Canada 51st State
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And there's even MORE than he's done!! You can laugh all you like but it's true. I know, I know, orange man bad. That's too funny!!
Where is a well thought out reply with examples?
American't is rapidly sliding towards a dictatorship with strings pulled by a foreign and domestic terrorist cult. NOBODY BENEFiTS
Most scholars and democracy monitors don't say the U.S. is a dictatorship, but many say it's backsliding faster than almost any democracy in recent history. This is contested, and the answer depends partly on how you define the term.
What the main indices say:
Pew's April 2026 roundup of V-Dem, Freedom House and the Economist Intelligence Unit found that all three showed a decline in U.S. democratic health in 2025. Freedom House still rates the U.S. as "free," with a score of 81, down 3 points. (pewresearch)
V-Dem's 2026 report dropped the U.S. from 20th to 51st on its Liberal Democracy Index, its largest one-year fall for the country. It still classifies the U.S. as a democracy, though, not an autocracy. (Substack)
International IDEA reported no downgrade, and Freedom House's country profile notes strains but no change in overall status. Indices don't agree on how severe the decline is. (lenz)
Where the disagreement lies: Critics of the current direction point to the concentration of power in the presidency and weakened checks from Congress and the courts. V-Dem says legislative constraints on the executive fell to their lowest level in over 100 years. Others argue that these indices overstate the problem, or that vigorous contestation, elections, courts and a free press are still working. The Cato Institute, for example, argues that V-Dem may overstate the U.S. decline. (Substack) (lenz)
A dictatorship usually means no meaningful elections or opposition, and the U.S. hasn't clearly crossed that line. Whether it's on a path toward it is the real dispute. If you tell me which aspects worry you (elections, courts, press freedom), I can go into what the evidence and each side say.
You’re going off the deep end buddy . If you want to see a country sliding into dictatorship start looking at Ottawa .
**Neither the USA nor Canada is a dictatorship.** Both are established liberal democracies with competitive elections, independent judiciaries, multiparty systems, and strong formal protections for rights. Ranking them on “dictatorship characteristics” means comparing relative democratic quality, institutional constraints, civil liberties, rule of law, and any recent backsliding—not claiming either is authoritarian.
### Key comparative data from major indices (most recent available as of 2025–2026)
**Freedom House Freedom in the World**
Canada: 97/100 (Free)
United States: 81/100 (Free)
Notes: USA had the sharpest decline among Free countries (−3 points in 2025); 12-point drop over ~20 years. Canada stable near the top.
**EIU Democracy Index**
Canada: ~9.08 (Full Democracy, ~9th)
United States: 7.65 (Flawed Democracy, ~34th)
Notes: Canada improved; USA declined and remains in the “flawed” category.
**V-Dem Liberal Democracy Index**
Canada: Significantly higher (remains in liberal democracy range)
United States: Dropped sharply to ~0.57 (lost long-term liberal democracy status; levels comparable to 1960s)
Notes: USA showed the largest annual decline among tracked countries in 2025.
**RSF World Press Freedom Index**
Canada: ~20th (~78.8)
United States: ~64th (~62.6)
Notes: USA declined amid political pressure on media, funding cuts to public broadcasters, and other actions.
**WJP Rule of Law Index**
Canada: 0.79 (rank ~13)
United States: 0.68 (rank ~27)
Notes: USA declined more notably.
Sources: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2026, Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index 2025, V-Dem Democracy Report 2026, Reporters Without Borders 2026, World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025.
### What the data show
- **Canada** ranks consistently higher on political rights, civil liberties, electoral process quality, constraints on executive power, press freedom, and rule of law. It is classified as a full democracy by the EIU and remains near the top of Freedom House scores.
- **The United States** has experienced measurable democratic erosion over the past decade-plus (across administrations), with sharper declines noted in 2025. Drivers cited in the indices include legislative dysfunction, greater executive dominance, pressures on free expression and media, weakened anticorruption safeguards, and polarization. It remains a democracy with robust formal institutions, but scores lower on several liberal-democratic metrics than Canada or most peer high-income democracies.
### Context and caveats
Dictatorship characteristics typically involve concentrated unaccountable power, abolished competitive elections, systematic suppression of opposition and media, no independent judiciary, and arbitrary rule. Neither country fits that description. Both have free elections, opposition parties that win power, courts that can check executives, and vibrant (if polarized) civil societies.
