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Canada cannot muster the cookie-monster

We're not sure what explains the sudden explosion of crazy. Is it deep, destabilizing economic insecurity? The looming 2012 apocalypse? Having a black president? No one knows for sure. All we know is that within the GOP's base, and on certain frontiers of the left, as well as the wacky-science crowd, crazy is hot this year. Crazy sells. It's the year of crazy liberation! Say it loud, I'm nuts and proud. (Joan Walsh, “2009: The year in crazy,” Salon, 14 Dec. 2009)
In my country, boring is what we do. In 1995 we let a huge province vote to succeed and they almost succeeded. No guns, no violence, just democracy. Very little drama.
But crazy is exciting. Extremes are dynamic and fun. Wars and economic collapse fill news holes and sell advertising. Polar opinions are riveting. Cataclysmic prophesies on the right and left help one feel important and unprecedented. In short, crazy works.
Until America grows up, settles down and takes its responsibilities to its people and the world a little more seriously, crazy will be the norm. (Mike Steers, response to post, “2009: The year in crazy,” Salon)

@mikesteers
Until America grows up, settles down and takes its responsibilities to its people and the world a little more seriously, crazy will be the norm.
But how grown-up is a nation that still talks as if it were the Edwardian? Can you imagine such a nation having its own 60s? If not, it's not serious, or boring -- more like moribond, or dead, with a gleam of rich sadism just lurking behind the peaceful facade.
Cdns like being boring because they thereby never quite feel like they're kids with hands caught in the cookie jar, which is what creates so much of the psychodrama in the American scene. So violence gets abrogated, at the cost of self-minimization -- of living. Poor trade. Still, Quebec got off, not because Canadians are so peaceful but because they weren't yet in the mood for war. If they try it again a few years from now, Canada will invade, punish, cripple, as many Canucks decide, rather than be known for silver, they'd too like to command respect through steel.

Link: 2009: The year in crazy (Salon)
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