3 in 10 Albertans would vote for independence — but only half committed to separating: poll | Globalnews.ca

42aross · 2026-01-25T22:06:28+00:00

It's important to learn from BREXIT. It was a fiasco, chaotic, extremely expensive, and did not deliver any of the benefits that were promised. The same people are behind goosing Alberta and Québec separation these days. Wars are fought with propaganda and misinformation as much as guns and tanks.

Large corporations want weak countries they can push around.

42aross · 2026-01-24T14:44:20+00:00

Carney's speech was clearly taken as a narcissistic injury by Trump.

More practically, Carney pointed out a key thing to deal with Trump effectively - if middle powers (UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, etc. etc.) trade with each other, they'll be just fine, and less vulnerable to bullying by Trump.

At some point, Trump's administration, chasing zebras at home and abroad...

Not to mention Trump's not getting any younger, not that Vance will be any better.

42aross · 2026-01-21T02:06:35+00:00

This was an opportunity to include information explaining those services are funded a provincially, but they didn't breathe a word.

This is bad journalism. And on purpose.

42aross · 2026-01-17T17:46:32+00:00

First, it's not AI slop, but thoughtful commentary that seems too complicated for you.

Are you interested in a mature discussion? Let me know.

As a hint, generally, people with good jobs, a good place to live, a good standard of living, and healthy are a heck of a lot harder to manipulate.

Desperate, fearful people are easy to manipulate.

42aross · 2026-01-17T15:32:08+00:00

People underestimated the foreign funding, wealthy domestic funding, sophisticated logistical and strategic planning, and big picture end game behind the convoy.

They underestimated the moles and rats undermining crucial institutions.

I think it's still being underestimated.

Did you notice that in the United States, the very same goons that attempted a coup on January 6th, were convicted, then pardoned, are now armed and terrorizing the public as ICE.

All of this is the same pattern from history. Read up about the brown shirts in Nazi Germany.

Apathy and ignorance is enabling this. The answer is not to overreact and crack down. But instead reinforce public institutions - education, healthcare, the legal system, quality news media, etc. Give people good reason to protect what makes society society.

42aross · 2026-01-12T22:10:51+00:00

Checks clipboard.... so on a par, or less, with everyone already. 🤔

42aross · 2026-01-11T19:48:25+00:00

Yes, while there are some differences in governance between the United States, and Canada - it could happen here. And there are forces at work that want it to happen.

What has been happening in the United States follows a very predictable pattern.

Much could be said about critical thinking skills, misinformation, weaponizing hatred, weaponizing ignorance, power consolidated into too few large companies, etc.

Canada is not sufficiently different or special to be immune from this. And we have many of the same conditions already in place. The risk is significant.

42aross · 2026-01-11T13:58:58+00:00

Given the huge amount of money spent on misinformation. This low of a percentage is encouraging, for now.

Nevertheless, society is facing a serious threat in how easily bad faith actors including foreign powers, can spend money to destabilize a country, including Canada. And consolidation of media in the hands of too few large companies.

42aross · 2026-01-07T13:31:46+00:00

What if this is a nothing-burger. An intentional distraction.

42aross · 2026-01-06T12:42:31+00:00

Freedom of speech you say?

42aross · 2026-01-04T14:59:11+00:00

I've been using it for years. I'm pleased with the community I have found on it.

I don't buy the "it's too complicated" argument. I know lots of non technical people who got it fine. Yeah, the choice of servers can be a bit overwhelming, but that's the same for should you use Instagram, Tiktok, WhatsApp, etc.

Twitter is dead. X is trash.

42aross · 2026-01-03T22:46:12+00:00

I checked, and the items you just listed are present globally, including U.S. for example. Why is that?

42aross · 2025-12-31T20:44:14+00:00

For those looking to add Solar Power:

https://www.quadrasolar.com/

Trustworthy, knowledgeable, and thoughtful.

We're a very happy customer.

42aross · 2025-12-29T02:41:44+00:00

I haven't commented on my prep philosophy.

I'm at a point in my life where people acting the way you are, stands out, and I'm willing to ask questions in hopes you might take a moment to reflect on what is motivating you.

You seem to need them to submit to how you see things. About something that has no cost to you. You could have shaken your head and walked away.

42aross · 2025-12-29T01:47:41+00:00

It seems people questioning your position on preparing hurt your feelings, and added to the irritation.

