Monthly Archives: February 2025

Antisocial Media

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     After an almost balmy and mostly sunny January we are now back to the usual westcoast weather. Leaden skies, drizzly, dark days with the occasional glimpse of blue sky. But the days are getting longer.

I look forward to my regular get togethers with Camp, even though it’s doesn’t happen every week as it used to. We still regurgitate and distill the discouraging barrage of news and politics, rumours and philosophical musings with a couple of pints and are always glad for the few things that haven’t changed like our corner table on the glassed-in veranda by the shore and also our steadfast servers Vicky and Rosy, who have been our compass to reality more than once in this ever changing world. 

‘I hate to bring this up again and again but the issue isn’t going away Camp. TikTok and Co. are undermining traditional media at an ever-faster pace, especially amongst young people. For example, as I read in my Swiss newspaper, 46 percent of Swiss people now hardly read the news, more than double of the 21 percent in 2009.’

‘No surprise there. It’s a generational reality where the young don’t subscribe to the New York Times or the Guardian but get their updates on their silly phones. So, if we want to continue reading about research and analyses in the future, then maybe it’s time to ask ourselves this question. Is it really necessary to permanently take refuge in the illusory world of social media?’ 

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Goodbye America

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‘What do you think about Trump imposing 25% tariffs across the board including 10% on energy and then giving us a thirty-day grace period in return for a fentanyl Tsar and untold millions to beef up the border security?’ I asked Camp when he sat down. He seemed weary and somewhat off. ‘Are you alright?’ I asked.

‘Yeah, I’m ok but I am worried about anybody in business in Canada that exports and imports across the US border and there are millions of people dependent on our integrated trade that has been a boon for both countries for decades. To answer to your question is quite simple. Trump hates Canada, our way of life, our healthcare system our liberal views, the fact that we have a better primary education system, that we have all the water and oil, the minerals and the landmass, including the gateway to the arctic. As he said after his election. If he can’t annex Canada, he will destroy us by economic means. He’s a misanthrope, a hater of humanity and a bully.’

‘Do you really think a trade war is possible? It would be the consumers on both sides of the border that would pay for it. There would be no winners.’

‘This trade war threat is certainly the worst kind of betrayal of a longstanding partner and friendship. It’s a flagrant and mean-spirited breach of trust and will set the tone for any future collaboration with the US. With one stroke of his golden pen, we are now the enemy, treated worse than any other country, except maybe the other neighbour, Mexico. Why us? I don’t get it,’ I said. 

‘As I pointed out, Trump hates us and everything we stand for and he has imperialist ambitions, right out of Putin’s playbook. What I don’t understand is the deafening silence from the people and the other elected officials; from Congress and the Governors of the States adjacent and integrated with their Canadian counterparts.’

‘This will poison cross border relationships for years to come and it will not make anybody better off.’

‘What about all this talk about fentanyl and migrants crossing into the US from Canada?’ I said. ‘Isn’t it their job to stop drugs and illegals entering their country?’

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