America has transformed from exceptionalism to a contagion. Our political discourse has matched theirs. Words like our country is broken and personal animosity for political leaders have spread across the border. It’s made us grumpy and angry with our fellow Canadians. But that is not us. It’s not Canadian. We now have one chance to immunize our nation or go down with the same sickness.
I wonder if our drop in perceived happiness levels coincides more with cable news telling us how unhappy we should be. Of course, we also have an unhappy neighbour who produces more disturbing news and violent entertainment than any other country.
Perhaps Finland is happiest partly because it has a difficult language that is only spoken there, creating a happy bubble—isolating them from the unhappy noise. Perception of one's own happiness is the definition of attitude—and is inversely proportional to a need to criticize. Canadians are certainly not worse off than we were ten years ago and, I would argue, are better off from almost any perspective except their own. However, now that I see where I am on the happiness index, I'm depressed. Maybe I should take a pill...
Thanks David - after having read a couple of papers and listened to the House I needed that - have found that limiting news consumption really does help with my happiness index.
I really hope that the current environment and campaign does not further heighten views on newcomers. Our over-immigration was a real issue but we can't take it out on the people who came here - they just wanted a better life (like most Canadians if you look at the family trees). You have written a fair bit about squaring the circle on immigration and employment and it is a real challenge - some employers use various means to keep wages down but some have to find workers because they can't get the people they need (sometimes their own fault through wages or working conditions but sometimes the skills or people aren't around).
I am hopeful that this kick in the butt from the US will rouse us from complacency and become more self-reliant. Based on our past history Canada seems to need some type of a crisis to get us moving and maybe this time we won't just resort back to same-old same-old.
I have seen or heard a lot of sharp comments about lazy industry just going to the US, but you can't really blame them based on past practice. As you said, we export a lot of heavy things and that means train or truck. Plus the US was a welcoming environment.
You're absolutely right—we have a lot to be thankful for. But that doesn't change the reality that life has become far more complicated than it used to be. It seems like nothing is simple anymore.
We now live in a world where we do the banks' work for them, managing our own transactions instead of relying on tellers. Personally, I don’t mind this shift, but plenty of others do. We bag our own groceries, replacing the job of a cashier, and we’re expected to bring our own bags to stores in the name of "saving the planet"—yet the largest corporations continue generating massive waste without consequence. And despite all these supposed "cost-saving" measures, prices for consumers keep climbing.
Even basic tasks are more frustrating than ever. Taking out the trash has turned into a tedious exercise in precision sorting—spend too long figuring it out, or make a small mistake, and you’re slapped with a sticker of shame. Meanwhile, technology, which was meant to simplify our lives, has only introduced new layers of inconvenience. Logging into an email account now requires multi-step authentication through yet another app. Traveling between major centers still means constant dropped calls, despite living in an era of so-called technological advancement. And what about planned obsolescence? Every device we own seems designed to fail within a few years, forcing us to buy the newest model.
Even something as routine as renewing a passport has become a bureaucratic nightmare, sometimes with an official interrogating me as if I need to prove I belong in my own country. I know a lot of my griping is a first world problems, but why should I not be entitled to grip. I'm a taxpayer too.
And then there’s the broader issue—one that so many Canadians are struggling with. Trudeau’s biggest misstep wasn’t just allowing an overwhelming influx of immigration in such a short period; it’s that these new arrivals are being handed subsidized jobs within already-profitable corporations, while everyday Canadians struggle to find work. Beyond that, there’s a growing sentiment that diversity isn’t being properly managed—it doesn’t feel like we are integrating different cultures; rather, it feels like we’re being replaced by one dominant culture. Meanwhile, our healthcare system is crumbling, and our elderly are forced to live in conditions that wouldn’t even qualify as a two-star hotel.
It’s exhausting.
For many of us older Canadians, the frustration runs deep because we’ve seen better times. There was a time when getting a job—any job—was relatively easy. Now, even our kids are struggling to find part-time work. The opportunities we once took for granted are disappearing, and people are tired of being told to simply accept it.
In my humble opinion, it all boils down to one thing: greed. Corporations demand year-over-year increases in same-store sales. Why? Because shareholders expect it. It’s capitalism run amok—an endless cycle of squeezing every last dollar out of consumers and workers while funneling profits to the top.
It feels wrong and difficult because what we are doing everyday in a micro scale is competing. Competing for space, competing for health care, competing for our slipping livelihoods.
Really good reminder of what is worth fighting for. I believe we at a very important turning point in Canada to make our country more independent and better. All we needed was a good kick in the pants. I am very optimistic about the future of our country and we are united as never before to fight for Canada.
Interesting David - I think we are all feeling that indescribable feeling you are writing about. As a glass half full person I admittedly have my moments as of late. That being said - let’s make this a defining moment in Canada - maybe we needed a gut punch and maybe a little wrapping ourselves in our Canadian flag 🇨🇦 until be feel we can proudly wave it on a world stage is needed to make us Happy - and Want To Show It !
