I honestly can't think of any country doing a better job with their indigenous minority than the First Nations have in Canada. Possibly Denmark comes close, but that has a whole other set of problems. Latin America is more integrated, but still has a lot of racism. Japan is um, finally admitting that Ainu exist. Uh, possibly the Norwegian and Swedish relationship with the Sami has gotten better just because the social safety net applies to everyone. Would have to look into that one more. Not that Canada is doing great, just better than everyone else.
When I read that, my snarky comment I didn't share at the time was that such a gathering couldn't be an important meeting in the U.S. because Indian tribes were invited. Like, that's just outside the scope of what constitutes important down here.
Oh, and I think Abe could manage to push the constitutional change to have foreign armies, I just think that it's not the time. There's some value in being Switzerland of the east, and it's not worth the huge political capital to invest to change it right now.
But anyway, back to the topic of the day: Canada!
I'll just remind everyone that due to climate change, Canada will gain arable land, while the United States loses farmland.
I'm hoping that the lack of American leadership is only a temporary affair, though. I don't mind Canada having an increased role, as they did in the CPTPP, as well, some of the things the US was really pushing for in that deal were not what I wanted. I much, much prefer the CPTPP to the original TPP, and hope that we would be willing to join it as-is, or restoring the environmental protections. I guess I'm just more aligned with Canada, on everything except latitude.
(03-12-2020, 05:57 PM)robkelk Wrote: Speaking of where I live: the Prime Minister of Canada has gone into quarantine, on the chance that his wife was exposed to COVID-19.
That means the most important national political meeting of the year (*) has been postponed, because somebody might be infected. Don't tell me you have to go to work with the sniffles -- the example being set is that you stay home if you're sick.
(*) The equivalent in the USA would be a working meeting between the President, all of the state and territorial Governors, and all of the Chiefs of the recognized tribes.
When I read that, my snarky comment I didn't share at the time was that such a gathering couldn't be an important meeting in the U.S. because Indian tribes were invited. Like, that's just outside the scope of what constitutes important down here.
Oh, and I think Abe could manage to push the constitutional change to have foreign armies, I just think that it's not the time. There's some value in being Switzerland of the east, and it's not worth the huge political capital to invest to change it right now.
But anyway, back to the topic of the day: Canada!
I'll just remind everyone that due to climate change, Canada will gain arable land, while the United States loses farmland.
I'm hoping that the lack of American leadership is only a temporary affair, though. I don't mind Canada having an increased role, as they did in the CPTPP, as well, some of the things the US was really pushing for in that deal were not what I wanted. I much, much prefer the CPTPP to the original TPP, and hope that we would be willing to join it as-is, or restoring the environmental protections. I guess I'm just more aligned with Canada, on everything except latitude.
"Kitto daijoubu da yo." - Sakura Kinomoto