Results: This survey is about how we can choose to view world events from a glass half full or glass half empty perspective. If we focus on the bleak it only seems bleaker. If we look for silver linings when things seem bleak, we often can find them.
Published on 03/06/2025
Recent events from Washington (as reported by mainstream media) make it seem as if the world has gone mad. Two hours after watching the news and after having time to reflect on it, things don't seem so bad. Maybe Trump is not the domineering megalomaniac he appears to be. Perhaps he is a master tactician who is several steps ahead of most traditional politicians. When looked at dispassionately, several positives appear possible. Here are some of them (if you disagree, please do so politely).
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Canada may now feel under attack from a once friendly neighbor due to the tariff threats, threats of annexation, personal attacks on some (most) of our political leaders etc. Here are some silver linings from that shift in Canada/US relationships. Which of them do you agree are positives (unintended or otherwise).
Canada and Canadians are more united than they have been in decades. We are developing stronger inter-provincial trade relationships including removal of trade barriers, the expansion of east/west pipelines and a buy Canadian movement last seen in the late 60s early 70s.
34%
738 votes
Now that the US has become a less reliable trading partner, Canada is forming trading alliances with other countries and no longer has all its "trading eggs in one basket." Canada may even join the EU and become more European than North American.
33%
727 votes
Trump's initial excuse for tariffs was to get Canada to strengthen its border to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. This now appears to have been a "smoke screen" to hide his true intentions (to grab Canada's resources and even our land). Canada nevertheless took Trump at his word and has responded to his initial complaints. Canada will be a much tougher negotiator in the future and will be less reliant on the US.
31%
690 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
20 votes
Not Applicable
46%
1019 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.46% | 10 | |
| Canada will be a much tougher negotiator in the future and will be less reliant on the US.---That is laughable! | 0.05% | 1 |
| Trump Derangement Syndrome Vaccine | 0.05% | 1 |
| He has burnt his bridges with Canada. The animosity will remain for a long time if ever. | 0.05% | 1 |
| I think the tariffs are mostly "show business"; the one for Columbia did what was planned. Canada tariffs on hold. | 0.05% | 1 |
| What many do not understand-"the glass is refillable." | 0.05% | 1 |
| Pipelines are not an alternative to renewable sources of energy. | 0.05% | 1 |
| There's nothing like a threat to get a country united against the "enemy". These outcomes may be initially satisfying to Canadians, but in the long run they will be a detriment to world peace and further isolationis | 0.05% | 1 |
| Trump wants Trudeau to get serious about illegal people and drugs entering Canada but Trudeau is making it anything else. | 0.05% | 1 |
| USA will always gain from wanting to own the Canadian economy | 0.05% | 1 |
| To stop the fentanyl and sex trafficking, Canada should fortify its border | 0.05% | 1 |
2.
2.
The recent Ukraine Washington cat fight showed that Trump is focused more on deal making than diplomacy. He does not think that the US should be the world's police service. Getting involved in every squabble to try to avoid wars means spending $billions of taxpayer money that only benefits the military industrial complex. His recent deal making with Putin, while bypassing every other leader, had the following positive outcomes. Which do you also see as positives?
Having spent $billions in Ukraine's' war with Russia, the "first dibs" access the US has to Ukraine minerals will help US industry and offset most if not all of the money spent.
16%
342 votes
When you look at the map from Putin's standpoint there is an obvious need for a free passage to the Mediterranean via eastern Ukraine and the Crimea. Wars have been fought before over this. Having Ukraine in NATO and blocking this access guarantees future strife. Trump understands this and has made a deal with Putin that Ukraine is in no position to defy. The only surprise is that this "offer you can't refuse" was made with the world media as onlookers.
15%
320 votes
The politicians in Europe, most of whom hate Trump, have rallied around Ukraine and have committed their support against Russia with very few strings attached. Europe will now be fighting the fight and paying the bills - not the United States. Russia will be on its best behavior as well now that Trump has this deal in place. The US is the big winner in this war.
24%
525 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
33 votes
Not Applicable
58%
1277 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.57% | 7 | |
| Trump feel he is entitled to interfear and try and bully other countries to do what he wants. | 0.08% | 1 |
| The UK signed a 100 year minerals rights deal with Ukraine. They expect US taxpayers to continue footing the bill for the war. Trump is the only one who truly wants peace | 0.08% | 1 |
| People will see how poorly he treats others. How is this positive? Well, it is good to know who you are really dealing with. | 0.08% | 1 |
| None of the above | 0.08% | 1 |
| DavKar is a rump lovin asshoIe | 0.08% | 1 |
| I don't see any of these outcomes as positive in the long run. Putin will set his sights on some other conquest and strife will start all over again. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Trump shouldn't be making deals with Putin; the dictator | 0.08% | 1 |
| Haven't forgotten how the Ukraine government treated its non-whites living in Ukraine at the start of the war! | 0.08% | 1 |
| Trump was focused on diplomatically ending the war instead of continuing bloodshed and a continuing drain on the American wallet. Unfortunately, only one of those occurred. | 0.08% | 1 |
| There cannot be any positive aspect | 0.08% | 1 |
| You are wrong in #3. The U.S. is 14th in helping Ukraine. Europe is way ahead. I disagree with all. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Perhaps a bit too simplistic. I feel that the outcome will be America's decline as a world power. | 0.08% | 1 |
| none | 0.08% | 1 |
| So USA is doing this not because it's the right thing but because it's in their financial best interest? That's what a prostitute would do. | 0.08% | 1 |
| other | 0.08% | 1 |
| Id you look into Ukraine's history, Russia never really gave up ownership. | 0.08% | 1 |
| No one wins in a war | 0.08% | 1 |
| Trump and Vance putting the arrogant, petulant and dishonest Ukrainian president back in its place. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Its NOT over until the BIG leader SINGS | 0.08% | 1 |
| Trump is Putin's pupprt | 0.08% | 1 |
| Russia and US benefit (rare minerals and shipping access) at the expense of a sovereign nation and its people is not a "positionline ve" outcome for Ukraine! | 0.08% | 1 |
| Undecided | 0.08% | 1 |
| So what is this so-called deal and how do we assess it when it doesn't exist? | 0.08% | 1 |
| The U.S shouldn't be the World Police service,why should we waste our money and resources on other countries | 0.08% | 1 |
| Not sure | 0.08% | 1 |
| Trump will get Zyllinskyy back to the table and make the deal. | 0.08% | 1 |
3.
