The Real Trudeau

[Alliance Fanatic]

TRUDEAU: CANADA'S GREAT HELMSMAN

By

Eric S. Margolis 8 October 2000

TORONTO - `Speak not ill of the dead,' the ancient sages cautioned. Sometimes, however, we must.

As now, when we watch the memory of Pierre Trudeau, who died last week, being cynically manipulated, grossly distorted, and cloyingly sentimentalized by his Liberal Party heirs to win votes in upcoming elections. Trudeau's sainted ghost is to be used like the corpse of the Spanish hero, El Cid, strapped onto a horse and sent into battle.

Most Canadians have been brainwashed into believing the charming, charismatic Trudeau was a great prime minister who built a strong, prosperous, humane Canada that was morally and socially superior to the United States. This fable was charmingly echoed by the increasingly leftish Toronto Globe & Mail, in one of many weepy hagiographic tributes to St. Pierre: `PM Jean Chretien...considers himself the main defender of Mr Trudeau's liberal vision of a just and compassionate Canada.'

Let me precisely quantify the costs of Trudeau's `just and compassionate Canada,' both for Canadians who wish to continue Trudeauismo, and for Americans who are being told by Democrats that socialized Canada offers a far more successful and humane culture than the USA:

*In 1968, when Trudeau went from rich, socialist professor who had never held a real job in his life to prime minister, Canada's national debt was a modest $11.3 billion; the federal deficit was zero. When Trudeau left office in 1984, the debt had mushroomed to $128 billion; the deficit to $25 billion annually. But this was just the beginning.

*Canada's Great Helmsman created a vast bureaucracy, and massive welfare programs to buy votes for his Liberal Party. He restricted trade and free markets, imposing confiscatory taxes.

Trudeau drove Canada so far left that today's opposition Canadian Alliance - a moderate centrist party by world standards - is routinely termed `rightwing' or `far right.' The state-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corp (which I call the Ministry of Truth), teachers unions, the monoculture leftiss academia, and left-leaning media keep brainwashing Canadians that high taxes and big government are good for Canada and the essence of national identity. Anyone who questions rule by bureaucracy, deficit spending, unlimited immigration, or social engineering is denounced as a far-right racist.

When Trudeau entered office, Ottawa spent 30% of Canada's total economic output(the same as the USA). When he left, government spending had skyrocketed to almost 53%. With half of Canadians working directly or indirectly for Ottawa, the nation became infected with bureaucratic and union work ethics - state-sponsored laziness.

Trudeau and his successor quickly learned a basic strategy of Europe's socialist governments: if the state can employ over half of voters, they will always vote for the party of government.

Government is supposed to serve taxpayers. But under Trudeau and his Liberal Party, it became Canadians who labored to serve an increasingly disdainful, autocratic government. Canadians were gulled into believing that when Ottawa taxed them ten dollars, and gave back two, they were getting `benefits' and `social services.'

Many adored Trudeau - but I'd also be adored if I had a hundred billion of borrowed taxpayers dollars to give away.

*In 1970, the US, Switzerland, and Canada were the world's three richest nations. Canada's robust dollar traded around US $1.06 - ie 6% more than the US dollar. Today, thanks to Trudeau's socialism, and Brian Mulroney's failure to uproot it, the dollar has sunk to a pathetic, humiliating $ .66 cents.

C$100 invested in Canada in 1970 would be worth only 66 cents today. Little wonder foreign investment, the lifeblood of Canada's growth, dried up. Most Canadians didn't understand their assets have depreciated, in real value, by 33%. By relentlessly devaluing the dollar, Ottawa literally stole people's savings.

*After Trudeau retired, his unstoppable socialist juggernaut picked up speed. Canada's federal debt - the amount Ottawa borrowed in the past that remains unpaid - has skyrocketed to C$ 576 billion - $54,000 per taxpayer.

Almost third of your current federal taxes go to paying interest on this debt - just like on a credit card with an unpaid balance. In 1999 alone, Canadians paid $41.5 billion debt interest, four times what Ottawa spent on defense.

Add $ 2.3 trillion of unfunded pension liabilities, and the figure rises to a staggering $244,000 owed per taxpayer. Canada's `just' and `compassionate' society is built on a mountain of debt, passed on to coming generations.

*In 1970, Canda had one of the lowest debts -and lowest taxes - among industrial nations. Today, Canada ranks as one of three leading debtor nations, with socialist-run Belgium and Italy. While Ottawa's annual deficit was ended by imposing crushing taxes, the monster debt overhang remains. The US is projected to pay off its entire national debt by 2012. At Ottawa's puny repayment rate, it will take Canada 288 more years!

*Behind the charade of peacekeeping, Trudeau destroyed Canada's once powerful armed forces, leaving the nation a helpless military eunuch, with virtually no international influence, and totally dependant on the much-reviled `aggressive' US for national defense.

*The crown jewel of Canadian socialism, state-run medicine, is a mess. `The cruel, heartless, capitalist' US spends 13.5% of national income on health; Canada spends 9.5%. Unemployment in Canada's `compassionate, gentler' society has run 3.5-5 points higher than in the US. Canada's smartest, most entreprenurial people are fleeing south. Canada has become an economic, intellectual and cultural backwater - bureaucratic Ottawa, writ large.

