David J Rovinsky

Will the Dark Ages Repeat? The cycle in the West that began with the Renaissance is ending.

Are we entering a new Dark Age? Not ignorance, but squander: a world where knowledge survives, yet universality dies. Tech oligarchs as Medicis, universities in decline, and a society where brilliance is wasted.

#history #politics #universities #DarkAges

southof45.substack.com/p/will-the-d...

My Id Beats Your Enlightenment Biden’s age offends more voters than Trump’s authoritarianism. Why? Because politics today is id vs. intellect, and the id is winning.

Populists offer candy. Liberals offer spinach. Guess which one the id craves? #FreudAndPolitics #DemocracyInDanger #Authoritarianism

southof45.substack.com/p/my-id-beat...

#CFL

CFL Rule Changes Miss the Real Problem They reek of desperation, not confidence. Fix the level of play.

They reek of desperation, not confidence. Fix the level of play.

southof45.substack.com/p/cfl-rule-c...

This Essay Is (Part of) The Problem If I had my way, we would pay to use social media.

If I had my way, we would pay to use social media.

southof45.substack.com/p/this-essay...

The Pandemic’s Long Tail: Why the Politics of the 2020s Cannot Escape COVID-19 Pandemics never end when the sickness subsides. Democracies remain captive to the unfinished business of COVID-19

Pandemics never end when the sickness subsides. Democracies remain captive to the unfinished business of COVID-19.

southof45.substack.com/p/the-pandem...

John Schneider knew about Occam's Razor today.

Square root of the third derivative of n raised to the power of b says bring in the reliever who will walk eight straight batters.

Is Western Alienation About Oil or Identity? Economics furnishes the substance, culture supplies the heat.

Economics furnishes the substance, culture supplies the heat.

southof45.substack.com/p/is-western...

Brazilian Democracy and Trumpist Grievance Trump agitates against Brazil not because it threatens American interests, but because its voters elect the “wrong” leaders.

Trump agitates against Brazil not because it threatens American interests, but because its voters elect the “wrong” leaders.

southof45.substack.com/p/brazilian-...

Exactly when CFL teams kneel to concede a safety...

The Changing Logic of Annexing Canada: From Manifest Destiny to Culture War For over two centuries, Americans have dreamed of annexing Canada. What’s changed is that today’s annexationism isn’t about borders or strategy, but about erasing Canada’s democracy.

For over two centuries, Americans have dreamed of annexing Canada. What’s changed is that today’s annexationism isn’t about borders or strategy, but about erasing Canada’s democracy.

southof45.substack.com/p/the-changi...

Culture-War Annexationism: Why Joe Martin Sees Canada as the Battleground It is not about territory. It is about legitimacy. In MAGA’s America, Canada’s democratic political choices are so repugnant that the answer is absorption.

It is not about territory. It is about legitimacy. In MAGA’s America, Canada’s democratic political choices are so repugnant that the answer is absorption.

southof45.substack.com/p/culture-wa...

For François Legault and the CAQ, the lights are fading.

southof45.substack.com/p/la-fin-du-...

Did Trump Vindicate the Third Option? Mark Carney’s approach does not resurrect the Third Option branding, but in substance it is unmistakably a descendant of Sharp’s strategy.

Mark Carney’s approach does not resurrect the Third Option branding, but in substance it is unmistakably a descendant of Mitchell Sharp’s strategy.

southof45.substack.com/p/did-trump-...

Waiting for America: Canada in the Age of MAGA The most important question in Canadian domestic politics today is whether the United States will recover from Trump. Nothing fundamental can change until the volcano next door stops erupting.

The most important question in Canadian domestic politics today is whether the United States will recover from Trump. Nothing fundamental can change until the volcano next door stops erupting.

southof45.substack.com/p/waiting-fo...

Quebec man claims he was detained, falsely accused of fishing in US waters A Quebec man is outraged after he says U.S. authorities falsely accused him of fishing in American waters in Lake Champlain and jailed him for hours.

