Canada, The 51st State of USA?

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Making Canada the 51st state of USA is easier said than done. Even if a referendum is held, the majority of Canadians will say no. Besides, do you think King Charles would approve it? OK, hold a referendum to reject the Monarchy and make Canada a Republic. If successful [ I doubt it ], then hold another referendum to join USA as the 51st State. 

Do you think Trump would actually invade Canada and annex it by force?  And UK would do nothing to help Canada resist Trump's invasion? Trump himself said no, he would take over Canada only by economic force, not military force. 

Anyway, no, I don't think Trump will succeed in making Canada the 51st State of USA. He only has 4 years to achieve his political "pipe dream". 

 

*** Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments  

*** Edi Lee for Peace

 

Brexit

I don't have the right to vote. I'm speaking as a Canadian only. To me, Canadian politics is so much simpler. I don't have deep knowledge of British politics, but I've done some studies about Brexit. 

This is my opinion: either you are in or you are out. It is not good that you are in, but not quite in, which is the current situation. If I am a British citizen, I'll vote yes, leave the EU. It may hurt a little in the short run, but in the long run, U.K. will get back its ' full ' sovereignty with no higher EU authority above. The U.K. Government will become ' more free ' to do good for the British people, and ' more free ' to work directly with other countries, without having to consult or be subject to the approval of a higher EU Authority. 

I'm not asking for a debate please. I'm only giving my opinion as an observer. I know there are also the Stay-No-Brexit people. I'm sure they have their good reasons why they want to stay. Peace ! 

Sino-British Golden Age

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the U.K. China and the U.K. are entering a Golden Age of bilateral ties. I felt hopeful in watching and listening to President Xi addressing the British Parliament.These days, when it comes to economic growth, peace and development, which country would you think of first? It's got to be China.

Being a Canadian who grew up in Hong Kong, I am very interested in seeing a good China-U.K. relation. Being a Pacifist, I would like to see the world stop fighting and killing one another.

Xi Will See The Queen

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be visiting the U.K. for 5 days next week from October 19 (Mon), 2015 at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth The Second. Wonder what kind of food will be served at the state dinner in Buckingham Palace?! I have no idea of any famous British dish. Certainly, it won't be Fish and Chips.

July 1, 2015

July 1, 2015 is an important day of Canada and Hong Kong. It is Canada Day. It also marks the 18th anniversary of British handover of Hong Kong back to China. Canadians celebrate Canada Day today, but not all HongKongers celebrate the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule.

A Keith Durant in Youtube gave his comments on the political situation in Hong Kong. He told the truth. Here are his comments: The funny thing is they have more democracy under China than they ever had as a British protectorate. Under Britain the governor was appointed in Britain with no input from the people of Hong Kong. Under China they are at least offered choices of those the government is willing to accept.

My thoughts:

There is no way that the Chinese Government will allow separatists or independence-leaning politicians to run for the chief executive office in Hong Kong. Candidates must be pre-screened and approved by a pro-Beijing Hong Kong committee made of 1200 members, which represents almost 40 different sectors or groups of people in Hong Kong society. The approved candidates or finalists will then run for the office, and every adult HongKonger will be given a vote to select their leader.

This is the situation: since the handover on July1, 1997, Hong Kong has become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. It has a high level of autonomy, but it is not a separate country. To become the chief executive of Hong Kong, you must be pro-China, not anti-China.

Hong Kong already has much democracy and freedom. In terms of economic freedom, it is on the very top in the whole world. The rejection of this new election and voting system appears to be a small victory of the pro-American and pro-Western styled democracy politicians and people. It is a setback of Chinese styled democratic reform in Hong Kong.

It is rather stupid and irrational that some anti-China HongKongers still wave the British flag, complaining that there is no free election in Hong Kong. Was there any free election when Hong Kong was under British rule? No, None. Would these anti-China HongKongers be happy to re-become British 'subjects' or 'second class citizens' under British colonial rule?

Could China Kill The US Dollar ?

