Wise up to the disinformation and the fashionable problematization that's giving Putin's oligarchy the advantage. Solidarity, unity and morale are important. Hearts and minds matter. Ukraine matters.
There are so many "bad guys" in this story, it's hard to keep track. Having read your warnings about the rise of the Authoritarian Class for many years I will trust your insight here, but not without reservations. My concern, aside from the real tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, is that the "West" has decided that being 7/10 on a scale of undemocratic authoritarianism is reasonable, as long as they're not 10/10. If Putin and Xi are the benchmarks to be just slightly below, are we really that democratic and free? When I look here at home at a government that simultaneously virtue signals about "defending democracy" while introducing (repeatedly) Internet Censorship bills, vaguely worded "harmful content that could cause vilification" laws, vaccine mandates (for a treatment that doesn't prevent infection, transmission or illness), and other hypocrisies too numerous to list, I can't help but worry about the future of our country. You, more than most and far earlier, know the infiltration of our powerful institutions that has taken place in Canada. If the spectacle that is unfolding, at great human costs to the Ukrainians, is being hijacked to continually move the bar towards more authoritarian control of our democracy, the tragedy gets multiplied. This is certainly not intended as "whataboutism", but the "frog in the pot" analogy certainly seems apropos. Enjoy your time off.
Terry this is an excellent in-depth article of what is happening to Democracy and who is going to Step up and Protect it! I stand with Ukraine! I am a paid subscriber too! Enjoy some rest!
There are so many "bad guys" in this story, it's hard to keep track. Having read your warnings about the rise of the Authoritarian Class for many years I will trust your insight here, but not without reservations. My concern, aside from the real tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, is that the "West" has decided that being 7/10 on a scale of undemocratic authoritarianism is reasonable, as long as they're not 10/10. If Putin and Xi are the benchmarks to be just slightly below, are we really that democratic and free? When I look here at home at a government that simultaneously virtue signals about "defending democracy" while introducing (repeatedly) Internet Censorship bills, vaguely worded "harmful content that could cause vilification" laws, vaccine mandates (for a treatment that doesn't prevent infection, transmission or illness), and other hypocrisies too numerous to list, I can't help but worry about the future of our country. You, more than most and far earlier, know the infiltration of our powerful institutions that has taken place in Canada. If the spectacle that is unfolding, at great human costs to the Ukrainians, is being hijacked to continually move the bar towards more authoritarian control of our democracy, the tragedy gets multiplied. This is certainly not intended as "whataboutism", but the "frog in the pot" analogy certainly seems apropos. Enjoy your time off.
Terry this is an excellent in-depth article of what is happening to Democracy and who is going to Step up and Protect it! I stand with Ukraine! I am a paid subscriber too! Enjoy some rest!