The Canadian Compass: Charting a Path Though Geopolitical Chaos

  "Sooner or later we all sit down to a banquet of consequences." Robert Louis Stevenson (Old Mortality 1884) The wise words of Stevenson will undoubtedly be ignored by the current crusaders in and around the White House locus of power. Self-reflection is not in their DNA. The current methods of the Trump administration is remarkably similar to a "blitzkrieg", the German term employed in our relatively recent past by Adolf Hitler. The tactic had also been used by Alexander the Great, among others to achieve success on the battlefield - at least initially. The intent of a blitzkrieg is to execute lightning fast attacks to surprise and overwhelm the enemy - which, in principle, would lead to an equally swift victory. Imbedded in the concept of Blitzkrieg is another applicable principle of warfare called Schwerpunkt  or “centre of gravity”. This principle advanced by the famous historian of warfare, Carl Von Clausewitz, advocated for concentrating effort of attack on ...

While the current administration in the US is ostensibly on the path to make the country great again it is, in fact, devolving into the territory of a Third World country. The Cold War definition of "Third World" which pertained to non-aligned countries has changed to one reflective of modern geo-political and economic circumstances. Modern usage of the term focuses on low levels of economic development, high poverty, low life expectancy, high rates of disease as well as economic and political instability. Often, such conditions also parallel a very small, authoritarian ruling elite with well feathered nests - and a low appreciation for the rule of law. When my family and I lived in Los Angeles County in the late 80's to early 90's what I observed all around us was more like a Second World country, rather than, in an economic sense, a First World country. The "haves" lived in walled and security fenced compounds or in neighbourhoods where every lawn was sta...

Lest my dear readers think that I had some foreknowledge that Trump would do almost exactly what I say he would, namely back down on his tariff threats, I want to assure you that did not have that knowledge; rather my prediction was fueled by cold common sense with a sprinkle of political logic. The reversal happened much quicker than expected. My post went out late morning of April 9 (about 10:30). As far as I can tell, the tariff reversal took place in the late afternoon of April 9. Whatever happens going forward into the next 90 days is still anybody's guess. The markets will still be reactionary - and Trump, though fallible is still unpredictable. Hold on to your hats, we have more nonsense to find our way through in the meantime. In this regard, Canada needs to chart a clear-eyed course, based upon the prescriptions of smarter people than I, to strengthen our economy and society and stand on our own as a middle power in a increasingly dangerous world.

While the modern day Nero golfs, world market's burn, and like the original emperor, he doubles down on his tariff torture for the foreseeable future. Throughout most of Nero's reign, he was associated with unrivalled extravagance, tyranny, debauchery and murder. For the moment, the murdering comes in different forms. Nevertheless, there appears to be a few parallels. The doubling down is also a function of Trump's character. He is a classic narcissist as defined in the following profile: https://www.aplaceofhope.com/what-are-the-five-types-of-narcissism-and-how-do-they-affect-different-types-of-relationships/ All of these characteristics are on display in Trump's current actions toward the rest of the world. Moreover, his overestimation of his competence, compels him to not back down from his terrible decisions (otherwise known as the "Dunning-Kruger Effect"). However, my earlier supposition still holds - and it is now part of his current mantra - that Trump...

With the attention span of a fruit fly Donald Trump flits from one vindictive act to another.  Today it is "Liberation Day", but on brand, we have only a vague idea of what he is supposedly liberating. There will be tariffs on Canadian products, despite the advice of experts (which he ignores) and just because he said so - and his minions are scrambling to make it happen. We will not be alone. Other nations, who have been "ripping off America" according to Trump, will be targeted - but the products to be targeted and tariff level to which they will be subjected is unknown at this moment. As usual, the narrative around the reason for these tariffs is manufactured and without factual basis, but in Trump's dangerously simple mind, it will make America Great Again. It will not make American great again. The story he continues to repeat is that companies will be coming back to America in droves, creating jobs for American workers. This is a pipe dream and has no conn...