The Illusion of Benevolence

A Canadian Response to American Exceptionalism

Seth was making a friendly suggestion. To him, it was an innocent offer: give Canadians more power by inviting them to join the United States. To Canadians, however, it's a deeply unsettling demonstration of American exceptionalism—the kind that assumes the rest of the world must either be jealous of, or desperate for, American influence.

What followed was an exchange that perfectly encapsulates the divide between Canadian sovereignty and American entitlement. More than a debate, it was a case study in the blind spots of imperial thinking.

Seth,

It's not a joke. And I do listen. I read through your feed. There is a lot we agree on. A lot things that we would find in each other to support and find value in.

For me, this conversation is worth having, so that hopefully there can be more understanding of how this particular perception comes across, for me.

Take it or leave it, these are my thoughts. I do appreciate you being in the conversation, and for the things that we can work towards together.

B

A Vote That Was Never Ours

Seth framed his argument in pragmatic terms: "We voted, and we lost. But if Canadians could vote too, maybe this wouldn’t have happened."

It sounds reasonable—on the surface. The problem? It assumes that Canada should have a say in American governance because America, in turn, should have a say in Canada’s.

This is the very heart of the problem. Americans, even the well-intentioned ones, often fail to grasp that the rest of the world is not waiting for a seat at their table. Seth's premise is an invitation wrapped in a Trojan Horse—an assumption that Canadians would want to be absorbed into the American political system, because surely, we must recognize the U.S. as the primary engine of global decision-making.

But here’s the reality: Canada already has more power, autonomy, and civil stability than the average American does. The American political system, currently held hostage by extremists, gridlocked by corporate interests, and undermined by mass disillusionment, is not a model of governance most Canadians aspire to.

Would You Like to Be Russian?

Imagine reversing the proposition. Seth, a politically aware, presumably left-leaning American, is frustrated that the U.S. is sliding into right-wing authoritarianism. A Russian reaches out and says:

"I get that you mean well, but what if we just annexed you? You’d have more power! You’d get a say in the decisions of a global superpower! Why resist? We’re offering you a voice!"

Would Seth see that as a gift? Or would he see it for what it is—an insult to his national identity and personal autonomy?

Would he be excited about "more power" inside an authoritarian system he doesn’t trust? Would he suddenly feel safe under Putin’s governance just because he got to "vote" in Russian elections?

Of course not. He would reject the premise entirely, and he would be right to do so.

So why does he assume that Canadians should react any differently when he offers the same bargain?

The True Power of Citizenship

Canada is not a perfect country. It has its own struggles, its own injustices, and its own political corruption. But to be a Canadian citizen today is to hold more individual power than an American does.

• Canadians have universal healthcare, where medical bankruptcy is not a risk.
• Political donations are capped, meaning billionaires cannot outright buy elections.
• Maternity leave is a full year, not an unpaid privilege only some can afford.
• Universities are affordable, not debt traps.
• Gun violence is a fraction of what Americans endure daily.
• A Westminster parliamentary system allows votes of no confidence—when leadership fails, it can be changed without a four-year countdown to chaos.

The American system is fundamentally broken, and it is visibly breaking more with each passing day. Seth’s offer was not one of partnership, but of condescension—an unspoken assumption that Canadians must want a piece of the American pie, even as it crumbles.

The truth is, we don’t.

We’d Like to Just Not Be Threatened

When Canadians say they want nothing to do with America’s problems, it’s not arrogance. It’s not naïveté. It’s self-preservation.

As I pointedly responded: "We’d like to just not be threatened. We would like to not be preparing for invasion. Could you please vote on that, before you can’t?"

The real issue is not whether Canadians should be "grateful" for the privilege of accepting American aggression. Like the rest of Trump's victims, he expects us to welcome the rape and pillage. The real issue is that America is destabilizing to the point where its neighbours must prepare for the reality of war.

This is the price of exceptionalism: the belief that one nation has the right to dictate the fate of others. That God ordains the right to land and blood. Seth may not have meant to be condescending. But when your premise assumes your neighbour would be better off without their own country, there is no other word for it.

Seth lamented, "I tried. We’ll remain divided and let Republicans destroy the entire world."

To which Canada might say: "That sounds like an American problem."

Except that American problem is now everyone's problem.

That American problem is now an existential threat to every human on the planet.

If you want more power, let us suggest some ways to run your government, finance, health, and social care. We'd even help, without taking it away from you.

This is what I’m working on. Tell me what you think, I enjoy the conversation! Subscribe and follow the work in real time.

Thanks!

B

Proconsul 🇨🇦 (@proconsul.bsky.social)

Visionary Strategic Growth A guide for ambition, bridging strategy with implementation for modern business - clarity, structure, and sustainable impact. I listen. If it’s possible, I’ll show you how. proconsul.ghost.io

Bluesky Social

We don’t need to be “given” power. We have more of it than you do.

You aren’t offering us a voice. You’re asking us to surrender one.

That’s the only thing exceptional about America... how many still believe the world wants to be owned by you.

PS -