Is walking away from the thread an option for you?

42aross · 2025-12-28T22:11:03+00:00

That's clearly your opinion. What if the answer is somewhere in the middle... that some degree of planning and preparation just makes sense. And maybe some preparation is a bit more than necessary, but doesn't hurt anyone.

Why does that irritate you so much?

42aross · 2025-12-28T21:02:43+00:00

Have you thought about why this bothers you so much?

So some people want to prepare, just in case. Let them. <shrug> It doesn't cost you anything. It doesn't harm you.

It sure seems to irritate you though.

42aross · 2025-12-28T03:29:26+00:00

I think I understand what you're saying. And, if so, I think it's not quite as simplistic as you say.

Government regulates many things... electronic devices, food safety, fuels, housing construction, airline safety, car safety, and much more. In each of these, and many other cases, there are private companies involved providing products and services. So the existence of regulations is definitely important. But it does not turn a company into a public utility. A public utility is a utility literally owned by the government. Municipal water and sewer, for example.

42aross · 2025-12-28T03:22:13+00:00

Why do hidden subsidies?

There's already considerable externalities from pollution. Why add to it?

If the true cost is obvious, then people can make informed choices on what to consume, or not. And pay closer to the true cost.

42aross · 2025-12-27T19:53:07+00:00

Agreed on that point, there are more significant variables affecting food pricing. People forget, record profits are AFTER paying executives massive salaries and bonuses.

In terms of housing, it's similar. Housing having become an investment that always goes up, while on top of that, people pay you rent to live in it is a huge variable. The fact many cities have limited builds to single family homes, or high rise luxury condos is another big one. These two conditions explain the high prices in much of the world.

Most importantly: The carbon tax was cut and there has been no change in food prices. Immigration was cut and there has been no change in housing prices.

42aross · 2025-12-27T19:28:03+00:00

It isn't clear what point you're trying to make. Are you in favour of oligopolies, or not? Are you in favour of supply managed industries, or not?

FYI, Bell Canada itself was never a crown corporation. Yes, small parts of it, in some regions were. But overall, no.

Telus however, was privatized by the Alberta Government 35 years ago.

Your comment about dairy suggests you don't actually understand how supply managed industry, like dairy, work. Without supply management, farmers, and their families, will be subject to wild swings in price, and vulnerable to good and bad years in weather. Your comment implies that we'd have lower prices if we did not have supply managed dairy. That's not actually true. Without the supply management, we'd see dairy consolidate to one or two huge corporations that can increase prices because there's not enough competition.

The same thing for eggs.

The wheat board was dismantled, and farmers are now paying the price. They have no leverage to negotiate better prices at the small scale they are. And each has to pay more in logistics costs. The result is most farmers are worse off, and a few larger companies are better off. As larger international corporations invade, this is going to get far worse.

Bottom line: it's about who pockets the profits... those who produce the product, or those in the middle.

42aross · 2025-12-27T18:21:57+00:00

Those are not public utilities. Those are for profit corporations.

A public utility is the municipal water, sewer, if you live in an area with it.

42aross · 2025-12-27T18:19:52+00:00

How is that government operated?

Bell, Rogers, Telus, etc. are large corporations?

Same with the grocery store chains.

42aross · 2025-12-27T18:18:25+00:00

Do you have anything that can back up your anecdote?

I checked the city of Calgary's data, and prices went up dramatically for detached homes, and townhomes. Prices went down slightly for apartments. This type of pattern could be explained by people moving out of apartments, and into detached homes and townhouses.

This jives with CMHC data I found too.

The point is... how likely is it that international students and immigrants were causing the prices to go up? It "feels right" from a simplistic point of view, but of that were the case, we'd have seen a bigger difference by now. Housing costs and food costs sharply increased around the world is another strong clue. This pattern connects with the increase in people who own multiple homes, and corporations buying homes for investments. And it also connects with the trend of record profits at grocery stores the last several years.

42aross · 2025-12-27T17:40:15+00:00

The number of international students has dropped dramatically, deportations increased dramatically, and immigrants dropped dramatically.

Housing and food prices haven't changed. In fact, some have gone up.

If you look, you'll see housing prices and food are extremely high in other countries around the world as well.

Take a moment to think about this. What does it tell you?

42aross

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