I've just finished watching a Youtube video titled 'Could China Kill The US Dollar?' Here are my thoughts and comments:

My personal opinion is that China could indeed kill the US Dollar, but she would do so only gradually, not suddenly. She has been doing so slowly, but picking up speed recently, as evidenced by the newly formed China-led Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), increase of gold production and purchase, and bi-lateral agreements signed with many countries in using their own currencies for trading, bypassing the use of US Dollar. 

The HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) is a British Bank with a deep Chinese root. Both UK and Hong Kong are HSBC's 'home markets'. HSBC is thinking of moving its headquarters from London to Hong Kong. The UK was the first Western country and US ally that joined the China-led AIIB, followed by many others. Uncle Sam was not pleased.

I don't think China really wants to kill the US Dollar completely. China just wants to de-dollarize the world. China, Russia, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, even Europe and the World, just don't want to be completely dominated by the US any more. No more unipolar world controlled by big-boss America !
 
There are many speculations or predictions that the US Dollar will collapse, but my guess is that it will not die with a big bang but with a whimper. China is killing the US Dollar softy with her Yuan (Chinese Dollar), also known as Renminbi (People's money). 

Some Americans are super wealthy, but as a whole, the US as a country is broke, owing trillions of dollars to China, Japan and other countries. The 1% is still doing great of course, but the 99% is struggling. Does Uncle Sam still want to go to war, which is a super expensive, terrifying and deadly game, profitable only to a few people, but at the expense of the life and death of many ? 

The US Dollar may not even die, but it will no longer be the only dominant trading and reserve currency of the world. China's rise is certain, but the US' decline is not. Instead of setting road blocks and preventing China from rising, Uncle Sam should pay attention to his own many problems. As Jimmy Carter said, the U.S. must respect China, and vice versa. If a nuclear Third World War breaks out, the whole world will be finished. We must never let that happen. 

British Royal Visit and Chinese Politics

Prince William is visiting the Peoples Republic of China. He made a speech in English (of course) and said a few words in Mandarin. I have watched a few news videos about his royal visit to China, and here are my random thoughts and comments:  

It is very wise that the Royal itinerary does not include a stop-over in Hong Kong. China did not interfere with Scotland's effort to separate from the United Kingdom, so U.K. should be wise enough not to interfere with the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (some people think U.S.A. did). Many Westerners do not know Chinese history, culture and politics well. Hong Kong already has a lot of freedom, especially regarding economic freedom, it is number one, on the top, in the whole world. The Umbrella Movement lasted for months, not days, and largely ended with no bloodshed. Even the so-called democratic (actually plutocratic) U.S.A. would not tolerate a peaceful demonstration of setting-camp and occupation for that long. 

The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, some call it Pro-Democracy Movement, is not really about democracy, which already exists in H.K., but rather about candidate eligibility, and the legal form, extent and process of democratic elections. There is no way that the Chinese Government will give up its sovereignty and allow Hong Kong to separate and become an independent country. Anyway, Hong Kong cannot exist as an independent country, even if Beijing allows it. It is like a baby whining to separate from his mother. 

Western Media, especially the conservative U.S. Media, are very biased against a united and rising China, and would support and promote Tibet, for example, to separate. Again many Westerners have so little knowledge and accurate information about Chinese history, culture and politics that they are unwisely brainwashed to blindly take side with Uncle Sam. China has more than 50 minorities, and Tibetans are one of them. The Chinese that the Westerners know are the Han Majority Chinese. Even among the Han Chinese, they are not all the same. 

Anyway, this visit of Prince William to China is a Royal visit very well-done. Chinese people do not have an inferiority complex.They have a superior but humble mentality. If you said to an American, "hey you are very good", the answer would be "thank you." If you said to a Chinese,"hey you are very good", the response would be "Not at all. You only flatter me. I still need to improve." Chinese people like to make friends (not enemies) and money (not war). In the news videos that I watched, President Xi Jingping looked happy to receive an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to visit the U.K

Hong Kong Protest

It's amazing that the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong so far has been largely non-violent. If this kind of protest and stand-off happened in the U.S., or in Beijing, the police would have already opened fire and shot the students dead. I still hope peace and calm will prevail in H.K., but I am a bit worried.

