cancon is the best way to protect homegrown culture (I prefer this phrase over "Canadian culture" because it doesn't presuppose a mainstream that honestly ceased to exist a while ago) but it's not a terrible thing.
I like your optimism. I wish I shared it. We have seen too much rhetoric from this government to trust ANYTHING they do to control Canadians. I suspect our prime minister will come out with a speech any day now saying those who oppose Bill C-11 are mysogenist and racist who shouldn't be tolerated. Or perhaps the clips of him saying these types of things will "disappear", though that wouldn't be necessary because Canadians as a whole ACTUALLY would believe him.
Nobody us stopping Canadians using the internet. This is literally not a thing. The debate over whether Canada has a core identity is super interesting. I don't think it does. From Day 1 Canada has had at minimum 2 ethnic identities, and that was just the start! The CRTC defines "Canadian" according to a formula over whether certain creators involved in a production are Canadian in the sense that they are citizens of the country, simple as that.
Okay--but surely you agree it is at least Trudeau's plan that the CRTC now implement the required cultivation of that precious CBC/Liberal idea of Canada, which deftly weaves heart-warming images of quaint traditional "Canadiana" with ongoing denouncements of the Christian/White/straight male as more or less evil (this purposed to instill the all-important guilt-leverage), all accompanied by the overriding arc that all things immigrant and all things "progressive" are not only wonderful but MORALLY SUPERIOR.
Canadian democracy is fully broken. Governments can be formed without getting anything like the support of the majority of the populace, and then ram through wildly unpopular laws with no opposition. And the loyal opposition? Lol. It barely matters who we vote for. They're all on the same team. No actual alternatives.
I wish I had an answer to this but I really don't.
you leave great comments
Clay tablets? I'm taking my ball and library of alexandria and going home.
We, as a nation, are not as engaged in politics as our American cousins. As I see it there are a few reasons for this. The first is that while in the US the focus is on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, in Canada it is on peace, order and good government. Consequently Canadians are not used to questioning the government. There’s also the issue of media coverage. Canada does not have the breadth of media coverage that exists in the States and what we do have is partially focused on US news. Finally, in the case of the CBC, honest coverage should not be expected as it is essentially the PR arm of the (Liberal) government.
my theory behind why Canadians act the way they do is that it is in our founding story, when America fought for independance, we were the self-selected cucks who were like "nah we will stay loyal to to crown"
we just love being ruled
As with all history, things are more complicated than what we’re told. Americans have long been masters of historical narratives.
1. Canada was not the only colony that didn’t rebel as Britain had a number of colonies in the Caribbean as well (which where more important than the 13 at the time). Colonies chose a side based on costs and benefits one of which would have been how strong the British presence was and what they got from the British (navy primarily).
2. If looked at broadly, it was a world war, as it wasn’t just the 13 colonies against the British Empire, but also had the French and Spanish Empires involved against the British as well. The British lost the 13 colonies but gained territories elsewhere.
3. Not everyone in the US was pro independence. Only about 30 to 40 percent. And these didn’t start the war seeking independence. If the British had chosen to negotiate early on, US history would likely be closer to what Canada’s looks like.
Astounding to see.
There was a time--do I ever remember it--when Americans traveling abroad in some dicey places sometimes tried to pretend to be Canadians. Heck, maybe some Americans still will.
All the rest of us, south of your border, are seriously wondering what the all fuck.
Poilievre has explicitly stated that he will repeal Bill C-11 if elected, don't you have to take a promise at face value, then try to hold them to it if they renege? Not that it hasn't crossed my mind that the potential abuses of C-11 would be available to ANY sitting government...
He voted against cannabis legalization, and then shrugged his shoulders and then gave up once it happened
Trying to repeal cannabis legislation here would be political suicide. Nobody even knows what Bill C-11 is, he’d have a way easier time repealing it.
Some things there's no going back from! And pretty much any legislation based on identity is unrevokeable. But C-11 having universal application, then the Cons could argue it is bad for everyone.
