In Canada’s wars — particularly the First and Second World Wars, and Afghanistan — as well as on peacekeeping missions, young Prairie men (and now young Prairie women) volunteer early and in disproportionately large numbers.

I was once asked why I thought that was. Was it because people from the Prairies are warmongers?

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“No,” I replied. “I think they just like to be left alone.”

We’ve lived and worked so long and so far from the centres of power that whenever someone evil or megalomaniacal comes along, we sign up to go fight so they will leave us alone again to farm and ranch, drill for oil, run our small businesses and take care of our families, all of which is what we would really rather be doing.

I think it’s the same with Monday’s referendum.

Unfortunately, I have to file this column before any results from the voting have been released by Elections Alberta. So if you turned here to find my insights into what the numbers mean, I’ll have to encourage you to return........

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