Some of us know a great deal about how we did not even look after our own basic defences. It started in earnest with Pierre Trudeau, who had no time for any Cdn military or Nato or the USA. He was persuaded to stay in Nato by his other ministers but only with a cut to the entire DND budget of about 50%, which followed on the heels of the morale-busting process called Unification. There was then no money avail to ensure that Unification had a chance to work -- and it continued to flounder with no other nation in the world following suit. Chretien also inflicted great cuts as did Mulroney and as did Harper. Bottom line? It will take decades to get to where other nations have been for those same decades. The hole is so deep it cannot be prolly filled and will need to have extraordinary priorities established to even resemble progress.
Jen's best interview yet. Really drew out good discussion from the guest. I hope he returns. There would be quite the knowledge to gain if they compared the cost and returns on NATO as opposed to NORAD.
For me, Canadians need to take a personal stake in the defense of our country. Bankroll our rearming and NATO commitments with a Second World War bond drive - Defense of Canada Bonds. No idea what the return would be but I believe most Canadians would buy bonds if they could.
Money printer go brrrr and young Canadians pay for it with their lifetime purchasing power. No special bonds required, nor tough choices about spending.
If only we had a celebrated economics PhD handy to explain to us how MMT "works just fine, actually" while their lessers worry about ridiculous things like whether their silly little work incomes let them 'buy things'.
I appreciate the insights of this guest. A fascinating conversation.
One point - I was surprised to hear that the US was asking Europe to increase its NATO spending in the Obama era. So this has been a long standing conversation.
Your guest states that Trump has gone about this the wrong way - that these conversations should have been in private. I’m not so sure.
Early 2010s - Obama asks. Europe ignores.
Russia invades crimea.
Trump 1 era - Trump warns. Europeans (and Trudeau) laugh at him.
Biden - A pipeline blows up. Europeans change very little. Continue offshoring manufacturing and energy.
Trump 2 era - Trump threatens. Europeans whine, increase military budgets and manufacturing.
Given this history I have a hard time believing that the Europeans would have listened to conversations with Trump in private. If they ignored the beloved Obama - it’s hard to think they’d be persuaded by the loathed Trump.
I appreciate the insights of this guest. A fascinating conversation.
One point - I was surprised to hear that the US was asking Europe to increase its NATO spending in the Obama era. So this has been a long standing conversation.
Your guest states that Trump has gone about this the wrong way - that these conversations should have been in private. I’m not so sure.
Early 2010s - Obama asks. Europe ignores.
Russia invades Crimea.
Trump 1 era - Trump warns. Europeans (and Trudeau) laugh at him.
Biden - A pipeline blows up. Europeans still change very little. Continue offshoring manufacturing and energy.
Trump 2 era - Trump threatens. Europeans whine, increase military budgets and manufacturing.
Given this history I have a hard time believing that the Europeans would have listened to conversations with Trump in private if they ignored the beloved Obama.
I found this in depth discussion very enlightening.
Thanks Jen.
Some of us know a great deal about how we did not even look after our own basic defences. It started in earnest with Pierre Trudeau, who had no time for any Cdn military or Nato or the USA. He was persuaded to stay in Nato by his other ministers but only with a cut to the entire DND budget of about 50%, which followed on the heels of the morale-busting process called Unification. There was then no money avail to ensure that Unification had a chance to work -- and it continued to flounder with no other nation in the world following suit. Chretien also inflicted great cuts as did Mulroney and as did Harper. Bottom line? It will take decades to get to where other nations have been for those same decades. The hole is so deep it cannot be prolly filled and will need to have extraordinary priorities established to even resemble progress.
Yes Hellyer and Trudeau did the country or our military no favours in 1968.
Jen's best interview yet. Really drew out good discussion from the guest. I hope he returns. There would be quite the knowledge to gain if they compared the cost and returns on NATO as opposed to NORAD.
Amazing Podcast!!!
For me, Canadians need to take a personal stake in the defense of our country. Bankroll our rearming and NATO commitments with a Second World War bond drive - Defense of Canada Bonds. No idea what the return would be but I believe most Canadians would buy bonds if they could.
Money printer go brrrr and young Canadians pay for it with their lifetime purchasing power. No special bonds required, nor tough choices about spending.
Then we will have ten jillion percent inflation.
If only we had a celebrated economics PhD handy to explain to us how MMT "works just fine, actually" while their lessers worry about ridiculous things like whether their silly little work incomes let them 'buy things'.
I appreciate the insights of this guest. A fascinating conversation.
One point - I was surprised to hear that the US was asking Europe to increase its NATO spending in the Obama era. So this has been a long standing conversation.
Your guest states that Trump has gone about this the wrong way - that these conversations should have been in private. I’m not so sure.
Early 2010s - Obama asks. Europe ignores.
Russia invades crimea.
Trump 1 era - Trump warns. Europeans (and Trudeau) laugh at him.
Biden - A pipeline blows up. Europeans change very little. Continue offshoring manufacturing and energy.
Trump 2 era - Trump threatens. Europeans whine, increase military budgets and manufacturing.
Given this history I have a hard time believing that the Europeans would have listened to conversations with Trump in private. If they ignored the beloved Obama - it’s hard to think they’d be persuaded by the loathed Trump.
I appreciate the insights of this guest. A fascinating conversation.
One point - I was surprised to hear that the US was asking Europe to increase its NATO spending in the Obama era. So this has been a long standing conversation.
Your guest states that Trump has gone about this the wrong way - that these conversations should have been in private. I’m not so sure.
Early 2010s - Obama asks. Europe ignores.
Russia invades Crimea.
Trump 1 era - Trump warns. Europeans (and Trudeau) laugh at him.
Biden - A pipeline blows up. Europeans still change very little. Continue offshoring manufacturing and energy.
Trump 2 era - Trump threatens. Europeans whine, increase military budgets and manufacturing.
Given this history I have a hard time believing that the Europeans would have listened to conversations with Trump in private if they ignored the beloved Obama.