Canada has faced criticism on issues such as online speech regulation proposals, past use of emergency powers, and Indigenous rights. The USA has longstanding challenges with polarization, campaign finance, gerrymandering, and institutional gridlock, plus recent concerns about executive overreach and media pressure. These are real democratic deficits, but they occur within systems that remain fundamentally democratic and far removed from actual dictatorships.
In short, **Canada currently exhibits fewer characteristics associated with democratic backsliding or weaker institutional constraints** according to the leading independent indices. The gap is real on the metrics, but both countries remain liberal democracies. Rankings can shift with future political developments.
As long as America keeps faking elections theyll keep Flawed Democracy status at 34th.
The impact of Hasbara....
**RSF World Press Freedom Index**
Canada: ~20th (~78.8)
United States: ~64th (~62.6)
Notes: USA declined amid political pressure on media, funding cuts to public broadcasters, and other actions.
### Key comparative data from major indices (most recent available as of 2025–2026)
**Freedom House Freedom in the World**
Canada: 97/100 (Free)
United States: 81/100 (Free)
Notes: USA had the sharpest decline among Free countries (−3 points in 2025); 12-point drop over ~20 years. Canada stable near the top.
**EIU Democracy Index**
Canada: ~9.08 (Full Democracy, ~9th)
United States: 7.65 (Flawed Democracy, ~34th)
Notes: Canada improved; USA declined and remains in the “flawed” category.
**V-Dem Liberal Democracy Index**
Canada: Significantly higher (remains in liberal democracy range)
United States: Dropped sharply to ~0.57 (lost long-term liberal democracy status; levels comparable to 1960s)
Notes: USA showed the largest annual decline among tracked countries in 2025.
**RSF World Press Freedom Index**
Canada: ~20th (~78.8)
United States: ~64th (~62.6)
Notes: USA declined amid political pressure on media, funding cuts to public broadcasters, and other actions.
**WJP Rule of Law Index**
Canada: 0.79 (rank ~13)
United States: 0.68 (rank ~27)
Notes: USA declined more notably.
Sources: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2026, Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index 2025, V-Dem Democracy Report 2026, Reporters Without Borders 2026, World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025.
### What the data show
- **Canada** ranks consistently higher on political rights, civil liberties, electoral process quality, constraints on executive power, press freedom, and rule of law. It is classified as a full democracy by the EIU and remains near the top of Freedom House scores.
- **The United States** has experienced measurable democratic erosion over the past decade-plus (across administrations), with sharper declines noted in 2025. Drivers cited in the indices include legislative dysfunction, greater executive dominance, pressures on free expression and media, weakened anticorruption safeguards, and polarization. It remains a democracy with robust formal institutions, but scores lower on several liberal-democratic metrics than Canada or most peer high-income democracies.
### Context and caveats
Dictatorship characteristics typically involve concentrated unaccountable power, abolished competitive elections, systematic suppression of opposition and media, no independent judiciary, and arbitrary rule. Neither country fits that description. Both have free elections, opposition parties that win power, courts that can check executives, and vibrant (if polarized) civil societies.
Canada has faced criticism on issues such as online speech regulation proposals, past use of emergency powers, and Indigenous rights. The USA has longstanding challenges with polarization, campaign finance, gerrymandering, and institutional gridlock, plus recent concerns about executive overreach and media pressure. These are real democratic deficits, but they occur within systems that remain fundamentally democratic and far removed from actual dictatorships.
In short, **Canada currently exhibits fewer characteristics associated with democratic backsliding or weaker institutional constraints** according to the leading independent indices. The gap is real on the metrics, but both countries remain liberal democracies. Rankings can shift with future political developments.
Canada. A sold 9 in the top 10. A Full Democracy
As long as America keeps faking elections theyll keep Flawed Democracy status at 34th.
The impact of Hasbara....
**RSF World Press Freedom Index**
Canada: ~20th (~78.8)
United States: ~64th (~62.6)
Notes: USA declined amid political pressure on media, funding cuts to public broadcasters, and other actions.
What a bunch of B.S. . The PMO holds all the power in Canada .
