And neither is it an excuse for centralizing power, making partisan appointments when they've historically been democratic, or running up a war budget when a quarter of the population can't afford food on the table.

[–] Kichae@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Did we forget the whole "join us, voluntarily or not" rhetoric coming from the White House? That language alone was a threat of war. Actual war. Like, with tanks and shit.

Carney is engaging in disaster capitalism, and must be called out for that. But let's not forget the disaster part.

[–] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca 1 points 51 minutes ago* (last edited 49 minutes ago)

Well I'm just glad that someone is mentioning disaster capitalism and that really is my main point to the premise of this post about centralization of power.

My "war" in quotations was about the economic war. Trump's posturing is fucked up, aggressive, and definitely threatening; and he was betting on Canada buying weapons from the US for protection like Denmark is doing.

[–] Polyphilic@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

You can reframe the point all you want. Bottom line is trump laid a wide suite of tariffs against Canada to create a win lose dynamic.

Its has direct negative impacts on the canadian economy and it was every bit intentional to do exactly that.

Trump attacked Canada, full stop.

Nice how you manage to conveniently gloss over his direct threats to canadian sovereignty.

And remember I said economic war, never suggested there was military involvement.

[+] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca -6 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

My friend, the point is he's governing as if it's a military war by centralizing the power of government. If you were looking at a different country and saw the same actions, you would judge their leadership a lot more harshly

[–] Polyphilic@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Even if they are, so what?

If you were looking at a different country that was actively being bullied, would you argue some crap about centralizing power?

If Denmark started centralizing power in response to trumps threats to the sovereignty of greenland, then what?

You talk like this is a problem that government is responding to external existential threats in the means that are available to them.

Are you arguing the Carney government should relinquish power?

Should they decentralize their capacity to influence things inside the country?

Perhaps you can answer just this.

What is your point?

[–] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca 1 points 53 minutes ago* (last edited 52 minutes ago) (1 children)

Um...its not a choice of centralization or decentralization of power. What? Those aren't the only choices!

Point: The choice is don't go against the Democratic process and principles.

Like when he made a partisan appointment to roles of governance

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-senate-tom-pitfield-9.7261037

Prime minister ends Trudeau-era policy of nonpartisan appointments

Following that thread, him appointing Martel to open another seat in that riding which Carney is betting goes to a liberal seat

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/politics/2026/07/07/pm-carney-poaches-conservative-mp-in-latest-batch-of-senate-appointments/

On the one hand, the Prime Minister gets to say that he’s non-partisan by appointing a Conservative to the Senate. On the other hand, creating an opening in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord creates a situation where the Liberals can win another seat

The liberal majority can already pass laws through with little discussion as we've seen with bill c-22 unfortunately. The majority is a democratically given centralization, for sure, but passing laws undemocratically and making partisan appointments is not the right way.

And Denmark didn't centralize their government if you want to use that example. They increased spending, sure, but didn't go against political norms.

[–] Polyphilic@lemmy.ca 1 points 31 minutes ago (1 children)

My point is that existential threats override real concern about incremental gains in administrative power by the government. I used Denmark as a hypothetical and parallel example of a country that could centralize given the same condiitons, threats to sovereignty, not anything to do with what theyre actually doing.

[–] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca 1 points 22 minutes ago (1 children)

If this is how we're rolling over with the "existential threat" of Trump going back and forth about a 51st state, the hell is going to happen if/when an actual war breaks out?

That's literally why the article is titled the way it is. War powers as if its wartime. But its not wartime.

[–] Polyphilic@lemmy.ca 1 points 19 minutes ago

Trump waging economic warfare against Canada.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

USA is not being isolationist.

They initiated regime change in Venezuela in January and invaded Iran in February.

They're also actively participating in trade talks.

You need to re-evaluate your opinions on things if you're operating on such misconceptions.

[–] systemglitch@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Lol!