Canadian, living on Vancouver Island. Retired from small business. Worked as salesman, accountant, purchasing manager. Started & operated my own stationery store. Began writing a few years ago when I lived on the Atlantic coast of Canada. Have written for local newspapers, business magazines, and general interest mags. Even when I hitchhiked around in the 1960s, I avoided the United States. I could see the imperial ambitions both boldly and subtly stated since the founding of that country. I am concerned that our current leaders in Canada are too ready to be courtiers (the word used by John Ralston Saul, Canadian philosopher, to describe the spear carriers for empires)to betray distinctly-developed Canadian values, for a pat on the back from the elephant in the room.