Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is our neighbor to the north becoming a jingoistic petro-state? [lib finger-wagging]
Slate ^ | 20 Jan 2012 | Will Oremus

Posted on 01/23/2012 8:08:35 AM PST by oblomov

It’s well known that America’s dependence on foreign oil forces us to partner with some pretty unsavory regimes. Take, for instance, the country that provides by far the largest share of our petroleum imports. Its regime, in thrall to big oil interests, has grown increasingly bellicose, labeling environmental activists “radicals” and “terrorists” and is considering a crackdown on nonprofits that oppose its policies. It blames political dissent on the influence of “foreigners,” while steamrolling domestic opposition to oil projects bankrolled entirely by overseas investors. Meanwhile, its skyrocketing oil exports have sent the value of its currency soaring, enriching energy industry barons but crippling other sectors of its economy.

Yes, Canada is becoming a jingoistic petro-state.

OK, so our friendly northern neighbor isn’t exactly Saudi Arabia or Venezuela. But neither is it the verdant progressive utopia once viewed as a haven by American liberals fed up with George W. Bush. These days Canada has a Dubya of its own. And judging by a flurry of negative press from around the world—the latest: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other African leaders are taking out newspaper ads accusing Canada of contributing to famine and drought on the continent—it seems anti-Canadianism could be the new anti-Americanism.

Stephen Harper, the son of an oil-company accountant, built his political career in Alberta, a province whose right-wing tendencies and booming energy sector make it Canada’s equivalent of Texas. Harper took over the Conservative Party in 2004 and became prime minister two years later on a platform that evoked Bush’s “compassionate conservatism.” In 2009, he quelled a Bush-esque Afghan-detainee abuse scandal by sending the parliament home to forestall further investigation.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Canada; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: canada; energypolicy; keystone; keystonepipeline; oil
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last
Canada, land of opportunity and economic growth; the U.S., beacon of ossified economic classes and state coordination of the economy with the business elite.

We are becoming more like Peron's Argentina by the day.

1 posted on 01/23/2012 8:08:43 AM PST by oblomov
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: oblomov

To: The Canadians..

From: The everyday citizens of the United States..

Subject: Keystone Pipeline...

Dear Canada,
We the citizens of the United States of America understand if you choose to put a pipeline to your west coast to sell your oil abroad. We ask that at the juncture where this pipeline was supposed to go to the US, that you install a “T” joint with valve at this location. The reason is that soon the communist socialist muslim loving american hating SOB that occupies the White House will soon be gone, and the hard working normal american would love nothing better than to purchase and consume your product. This will give you flexibility like you have not known in the past, and will undoubtably increase your profit potentional,

Sincerely,
The average American worker.


2 posted on 01/23/2012 8:12:37 AM PST by joe fonebone (Project Gunwalker, this will make watergate look like the warm up band......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

So there you have it: Canada is just racist.


3 posted on 01/23/2012 8:13:17 AM PST by Tzimisce (Never forget that the American Revolution began when the British tried to disarm the colonists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

The article just illustrates the insane leftist mindset.


4 posted on 01/23/2012 8:13:37 AM PST by headstamp 2 (Time to move forward not to the center.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

Oh, for pity freaking sake. Canada has a multi-century tradition of being strong in natural resources. They are doing everything they can to offer us the oil and it is the US acting like pantywaste that cannot make up its twisted little mind whether to act or not. “Dumbest Article Ever” award.


5 posted on 01/23/2012 8:19:06 AM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (The only economic certainty: When it all blows up, Krugman will say we didn't spend enough.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joe fonebone

I like it. Why not call it the ‘”T” Joint Movement’ and accept members. I’d like to be your first member.


6 posted on 01/23/2012 8:19:50 AM PST by davisfh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

Oil sales pay for the Canadian Left’s welfare rackets, American lefties whine.


7 posted on 01/23/2012 8:20:09 AM PST by junta ("Peace is a racket", testimony from crime boss Barrack Hussein Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov; Clive; fanfan

Harper Derangement Syndrome has now been identified in Canada (unfortunately).

The bleeding-hearts that control the CBC, the Globe and Mail, and Canadian Press are determined to do all they can - whether moral or not - to make “conservative” a four-letter word.

The smear campaign going on up here is almost unbelievable.


