Canada and the World

[lenaitch]

Industrial Revolution, transatlantic slavery and colonialism bringing advanced tech and wealth to Europe.

True, but what underlying cultural conditions allows Europe to start to flourish and the ME to stagnate? A lot of the math and scientific principles that enabled the Industrial Revolution originated in the ME. Even in terms of trans-oceanic exploration and trade, Europe built increasingly larger and more capable ships, but draw a lot from navigation and astrological concepts that came from the ME. There is little evidence that Middle Eastern cultures travelled much beyond their immediate area.

I think there are a number of factors, including climate, agriculture, etc., but the cultural role of tribalism and religion can't be ignored.

 

[Admiral Beez]

True, but what underlying cultural conditions allows Europe to start to flourish and the ME to stagnate?

One of the big reasons the Brits thrived over the French and Spanish and then the ME world was the British system of financing though public bonds and solid banking. ME cannot work with debt. But really, had the Ottomans chosen the right side in WW1 the ME would be vastly different today.

 

[lenaitch]

One of the big reasons the Brits thrived over the French and Spanish and then the ME world was the British system of financing though public bonds and solid banking. ME cannot work with debt. But really, had the Ottomans chosen the right side in WW1 the ME would be vastly different today.

True, but the roots go much further back.

 

[kEiThZ]

Is there any Arab (or Persian) state that has successfully removed a despot and become a stable, liberal democracy? I just don't think they have it in them. Instead they go from tyrant to tyrant, often with a ton of theocratic meddling.

Tunisia. Birthplace of the Arab Spring.

People forget that a lot of the Middle East is a mess because of colonial legacy. Borders drawn arbitrarily by powers not native to the region. Centuries of resources taken from there and their civil societies dismantled and recentered on London, Paris, Istanbul, etc. it's going to take centuries to undo a mess that took centuries to get into.

 

[Northern Light]

@kEiThZ any thoughts on what's going on (or not) with CFB Suffield?

British departure means uncertain future for Alberta's massive Suffield military base

A sprawling military training base more than twice the size of New York City in southeastern Alberta appears to be a shadow of its former self while its future use remains up in the air.

calgary.ctvnews.ca

 

[kEiThZ]

@kEiThZ any thoughts on what's going on (or not) with CFB Suffield?

British departure means uncertain future for Alberta's massive Suffield military base

A sprawling military training base more than twice the size of New York City in southeastern Alberta appears to be a shadow of its former self while its future use remains up in the air.

calgary.ctvnews.ca

Not much to say. It's in the middle of nowhere. And increasingly Europeans don't find the training value justifiable to ship equipment to the East Coast and then train it to Suffield. Only to then do the reverse when leaving. We don't really like doing that either. Hard to fault the Europeans.

Suffield itself will survive in some form. Some explosives, chemical and biological agents are tested there. No other facility for this in the country. Beyond that, there's limited use.

DRDC Suffield - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[kEiThZ]

Really happy to see this partnership with the UK, with one of my course mates from my Captain's course as one of the leads:

RAF Lossiemouth pilots undertake the training of Canadian Air Force Pilots

Poseidon instructors from RAF Lossiemouth are training Royal Canadian Air Force maritime crews

www.strathspey-herald.co.uk

And there was more enthusiasm among the crews for Europe than the US. My friend had reservations about taking a posting in Florida with young children.

 

[lenaitch]

Not much to say. It's in the middle of nowhere. And increasingly Europeans don't find the training value justifiable to ship equipment to the East Coast and then train it to Suffield. Only to then do the reverse when leaving. We don't really like doing that either. Hard to fault the Europeans.

Suffield itself will survive in some form. Some explosives, chemical and biological agents are tested there. No other facility for this in the country. Beyond that, there's limited use.

DRDC Suffield - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Back in its heyday, didn't the British Army leave a lot of their kit there and just move people back and forth? I can imagine with their cutbacks, they can't afford to leave that much equipment stranded. Also, didn't they open a training space in the Middle East (Qatar?) fairly recently? I imagine with the advancements in simulators, less actual 'seat time' is required.

