this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Everyone agrees Canada should spend more on defence.

False

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, I think the need for defense spending is increasingly clear these days, no?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think the same could be said about the affordability and housing crisis, or the climate crisis, or preparedness for a potential bird flu pandemic...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sure, and I agree. Your point?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'd rather increase funds for the things I suggested, whereas it sounds like you see increased defence spending as a greater priority. We can agree to disagree

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, I don't think we actually disagree with much - I certainly agree with the priorities you listed.

However, I also think that defense is also a priority - one that is becoming increasingly urgent with the general state of the world and the unreliability of our closest ally, and that has been neglected for decades.

And I'm not sure I buy in to the idea that we have to choose amongst those priorities. That kind of rhetoric is used to justify all kinds of cuts.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, I don’t think we actually disagree with much

You may be right. I see the things I highlighted as directly and predictably improving the lives of the working class (and hopefully their civic engagement by extension), whereas defence spending directly and predictably improves the earnings of arms manufacturers and the fossil fuel industry and may improve the lives of the working classes. With an objectively false headline like CBC ran, I feel a need to counter some palpable bias

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Fair enough - I do think the article makes it clear who the "everyone" is in this case - provincial and federal leadership - but I totally get why you'd bristle at it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Bristle is a great word :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Well that's true by definition.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think headlines should also be true, especially taxpayer-funded headlines

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't think anyone who disagrees lives in the real world. We need to be spending on defense otherwise we have a very real risk of being ousted from alliances like NATO, and that would leave Canada effectively defenseless.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I don't even have faith in the USA to do the right thing. We've been hit with tariffs from the USA on aluminum and steel before because of 'reasons for national security' during the first Trump term. We need to start thinking of defending ourselves without the help of the USA because we shouldn't be concerned about our defence after the way Michigan votes every 4 years.

Even beyond that, the amount of Russian control over the US administration in the next term may be significant. We may not be able to work with the US in matters of intelligence for fear of some information going to the Russians. The US might not step in and help NATO if Russia decides to test our resolve to defend Finland for instance, and wouldn't it be good if the rest of the alliance could do their fair share of the work defending the rest of democracy even if the USA won't?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What does this have to do with what I said in my original comment about Canada needing to increase defense spending to avoid being left in the cold by NATO and other alliances?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago

...agreeing with your point and expanding on it. Yes, for not spending enough NATO won't look after us, but also we can't trust the USA to protect us.