Young people in Hong Kong are not stupid, but they need to learn more about history, economics and the geopolitics where they live, and in the world, and be aware of some hidden or not-too-obvious dark forces in the U.S. and other countries, which keep creating troubles and conflicts everywhere, to screw up other countries for selfish financial and power gains. There are people who do not want to see a united and rising China.

American democracy has become a plutocracy. It is free and democratic, yes, but it has become more a plutocracy than a democracy for the good of the common people. The elites work for the rich and powerful, not for the common people. Is that what you want ?

Dear Hong Kong people: Britain was your old master and your past. China is your distant past and future, not your enemy. You don't even pay federal taxes to Beijing, while Americans have to pay taxes to Uncle Sam wherever they live. Think about it.

Beijing, H.K. Government, pro-China and pro-democracy people, please be rational and don't screw it all up. Don't shoot your own foot. Good luck !!!

Scotland

Scotland's referendum on independence resulted in a yes-vote of 45% and no-vote of 55%. Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom. God Save The Queen, some would say, that the marriage did not become a 'painful divorce', a term used by Prime Minister David Cameron, in warning what the U.K. would become if a yes vote had won.

What does it mean, that Scotland is still part of U.K.? It means many things. For one, although the marriage has not resulted in divorce, it is no longer the same. Cameron has promised to devolve more power to Scotland, but then millions of Scottish independence seekers (the 45%) remain unhappy. It is like an unhappy spouse agrees to stay married and stop seeking a divorce, while the other spouse makes all kinds of promises to prevent the marriage from falling apart. How would U.K. feel, now that Scotland said, " Darling, I used to love you 100%. Now I only love you 55% " ?

I am not Scottish, but if I were Scottish and lived in Scotland, maybe I would have voted yes to separate from the United Kingdom.Why? Well, just look up the reasons given by Alex Salmond and the 45% Scottish population who said yes. Of course the pro-union Brits have their reasons, too, to say no. I bet you the elites, the billionaires, the bankers, the London Stock Exchange, the City of London, the rich and powerful,  and the 1% would have said no.

Certainly the Queen and the noble family would not like to see Scotland go.The pro-union supporters would have voted with much of their head, while the pro-independence seekers would have voted not only with their head, but also with much of their heart. Please don't get mad at me, if you disagree with me and think otherwise. I believe in freedom of opinion, freedom of choice and freedom of speech.

Each case is different, and the only common rule we should follow is to settle any conflict and problem by peaceful means. For example, I am a Canadian, and I don't like to see Quebec separate from Canada.
" What is Canada without Quebec? ", I often ask myself this question. But what then if Quebec really wants to separate ? Then so be it ! They have the right to choose. 

Anyway, we now have a new, or rather a survived United Kingdom. Who are the true winners, the Scots or the Brits? What do you think?

I think the true winner is Freedom and Democracy. There were no bullets flying in Scotland. There was no fighting, no violence, no killing, and no civil war. It was a peaceful process of referendum and freedom of choice. To that, I salute !      

 

July the First

Today is Canada Day, also the 17th anniversary of Britain's hand-over of Hong Kong back to Chinese rule. There has been some political turmoil in Hong Kong, where the Hongkongers demand their UK-China promised autonomy and democracy, while the Chinese Government strongly asserts its authority and sovereignty over the previous British colony. I hope the problems will be resolved peacefully. No violence on either side please !!!

