@Bob Elder hds is correct. I was referring to US isolationism pre-WW2. The American withdrawal from the world stage–politically–after WW1 and their flat out refusal to enter WW2 before Pearl Harbour testifies to that. The huge surge in technological development in the US was at least partly necessitated by both wars but the unprecedented technological development during WW2 was decisive in moving the US to center of the international stage. For better–in the case of the Marshall Plan–and for worse–in the case of the CIA/Pentagon/Corporate convergence of geo-political/economic power. And for the very worst in the case of the Reagan-Bush-Twig years of megalomania, election theft, and irrational policies. That having been said, I’d rather see the US as the dominant economic/political power than, say, China…

Left and right dichotomies are products of a simple mind and a lack of reason or critical thought.

Having lived in North America for 7 years, most of it in Canada, I can honestly that Canada is not perfect. But it is (almost) as good as it gets, compared to others. Like perfect anything, perfect countries simply don’t exist, it would be very naive to think otherwise. Some are just (much) better than others. And imo, (and in the opinion of many surveying organisations) Canada is one of the best countries on earth.

@ Sarah. The tar sands industry is hardly new. Apart from the pollution – and landscape scarring – issues, water wastage (for production) is a major issue. Compare the coal industry in Australia. The Americans are mining oil in Alaska, for goodness sake. You drive your car, or buy nicknacks made in China, therefore they exist. $$$. Having been a greenie for 25years, I am not aware of countries with an untainted environmental records.

Harper (the Canadian minority Conservative “leader”) is a soul mate of Australia’s ex-PM John Howard. Like Howard, Harper’s time will come, but the opposition and its leadership are divided and in disarray.

@ Dave Harris. Nazis & Huntley? – BS & Yawn!
Michael Francis’ blogs? Lol! Can you even find Canada on a map of the world?

On reflection, I should add to my comment above that during the Trudeau years Canada did accept large numbers of ‘draft dodgers’, established the public health care system, encouraged immigration of highly skilled people from around the world, became a major participant in international aid and development, accepted large numbers of refugees, and encouraged the ‘multi-cultural’ Canadian ethos–although less successfully with its indigenous peoples.

During the Mulroney Conservative government, however, Canada opened its doors–no questions asked–to Hong Kong ‘businessmen’ who could pay a minimum of $250,000.00 each for acceptance as ‘landed immigrants’. Basically, the Conservatives were selling the right to enter Canada. What they got was Triad and Tong gangsters who set up shop in Vancouver and carried on their ‘business’ –of human trafficking, drug dealing, extortion, and retributive assassination of other Chinese in Canada!

Every country in the world has a sordid side and Canada is no exception. However, its policies have often been more humane, constructive and internationalist than most and there is the potential for ‘redemption’ at the next general election. Because they eschew controversy, Canadians are slower to change direction but when they have had their fill of Conservative abuses of power and disastrous policies like the tar sands, they’ll be looking for a middle course candidate to lead them into the next decade. For their sake–and for the world’s sake–I hope that is sooner rather later.