And www.wcax.com/2025/07/24/q...

Canadian man furious after U.S. Coast Guard cross 'border' to arrest him The detention of 60-year-old Edouard Lallemand has prompted outrage from him and his wife and raised questions about enforcement on shared waterways.

This is all I could find. www.newsweek.com/canadian-man...

Very disturbing. They possible entered Canadian waters, grabbed a Canadian citizen, and took him to the US and imprisoned him. They warned us as diplomats that constitutes an act of war.

I did not mean to sub-post @johnibbitson.bsky.social. I've just realized he's on BlueSky.

Breaking Point by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson | Penguin Random House Canada From the authors of The Big Shift and Empty Planet, a timely and provocative exploration of the seismic forces reshaping Canada’s political, cultural, and economic landscape.

@darrellbricker and I wrote Breaking Point over six frantic months, through Freeland & Trudeau & Trump and Carney & the election. It's all in the book, but the forces threatening Canada stretch much farther back. Pub date is Oct. 28. You can pre-order now.
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/801993...

Still Shifting? Revisiting John Ibbitson’s Canada as "Breaking Point" Looms Across his career, Ibbitson has shown a remarkable ability to identify long-range trends. But Ibbitson consistently overstates the political implications of these structural shifts.

Across his career, Ibbitson has shown a remarkable ability to identify long-range trends. But Ibbitson consistently overstates the political implications of these structural shifts.

southof45.substack.com/p/still-shif...

The case for a reimagined Radio Canada International - RCI ACTION COMMITTEE - BLOG Canada must restore its world service Radio Canada International

Canada has neglected not only defense, but foreign affairs across the board since the end of the Cold War. The Carney Government needs to go beyond military spending and reinvigorate Canada's soft power.

rciaction.org/blog/the-cas...

One Big Beautiful Treaty—or Trap? Canada must ask: is now the moment to ink something that could artificially tie Canada to an unstable United States?

Canada must ask: is now the moment to ink something that could artificially tie Canada to an unstable United States?

southof45.substack.com/p/one-big-be...

Chicoutimi, Then and Now The people are warm and welcoming, and the cultural depth of the Saguenay is as rich as ever. But the sense of remoteness that once guaranteed total French immersion has diminished.

The people are warm and welcoming, and the cultural depth of the Saguenay is as rich as ever. But the sense of remoteness that once guaranteed total French immersion has diminished.

southof45.substack.com/p/chicoutimi...

Burlington’s Canada Street Is A Preening Gesture That Solves Nothing Canadians are not waiting for Burlington to declare its friendship. They are waiting for Burlington to do something that matters.

Canadians are not waiting for Burlington to declare its friendship. They are waiting for the United States to do something that matters.

southof45.substack.com/p/burlington...

Seven Days: A Vermont Lens on Quebec, 2023–2025 For Seven Days, the border crossing is an act of ethical travel, a statement of cultural openness, and a reassertion of regional identity.

I don't think it will convince a single Canadian to come here. But it's very soothing to a certain element in Burlington (the kind that reads Seven Days) anxious to be seen as "the good Americans." southof45.substack.com/p/seven-days...

m.sevendaysvt.com/news/church-...

Canada’s New Government: Carney's Rejection of Trudeau's Legacy Borrowing Stephen Harper’s old slogan “Canada’s New Government,” this administration presents itself as a new regime—a repositioned center-right force retooled for post‑Trudeau anxieties.

Borrowing Stephen Harper’s old slogan “Canada’s New Government,” this administration presents itself as a new regime—a repositioned center-right force retooled for post‑Trudeau anxieties.

southof45.substack.com/p/canadas-ne...

For Seven Days, the border crossing is an act of ethical travel, a statement of cultural openness, and a reassertion of regional identity.

southof45.substack.com/p/seven-days...