Stephen Maher: Separatism is in the Alberta air, as Liberal victory looms
https://ricochet.media/politics/separatism-is-in-the-alberta-air/Open linkView original on lemmy.cahttps://ricochet.media/politics/separatism-is-in-the-alberta-air/Open linkView original on lemmy.ca
Albertan here, this is what the separatists want you to think. There’s no way the normal people of Alberta want that. Just more Russian propaganda
That’s what I am think. I just commented above that I haven’t met anybody yet who wants this. I can’t believe this is a common stance.
part of the psyop is to claim a large or majority view, then push the view, normalize it, get even the opposition to validate it and respond to it.
It's not. I grew up there and believe me, it's the kids who lived under the high voltage power lines or ate the lead paint chips off the siding of their homes are the principal constituents of this demographic.
They. Are. Morons.
Anyone who stops to think for a second about the ramifications of provincial separation would realize it's a fool hardy idea. Particularly for landlocked provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where all trade would have to pass through Canada/America and be at the mercy of those countries to do so.
Canada couldn't allow it's only major railroad line and road network connecting the country to be seperated like that as well. At best Canada would maintain ownership of the highways and raillines, but more likely it would violently fight over the transit rights and to keep the provinces in.
Also, it's obvious that America would simply annex the two new "nations" and turn them into something like
Puerto RicoUS Samoa, so American rule without any of the benefits like representation or citizenship.This is just foreign propaganda trying to destroy Canadian unity and interfere with our politics/election.
I am completely opposed to U.S. imperialism, but it's important to note that Puerto Rican's are U.S. citizens.
Ah, well then I'm mistaken, I was thinking of US Samoa. Thanks for letting me know.
Is it really though. Or are a few people just being loud about it.
I have family in Alberta, across the political spectrum, and none of them entertain the seperatist idea, not sure how popular it actually is.
There's polling from Angus Reid on this; it's not particularly popular - not enough to come close to winning a referendum, but it's still an uncomfortably high number of people who don't value Canada.
https://angusreid.org/smith-shapiro-sovereignty/
That poll is cited in the piece, and the fact that separatist sentiments in AB and SK are roughly on par with QC (where it's still treated as a serious threat) is kind of the central point.
Yep agree. I like having the numbers with these headlines, to avoid people getting the wrong impression.
E.g. "70-75% of Albertans oppose separatism, comparable to Quebec"
Provides similar information - but doesn't give the impression that everyone wants to separate. Its a threat, but let's not give it any extra credibility than it deserves?
It's worth noting that in the months preceding the 1995 referendum, the "yes" movement was hovering around 37%. They managed to propel that to 49.42% result in the referendum itself.
Definitely not to be taken lightly.
That's very useful context that I wasn't aware of - thanks for sharing!
For others interested: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Quebec_referendum#Opinion_polling
I haven’t heard anybody really voicing this wish in person here at all. Seems odd it’s so “popular”.
That probably means you keep good company - I would trust polls over anecdotes.
I work with some real dickheads. I would have heard.
When your toddler throws a tantrum the best thing to do is to give them a loving pat and ignore them. You can always come back when they've moved through their big feelings and are ready to be a part of the family again.
Stephen Maher can go fuck himself!
I am so fucking sick of this stupid dumbfuckery. It takes a really juvenile level intellect to throw a tantrum just because you don't get what you want. In particular when what you want is objectively terrible.
Alberta takes every opportunuty to sniff its own farts. They believe they are better than the rest of us, and that they have a divine right to tell us what to do.
Not necessarily at the individual level, but at the provincial, cultural level.
They're into the same wild self-egrandizing as the Americans. They can't say anything good about themselves without sneering at someone else. They are selfish, they are bullies, and they are a national embarrasment.
See you later snowflakes.
That is, in fact, cow urine. The fields are thawing. The scent is nearly indistinguishable however so all but the most refined urine sommelier would be fooled.
America is due south, it is trivial to cross the border and immigrate there.
GIVE ME MY WAY OR ILL RESORT TO VIOLENCE.
/s
In loving memory of René Lévesque, I say, let them have their day in the sun. Don't fester in the dark, air out their ideas, take their best shot. Canada will be stronger for it.