3.
Other world leaders are tripping over themselves to meet will Trump to make a deal before their enemies (political or commercial) do. A world war is being fought using trade as the weapon. Even the threat of a tariff is enough to get most world leaders in line. Without a shot being fired, here are some positives from this strategy. Which do you agree seems possible?
Both Canada and Mexico will strengthen their borders at almost no cost to the US.
23%
511 votes
If China flexes its muscles against Taiwan, undercuts US pricing to the detriment of US business, messes with the Panama Canal or any other sphere of US influence, a tariff missile will be sure to follow. China will behave itself for the next 4 years.
14%
304 votes
Hamas, Hezbollah and other warring factions in the US will see the commercial benefits of making peace. There is no money to be made in the rubble of all these middle east cities. There is however money to be made in the rebuilding of them and for this they need peace and investment dollars. Gaza, Beirut and other war zones will be redeveloped once Hamas et al stop attacking Israel. The big loser in this will be Iran unless it gets on the side of peace.
15%
338 votes
Global powers who once supported wars in the middle east and elsewhere will now use trade and investment as their weapons. The US has more money to spend than any other power with the possible exception of China and China's wealth relies very heavily on its trade with the US.
15%
320 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
25 votes
Not Applicable
59%
1299 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.40% | 6 | |
| i really couldn't answer this. It bothers me to have heartbreak over this mess | 0.07% | 1 |
| The U.S., via CIA, destabilized the Middle East. Big money from oil and opium. Also, drugs and sex trafficking from Mexico's border brings them billions of dollars. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Is aerospace competitive and what are the impacts for future airspace peace among among nations | 0.07% | 1 |
| all of these are just wrong to have to implement ... it wasn't broken so we don't need to fix it ... Trumpy is a greedy dictator | 0.07% | 1 |
| Actually, we are strengthening the wrong border. Shouldn't we be protecting ourselves from external enemies. We could be stopping Russian submarines with nuclear weapons, but instead we need to stop 1% of fentanyl . | 0.07% | 1 |
| None of the above. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Stupid stupid dumb stupid dumb stupid dumb stupid dumb | 0.07% | 1 |
| Once again, the possible outcomes represent only a short-term solution. They won't lead to world peace or long-term relief from military, political, or financial issues. | 0.07% | 1 |
| World leaders are not tripping over themselves to meet with Trump | 0.07% | 1 |
| I disagree | 0.07% | 1 |
| other | 0.07% | 1 |
| none of the above | 0.07% | 1 |
| Remember that all super powerful and super rich fall down from their tower in disgrace. | 0.07% | 1 |
| I disagree with all of the above. Trump has no clue how Tariffs work | 0.07% | 1 |
| China has announced they are ready if Chump wants trade or any sort of war whatsoever. He wants war they are ready to give it to him. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Sad that the world has come to this: threats and worship of the Almighty Dollar. | 0.07% | 1 |
| None of these | 0.07% | 1 |
| Not sure | 0.07% | 1 |
| WW3 will be the rest of the world vs the US | 0.07% | 1 |
4.
4.
Here are some other silver linings because of the real or imagined threats from the Trump administration. Which do you think might benefit you?
I sold something for $65 US which translated to over $90 Canadian. This means that if Americans buy stuff from Canada or decide to visit Canada they will get a healthy discount on everything they buy. Americans will be made welcome in Canada.
13%
293 votes
Due to the poor exchange rate in the US versus Canadian dollar, Canadians will now go to new destinations and citizens of those countries will visit Canada. This will create business relationships as well. Canada will be its own country and not just an offshoot of the US - the opposite of what Trump wants.
25%
540 votes
During the COVID crisis goods to and from the US were restricted and some supply chain issues remain in place. The "Buy Canadian" movement will encourage Canadian companies to produce goods that can't be relied on to be supplied by the US. (or sold to the US)
18%
401 votes
Canada is more welcoming of (legal) immigrants than the US is currently and In 2023, Canada's population grew by 3.2%, the highest rate since 1957, 96% of which was from immigration. The quality of these immigrants is high and this benefits the country greatly. A newly empowered Canada will no longer need to live in America's shadow. Canada's workforce will be more educated and skilled than America's and this will pay off quite quickly.
20%
438 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
14 votes
Not Applicable
57%
1252 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.47% | 8 | |
| other | 0.06% | 1 |
| Re the remainder: sad that bullying and the Almighty Dollar are now being viewed as positives. | 0.06% | 1 |
| People need to stop believing msm | 0.06% | 1 |
| Please let Canada take all the immigrants and keep fentanyl for themselves. I love Canada but Trump is just saying do something to help. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Stupid dumb stupid dumb stupid dumb stupid dumb | 0.06% | 1 |
| Why do you think Canada has a housing crises? | 0.06% | 1 |
COMMENTS