Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk listens to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump speak at a campaign event, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa.Alex Brandon/The Associated Press
Future history
Re “History will not judge Justin Trudeau kindly. Nor should it” (Jan. 8): History will not judge Justin Trudeau. Historians will.
And tomorrow’s historians will be as divided as today’s historians are on Sir John A. Macdonald.
Donald Wright President, Canadian Historical Association; Fredericton
I find it presumptuous to speak for history before it happens.
Historians might as well fold up their tents and join social media. Today is tomorrow, next week and 10 to 30 years from now.
Roberta Hamilton Kingston
How much?
Re “Who’s next?” (Letters, Jan. 8): A letter-writer suggests Mark Carney is “a man of supreme integrity.”
He is without question intelligent and accomplished. But until he or his associates at Brookfield Asset Management are prepared to reveal his compensation package (”Mark Carney’s Brookfield pay remains mysterious, to the detriment of all Canadians” – Report on Business, Dec. 28), I’m inclined to reserve judgment on his integrity.
Glenn Allen Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, Ont.
Right over there
Re “Party’s over” (Letters, Jan. 4): A letter-writer indicates that we should put more blame on voters for the global political swing to the far right. A vital concept related to this discussion is what political scientist James Fishkin calls “rational ignorance” on the part of the electorate.
In this concept, it makes little sense for the average voter to learn about political factors which affect their life, due to a single vote having an exceedingly low chance of changing the outcome of any election. Even if it did, there is no guarantee that any politician would abide by their promises.
The obvious solution, in Mr. Fishkin’s view, would be the institution of deliberative democracy (i.e. citizens’ assemblies) where thinking about the various pros and cons associated with important issues are a necessary prerequisite.
Evan Bedford Red Deer, Alta.
Re “The climate agenda is in rapid retreat as right-wing parties rise everywhere” (Report on Business, Jan. 4): One major consequence of conservative parties moving much further to the right is that they are far less interested in the future than in the here and now. What’s in it for me, right now?
Despite their rhetoric, to these parties, issues such as climate change, aging, medical care, housing, homelessness, urban congestion, even deficit spending are either non-issues or matters well down the list of political imperatives.
This is not surprising given our societal culture shift toward self-centredness, entitlement and greed which has mirrored, if not fostered, the political culture shift toward the extreme right.
J. David Murphy Barrie, Ont.
Not only do these right-wing parties not have any desire to deal with climate change, they are also ending initiatives already in place.
It’s my understanding that more younger people are voting for these parties. I’m 64 years old so, assuming I live to 90, I have 26 years left. By contrast, a person 30 years old has 60 years ahead of them if they live to 90.
I believe I’ll see some frightening effects of climate change in my lifetime, but younger people will likely see more. It seems to defy logic and common sense to vote for parties that would make matters even worse.
If they’re not worried about this crisis, why should we older people be?
Doug Payne London, Ont.
Research shows that a growing number of people are very concerned about climate change and want their governments to do something about it.
The growing strength of right-wing parties and ideologies is a response to widespread belief that climate policies are incompatible with capitalist economic systems, as well as anxieties and stresses around rapid societal, economic and technological change.
Climate activists should therefore unhitch climate policy from other social and economic agendas. Promote transitions to low-carbon economies as the only way to avoid insupportable financial, environmental and human loss, while opening a wealth of opportunities and benefits regardless of one’s political leanings.
Liz Addison Toronto
Judgment time
Re “A reality check on the Supreme Court’s legal hypotheticals” (Editorial, Jan. 4): The Globe and Mail has called for the Supreme Court to stop using “reasonable hypothetical” scenarios when adjudicating the constitutionality of minimum sentences.
But someone has to consider how the law might be reasonably applied in the future. If MPs are not inclined to do it when introducing legislation, then the courts will have to do this work for them.
Hamish Telford Abbotsford, B.C.
Tesla tax
Re “Some Canadian EV buyers sour on Tesla after Elon Musk’s pivot to the right” (Report on Business, Jan. 4): Tesla feels so closely intertwined with Elon Musk that the man and the company cannot be separated.
Since Mr. Musk is entrenched with Donald Trump, and when the U.S. imposes tariffs on Canadian imports, we should consider that one of our retaliatory tariffs be directly imposed on U.S.-manufactured Teslas. Slap at least a 50-per-cent tariff on those products. It might serve as a wake-up call to Mr. Musk, who would no doubt want to discuss it with Mr. Trump.
I also think that Canada could set an example of how countries can hit back. If half the potential global Tesla market rejected Mr. Musk’s vehicles due to imposed U.S. tariffs, Washington would pay attention.
Graham Yates Toronto
Happy hour
Re “What happy Canadians can teach us about flourishing in 2025″ (Jan. 4): In these depressing times, your advice on pursuing happiness is timely. I couldn’t help but be reminded of doctor Jane Philpott’s recent book Health for All: A Doctor’s Prescription for a Healthier Canada, where she outlines the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework.
The core elements of hope, belonging, meaning and purpose are certainly means to happiness, and should be put in context in our individual lives. I personally recommend this road to everyone.
After reading Dr. Philpott’s book, I think many will hope she considers returning to politics. She offers a serious commitment to this country, not to party or self, and has a proven record of bringing ideas past moribund backbenchers to functional fruition.
Tom Durcan Burlington Ont.
In his 2023 book Away From the Dead, author David Bergen observed that “true happiness came along with sadness, and sometimes happiness spilled out of a regular life.”
Happiness should be a byproduct, not a goal in itself.
Paul Thiessen Vancouver
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