The most obvious example Canadian crapulence I can think of is the expansion of wind energy. I still vividly remember ex-prime minister Martin making a theatrical display of Bush’s rejection of Kyoto. The point lost on Mr. Martin was that the Americans are solidly in third place in the world new wind projects. More incredibly, as of 2007, Texas overcame California as the premier producer of wind energy. (Recant silly Texan jokes here)Still more amazingly, the carbon credit program receiving a second look as the motivations for manipulation are overwhelming its effect at reducing emissions. IE the political result to a political problem.

The irony here is Martin’s successor has withdrawn from Kyoto with his own made in Canada solution. The result is in 2008 the Americans will move into the second spot as a top wind producing region while the Canada can take heart that we talked a good game.

This leads into your NIMBY and BANNANA comments by highlighting constructive vs. unconstructive environmentalist issues. Solutions cannot occur if all attempts are stymied under the weight of excessive fear of pollution.

Yes we can all agree that rising ocean levels are negative. We can agree that rising temperatures are bad. But what happens if our natural gas runs short and we are faced with only a few months to change out every furnace in Canada? As I’ve stated we are already importing Russian gas for eastern consumption. Maybe we should revisit legislating the 25 year gas supply minimum back into law? Unfortunately to do that would require bringing up NAFTA and our trade relations with all the negative connotations associated with it.

We must balance human need by placing emphasis on areas of future deficit. That is progressive thinking. Such emphasis is lacking in the Gore-movement.

The point is should a watershed event occur contracting supply, we’ll burn the dirtiest thing we can get our hands onto. What is the alternative, chop every tree in the forest? Does this sound like an environmentally responsible thing to do?

You asked what is Canadian Patriotism? It is reinvigorating just enough national pride to give a damn about pressing issues of substance but not so much that we become distracted by our own hubris or fearful of a bully.

Trouble

For all the grief the United States receives for their wars abroad, couldn’t it be possible that their government is doing the right thing? Aren’t governments supposed to look after the interests of the people? I’m reminded of a quote from Three Days of the Condor about the relationship between people and government, “Ask them (the people)when they’re running out. Ask them when there’s no heat in their homes and they’re cold. Ask them when their engines stop. Ask them when people who have never known hunger start going hungry. You want to know something? They won’t want us (the government) to ask them. They’ll just want us to get it for them.”

Perhaps patriotism starts with the knowledge that your country has your back (hence all the cries of, “I’m an American!” whenever a US citizen is being held in detention in a foreign country in the movies). That your country will oppress others so your way of life can go on. Isn’t our way of life worth fighting for?

Of course I could have patriotism all wrong.