I am tired of left accusing anyone they do not agree with as being "Right Wing". I am tired of people on the left who state that "Alberta has no real grievances". The issues in Alberta (and the West) are baked into Confederation, and all attempts to have them addressed democratically with in the system have been ignored.
Fundamentally, Canada has a "Colonial Model" of Government where the center brings the resources to itself, while trying to control what happens in the hinterlands. The Riel Rebellion was the first round between Alberta, and Central Canada, and the drama has replayed every 20 to 30 years ever since. Most often Alberta has elected "Populists" to represent it to no effect. No reform has resulted primarily because the Center where most of the power lies has no incentive to allow change.
What I find particularily gauling, is that the Alberta Independence movement is being led by the working class, the small business class, and farmers. The people against the Alberta Independence Movement are of the Academic, Managerial, Media Class. In other words the Class of people who benefit by aligning with Power. (I include the public service unions in the Managerial Class)
It is a class war, and the Left is on the Side of the Billionaires.
thanks for listening, John; I believe I brought up the Alberta Question in the context of the Liberal’s reversal on the Carbon Tax. (machine-generated transcripts are available using the app). My concern is the US using Albertan grievances to drive a wedge in to Confederation and complete with a pen what it couldn’t with sabres and muskets, and annex Canada. I don’t believe the majority of Albertans, left, right, or agnostic welcome that prospect.
Where I disagree, is that I saw the Liberals using Trump as a weapon, and Trump was happy to go along.
Did you happen to notice that Brookfeild gave a $2.1 Billion bail out to Jarod Cushner? How much of the Carney / Trump thing was a game, when Carney was willing to bail out Jarod?
The working class see the Left as having betrayed it. They see that the left got to stay home on thier computers during COVID while they went to work. They saw that when they objected, they were called names by the Left. They saw that the NDP represented the Public Service Unions, not them.
The Farmers see that what they do globally is being demonized by the Left, and when they need help (Think Ostridge's in BC) the left is no where to be found. The farmers see regulations coming into effect that increase their costs, acheive nothing, and the left is in full support of this.
The small buisiness people see thier hard work being transferred to the Managerial Class and the Billionaires. Again the left is in support of this wealth transfer. (Remember the Koliaks in Ukraine in the 1930's - many prairie people are their decendants)
The Ranchers see the Left promoting Solutions to Climate Change that do far more harm than good. They see windmills as very distructive to the land, but have long since learned to live with oil wells which they see as being well managed and low environmental impact. Solar Panels kill the soil, which is of great concern to the Ranching Community. Again, the Left is promoting these policies, while ignoring Real Environmental Concerns such as soil degradation by Industrial Agriculture. (More Carbon is being off gassed by Industial Ag than the entire oil Industry) Cows raised in traditional ways sequester carbon, while Lab Grown meat destroys the environment.
Please remember that Alberta & Saskatchewan have Populist Roots, and the CCF and many other populist movements started here. We are actors, and when we see something we go change it.
Chris, I am struggling with your guest Alex.
I am tired of left accusing anyone they do not agree with as being "Right Wing". I am tired of people on the left who state that "Alberta has no real grievances". The issues in Alberta (and the West) are baked into Confederation, and all attempts to have them addressed democratically with in the system have been ignored.
Fundamentally, Canada has a "Colonial Model" of Government where the center brings the resources to itself, while trying to control what happens in the hinterlands. The Riel Rebellion was the first round between Alberta, and Central Canada, and the drama has replayed every 20 to 30 years ever since. Most often Alberta has elected "Populists" to represent it to no effect. No reform has resulted primarily because the Center where most of the power lies has no incentive to allow change.
What I find particularily gauling, is that the Alberta Independence movement is being led by the working class, the small business class, and farmers. The people against the Alberta Independence Movement are of the Academic, Managerial, Media Class. In other words the Class of people who benefit by aligning with Power. (I include the public service unions in the Managerial Class)
It is a class war, and the Left is on the Side of the Billionaires.
thanks for listening, John; I believe I brought up the Alberta Question in the context of the Liberal’s reversal on the Carbon Tax. (machine-generated transcripts are available using the app). My concern is the US using Albertan grievances to drive a wedge in to Confederation and complete with a pen what it couldn’t with sabres and muskets, and annex Canada. I don’t believe the majority of Albertans, left, right, or agnostic welcome that prospect.
Where I disagree, is that I saw the Liberals using Trump as a weapon, and Trump was happy to go along.
Did you happen to notice that Brookfeild gave a $2.1 Billion bail out to Jarod Cushner? How much of the Carney / Trump thing was a game, when Carney was willing to bail out Jarod?
The working class see the Left as having betrayed it. They see that the left got to stay home on thier computers during COVID while they went to work. They saw that when they objected, they were called names by the Left. They saw that the NDP represented the Public Service Unions, not them.
The Farmers see that what they do globally is being demonized by the Left, and when they need help (Think Ostridge's in BC) the left is no where to be found. The farmers see regulations coming into effect that increase their costs, acheive nothing, and the left is in full support of this.
The small buisiness people see thier hard work being transferred to the Managerial Class and the Billionaires. Again the left is in support of this wealth transfer. (Remember the Koliaks in Ukraine in the 1930's - many prairie people are their decendants)
The Ranchers see the Left promoting Solutions to Climate Change that do far more harm than good. They see windmills as very distructive to the land, but have long since learned to live with oil wells which they see as being well managed and low environmental impact. Solar Panels kill the soil, which is of great concern to the Ranching Community. Again, the Left is promoting these policies, while ignoring Real Environmental Concerns such as soil degradation by Industrial Agriculture. (More Carbon is being off gassed by Industial Ag than the entire oil Industry) Cows raised in traditional ways sequester carbon, while Lab Grown meat destroys the environment.
Please remember that Alberta & Saskatchewan have Populist Roots, and the CCF and many other populist movements started here. We are actors, and when we see something we go change it.