America has transformed from exceptionalism to a contagion. Our political discourse has matched theirs. Words like our country is broken and personal animosity for political leaders have spread across the border. It’s made us grumpy and angry with our fellow Canadians. But that is not us. It’s not Canadian. We now have one chance to immunize our nation or go down with the same sickness.
I wonder if our drop in perceived happiness levels coincides more with cable news telling us how unhappy we should be. Of course, we also have an unhappy neighbour who produces more disturbing news and violent entertainment than any other country.
Perhaps Finland is happiest partly because it has a difficult language that is only spoken there, creating a happy bubble—isolating them from the unhappy noise. Perception of one's own happiness is the definition of attitude—and is inversely proportional to a need to criticize. Canadians are certainly not worse off than we were ten years ago and, I would argue, are better off from almost any perspective except their own. However, now that I see where I am on the happiness index, I'm depressed. Maybe I should take a pill...
Social media and smartphone uptake are likely a bigger culprit than cable news.
Thanks David - after having read a couple of papers and listened to the House I needed that - have found that limiting news consumption really does help with my happiness index.
I really hope that the current environment and campaign does not further heighten views on newcomers. Our over-immigration was a real issue but we can't take it out on the people who came here - they just wanted a better life (like most Canadians if you look at the family trees). You have written a fair bit about squaring the circle on immigration and employment and it is a real challenge - some employers use various means to keep wages down but some have to find workers because they can't get the people they need (sometimes their own fault through wages or working conditions but sometimes the skills or people aren't around).
I am hopeful that this kick in the butt from the US will rouse us from complacency and become more self-reliant. Based on our past history Canada seems to need some type of a crisis to get us moving and maybe this time we won't just resort back to same-old same-old.
I have seen or heard a lot of sharp comments about lazy industry just going to the US, but you can't really blame them based on past practice. As you said, we export a lot of heavy things and that means train or truck. Plus the US was a welcoming environment.
Anyway, I really do enjoy your perspective!
You're absolutely right—we have a lot to be thankful for. But that doesn't change the reality that life has become far more complicated than it used to be. It seems like nothing is simple anymore.
We now live in a world where we do the banks' work for them, managing our own transactions instead of relying on tellers. Personally, I don’t mind this shift, but plenty of others do. We bag our own groceries, replacing the job of a cashier, and we’re expected to bring our own bags to stores in the name of "saving the planet"—yet the largest corporations continue generating massive waste without consequence. And despite all these supposed "cost-saving" measures, prices for consumers keep climbing.
Even basic tasks are more frustrating than ever. Taking out the trash has turned into a tedious exercise in precision sorting—spend too long figuring it out, or make a small mistake, and you’re slapped with a sticker of shame. Meanwhile, technology, which was meant to simplify our lives, has only introduced new layers of inconvenience. Logging into an email account now requires multi-step authentication through yet another app. Traveling between major centers still means constant dropped calls, despite living in an era of so-called technological advancement. And what about planned obsolescence? Every device we own seems designed to fail within a few years, forcing us to buy the newest model.
Even something as routine as renewing a passport has become a bureaucratic nightmare, sometimes with an official interrogating me as if I need to prove I belong in my own country. I know a lot of my griping is a first world problems, but why should I not be entitled to grip. I'm a taxpayer too.
And then there’s the broader issue—one that so many Canadians are struggling with. Trudeau’s biggest misstep wasn’t just allowing an overwhelming influx of immigration in such a short period; it’s that these new arrivals are being handed subsidized jobs within already-profitable corporations, while everyday Canadians struggle to find work. Beyond that, there’s a growing sentiment that diversity isn’t being properly managed—it doesn’t feel like we are integrating different cultures; rather, it feels like we’re being replaced by one dominant culture. Meanwhile, our healthcare system is crumbling, and our elderly are forced to live in conditions that wouldn’t even qualify as a two-star hotel.
It’s exhausting.
For many of us older Canadians, the frustration runs deep because we’ve seen better times. There was a time when getting a job—any job—was relatively easy. Now, even our kids are struggling to find part-time work. The opportunities we once took for granted are disappearing, and people are tired of being told to simply accept it.
In my humble opinion, it all boils down to one thing: greed. Corporations demand year-over-year increases in same-store sales. Why? Because shareholders expect it. It’s capitalism run amok—an endless cycle of squeezing every last dollar out of consumers and workers while funneling profits to the top.
It feels wrong and difficult because what we are doing everyday in a micro scale is competing. Competing for space, competing for health care, competing for our slipping livelihoods.
Really good reminder of what is worth fighting for. I believe we at a very important turning point in Canada to make our country more independent and better. All we needed was a good kick in the pants. I am very optimistic about the future of our country and we are united as never before to fight for Canada.
Interesting David - I think we are all feeling that indescribable feeling you are writing about. As a glass half full person I admittedly have my moments as of late. That being said - let’s make this a defining moment in Canada - maybe we needed a gut punch and maybe a little wrapping ourselves in our Canadian flag 🇨🇦 until be feel we can proudly wave it on a world stage is needed to make us Happy - and Want To Show It !