Julian Assange

Julian Assange is like David fighting Goliah. However you think of him, he is one man fighting against the whole wicked world. What wicked world ? The wicked world of corrupted governments, war criminals and all kinds of evil-doers.This is what he says,"If wars can be started by lies, then they can be stopped by truth". Julian Assange is the greatest whistle-blower of the century,if not of all time.It is ironical that the governments in the free world do not support freedom of speech, exposure of crimes, and telling the truth.It is like saying hey, by all means reveal as much dirt as you're pleased in this world, but not my dirt. ........................................................................................... Julian deeply embarrassed Uncle Sam, by exposing his collateral murder of innocent civilians in the Iraq War.It would be naive to believe that the U.S.Government is not trying to catch him, and then lock him up in perpetual detention or even kill him. Some American politicians and reporters in the media are so stupid, by accusing Julian of espionage and treason. What treason ? Julian is not an American.He is an Australian.Did he betray Australia? No. Did the Australian Government betray him ? Well, think for yourself. Why do you think he went to the Ecuador Embassy, and not the Australian embassy, to ask for political asylum ? Isn't it a fundamental duty of a country to protect its own citizens ? ........................................................................................... Although I don't know all the details, I can make an educated guess that Julian is not a rapist. Some reporters in the media are so stupid and dead wrong,in accusing Julian of being a rapist. If they wanted to use the word 'rape' or 'rapist', they should have put the word 'alleged' before it. A good legal principle is that one is innocent until proven guilty. Anyway, Julian has not been charged with rape or any crime. At this point, he is not a rapist. He is only wanted by Sweden for questioning, and the U.K. has agreed to extradite him to Sweden. This is something quite extraordinary, as Julian has not even been charged with any crime. I think Julian is right, in believing that if he is extradited to Sweden, then he will be further sent to U.S.A. ........................................................................................... If my memory is correct, at first the chief prosecutor in Sweden didn't even find any good reason or basis to charge Julian with sexual crime.It only happened later, that a new prosecutor entered the scene, and now Julian is wanted by Sweden.The allegation that he sexually assaulted two female ex-Wikileaks volunteers is a serious matter, but I smell something fishy here. Could this be a trap to catch Julian and then send him to Uncle Sam ? ........................................................................................... Julian is accused of not wearing a condom while having sex with an ex-Wikileaks volunteer. She said go wear a condom, but he didn't. They then had sex. Now, is this rape? Funny that Julian is not Catholic (is he ?), otherwise he can put all the blame on the Pope, who always says that thou shall not wear a condom! Sexual assault? Not wearing a condom ? Man, it sounds more like the Catholic priests who committed sexual crimes and hurt the innocent children. ........................................................................................... Consensual sex between adults in the free world is not a crime. Although I don't know all the details, I think the woman who complains that Julian did not use a condom after the act is probably wrong. She could have stopped and left.Since she went along and did it anyway, it is unreasonable to say that it was rape. ........................................................................................... Wearing a condom is a good practice of having safe sex.In Thailand, they do a very good job, in educating people about safe sex and wearing condoms.In Vatican, I'm afraid to say that the Pope is doing a very poor job, in advising people in the world not to wear a condom. Julian: please wear a condom next time, O.K. ? ........................................................................................... My opinion is that Ecuador has done the right thing, in granting Julian political asylum. U.K.'s threat to raid the Ecuador Embassy in London and arrest Julian is ridiculous. Yeah,under your U.K.laws, you have the legal obligation to extradite Julian to Sweden, but don't forget that there are international laws, too. If you actually go to the Ecuador Embassy and arrest Julian, hey, you will also lose your sovereignty in all your British embassies in other countries. The Ecuador and U.K. Governments should negotiate a way out for both sides.I'm sure that there are many good people in this world,who don't want to see Julian go to jail or get killed. ........................................................................................... Now that Ecuador has granted Julian political asylum, the story is not over yet.It has become an interesting and challenging question, on how Julian can escape safely from the Ecuador Embassy in London. Can he leave in an Ecuador embassy car and not run the risk of being stopped by the British police and get arrested ? Can he leave in an Ecuador helicopter and not run the risk of being shot down ? The best suggestion I have heard so far is that Ecuador can make Julian an Ecuador citizen, then appoint him as an Ecuador ambassador or similar position with full diplomatic immunity. Ha Ha Ha, then Julian can leave the Ecuador Embassy safely. Julian: you'd better start learning Spanish soon. Good luck ! LOVE AND PEACE TO ALL !!!