There’s a certain kind of dread you can’t shake these days—the sense that just one unexpected bill could send everything off the rails. For millions across Canada, the US, and most of the developed world, this isn’t some distant fear. It’s a daily reality. Ordinary people are living right on the edge, hoping that the next crack in the system doesn’t open up beneath their feet.
Honestly? I still can’t decide whether I’m more angry or afraid. Dread feels about right.
In the video below, I dive into this fault line running beneath two of the world’s wealthiest countries—a divide that’s now shaping our politics, our relationships, and the way we see ourselves and each other. If you’ve ever wondered why tensions feel so high or why communities seem ready to turn on themselves, it’s probably closer to the wallet than you think.
One Paycheck from the Edge
Let’s start with the reality: the most vulnerable rarely make the headlines. In Canada, 10 million people—including 2.5 million children—live in food-insecure households. In the US, two out of three workers say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. It’s a phrase we hear so often that it barely registers anymore. But the truth behind it is relentless precarity. For millions, just one unexpected event—a lost job, a surprise medical bill, a car breakdown—means the difference between stability and freefall.
And it’s not just about money. It’s about dignity. It’s about standing in the grocery store, doing silent mental math and hoping your kids don’t notice your worry. When nearly a third of lower-income US households spend almost everything they earn on basics, there’s little left for emergencies—or for hope.
These are not simply personal failures. The cracks are structural, and the dread becomes public. It shapes how entire communities behave, trust, and relate to one another.
Who Gets Blamed When Things Break?
In anxious societies, someone always offers a simple answer: blame “them.” Not the billionaire who controls food prices or the hedge fund driving up rents, but the neighbor who looks or sounds a little different. It’s an old, poisonous trick—and it’s everywhere right now, from campaign speeches to casual conversations.
But the people cashing in on this anger are always at the top, hoping we never look up. Real critical thinking means asking not just what’s happening, but who benefits from the story we’re told.
It’s easy to point fingers; it’s much harder to ask the right questions.
Austerity and the Slow Emergency
Austerity sounds technical, but it really means governments spending less on the basics people rely on. The result isn’t one big collapse—it’s a slow, rolling emergency. Hospitals with too few nurses. Schools cutting corners. Mental health support fading away.
People adjust and get numb, accepting that this is just how life works. That numbness is dangerous—it makes us vulnerable to anyone promising certainty, even if it comes at someone else’s expense.
What Is Nation-Building, Actually?
Real nation-building isn’t about big projects or speeches. It’s about whether people can live with dignity and security. The most urgent project for any society right now is to restore a sense of fairness—not just in the economy, but in how people feel about their future.
When people trust that their kids have a real shot—not a guarantee, but a chance—everything changes. Nation-building is about rebuilding trust, investing in people, and fostering a sense of belonging.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re feeling this kind of dread, you’re not alone. Sometimes, that feeling is the clearest proof that you’re paying attention.
Do you feel like you’re living on the edge, or watching people you know slide closer? If so, you’re seeing cracks that many try to paint over—but cracks let in a little light. And sometimes, that’s where rebuilding begins.
If you want to keep your head clear in uncertain times, I wrote Awake: The Practice of Critical Thinking in an Age of Soft Lies with you in mind. You’ll find more on that here.
Have a look at the video above for the full story, all the sources, and the conversation. If you want to go deeper, check out my video on why so many Americans are considering a move to Canada. This is about more than politics or headlines—it’s about what happens in the ordinary lives that never make the news.
That’s where the future starts. And that’s where I’ll be watching.
Sources:
https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/how-many-canadians-are-affected-by-household-food-insecurity
https://foodbankscanada.ca/hunger-in-canada/hungercount/overall-findings/
https://www.investopedia.com/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-youre-not-alone-67-percent-of-people-are-in-2025-11812027
https://institute.bankofamerica.com/content/dam/economic-insights/paycheck-to-paycheck.pdf
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/austerity.asp
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/inequalities/2024/06/19/the-cost-of-austerity-how-spending-cuts-led-to-190000-excess-deaths
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austerity