“You know, countries don’t just happen,” said Papa. “Folks have to make them happen.”
Nuggets of wisdom hit differently at 6AM, when you are reading the Berenstain Bears for the 863rd time. Papa Bear was on to something.
Most of my life, being Canadian was kind of easy. And yes, I recognize how privileged that sounds, but it’s true.
We didn’t have to think about our stability, our relationships, our alliance, or their durability. But things change.
I’ve been having a lot of conversations lately with students, colleagues, and aspiring politicians. There’s a seriousness about Canada that is not something I’ve experienced before. Serious concerns, yes, about our constitutional order, about our obsession with procedure, our hesitancy to act.
But also serious optimism that we have the resources, the ideas, the capital, and the talent to make things happen.
Sure, the good ol’ confirmation bias is kicking in, and I’m finding voices and sources and stories that affirm my point of view. But I find myself seeing a lot of builders out there: new voices, and ideas, and a determination to get things done.
This week’s Ten Things are all about people and their feelings, fears, views, and concerns. And the data might suggest that at least a few folks are willing to listen to Papa Bear and are ready to make things happen.
A survey is one thing. Turnout will be another.
Source: CBC
What explains the disparity? One possibility: housing.
Source: Canadian Survey Stuff
Fascinating differences between the US and Canada on this one.
Source: Canadian Survey Stuff
Only 11 conventional energy projects. Just sayin’.
Source: Katsuna Research
Whether Canadians actually share more with Europe is open to debate. But it’s how they feel.
Is there a prediction market that would let me bet on shifts in these views?
Source: Semafor
America and China are competing for Australians’ distrust. Great power rivalry indeed.
Source: Semafor
One irony of the AfD: they are most popular where there are the fewest foreign nationals.