*Trudeau was ardently anti-American, even allowing Cuba's intelligence service to operate against the US from Montreal. He despised the free market, tried to transform Canada into another socialist Sweden, and fawned on marxist dictators like Mao, Nyere, and Castro.

Thirty years ago, Canada was rich, powerful and respected. Three decades of bullying Trudeau socialism undermined Canada's economy, the core of a nation's strength, and encouraged separatism in Quebec.

The immense historic economic damage inflicted by Trudeau and his successors on Canada may have fatally weakened this once robust nation to the point where joining the US becomes inevitable. This prospect, trillions in debt, and a 66 cent Canadian rupee are Trudeau's real legacy.

The great grandchildren of today's Canadians will still be paying for Pierre Trudeau's `just and compassionate society'.

Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2000

[Neal.F.]

Thank you for posting this.

The writer didn't even touch upon the charter of rights which turned us from democracy to judicial dictatorship....Nor did he even begin to touch on the radical social legislation that he spawned.... Trudeau's legacy is the castration of Canada.

[Alliance Fanatic]

I wish people would start criticizing trudeau more, he is treated like a god in this country, I think were becoming a bit like nazi germany where all references to god were put out of the class room and replaced by Hitler, the same is happening here.

[westcoast99]

In the same way that John F. Kennedy was not loved by everyone in the US at the time he became President. His policies may not have been loved by all, but the man is an American legend.

Canadians are fascinated by Trudeau's persona and charisma. Chrétien is similar.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Gugsy

[Pellaken]

"Today, thanks to Trudeau's socialism, and Brian Mulroney's failure to uproot it, the dollar has sunk to a pathetic, humiliating $ .66 cents. "

and we all saw when the dollar rose to 75 cents, how our economey took a big hit

perhaps we can raise the dollar to 1.06 american, and watch the economey free fall! on the bright side, once alberta and ontairo are as poor as newfoundland, there'll be no more need for transfer payments

[Alliance Fanatic]

Trudeau was one of the worst prime ministers in our nations history. I bring up the subject because the media calls those who criticize him nazis and bigots. I think that trudeau should be revealed for who he really is a commie pm, that destroyed the Canada 100,000 Canadian's died for.

[Neal.F.]

I TOTALLY agree, Alliance fanatic.

My Father who fought in WWII agrees that the Liberals carrying Trudeau's torch have destroyed the country he fought for to the point where it is unrecognizeable, and in its current state, not worth fighting for.

The Canada they fought for has been turned into a sissified weenie nanny state, and the labortaory of radical social engineers, that worships at the altar of political correctness. and we have that exquisite socialist bastard to thank for it.

He began his revolution early with the omnibus bill that decriminalized abortion and sodomy. And ensured the mess we have today with the Charter of Rights in the 1982 Constitution, which never should have been ratified.

[westcoast99]

Trudeau was one of the worst prime ministers in our nations history. I bring up the subject because the media calls those who criticize him nazis and bigots. I think that trudeau should be revealed for who he really is a commie pm, that destroyed the Canada 100,000 Canadian's died for.

Ephesians 4:31
"Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
Edited August 11, 2015 by Gugsy

[Emigrant]

Unfortunately, bible thumpers just don't seem

to be the forgiving kind...

[Neal.F.]

Trudeau's policies just keep on killing from beyond the grave....

abortion: 106 000 baies murdered per year thanks to the 1969 omnibus bill.

Homosexuality is rampant, and kills thousands every year.

The charter of rights has made an all out asault on the family unit as we have known it throughout judeo-christian history, possible.

If he repented of his error, fine. I have never heard anything to the effect that he did.

[Rambler]

Trudeau also was able to sit home during WWII, protesting Englands imperialistic war against Nazi Germany, while TRUE Canadians were fighting and dying in Europe.

Trudeau was NO hero.

[Craig Read]

Trudeau, a gutless racist coward, an arrogant jerk, who typifies the mindlessness and base stupidity of socialism.

A man who sends over his son to Siberia - 'because that is where the future is being made' - in 1984 !!!

He was dumb. He did not understand economics, power relations or trade issues or the value of a military.

He was ignorant. Any moron who supported communism and was blind to its societal, personal and moral abuses should be pilloried.

He was about as charismatic as Mao.

If Canadians call some buck toothed guy, wearing bad clothes with little hair, and an ugly body 'charismatic' that probably means they think Joe Clark is 'hot'.

Get serious. Trudeau was just another French patsy who needed to be taken outside and kicked around.

[Neal.F.]

Watch out, Rock, Tobin & Manley.... Paul MArtin, if he is able to win the election, is likely a one termer, given his age, and coming down the pipe as we speak, is Justin Trudeau.

The would-be also-rans time has come....and gone....

The Liberal party will do its damndest to recruit young Mr. Trudeau...

[Lost in Manitoba]

From the interviews I've heard with Justin, I would question if his politics would go to the liberals

[westcoast99]

His views are more closely aligned with the NDP than the Liberals.

