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Meanwhile, Canada Is Making Plans In Case the USA Becomes "Authoritarian" [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-08-17
From Canada's CBC News:
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Canada has been considering a "game plan" for how it would respond if the United States takes a far-right, authoritarian shift after next year's presidential election.
Hmm, why might Canada have some cause for concern if its neighbour to the south were to turn authoritarian, if not outright fascist? Let us count the ways.
1. Payback for Offenses, Real or Imagined
Joly drew an analogy to her government's experience working with the administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump, which sought to limit long-established trade in crucial sectors. Trump is again running for the Republican nomination in next November's election, and has promised "retribution" against his opponents and civil servants.
The standard GOP approach to government has next to nothing to to with public service. Rather, the GOP sees government as having two basic functions:
Help your buddies. Make life hell for your enemies.
Since Canada didn’t kiss “the Defendant’s” hindquarters, and since Canada was and is an economic competitor with the USA, one can expect that Canada might not be seen exactly as a friend, and may actually be deemed deserving of revenge.
Canadians are still upset about the so-called “Freedom Convoy,” which was loudly supported by the US authoritarians. One of the organizers in Canada is expected to go on trial later this year. Canada is also looking closely at the situation, to prevent something like this from happening again.
Trudeaus eventually used extraordinary national powers to end the "Freedom Convoy"
So Canada and authoritarians might not exactly be buddies, and that will mean that the authoritarians will, in all likelihood, behave like giant pricks toward Canada. Considering the composition of the GOP mouthpieces, the lengths to which they will go to become giant pricks may be, shall we say, extreme. Would military threats and sabre-rattling be possible? Trade wars? Border closings? The irrationality and pettiness of the GOP has so far shown no bounds.
2. Hundreds of Thousands of Political Refugees
Canada is expressly considering the prospect of political refugees, but no one is talking publicly about how many people that would be.
If authoritarians/fascists seize power in the USA, they will make life hell for their enemies, and there are hundreds of thousands of US citizens who are their enemies. A great many may genuinely be in fear for their lives, and with good reason.
Moving to Mexico will be out of the question for most people, of course.
3. Loss of Defense, Intelligence-Sharing and Scientific Co-operation
Canada and the USA have had a good past relationship with international ventures, in matters of defense and in matters of peace. This may change.
The CBC story quotes an expert on national security from the University of Ottawa, who wonders what might happen to national security "If an increasingly authoritarian U.S. is increasingly unilateral and dismissive of traditional alliances like NATO or arrangements like NORAD….”
Military defense, including missile defense, is a major concern. So is international intelligence.
Canada and the USA have historically cooperated in a number of scientific endeavors. The nations assist one another in some aspects of regulation and sharing of services.
Not to mention that the USA and Canada have a number of cross-border sports rivalries.
All of these might be adversely affected.
4. Redrawing Borders and New Alliances
The CBC story does not say so, but it would not be beyond the realm of possibility to suggest that national borders may change.
Some US States, such as those in the northeast and far northwest, may deem that establishing an authoritarian/fascist government would be tantamount to abrogation of the US Constitution, and may actually petition to join the nation of Canada. Canada might consider this as a viable option, especially if the number of political refugees could otherwise become overwhelming.
The CBC story does say that there are other nations that are concerned about rising authoritarianism (although no one is talking about it too loudly and it is not discussed in those terms). As Canada’s relationship with the USA devolves, Canada may strengthen its relationship with Europe.
May we not live in interesting times.
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