The Crime That Killed Shinzo Abe

Re:The Crime That Killed Shinzo Abe by atwood22 on Sunday July 10, 2022 @01:01PM (#32046478)

I can tell you're very passionate about these issues. I think you're falling into a trap, however, that has basically consumed the U.S. and all but ensured its fall from grace. I live in the U.S., but spend a large amount of time in Canada (3 months of the year). Canada is a great country compared to the U.S. Income inequality is much lower than in the U.S., you have decent health care, a sizable "blue collar" industry, the social fabric is strong, the people are nice, the country is stable, the nature is beautiful, etc. etc. etc.

While Canada certainly has problems, I think it's important to remember that while things can certainly be better, that doesn't mean things are bad. The Rogers incident, for instance. It would be better if the incident didn't happen, but is really not worth being angry over. In the U.S., people seem to have forgotten this and began to get angry over why things weren't "better" even though things were really good. This divided the country, allowed a large percentage of the population to be controlled by outrage, and the aftermath is playing out right before our eyes. Before getting angry, try to identify all the things you have to be grateful for.

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Re:The Crime That Killed Shinzo Abe by cmrdporcupine on Sunday July 10, 2022 @01:25PM (#32046723)

I don't want Canada to be mediocre; but it is. It has amazing potential as the multicultural, less dysfunctional, more socially compassionate alternative North American state.

But we have -- since before our confederation -- been dominated by insular and mediocre monopoly interests. From the Northwest and Hudson's Bay Company to Rogers and Bell. From the Family Compact to the insular board rooms of Calgary's oil sector or Bay Street. A set of local self-connected classes that circle around the same elite private schools and family parties.

Yes, our health care system has advantages over the US. But it's a system heavily rationed and under crisis because of waves of abuse and a lack of will to reform. I've been waiting since February for an MRI for a knee injury I got skiing, and I only haven't ducked south to Buffalo to get it done in the US because I didn't have money coming in until recently.

That's a minor inconvenience though compared to the state of our emergency rooms right now.

I'm passionate about these issues because I think Canada can be way better, especially if the point of comparison is not the US as a whole; but individual states or various western European countries (esp Scandinavia)

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Re:The Crime That Killed Shinzo Abe by sudosysgen on Sunday July 10, 2022 @01:33PM (#32046812)

The issue is that things are getting worse and politics are decaying. Eventually this will lead to the same thing as what happened in the US. Being a milquetoast centrist and forcing yourself not to care won't help prevent that when things are actually getting worse either in actuality or in perception.

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Re:The Crime That Killed Shinzo Abe by deepsquirrelnet on Sunday July 10, 2022 @02:09PM (#32047225)

I don’t think jumping onto the outrage bandwagons will prevent it either — and in fact only deepens the problem by making yourself more susceptible to manipulation.

I think most people would be better served to recognize that their sphere of influence is a lot more local than their social media voices would lead them to believe. Being a positive influence for your family, friends and coworkers has far more consequential effects than some cheap tweet that somehow went viral 3 years ago and only added well-stated validation to an issue supported by people who already made up their minds.

Politics might become ground into the dirt, but it’s always been strong relationships that hold together the social fabric and prevent radicalization.

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