8 posted on 01/23/2012 8:23:19 AM PST by canuck_conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

“Jingoistic”?......Canada is becoming bent on military domination? Our liberals/progressives are worried that Canada is going to come down and get us? Are they worried about the boogie-man, too? Gotta prop-up their guy Obama. He didn’t want that oil pipeline because those bad Canadians are “jingoistic”. It doesn’t have anything to do with political blackmail by the US environmentalists. Obama chose environmentalist WORRIES over union FAMILIES. So, now they try and blame it on the Canadians. What a bunch of children the Democrats are. They act like a bunch of 10 year olds.


9 posted on 01/23/2012 8:26:31 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov
Have we already become so insignificant that the world has moved on to hating someone else.

I'm hurt. We want to be the exceptional nation that all others loath. We want to to be bellicose and brash with our determination and flamboyant success militarily and economically. Come on, world. You can hate us again. We're not done saving you ungrateful SOBs from genocide, natural disasters, starvation, oppressive dictators, terrorists, pirates, nuclear national threats, Iran, etc.

Next, we are going to hear Radical Islaam announce an end to the war and declare victory.

10 posted on 01/23/2012 8:32:39 AM PST by Tenacious 1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tenacious 1

Dang it! I forgot the sarcasm tag.

It’s a stupid article.


11 posted on 01/23/2012 8:36:06 AM PST by Tenacious 1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

12 posted on 01/23/2012 8:39:47 AM PST by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

We should be the ultimate “petro state”.

I believe if you rank the countries of the world by the potential BTUs they have in the ground the US would rank NUMBER 1. Oil, coal, gas, uranium...we have it all in abundance.

Lets divide up both countries and then recombine them based on ideology. We could have the Republic of North America and the Socialist States of North America.

One could develop its natural resources and the other could fulfill its deepest green fantasies.


13 posted on 01/23/2012 8:43:13 AM PST by FreedomNotSafety
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

From what little I’ve read, Canadians see us going through a nutty Trudeau era of our own, and that we’ll soon come to our senses.


14 posted on 01/23/2012 8:44:29 AM PST by Stalwart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: canuck_conservative

that newsbabe Wendy on The National goes out of her way
to disparage the Government.


15 posted on 01/23/2012 8:49:35 AM PST by RitchieAprile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: oblomov

To the leftist everything is political. Canada is at odds with their boy so now Canada is an enemy.


16 posted on 01/23/2012 8:50:55 AM PST by skeeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov
Countries DO NOT have friends.

Countries have interests.

Obama has made it crystal clear that even when American interests can best be served by fulfilling Canada's interests, he, personally has decided to screw with them, just because it hurts the country he personally hates above all.

The one he was raised to think of as the source of all the worlds problems, the one his religion calls The Great Satan.

US.

17 posted on 01/23/2012 9:03:55 AM PST by null and void (Day 1098 of America's ObamaVacation from reality [Heroes aren't made, Frank, they're cornered...])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov
Leave Canada alone!!!


18 posted on 01/23/2012 9:04:01 AM PST by Night Hides Not (My dream ticket for 2012 is John Galt & Dagny Taggart!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: headstamp 2
The article just illustrates the insane leftist mindset.

Not quite.

Besides wanting to wound, to cripple, to humble America, they left claims to be concerned about environmental damage from potential pipeline leaks and the actual use of the oil in the USofA.

To "Save The Environment" they prefer it be shipped by poorly maintained foreign supertankers across the Pacific and burned in a country that is exempt from Kyoto Protocols and has no functional pollution control measures.

19 posted on 01/23/2012 9:11:52 AM PST by null and void (Day 1098 of America's ObamaVacation from reality [Heroes aren't made, Frank, they're cornered...])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: null and void
The author of this article did not even bother to investigate the technology NOW USED to exploit the tar sands? The methodology that he describes being employed is ancient. Leaves one skeptical about the validity of this piece of yellow journalism?
It is apparent when you read through this that facts and the truth were secondary to the intents of this author.
Fact number 1 the US has more than enough oil, in one form or another, to not only become self sufficient but a net exporter for the foreseeable future!
Canada is the USA northern connection to oil, Brazil is the southern one. The main difference is that George Soros “that great capitalist friend of the American President” is not increasing his share values with tar sands oil sales! Can one come to the same conclusion with Petro Brazil? Are they not drilling, or about to, in the Gulf where American companies wait two or three times as long for drilling permits?

Wake up Americans; it’s a hard cruel world out there and if you do not buy our oil that’s fine. Lose the billions of investments and the thousands of jobs so your President can “bow tow for votes” from his lefty environmentalists friends.
Obama by his refusal is helping us form deeper commercial bonds with the Communist Chinese! Go figure!

20 posted on 01/23/2012 9:41:36 AM PST by Jocko from Canada
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson