[CodeMonkey]

I wonder how the leaked Panama papers will, if at all, have a major influence on the US election. Some are saying how it shows that Bernie Sanders' ideas are vindicated, but it seems like most people reacting strongly to the leak so far are not North American (American or Canadian) but more so Europeans.

As BBC News reported; very few Americans have been named in the leak, and although that could change, it was said that they pretty much have tax havens within the U.S. like Delaware that basically does the same as a Cayman Island bank in hiding money.

In Canada, no one really famous has popped up, and as a result it hasn't be sensational in the news here compared to Europe. The only big name that has appeared is RBC, but I doubt they'll get any harsh punishments if found guilty. Doing so would make an noticeable dent in the market, or worse, a bank run.

------

Somewhat on a related note, I remember hearing urban legends years ago that you could open an off-shore account from a Canadian bank only from its main branches downtown if you knew the exact name of the account product in question. I wounder how much truth that legend has now with the recent leak?

 

[Odin]

I am praying that Donald J Trump will be the next President of the U.S.A. - not just for the sake of America - but for the sake of Canada and the free World!

 

[Odin]

The Trump Effect Coming Fall 2016

 

[someMidTowner]

not just for the sake of America - but for the sake of Canada and the free World!

OK, I'll bite. In your opinion, what possible positive impact do you think a Trump win will have for Canadians?

 

[CodeMonkey]

OK, I'll bite. In your opinion, what possible positive impact do you think a Trump win will have for Canadians?

Just a wild guess. But we'll probably have a few new provinces as a result of a Trump presidency.

 

[Johnny Au]

How would various Canadian cities handle an influx of American refugees? We should welcome American refugees if Trump were president.

 

[prosperegal]

They all suck, to be quite honest. Bernie is just too much of a change for Americans and I don't think they're ready for that - despite what millennials might make you believe. Besides, I'm worried about his age. He also doesn't feel "politician-like" to me. He screams and shouts. Quite a contrast from Obama (yes, call me a "traditionalist" - and I guess I am...probably a snobby one too (and d@mn proud)). Both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz kind of scare me and I think they'll ruin not just the US economy but the world's if elected. Hillary? I dunno. She has experience, but I can't help think nepotism is helping her quite a bit. Would she even make it this far if she hadn't married Bill?

 

[picard102]

Clinton if she wins the nomination, Trump if not.

Bernie is just too much of a change for Americans and I don't think they're ready for that - despite what millennials might make you believe.

Millennials are delusional. Only 8 years ago they thought Obama was going to come in and turn things upside down, and little has come of that. Now they think someone with an even more radical agenda is going to be able to turn things upside down. Do they not teach how their political system works in American schools?

 

[ADRM]

Clinton if she wins the nomination, Trump if not.



Millennials are delusional. Only 8 years ago they thought Obama was going to come in and turn things upside down, and little has come of that. Now they think someone with an even more radical agenda is going to be able to turn things upside down. Do they not teach how their political system works in American schools?

"Little has come of that"? Obama has:
> Overhauled the American healthcare system and decreased the number of uninsured citizens by an amount just smaller than the entire population of Canada
> Significantly drawn down troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
> Dragged the US out of climate change pariah status, having implemented massive EPA-administered environmental regulations and provided leadership on the COP 21 accords
> Assured that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons for more than a decade
> Restored America's standing in the world after 8 years of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and co.
> Restored diplomatic relations with Cuba and effectively ended the embargo
> Overseen a dramatic restoration of the domestic economy, including a 69-month-long streak of job growth in which nearly 14 million new jobs were added
> Overhauled the horrendous No Child Left Behind education system
> Saved the American auto industry from collapse
> Repealed the awful and bigoted Don't Ask Don't Tell military policy
> Reversed Bush-era torture policies and tactics
> Expanded federal education funding for low-income students (through Pell Grants)
> Killed Bin Laden

And the list of course goes on. The notion that Obama "hasn't done much of note" is a dangerous and irresponsible, conservative-led fiction that's been peddled by conservative media. That narrative doesn't stand up to an objective analysis of the facts.

 

[CodeMonkey]

They all suck, to be quite honest. Bernie is just too much of a change for Americans and I don't think they're ready for that - despite what millennials might make you believe. Besides, I'm worried about his age. He also doesn't feel "politician-like" to me. He screams and shouts. Quite a contrast from Obama (yes, call me a "traditionalist" - and I guess I am...probably a snobby one too (and d@mn proud)). Both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz kind of scare me and I think they'll ruin not just the US economy but the world's if elected. Hillary? I dunno. She has experience, but I can't help think nepotism is helping her quite a bit. Would she even make it this far if she hadn't married Bill?

I don't think that Bernie isn't too much of a change, rather more than an eventual course correction that is long over due in American political landscape. Since the red scare of the 50's, the term "socialist" or socialist ideals like health care for all, fair pay are no longer destructive as voters where led to believe.

Hillary biggest obstacle, if she wins the primaries, won't be from Trump or Cruz, but the amount of damage her supporters have caused during the primaries. From Madeleine Albright misogynist comments, to major media outlets like The New York Times and CNN who belittle Bernie supporters and whatever damaging thing Bill will say from now to November. Because in the end, she'll need Bernie supporters to come out on Election Day to vote for her.

Between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, I find Cruz more scarier than Trump. With Trump we know what he's all about, and what level of damage he's will do, with Cruz, we really don't know the level of damage he could do to the US economy, plus his base that truly supports him is even more scarier than Trump and dark money.

As much damaging things Donald Trump has said over the course of the primaries he's done two great things. He's united the political divide to rally ageist him, and he might be what the Republican party needs to finally kick the crazies out or risk collapse.

 

[salsa]

"Little has come of that"? Obama has:
> Overhauled the American healthcare system and decreased the number of uninsured citizens by an amount just smaller than the entire population of Canada
> Significantly drawn down troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
> Dragged the US out of climate change pariah status, having implemented massive EPA-administered environmental regulations and provided leadership on the COP 21 accords
> Assured that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons for more than a decade
> Restored America's standing in the world after 8 years of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and co.
> Restored diplomatic relations with Cuba and effectively ended the embargo
> Overseen a dramatic restoration of the domestic economy, including a 69-month-long streak of job growth in which nearly 14 million new jobs were added
> Overhauled the horrendous No Child Left Behind education system
> Saved the American auto industry from collapse
> Repealed the awful and bigoted Don't Ask Don't Tell military policy
> Reversed Bush-era torture policies and tactics
> Expanded federal education funding for low-income students (through Pell Grants)
> Killed Bin Laden

And the list of course goes on. The notion that Obama "hasn't done much of note" is a dangerous and irresponsible, conservative-led fiction that's been peddled by conservative media. That narrative doesn't stand up to an objective analysis of the facts.

Obama could have accomplished so much more if it wasn't for all the Republican obstructionism in congress.

 

[Johnny Au]

The Panama Papers may turn out to be a second wind for Bernie, as the Papers mention a list of people who put money in Panama to evade paying taxes.

 

[picard102]

The notion that Obama "hasn't done much of note" is a dangerous and irresponsible, conservative-led fiction that's been peddled by conservative media.
That narrative doesn't stand up to an objective analysis of the facts.

An yet, there is an entire segment of his own party who doesn't believe there has been enough change. Sure, he has done a lot, but the idealism and transformative nature of his campaign never came to fruition, not entirely of his own fault.

Obama could have accomplished so much more if it wasn't for all the Republican obstructionism in congress.

Exactly, so how will Bernie be any different?

 

[wild goose chase]

People talk about how difficult it is to accomplish major political change in the US, and only slow, incremental change, not "revolutionary" change is possible because of the constraints of the political system.

Yet the US is supposed to be well, the big, bold risk-taking, and revolutionary country and we Canadians are supposedly the careful, cautious, compromising and risk-averse ones who prefer gradual, incremental change as the story we tell ourselves about our respective national characters go.

So which one is it, then? Are Canadians or Americans more afraid of change and cautious about revolutionary/radical reforms?

 

[picard102]

So which one is it, then? Are Canadians or Americans more afraid of change and cautious about revolutionary/radical reforms?

I don't think Americans are more afraid of change as a whole. They just can not agree on what change is necessary since the declaration of independence.