‘As the Guardian so eloquently pointed out after the Signal chat fiasco and J.D. Vance’s disrespectful visit to Greenland we are now in a different world. Above all, the hubris, arrogance, amateurishness and irresponsibility revealed by both episodes is truly shocking – and a chilling warning to the world.’

            Camp shook his head of unruly white curls and stared into the far distance. ‘And Trump’s Rose Garden performance with his tariff poster full of flawed economics, wrong history and madcap calculations will be remembered as ‘ruination day’ as Zany Milton from the economist calls it. It will cost Americans the most.’

            ‘As it is, the radical corrupt steal that is going on under Trump and his cabal of oligarchs and conspirators will eventually galvanize enough people to start a sea of change in the apathy of the US voters, especially when it hits their own pocket book.’

‘The Fight Oligarchy tour by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio is drawing record crowds, even in republican strongholds like Arizona. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.’

            ‘First, we have to get our own house in order and send some smart and dedicated people to Ottawa that will have the welfare and wellbeing of Canadians as their focus, not just their own ideological agenda and desire to rule,’ Camp said.

            ‘Everybody pays lip service to the so-called middle class as they make promises of tax cuts and more benefits. Who is this middle-class?’

            ‘It’s basically a generational class distinction. Those who bought a house 25 or 30 years ago are now real estate millionaires while their offspring can hardly afford to pay the rent, never mind buy a house. Even if they have good education and jobs.’

            ‘And the common narrative about inflation hurting everyone is not true if you factor in housing inflation which makes home owners wealthier,’ I pointed out.

            ‘I don’t hear any politician talk about a progressive tax system that levels the income distribution and brings back the hope for young adults to attain that elusive middle class. Paul Kershaw, a prof at UBC says age and housing patterns are transforming class dynamics in Canada. We have made a political bargain for the past 25 years that has eroded financial security for young people in order to protect housing windfalls for older generations.’

            ‘Tax the rich, feed the poor used to be the battle cry back in the sixties. Instead, the tax system fed the rich. Nobody wants to see the housing bubble burst but when you have to shell out 50 percent of your income for rent or mortgage, then you’re not middle class, you are struggle-class.’

            ‘Yes, and that struggle can affect your mental and physical health,’ I said. ‘Cash-strapped millennials and gen-Zers are struggling with soaring rents and rising costs of living and many young adults say that their lives lack meaning or purpose with financial stress, food and housing insecurity, unemployment and pressure to achieve that elusive middle-class. This results in anxiety and depression. Politicians need to address those young people who are left behind despite having university degrees and decent jobs.’

            ‘ It’s time to wake up. Tax the rich and feed the poor should once more be the battle cry, I said and finished my pint.’

            ‘What do you think about that?’ Camp asked Vicky who just happened to overhear us while swapping our empties.

            ‘Tip the server to feed my son is my battle cry.’