My best friend, Sam, has a problem with distractions. Sam is keen on livestock, but his attention can be easily distracted by more interesting diversions.

Sam’s mother, Opal, runs Snobelen Farms, an easy task for an Australian Shepherd. But his father was a Border Collie, which explains his interest in everything that moves.

SNOBELEN: Canada should doggedly pursue financial stability  Back to video

Sam’s ability to focus will get better with age (hopefully soon!). But I’m not sure I can say the same about Canadians’ ability to focus on the important, given how many delightful distractions there are.

The latest wonderful distraction is U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that the Gordie Howe bridge might twist in the wind until a tribute is paid. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded with restraint. Apparently, he made a call to better inform Trump of the nuances of the bridge agreement. This proves, once again, that Carney’s reaction is more refined than mine would have been.

Bridge wasn’t erected overnight

I might have been inclined to tell Trump that one of the unique features of the Gordie Howe bridge is a design element that permits traffic to flow in both directions. This oddity allows goods to travel into and out of the United States and Canada. It’s a weird thing called trade.

I also might have informed him that the bridge was not erected under the cover of night. It is the product of 25 years of negotiations and multiple ribbon cuttings. The bridge is a product of a formal agreement between nations. Once again, the fundamental question arising from a Trump rant is whether America can be trusted to keep its agreements.

But all of this is just theatre. Small acts in the ongoing American reality show that entertains, infuriates and, importantly, distracts from more fundamental challenges.

There are a few Canadians who seem to enjoy the show and even contemplate life in the 51st state. Heck, some of those folks embrace the finer elements of culture I appreciate, like cutting horses, cattle and Ian Tyson songs.

But engaging in the 51st state rhetoric is as useless as trying to anticipate every bump in the long road to a trade agreement. The uncomfortable truth is that the Gordie Howe bridge connects two vastly indebted nations.

Canada should not be distracted

The test of sovereignty is the ability of a government to function without external control. America lost control in the same way old monarchies became irrelevant. They spent their way into dependence.

Americans are happier debating ICE, the East Wing ballroom, Epstein and Bad Bunny than addressing the threatening level of debt. U.S. debt will grow to over $40 trillion this year. That means every American owes a hidden debt of over $100 grand.

America marches to the beat of its lenders. And that, my friends, ain’t sovereignty.

Canada is a little better. Our debt exceeds $1 trillion (USD). We each owe about $30,000. And we don’t seem particularly worried about it.

Nationhood is, of course, not simply a matter of economics. The deeper test is a matter of character. Who we are when we are not acting from fear defines us. Our southern neighbour is acting from fear and insufficiency. At its best, America was unafraid of competing freely with the world. They called it the American spirit. Entrepreneurial, confident and bold.

I think America will ultimately win the current internal battle with fear, but while that battle unfolds, Canadians should not be distracted. We might want to stay a little more focused on our debt and a little less on American theatre.

© Edmonton Sun