After all we went thru with Covid you actually believe all the "experts". Seriously? Especially since the U.S. is doing extremely well considering the war in Iran. Huh, who knew?
Especially with a majority the PM in Canada can do pretty much whatever he likes. There is NOTHING Canadians can do but wish for an election, sooner rather than later, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. Besides, one can only hope that the destruction isn't so bad that we can't turn things around under a different government but I won't hold my breath. Too many Canadians have bought into what Carney is selling much to our destruction!! A New World Order? What EXACTLY do you think that means??
Extremely well? Do you still eat beef?
Did you believe nongovernmental experts on COVID? You did!
See what I mean well thought out posts?
Carney says he’s examined ‘extreme’ risk of U.S. military action against Canada
"That's just risk management. That’s not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to prepare"
Author of the article
enette Wilford
Published Sep 24, 2026 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 3 minute read
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Photo by Jean-Christophe Verhaegen /Getty Images
Could a war between Canada and the United States actually happen?
Given how the relationship between the two nations has devolved over the past year and a half, it’s not surprising that Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken much of that time to prepare for the risk that President Donald Trump might order military action against our country.
“I think you have a responsibility in these roles to look at extreme tail risk,” Carney told the New York Times in an interview published on Wednesday.
The former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England added, “That’s just risk management. That’s not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to” prepare for that worst-case scenario.
Trump has repeatedly spoken about turning Canada into the 51st state. In January 2025, he ruled out using military force to annex Canada but also said he would consider using “economic force” to get Canada to become part of America.
‘Reliable partner’ also means ‘reliable supplier’
In his lengthy, wide-ranging interview with the Times, Carney spoke about Canada’s role as a “middle power,” and made it clear that in many ways, what’s good for his country is also good for the U.S.
Carney used the auto industry and the decades-long integration between the two countries as a prime example, and also spoke about the importance of Canada’s potash, the key ingredient for fertilizer — not just for the U.S. but for Mexico as well.
But when asked about using Canada’s energy as leverage in the trade war with the U.S., the prime minister admitted he was reluctant to limit, tariff or curb those exports to our neighbour.
“If you’re a reliable partner and you supply energy or food to somebody it keeps running, it’s a very, very, very high threshold to change that,” he said. “Never say never, but it starts from a position of, we need to be a reliable supplier in all cases.”
US President Donald Trump speaks with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney
Trump and Carney during a work lunch as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. (Evelyn Hockstein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Photo by Evelyn Hockstein /Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Reducing reliance on the U.S. and wanting China to be a reserve currency
While he outlined ways of working with the United States, Carney also described how Canada is diversifying away from the U.S. in order to reduce its economic and strategic dependence on the U.S., which, for many, has long been a risk but even more so since trade talks collapsed last month.
He opened up about Canada expanding its economic ties with China, noting to the publication that there is a “directional shift” underway in which countries were re-evaluating their exposure to the U.S. dollar.
Carney conceded that such a move would be limited until there was “proper liberalization” of China’s currency and financial system, but said he expected the demand for U.S. dollar alternatives to grow, in part because of the Trump administration’s decision to rewire trading relations and use integration as “leverage.”
“It’s the ‘fool me once, fool me twice’ point,” the PM said. “Once you see that, then you start to think, how do I diversify away?”
Carney also discussed that Canada is considering alternatives to buying American F-35 fighter jets, as Canada’s plan to procure a full fleet of stealth fighters remains under a political review by the federal government.
As for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, he said Canada will seek to reduce its reliance on the American-based company’s satellite broadband services. “Starlink, we will diversify away from, no question.”
He acknowledged that other satellite network options are still less capable and resilient, but pointed out that “from a defense perspective, and certainly pooled with other partners, Europeans, Koreans potentially, you get to scale and you cut that dependency.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump are pictured together in this file photo. Trade tensions between Canada and the United States continue to escalate.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump are pictured together in this file photo. (Postmedia) Photo by Postmedia
The two sides still speak often
Despite the tense relationship, Carney told the Times he is speaking to Trump “frequently,” and the two have spoken “a number of times” since trade talks dramatically collapsed in August and each side mounted fresh tariffs.
“From my perspective, we have a good relationship in the sense of we can pick up the phone and talk to each other about issues,” he said.