A sad, sad day for Canada.
Being so apolitical on an everyday basis, citizens are unknowingly contributing to the loss of civil liberties.
If this is the situation in Canada, I wonder what the situation must be in developing economies, where it's slowly but steadily the entire nations are ushered towards authoritarian regimes.
A.I. as the new “interface” of everything sounds like a probable problem of censorship and narrating the truth to the peasants. It’s not so much these Bills or regulations I’m worried about - it’s how the eyeballs are being guided to just a few places.
ChatGPT, YouTube, TikTok, Google, etc…Generative A.I. might narrow the funnel even further than the algorithmic web did.
But but but triple triple triple the carbon tax!
LOL
Leave Canada. Go to Georgia, Russia, Serbia. Even a few based U.S. states.
I am so glad I am a year and a half in to my plan b. Looks like I may only get out JIT.
The internet was always about controlling information. They even controlled what they shared. Imagine what we don't know that's there and real instead of this version. The mind boggles. Thank goodness more people are questioning and being curious to give us a better chance of breaking through these fake allusions.
I'm not a huge fan of this bill but it wasn't rammed down Canadians' throats any more than other laws passed by Parliament. The CRTC has been regulating what Canadians can watch and listen to for decades under Liberal and Conservative governments by imposing a certain percentage of Canadian content on TV and radio. This is now extended to streaming services such as Netflix and some audiovisual internet content (so... not "the internet"). Lots of countries do stuff to promote their national cultures and no Canadians will have to use a VPN to watch their favourite shows any more than they already do when a show isn't carried in Canada. In fact, the CRTC has announced that is will relax its definition of what counts as Canadian content for streaming shows. Culture is a complex issue for a country with a large neighbour like Canada, and there's no particular reason why the internet shouldn't fall under the umbrella of culture. Just to reiterate: I am not a fan of this bill, but with all due respect I'm very skeptical of overblown critiques like this. I'm Canadian, by the way. A lot of non-Canadians seem to be weighing in on this, and they should butt out.
I’m Canadian also, you have a point but now it’s going to be worse. Let that sink in.
I don't know what exactly is going to be worse. When the CRTC started regulating Cancon for FM rock radio it meant that we heard a lot more Chilliwack and April Wine, but we still got loads of Led Zep and Styx. If you didn't like Canadian bands, I guess that sucked, sure, but they're OUR bands. This is exactly the same principle. Personally I'm not convinced that Cancon is the best way to protect homegrown culture (I prefer this phrase over "Canadian culture" because it doesn't presuppose a mainstream that honestly ceased to exist a while ago) but it's not a terrible thing.
I like your optimism. I wish I shared it. We have seen too much rhetoric from this government to trust ANYTHING they do to control Canadians. I suspect our prime minister will come out with a speech any day now saying those who oppose Bill C-11 are mysogenist and racist who shouldn't be tolerated. Or perhaps the clips of him saying these types of things will "disappear", though that wouldn't be necessary because Canadians as a whole ACTUALLY would believe him.
Nobody us stopping Canadians using the internet. This is literally not a thing. The debate over whether Canada has a core identity is super interesting. I don't think it does. From Day 1 Canada has had at minimum 2 ethnic identities, and that was just the start! The CRTC defines "Canadian" according to a formula over whether certain creators involved in a production are Canadian in the sense that they are citizens of the country, simple as that.
Okay--but surely you agree it is at least Trudeau's plan that the CRTC now implement the required cultivation of that precious CBC/Liberal idea of Canada, which deftly weaves heart-warming images of quaint traditional "Canadiana" with ongoing denouncements of the Christian/White/straight male as more or less evil (this purposed to instill the all-important guilt-leverage), all accompanied by the overriding arc that all things immigrant and all things "progressive" are not only wonderful but MORALLY SUPERIOR.
Good point, I forgot he said that.
But it's not pessimistic to suspect he won't change anything that matters.