Aside from a pic, this column isn’t here online. But reading my paper version I was struck by Paul Wells’ defensiveness against the US reporter who called Canada “small potatoes”. I’m surprised because Paul Wells—along with so many other Macleans writers, as well as Canadian media in general, from CBC to Global—are all so hyper obsessed with the States, constantly writing about cyphers like that crazy lady from the state next to the Yukon and any other possible minute detail, that he is fully responsible for the foreign dismissal. 
Why, his issue alone, for some inexplicable reason, give its interview—a full 3 pages!—to some random US author who writes about inane previous US presidents. I mean WGAS, honestly? I of course skipped it. 
As long as this country is so lacking in self interest, self respect and self identity, as revealed by the incessant fawning over the elsewhere—we will remain small potatoes. Please, guys; ignore them. Their country isn’t that great. Los Angeles, USA is a bit of a crap-hole. And the US is not worth any more of our attention than any other major nation like India. Please give me less to skip over.