With the 2016 presidential election quickly approaching its about time I raise my hand and toss my two cents onto the table. Why? Because Im Canadian so I think I have a reasonably unbiased view of the dramatics and posturing going on down there. Also when I look at the economic climate and political culture happening in your country I see some similarities with what the US is dealing with today and what we dealt with a year or so ago.
Allow me to state my disclaimers. Im not a politics guy. My wife holds a bachelors degree in political science (in my defense I didnt discover that ghost in her closet until after we were engaged) which offsets my own ignorance. And as mentioned above Im Canadian. But my specialty is economics and common sense which have nothing to do with my nationality.
There are two obvious parallels between the US today and Canada in 2015 when we hit the polls. The first parallel is that when we elected Justin Trudeau our economy was pretty strong. Not thriving. Not the kind of economy where you felt it was 2007 all over again. But it was strong enough. Despite some soft jobs numbers for May the US economy is doing alright. So JT (Justin Trudeau not Justin Timberlake who would also make for a pretty cool president or prime minister" as hes officially known in Canada and kudos to my wife for the clarification) had the tailwind of a strong economy at his back just as Trump does today.
But more importantly (and this would be the second parallel) JT used the nations political discontent to push him over that line into the prime ministers office. Canadas political system was broken in 2015 just like yours is right now and as voters we were fed up with it. And that is exactly whats working in Trumps favor today. Its what got Barrack Obama elected; I remember sitting in front of the television with wide eyes and thinking that BO had something nobody else had: an argument for accountability and transparency.
The problem with BO is that accountability and transparency have no place in the political domain. To incorporate those things into your campaign is like promising the return of unicorns and Vikings with free rides for everyone (cotton candy on weekends anyone?).
Anyway as Canadians we sent a pretty strong message in 2015. Oh yeah we elected a kayak instructor to the prime ministers office. In fairness JT was also a school teacher but in the same way we think of Trump as a real estate developer first and a TV personality second I think of our prime minister as a kayak instructor first and a teacher second not that either of those careers qualifies him to run a country.
My common sense tells me the reason we elected JT had little to do with wanting to learn how to tackle white water rapids and even less to do with our paranoia about children-drowning incidents on family canoeing trips. My spidey senses suggest we elected a pretty boy because we were fed up with the status quo. Our conservative government not only lacked personality but our minority government called elections whenever someone couldnt get alongnow JT smacks people into line according to the media. Plus we were tired of going to the polls during hockey season.
Im worried thats the same mistake my US neighbors might make. A lot of people like Trump and in their defense if BO couldnt bring back unicorns or the Vikings much less deliver on his promise of accountability and transparency how much trouble can Trump cause for the greatest nation on the planet? Youve had celebrity presidents before (one with an airport schools libraries and maybe even movie theaters named after him). Plus youve also had playboy presidents (typically democrat; incidentally the NRA tends to favor republicans) one of whom admitted to indulging in the type of pleasure that would have most people fired" ironically enough and if he can run a country with his pants down and his eyes closed how much trouble can Trump really get into if he shows up and tries really hard?
On a serious note times have changed. Celebrities might no longer have what it takes to serve as the face of your nation. Think about it: Our economy is global now. Domestic actions come with global consequences. Remember the financial crisis? It crippled entire countries many of them larger than Rhode Island.
The world also makes the US an easy scapegoat. Today everyday Americans have incredible power and sending a message to the White House that youre tired of a lack in accountability and transparency (like we are in Canada) youre fed up with the rhetoric and abuses of power (like we are in Canada) youre no longer willing to take the heat for your politicians blunders and inadequacies (like we are in Canada) is not an easy solution. Trust me my kayaking-lessons-for-life card doesnt count for much when Im visiting Florida in the winter.
In Canada I wish we had united better. I wish wed had the foresight to see how the world would view our young inexperienced leader when he advises on nuclear strategies military actions economic sanctions and any other very real thing that has very real consequences somewhere else. People were not kayaking down the Mississippi with a pound of weed in our backpacks singing kumbaya to make things better; were sitting at the table with the worlds most powerful leaders people who dont take youre fired" very lightly.
This November think it through. Unite. Make informed decisions about your leadership. Times have changed and its more important than ever that your great nation takes a stand and sends the right message not just to the White House but to the globe.
Morgan Parker spent twelve years sifting through boxes of research before sitting down and writing 1986. An earlier version of the story was called The Devils Wheel and was adapted into a screenplay that ended up as a quarterfinalist in a screenplay competition covered by a top Hollywood production company. Morgan has written seven other novels since 2012 and is praised for his unique voice and storytelling ability. Parkers newest novel 1986 (released June 13 2016) is available now.
