The world is indisputably changing ever more rapidly, aided by advanced technology and global communications. There are winners and losers in this, which history clearly shows. The recent Gallop survey on global wellbeing provides an interesting perspective on how few countries report their populace as thriving. If you are far from thriving in terms of wellbeing, you are considerably challenged. So often unfortunately, politics triumphs economics and drags nations down. Just consider Africa. When democracy is absent, accountability and the vital feedback loop are suppressed. The fall from the top can happen quite quickly. Remember Argentina in the early twentieth century. There is an element of luck, for which you can read geography. In addition, demography is becoming an even more important factor. There are brutal lessons in all this for Canada, particularly for our politicians and policy makers. We need to be at the forefront of change and by all rights this shouldn't be so difficult. This requires the ability to move and respond efficiently and effectively. For this we need flexibility and freedom, and a populace that is united and thriving in terms of wellbeing. Small government and low taxes keep our costs low and so enable flexibility. Otherwise, you end up with lumbering elephants (read elites) trying to maintain their positions or steal other positions with the aid of government influence and preferences. America and the EC have become burdened by many things which have slowed them. Will the 21st century belong to Canada? It depends.
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