Edited August 11, 2015 by Gugsy

[KrustyKidd]

I'd rather see Craig take the helm and run this country like a money making enterprise, then we could afford to be generous to those in need. You know, make decisions based on strength, not on what is fiscally the cheapest way out of a voter impasse. Justin Trudeau? Comon, who the hell is that? Democracy has no kings nor queens and if there was I'd rather have somebody born in a mine or a lumber yard than that 3rd generation aristocratic skier. To even suggest him is a sign of an unthinking cow than a legitimate. decisive voter. No wonder this country has lost it's fizzle. If we ran Hollywood, Rhett Butler would be played by Sidney Potier with Tara being an avalanche shrine in some Rocky Mountain valley.

As for Mulrooney, thank you. To remember him is like bringing up "HE that cannot be named." It always makes me laugh that no matter how much of a loser Cretien is in moral and spinal errection ability there is always the devil, master if you will. Cretien, no matter how much of a low life, will always be an amatuer compared to him.

Justin Trudeau. LOL. Time to leave I think, the kid that washes my machines has more ethics than that privilaged bastard ever had and you would have him your leader? Shows where your values are. Only millionaires need apply. The backbone of the country work six days a week, sorry you didn't get the memo but this guy and his ilk are not part of the backbone.

[Lost in Manitoba]

Everything I've heard and seen of Justin has been actually pretty good. He does quite a bit of charity work, is quite involved in helping children, and instead of going into politics (the freeride) he's taking an engineering degree, I believe. Don't fault the dude for his father or for wealth and privelage, he seems(keyword) to have turned out right.

One interview I heard with him said he can't see himself going into politics because he has so many other interests, but he wouldn't rule it out 20-30yrs down the road.

[Craig Read]

Little snotty rich kid living off Daddy's name.

How the hell can you defend a family that mis-managed Canada's finances, introduced state sponsored and coercive socialism and made it fun to be a racist anti-American prick ? The fact that bucky boy is targeted by the media to carry on Daddy's sickening legacy is a tragedy.

The only system in history that benefits the population has been various forms of capitalism. Soft hearts don't mean you have soft heads. Eg. Private compassion ie. charity is almost non-existent in Canada. In the US the average contribution to charity is 6x higher than here -why ? Canadians have no money they are poorer than the US for one. Second, the attitude is - 'let the State do it'. This permeates the political scene where apathy reigns supreme. Only 30 % of the soddened Torontonians wearily push themselves off their fatuous backsides and vote in municipal elections. A little over 55 % in Fed and Prov elections.

Why ? Because nothing matters. No one needs to care. Everything is relative.

This is Trudeau's legacy - fat, simple and ignorant. Sounds like a misquote from Hobbes.

[Neal.F.]

PET was also more ideologically akin to the NDP than the Liberals, but he joined the Liberals because as an NDP leader, he would have NO chance of winning power. The Liberals had the organization in Quebec and Ontario, and could be a vehicle to power, whereas, the NDP maxxed out its potential in 1988 with 43 seats. They'll never do much better than that.

So if Justin (and watch out for Sacha too, he's out there doing left-wing journalism) ver went into politics, it would be with the Liberal Party, which was effectively transformed into the monster it has become by PET, Jean Marchand, Gerald Pelletier, Marc Lalonde, Jean Chretien and the filthy gang of socialists that hijacked the party, and the country in the '60's.

[Craig Read]

Sure with the media fawning over them and their dumb father's legacy. Soon a new province [indian controlled of course], will be constructed and named 'Trudeauequoia', which in Indian means, 'I love being an ignorant jackass and socialising the country' or something quite similar.

The Indians will of course have to bow down before statues of the Great Leader [like they do in North Korea], before each meal.

The CBC will run breathless docs on the young Trudeau's inspired, and percipient vision of Cdn politics, with such insightful comments as 'I really love Canada' and 'We are such a more diverse and compassionate country now...' Followed by tears as the CBC shows Maggie Trudeau getting laid in a NYC disco by Geraldo with bad hair.

The young Trudeaus will say the same insipid nonsense as all the other megalomaniac demagogues across the globe who spout the same rhetoric with 'insert country' here in each sentence.

Vague, feckless, cowardly.

Trudeau's legacy which is piled on top of fat, stupid and arrogant.

[Mr. Chater]

Though as i see you dislike this man. I would have to say he still did wonders and made people think differently. He has changed Canada and peoples views..

[Craig Read]

Trudeau was a typical liberal dunderhead.

Prancing with dictators, unable to even spell economics and ignorant of great power politics and what comprises not only the wealth but the prestige of nations.

Only in Canada would such a disaster be feted.

[PIK]

Here is some good posts on what we could end up with, if canadians are stupid enough to put this kid in.

[eyeball]

Here is some good posts on what we could end up with, if canadians are stupid enough to put this kid in.

Which kid was that again?

perhaps we can raise the dollar to 1.06 american, and watch the economey free fall!

[Newfoundlander]

Here is some good posts on what we could end up with, if canadians are stupid enough to put this kid in.

Seeing this is a thread about a dead man can you clarify your comment?