Common Sense

March7th/25

When we look at the world today, there seems to be little of this (common sense) displayed. There are exceptions but they are few and far apart in our day-to-day journey. Of course, it is easy to pick apart all the foolishness in our world with the help of hindsight, but have we not been on this planet long enough to look to our past mistakes, and learn from them? No, it seems we have not. I have to put my own experiences of life as a perfect example of what I am trying to convey to anyone interested.

There are many examples that can be seen in recent displays of people and leaders and even countries naturally led by these same people. The one name that is on every tongue is Donald J. Trump. This guy has been in and out of the news for many decades and has over the years made many enemies and many more friends. You have to look at his accomplishments to understand why he has gained such a following and is admired by so many. Few of us are capable of taking our talents to such heights.

My mind goes to the Bible teaching of Jesus when he told the parable of the Talents. All of us are given something in the form of a Talent, large or small. It is what we do with it that matters to God. For those who are given much, they have a responsibility to give back more, and to give it back to God and mankind. If you have been given the Talent of a beautiful voice, or the ability to bake, or the talent of painting or teaching, even to smile and pass on your joy of living, whatever you have been given, your responsibility to your God is to take your talent to its highest form that will benefit man and please your God. That should be the goal of all of us going through this life. In years gone by, I have looked at people that were successful in business and admired them for using their talent to build and create things. Trump has to be on my short list of doing just that. In addition to his financial accomplishments, he has a family that seem to be quite normal and appreciative of their Patriarch. Being a good provider, husband and father is so important.

I have to admit that I have been quite a fan of Trump especially after the unfair humiliation of false legal charges leading up to his re-election. Two assassination attempts and horrific character assassination have given him a pass for some of his rhetoric. Trump’s book “The Art of the Deal” was inspirational to me as an entrepreneur and a small-time house flipper and landlord. So much of his campaign for President was just plain common sense especially in comparison to the Democrats’ attempt to govern and get re-elected.

However, in the back of my mind, I had a little voice saying, don’t get too excited about this guy, he is human and the higher he flies, the harder he will fall. When my country is threatened by a bully-like predator, all support is gone until he can justify such cavalier actions. Trump has attacked a long-time friend and ally. I am personally not entirely against a closer relationship with the USA. Perhaps some of our weaknesses could be addressed making our society a better place. Sharing and accepting both countries good aspects and discarding our bad ones, but only if our Canadian population agree in a fair conversion and a vote. This must be an equitable association. Perhaps this would be impossible in our world but wonders never cease. If any one province decides to succeed from Canada, (probably Alberta) our country would probably fall like a house of cards.

This is not the venue for a discussion on the merits of sanctions between countries in this piece. I was in favour of them against a country that plays with entirely different rules such as China, however, we are talking the U.S.A. and Canada who have been trading for 250 years. Over the past 60 years our trade with one another has developed into a very complex and complicated process that will tear both countries apart if Trump has his way. For a man of such wisdom and compassion, what is he thinking? I am not a fan of our PM Trudeau, but he is right when saying Trump has made a dumb move in riling a nation of peaceful and polite Canadians. We can also be very stubborn and resourceful. Canada proved that during the second world war. Crown corporations were established and under C.D. Howe our country went into high gear producing 80,000 military vehicles and 50,000 tanks. Our navy was the 3rd. largest in the world. That was accomplished with a population of 6 million. Think what we could accomplish with 42 million. Our mascot is not the beaver or the Canada goose or even the moose. Look out America for the bear, and not just a black bear but a Polar Bear! So, look out Mr. America, Superman may be around the next corner. And don’t poke this Bear! However, it will take time and some suffering but it is a wake-up call for our country that we must be more independent and start manufacturing our own goods as we did 75 years ago. Many changes will be experienced by our people and our way of life. We must be very careful to elect a government that can foresee a bright future and be gutsy enough to take us there.

Paul D. Scott rantingsandraves.com