“He’s direct. I’m direct in terms of where positions are,” he continued. “It’s much more efficient that way, and so you know that exists and that will continue to exist.”
Carney added: “Is there a mutually beneficial trade deal between Canada and the U.S.? Absolutely, absolutely there is one.”
torontosun.com
"That's just risk management. That’s not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to prepare"
Author of the article
enette WilfordPublished Sep 24, 2026 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 3 minute read
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Photo by Jean-Christophe Verhaegen /Getty Images
Could a war between Canada and the United States actually happen?
Given how the relationship between the two nations has devolved over the past year and a half, it’s not surprising that Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken much of that time to prepare for the risk that President Donald Trump might order military action against our country.
“I think you have a responsibility in these roles to look at extreme tail risk,” Carney told the New York Times in an interview published on Wednesday.
The former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England added, “That’s just risk management. That’s not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to” prepare for that worst-case scenario.
Trump has repeatedly spoken about turning Canada into the 51st state. In January 2025, he ruled out using military force to annex Canada but also said he would consider using “economic force” to get Canada to become part of America.
‘Reliable partner’ also means ‘reliable supplier’
In his lengthy, wide-ranging interview with the Times, Carney spoke about Canada’s role as a “middle power,” and made it clear that in many ways, what’s good for his country is also good for the U.S.
Carney used the auto industry and the decades-long integration between the two countries as a prime example, and also spoke about the importance of Canada’s potash, the key ingredient for fertilizer — not just for the U.S. but for Mexico as well.
But when asked about using Canada’s energy as leverage in the trade war with the U.S., the prime minister admitted he was reluctant to limit, tariff or curb those exports to our neighbour.
“If you’re a reliable partner and you supply energy or food to somebody it keeps running, it’s a very, very, very high threshold to change that,” he said. “Never say never, but it starts from a position of, we need to be a reliable supplier in all cases.”
US President Donald Trump speaks with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney
Trump and Carney during a work lunch as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. (Evelyn Hockstein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Photo by Evelyn Hockstein /Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Reducing reliance on the U.S. and wanting China to be a reserve currency
While he outlined ways of working with the United States, Carney also described how Canada is diversifying away from the U.S. in order to reduce its economic and strategic dependence on the U.S., which, for many, has long been a risk but even more so since trade talks collapsed last month.
He opened up about Canada expanding its economic ties with China, noting to the publication that there is a “directional shift” underway in which countries were re-evaluating their exposure to the U.S. dollar.
Carney conceded that such a move would be limited until there was “proper liberalization” of China’s currency and financial system, but said he expected the demand for U.S. dollar alternatives to grow, in part because of the Trump administration’s decision to rewire trading relations and use integration as “leverage.”
“It’s the ‘fool me once, fool me twice’ point,” the PM said. “Once you see that, then you start to think, how do I diversify away?”
Carney also discussed that Canada is considering alternatives to buying American F-35 fighter jets, as Canada’s plan to procure a full fleet of stealth fighters remains under a political review by the federal government.
As for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, he said Canada will seek to reduce its reliance on the American-based company’s satellite broadband services. “Starlink, we will diversify away from, no question.”
He acknowledged that other satellite network options are still less capable and resilient, but pointed out that “from a defense perspective, and certainly pooled with other partners, Europeans, Koreans potentially, you get to scale and you cut that dependency.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump are pictured together in this file photo. Trade tensions between Canada and the United States continue to escalate.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump are pictured together in this file photo. (Postmedia) Photo by Postmedia
The two sides still speak often
Despite the tense relationship, Carney told the Times he is speaking to Trump “frequently,” and the two have spoken “a number of times” since trade talks dramatically collapsed in August and each side mounted fresh tariffs.
“From my perspective, we have a good relationship in the sense of we can pick up the phone and talk to each other about issues,” he said.
“He’s direct. I’m direct in terms of where positions are,” he continued. “It’s much more efficient that way, and so you know that exists and that will continue to exist.”
Carney added: “Is there a mutually beneficial trade deal between Canada and the U.S.? Absolutely, absolutely there is one.”
Carney says he’s examined ‘extreme’ risk of U.S. military action against Canada
It’s not surprising that the PM has prepared for the “extreme tail risk” that Trump might order military action against Canada. Read on.