I write this on January 19 – 2025, the eve of new-president-day south of our Canadian border.
And north of this border, we are all abuzz about this, and with reason. I have been reading the weekend Globe and Mail Opinion section, and yes, deep dives into life after tomorrow in Trump’s reinvented take on democracy. Well, it seems he does not really care a diddly-squat about democracy but absolutely all about ruling. Ruling with his MEGA style and ambition. This reminds me of the reign and style of Louis XIV of France, The Sun King. Louis was a king by divine right, that’s how it worked in his day. Oh, Trump could only dream, however, it appears that’s how he sees himself anyway, Mara Lagro as the Palais de Versailles, and he has his acolytes from Mazarin-Musk on down. Cardinal Mazarin consolidated Louis 14th’s power as an absolute monarchy. Well, see what I mean. And that Louis reigned for 72 years – yelp and help!
Up here in Canada we are in trepidation. Trump fancies us as the 51st State. He says it would be a glorious thing. This, even though the Canadian landmass is larger than the States, not to mention two official languages and then there is the winter. Trump ordered his inauguration to be moved inside because it may be a bit chilly in Washington on that day. What do you expect in January? (I am sorry that I will miss the wonderful winter coats the women wore for Joe’s inauguration four years ago.)
Being a good Canadian I do follow chunks of US culture and content. I am a podcast fan and several chatty lifestyles self-improvement and low-brow culture US podcasts are on my iPod. (not an iPad but an oldie iPod). I listen to Satellite Sisters and Happier with Gretchen Rubin and associated podcasts like Happier in Hollywood. Well, bless my soul, over the decade of listening it is amazing how they talk of all things American but no mention of Trump, in fact, no politics at all. How do they do it? The rest of us find it well-nigh impossible to avoid him. I would love to know what these intelligent and articulate women do think of him. The closest they came was to urge people to register and vote.
Getting back to the G&M editorials, it was pointed out that it is a seismic worldwide change coming our way and what makes it different this time is that we can see it coming. Well, seismic yes, but I know my parents could see WW2 coming- they could see Hitler and his plans and actions to take over Europe heading straight their way. And that was just the start before the rest of the world had to join in.
There is talk of Trump as the Elephant in the Room. Traditionally, the Elephant in the room is large but unspoken of. Well up here in the “Never-the-51st-State”, we are kinda obsessed by Trump as we await tariffs and fear annexation.
To make things worse, we are in a political leadership crisis and vacuum. Well fellow citizens, now is the time to fill that gap. As Andrew Coyn said in his editorial it is the time to ask and act on “what are we going to make of ourselves?”