After acquiring a nuclear arsenal to defend against the United States, North Korea was probably not going to surrender that arsenal at the behest of the United States.
Still, some optimistic, peace-loving fools hoped U.S. President Donald Trump could overcome his tendency to bluster about button size and find commonalities with a dictator. But much like his hopes for an Emmy, Trump’s aspiration for a Nobel Peace Prize was dashed this week following the cancellation of a proposed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
It would be easy to write that diplomacy failed, but we’re not certain it was attempted. The current resident of the White House is a swaggering, bullying, jeering example of the need for diplomacy. With our own municipal elections looming, we should consider his example carefully.
During the next five months you will be told certain politicians can kick some TransLink butt and get us buses. You’ll be told that some candidates will push back against the province and the feds.
Only it doesn’t work that way.
If we want low-cost housing, better transit, or road infrastructure improvements, our mayors will need to partner with senior levels of government or developers. Those partnerships won’t be achieved with verbal abuse or vitriol.
Despite the preposterous comments of Metro Vancouver chairman Greg Moore, none of our current mayors resemble Donald Trump. Let’s keep it that way.
A lack of municipal diplomacy may not push the doomsday clock forward, but it can always push our own vehicular and political gridlock backward.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
