I make no such assumption - I’m pushing back against the narrative that Trudeau is to blame for Alberta separatism, which doesn’t survive inspection. He is a convenient scapegoat of course - the bumper stickers are everywhere to prove it. But on the pipeline front, Harper fumbled Northern Gateway, while Trudeau built Trans Mountain. TransCanada killed Energy East because oil collapsed from $100 to $50, though this in turn freed up capital for Keystone XL (we could only afford one, and Harper’s and Kenney’s infamous line about not picking winners and losers meant paralysis around any new tidewater pipes and further reliance on the US Midwest market). But Biden killed Keystone, not Trudeau. My point is that hanging this on Trudeau is convenient and in service of Alberta Exceptionalism and feeds the conservative narrative of unfair treatment and longstanding strategy of blaming Ottawa for everything. This culture of externalizing blame is the real cause. And Jim Prentice tried to warn everyone.

Hang on, Smith ran both the “Alberta is Calling” campaign, and proposed a population of 10 million by 2050 in her 2023 throne speech. At least Kenny’s approach was rural focussed and a modest 10,000/yr. And Trudeau actually built a tidewater pipeline, something Harper never did. I’m no fan of Trudeau’s, but judge him on his actions, not talking points.

You’re going to have to explain how “Trudeau built a pipeline to Canadian tidewater and Harper didn’t” foments separatism because I am not following. It’s literally a pipe to counteract dependence on the US Midwest market that only deepened under Harper.

…but are upset he didn’t build 2. Got it.

Yet Trudeau actually built a pipeline to tidewater (unlike Harper and his cabinet minister Kenney). That the bottom briefly fell out of the Alberta bumper sticker market, only to be reinCarney-ated before he even did anything is a clear indication of the tribal nature of voting culture and behaviour. Alberta is not unique, but is the strongest example in Canada.

Remember: the last Conservative premier that stood for re-election was Ralph Klein.

I seriously doubt the UCP is going to replace Smith with a moderate. They’ve been completely overrun by the right flank.

I completely agree - Americans are fucked. But will any of these things change without civil resistance?

Fuck Jefferson, but «The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants» is kinda they way this is headed. Otherwise, 250 years of uninterrupted democracy was a hell of a run.

On the other hand, «Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious» according to Oscar Wilde.

But what do I know. I learned both of these quotes from The Rock (the movie, not Dwayne).

He’s already done this in Minneapolis with ICE. Only once they came to the realization that nobody was coming to save them did things change. The «don’t tread on me» LARPers don’t seem to have a problem with it though…

You’re absolutely correct - tonnes of pablum readily available on tap to distract/lubricate the wheels.

Well it’s an alternative to the other thing…

There’s a quote (from a European) that goes something like «If Americans are so upset, why is nothing on fire?»

To be more helpful, reading Why Civil Resistance Works by Erika Chenoweth would be a place to get some ideas.

I’m looking at $20k CAD to install solar, to offset less than half of my needs with one EV (will add another). Or I can spend like, $25 a month to offset the non-renewable proportion of my electric bill. I miss out on the cool factor, but it’s the practical decision given my current home’s limitations.

My high school science teacher took a container of jet fuel, poured it into a beaker, then suited up in a tin foil apron, face mask, safety everything, ducked behind his large lab bench at the front of the class, lit a popsicle stick on fire, grabbed it with tongs, and dropped it into the beaker while everyone in the front row scrambled. Made a big show of it. It went out without even a fizz.

Then he transferred it into a small spray bottle and aimed it at the same lit popsicle stick on the end of the same tongs and made a highly satisfying fireball.

Then he switched a shop vac from suck to blow, attached some kind of paint sprayer contraption, and made a giant flame thrower that scorched the ceiling tiles. It was awesome.

The next years’ classes didn’t get the same experience. Can’t imagine why.