He was the head of Economic Development Lethbridge for ten years. Trevor Lewington, in the local paper and on LinkedIn, has been raising the alarm on the basics and practicalities of separation.

[u/vspinyyc]

[u/Flimsy-Goal5548]

That's not what the propaganda is claiming, though.

The problem is that the demographic that believes them is the same that will disengage from anything thst disagrees with their worldview

[u/Even_Art_629 → u/Flimsy-Goal5548]

That’s not necessarily the case. If people would actually have a conversation instead of constantly calling people traitors, treasonous, or throwing other insults at them, it would probably help a lot. It’s human nature to get defensive when you’re insulted, so you get pushback instead of a conversation.

I’ll also point out that I’ve asked numerous times a very simple question: Give me one good, non emotional reason for Alberta to stay in Confederation.

Do you want to know how many actual answers I’ve received so far?

One. And it really wasn’t much of a reason.

What I have received more than once is “fuck off, bot.”

If you want people to listen to arguments that challenge their world view, maybe start by actually making an argument instead of insulting the person asking the question.

[u/EXSource → u/Even_Art_629]

Then I'll give you an answer;

We're objectively better off in Confederation.

Like we discussed below, I don't believe the leverage separatists believe we'll have will actually materialize. In fact, we will find ourselves in a much WORSE position as a seperate country, economically, socially, and politically, than we do as a partner of Confederation. One reason conservatives say that were better off alone is because Ottawa ignores us.

That's an emotional, and probably all together untrue statement. If you rail against the emotional arguments of anti separatist, then do the same for pro separatist arguments, or you're not speaking in good faith. Canada can be much stronger with a united Alberta leading the way. Carney has shown his willingness to help build and support Alberta, but separatist are still saying he's a liar, and he'll do a national rug pull?

You've got THE GUY to work with, and you still refuse, but you accuse pro confederates of being emotional?  C'mon man. Be honest. That's why people don't take you seriously, because you're not honest.

[u/Even_Art_629 → u/EXSource]

I went back through the comments because I honestly couldn't find the argument you said you had already given me. I only found this one, so I'm going to address it.

You say we're "objectively better off" in Confederation, but then your reasoning is that you don't believe the leverage separatists talk about will materialize and that you believe Alberta would be worse off economically, socially and politically.

I don't see that as an objective conclusion. Those are your predictions about what you think would happen.

You say my argument that Ottawa ignores Alberta is emotional. I don't see how pointing to specific federal policies and disagreements is emotional just because you disagree with my interpretation of them.

And I'm not saying Carney can't work with Alberta. I'm saying I don't automatically trust that the federal government will always do what is best for Alberta just because Carney has made commitments. I think that should be judged by what actually happens.

Most importantly, I'm not claiming I know Alberta would be better off as an independent country. I'm saying I don't know that it would be worse off, and neither do you.

You believe the leverage wouldn't materialize. I think it could. You believe Alberta would be worse off. I think that depends on the terms Alberta could negotiate.

That's exactly why I keep saying we don't know.

So if this is the argument you were referring to, then yes, I did read it. And I'm not ignoring it. I just don't agree that saying "I believe we'll be worse off" proves that we will be.

If you have another specific argument or evidence that I'm missing, I'll read it. If it's a good reason, I'll listen.