A few years ago, American President Donald Trump asked the Chief of the Chicago police department what he would do to fight crime in Chicago.
The chief replied simply, “We already know who the bad guys are. All we have to do is be allowed to go after them.”
That, folks, is the kind of talk that starts the war of words between politicians. Because, you know, there are at least a million reasons why cops can’t deal with bad guys. In fact, if you want to know even more than a million, ask any lawyer. Or any well-educated politician.
Both groups have a bottom line that sounds much like, “We can’t do anything about the problems because – well – we just can’t.”
Also, as one of our own local politicians often reminded us, “You just don’t understand.”
But wait! It turns out, some politicians can indeed do things. Some might call them miracles. As if somehow, a magic wand appeared in Trump’s hands and the Mexican American border was suddenly closed. Something Democrats could not accomplish? Or would not?
So is it that Canada has much the same basic problem: We cannot deal with troubling issues. Or is it that we just won’t deal with them? Where do we start on this?
Activist judges making laws through their rulings. If laws are no good, why aren’t politicians writing laws judges will follow? How about Canada as a leader fighting climate change? Canada contributes maybe one per cent or so to carbon. Why do we never talk about India, China and even America sharing the load? Or why are so many Canadians, among them Quebecers, First Nations, and to cover bases, lobster fishermen, alphabet Canadians and rural Western Canadians, treated better or worse than most other Canadians?
Want more? Homelessness. Drug issues. Immigration. Housing affordability. Backlogs in courts. Health care. Ukraine. The state of Canada’s military. The state of military purchasing.
Maclean’s magazine columnist and author Mark Steyn once wrote in one of his best pieces, “As a country, we are so rich we can afford to be stupid.”
Maybe that really gets to the problem.
Across the world, poor countries are fighting wars because some people want something other people have. Somehow, they find, or are given, the money to buy all the weapons they need.
In Canada, we have almost everything any person could want. Beyond the basics of food, clothing and shelter, we have far more than what any one person, or any one family, could possibly need.
Yet, we still have issues. We cannot even defend ourselves. Or can’t figure out how to buy the weapons we would probably need if it came to that.
We are a country of 40 million people. Israel is eight or nine million. They build tanks and jets. And have a huge tech industry. Sweden, another country of 11 million, is itching to sell Canada fighter jets.
Meanwhile, we can’t figure out how to sell liquor across provincial borders, have a family doctor, build a pipeline, lock up bad guys, or get homeless off the streets. Or in fact, just won’t?
Amusing thoughts to smile over in this coming brave new year.
Jeff Burgar