Much like the NATO training that used to happen out of Goose Bay, training gets expensive.

Really happy to see this partnership with the UK, with one of my course mates from my Captain's course as one of the leads:

RAF Lossiemouth pilots undertake the training of Canadian Air Force Pilots

Poseidon instructors from RAF Lossiemouth are training Royal Canadian Air Force maritime crews

www.strathspey-herald.co.uk

And there was more enthusiasm among the crews for Europe than the US. My friend had reservations about taking a posting in Florida with young children.

Indeed. I had a friend that was TD'd to a large base in Texas (I forget which one). Single, but he said for all practical purposes he was essentially confined to base.

 

[kEiThZ]

Back in its heyday, didn't the British Army leave a lot of their kit there and just move people back and forth? I can imagine with their cutbacks, they can't afford to leave that much equipment stranded.

This is just it. They are in only slightly better shape than us. They don't have a ton of extra kit to keep as training stores in a foreign country these days. And it's kinda funny to hear Canadians (not you) who want the economic activity, suggest that they can do that, when we can't do the same for a Brigade in Europe.

 

[kEiThZ]

Indeed. I had a friend that was TD'd to a large base in Texas (I forget which one). Single, but he said for all practical purposes he was essentially confined to base.

If you're not a white guy, feels like the US might be more precarious these days. But also, members who have school age kids have been weary about American postings for a while with school shootings. Of course, we can send our kids to private schools abroad. But that's no safety guarantee. My daughter's on-base daycare in the military housing patch (not inside the fence line) had reinforced blast doors from the reception to the main area in California. And military police drove by every hour. This was in one of the richest counties in the US. Gives you pause when you see that.

 

[lenaitch]

But also, members who have school age kids have been weary about American postings for a while with school shootings.

Or only being able to learn about creationism, or soon, being vilified for being vaccinated.

I see your point about being other than a white guy. My friend is, but between the size and location of the base, it just wasn't practical to go anywhere, and the US 'hosts' were anything but.

 

[Admiral Beez]

We need to start looking at India with a more skeptical eye.

I'm all for pressing a big reset on Canada's connections and relations with India. For starters it's nuts to rely on one nation for the majority of our immigrants, while also relying on the same for our unskilled labour, gig workers, TFWs and for propping up our otherwise underfunded post-secondary schools through scam student permit programs.

The student program should have never been a path to permanent residence. Every Study Permit application should have the three below terms and conditions:

1. Purpose of the Visa: This student visa is issued solely for the purpose of pursuing your studies at [Institution Name] in Canada. It is a temporary visa, and its primary function is to allow you to study and engage in academic activities. It is not a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship in Canada.

2. Temporary Nature of the Visa: Your student visa is valid only for the duration of your enrolled academic program or course of study. Upon the completion of your studies, you are required to leave Canada immediately, unless you apply for and are granted a different visa that legally allows you to remain, such as a work visa.

3. No Pathway to Permanent Residence: This student visa does not confer eligibility for permanent resident status or citizenship in Canada. You are not permitted to apply for permanent residency or citizenship while holding this visa. If you wish to apply for permanent status in Canada, you must do so separately and in person at your country of origin in accordance with the immigration laws and procedures of Canada.

Meanwhile the reliance on India for cheap, unskilled labour is reminiscent of the Empire's Indian indenture system. This cheap labour drives down innovation investment in Canada.

Look at the below compared to 1980 where we had people from across the globe coming to Canada, including a good portion from India.

Though I wonder what colonies the "UK and Colonies" section is referring to, since the only colony of any size in 1980, Hong Kong is listed separately. In 1980, besides Hong Kong, Britain's colonies were as follows: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Indian government doesn't like us, and Indian people are increasingly unhappy with their lot here. Let's return to making Canada an attractive place for the world, including India's skilled to come to live.