Opinions “~¥ | A retrospective of the Trudeau administration Highlights and failures eight years in Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer Say what you will about the leader of our country, but no recent prime ministers have had an impact like Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and the excitement of having Trudeau in office may never surface again. During his eight years in office and two re-elections, Trudeau has been both heavily praised and criticized for his dynamic personality, womanizing, and powerful policy changes. Trudeau will be remembered for decades to come. One of his earliest and perhaps most lasting accomplishments was the defence of our recent socialized health care system—a more modern approach that is an essential part of taking care of our citizens. Quite recently, Trudeau abolished the death penalty in Canada, adopting the modern, civilized view that governments should not kill their own citizens. It’s only a matter of time until the US follows suit. Image via wikimedia Of course, Trudeau’s administration has not been without its challenges, but his resilience throughout has only proven his competence. Tell me what I want How Apple is changing our outlook on technology Elliot Chan Opinions Editor The old way of thinking: Nobody owns a computer because nobody needs one. Take a look at the new Apple 1, which came on sale this summer (July 1976). It looks like something a high school student built during the final days before the science fair. That crummy looking machine is worth the equivalent of a month’s salary for many middle-class people. Few consumers want computers, and even fewer understand them, but that is not how trends should continue. People are generally content with living day to day within a routine. Technology doesn't abide by those rules. Technology disrupts, but it often takes many years for it to do so. The same way the printing press, the wristwatch, and the steam engine changed the world, I believe that computers can do the same. Yet when I approach every new technology—like the Apple 1—I still say: “Nah! I don’t need that. ’'m happy with what I have.” I’m happy writing this article out on a pen and paper, then transcribing it on a word processor, and transferring that to a printing press. That’s not a big deal to me. Steve Jobs, the young and hip founder of Apple, said: “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them... Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.” It’s an inspiring quote that perfectly separates innovators from us mere mortals. This quote allows me to be even more optimistic about technology, knowing that in most cases it will win over. Will there one day be virtual reality, mobile payments, or robot vacuum cleaners available to consumers? Probably. It could happen within the year, or it could take 4o years, but to write off technology is an ignorant reaction to change. We all need to push in the direction of progress. We need to push with Jobs and the Apple 1. It’s easy to look to the past and think about how stupid those people were for doing things the “old” ways. Yet, what would the future generation say about us? Yes, technology is stealing jobs away from hardworking people, but I don’t believe that is a bad thing. I believe that people, like technology, should evolve. We need to start thinking like innovators and less like routine-orientated consumers. We should not just pick a job and stick with it. If you look at it, pretty much every job could Early on in his career, he faced radical Quebec liberationists, and made it clear such domestic extremism would not be tolerated. He clashed with Quebec on everything from Constitutional reform to multiculturalism, but he’s always worked through it. Trudeau has defended bilingualism against a growing demand for independence in Quebec. Quebec has a provincial election coming up this November—the results will be significant for its future and for the unity and future of this country. Whatever may happen, Trudeau will navigate through to continue carrying this province as part of our country’s culture. Internationally, Trudeau has set the stage for Canada to bea peaceful role model. His various economic policies have become particularly highlighted after working with US President Gerald be replaced with a robot one day, but I ask you this: how will you work with the technology? Computers aren't stealing jobs away from people. Computers are changing the way people work. Take this example: Ford to join the G6, changing the group to the G7. Canada now has a much louder voice in discussing world economic issues. We can look forward to unified and strengthened economies after the mess of this decade in the future. He is a divisive, polarizing politician. He works hard at his job of keeping Canada great, and he may suffer personally from it. The media loves to jump on the pressure felt by Trudeau, especially in his personal life. We all know his marriage is suffering, and the Trudeau home may become broken. Nevertheless, I remain confident that Trudeau’s popularity and leadership will endure. He will be re-elected yet again when the time is right and lead our country for years to come. His children will grow up to be responsible, productive Canadians—perhaps even great leaders in their own right. Image via wikimedia bank tellers are losing jobs to automated-teller machines. But then again, what are tellers doing to respond to this? They must innovate. We must see what has yet to be written.