Whoa Canada, whoa Canada...

Canada has elected a "conservative" prime minister. Stephen Harper intends to join Bush's missile defense initiative, slow government spending, get rid of national day care, and cut taxes, but has "distanced himself" from those who want to restrict abortion and ban gay marriage.

Well, American liberals, you can no longer just jump in a car and run away to a nice good happy place. All over the world, values like nationalism and capitalism - OK, pretty much nationalism and capitalism - have asserted themselves since the end of the 90s. Self-styled "conservatives" have been the ones to take advantage of these ideas, and have turned them to their own often dubious purposes, which sometimes include war or enriching fat cats.

But nationalism and capitalism don't necessarily lead to wars and fat cats. Liberals have been spinning our heels and hoping that nationalism sinks back into the swamp and capitalism slows its churn, and this has gotten us nowhere. Maybe it's time we harnessed these power sources for ourselves. Nationalism can be a source of pride, and lead to a drive for inclusion and national improvement, as it did in the 60s and way back in the 1830s. Capitalism can provide opportunity for the poor and disadvantaged if turned in the right directions.

Liberals should be the ones to say things like:
"Gay Americans are Americans too, so of course they deserve equality."
"We love our country, so we want to protect its natural beauty and resources."
"Let's increase America's international prestige through alliances and cooperation."
"Educating the poor leads to economic growth."

In short, maybe it's time liberals started putting American flags on our own cars (hybrids, of course). Because driving across the Canadian border doesn't take you as far away as it used to.


Note: We may have problems, but at least our country doesn't have to fight off an invasion of giant jellyfish! Unless you count people from Chicago.