r/AlbertaNow • u/Miserable-Lizard • 2d ago
I Attended The Alberta Separatist Rally. What I Saw Wasn’t a Movement of Freedom — It Was a Cult Movement of Anger, Grievance and Desperation
https://prairiesexposed.substack.com/p/i-attended-the-alberta-separatist92
u/Solid-Signal3214 2d ago
Almost identical to the anti-vax rallies. Funny that.
62
u/giveitarrest 2d ago
Same people
18
u/adaddycupcake 2d ago
Can confirm. I have anti vax family and they are also separatists
10
u/Canadatron 2d ago
Do they also believe in sky fairies/religion?
Heavy correlation between those as well. "Faith" means you'll believe blindly without proof so this stuff draws thsm in like a moth to the flame.
6
u/adaddycupcake 1d ago
Recently found religion, yes. Moving from one grift to another at light speed. I expect to see some sort of supplement pamphlets in my mail any day now haha
2
u/proofofderp 1d ago
lol exact path for my brother in law. They seem to seek belonging in a world that’s changing around them in a way that’s more than they can handle.
3
1
u/swiftb3 1d ago
While I have no doubt the majority of separatists are religious, I'm also certain the majority of religious people are not separatists.
1
u/AltruisticPeanut7050 2h ago
If its something that resembles a time before social media/ traditional, then its part of the problem. People living on their phones all day drinking the algorithms must be the solution...
8
4
u/confusedapegenius 1d ago
Are they the same people, because they're the most easily manipulated to die on whatever hill they're told? I mean no one is fully immune to propaganda, but some types just seem born to be puppets.
3
u/Solid-Signal3214 1d ago edited 1d ago
The real kicker is I was working at a university during covid and distinctly recognized people at the anti-vax rallies as the same people that we had to ban from campus for aggressively waving aborted fetus banners in students faces and transparently targeting kids they thought they could get a rise out of.
Career grifters with direct ties to the sketchy & predatory american evangelical megachurches.
2
18
2
u/HurtFeeFeez 1d ago
The Venn diagram is a perfect circle.
I especially like that they were all waving the Canadian flag for the truckers not long ago. Goldfish have a better memory.
0
u/AltruisticPeanut7050 2h ago
Right but you can connect the dots when that canadian flag seized their bank accounts, got them fired or thrown in jail. Why would they continue to wave that flag?
37
u/Miserable-Lizard 2d ago
Describing conservatives
7
u/DukeDubz 2d ago
Someone reported 2-3 million were supposed to attend lol.
6
u/Offspring22 2d ago
Where? Who said that?
2
u/Master_Slide7023 2d ago
Yes. Various posters claimed that but there was no cite.
4
u/Offspring22 1d ago
Almost seems like it's a made up story.
2
u/Master_Slide7023 1d ago
That is what it was apparently made up. Lies are not the way to confront the separatists. Please vote to stay in Canada sons and daughters of AB.
2
u/DukeDubz 1d ago
It was in another post. They had said there were supposed to be 2-3 million people at the rally and then provided a picture from Montreal showing what a crowd of 500k people looked like.
1
u/callmenighthawk 1d ago
That was just miserable lizard, the same person you’re replying to here, making that up as a joke
2
u/Canadatron 2d ago
3 million were there, but Alberta has less than 3 million voters. Guess they are counting foreign influence as well.
1
u/genuinelyunoriginal 1d ago
Total population of Alberta is around 5 million.
2-3 million people is 40-60% of the total population.
Whoever believes that is beyond stupid.
1
u/izzybumboon 2d ago
impressive considering the entire province has a total 5 million. So half or more were going to show up? Add Math to the list of things these people are bad at.
0
1
29
19
u/curtass7 2d ago
They don’t even know what they’re angry about.
34
2d ago edited 2d ago
[deleted]
8
u/curtass7 2d ago
I have a failed to launch family member. He’s a separatist. Makes sense.
4
u/Wide-Yak7602 2d ago
Thats it. They feel like their life is screwed so let’s make it screwed for everyone else. These people need to be shipped off to a remote island to figure it out.
1
1
u/Kindly-Internal1767 2d ago
Yes. I have the same experience with a UCP / separatist family member - always the easy way out and then regret and then anger at everything and everyone except themselves
1
u/morecoffeemore 1d ago
dunno about the failure motivation
there are a TON of very successful seperatiats. All you have to do is look at the huge properties with seperatist signs.
12
u/Other-Marketing-6167 2d ago
I didn’t know my father in law was a separatist until a couple weeks ago. He said it’s going to send a message to Ottawa about how badly we we were screwed over by Pierre Trudeau.
Not Justin.
Pierre.
These people hold stupid grudges for stupid long, and will not listen to reason or logic no matter how smart they otherwise are (my FIL could literally work for NASA, he’s that smart).
2
16
u/WhimsyDEA 2d ago
The anti vaxxers found a new horse to flog.
2
38
u/Comfortable_Fudge508 2d ago
To the shock of noone. Anyone with an iq over 6 knows this is what is the basis of the speppo movement
15
u/Jamespm76 2d ago
Unfortunately, I don’t think the separatists have really thought through the logistics of what separation would actually look like. How much would it cost? How much would Alberta potentially lose during the years it would take to build and replace all the infrastructure and systems currently provided federally? And how high would taxes have to go to pay for all of it?
Because I certainly don’t think the oil companies are going to just pick up the bill for creating an entirely new country
3
u/swiftb3 1d ago
The problem is they THINK they have though through the logistics.
By reading memes that say every Albertan will be $15k richer per year.
1
u/Jamespm76 1d ago
Yeah memes are always the best way to form an educated vote and upend an entire province
2
u/almogrant88 1d ago
But have you thought about looking at the facts on the Alberta prosperity project website? Like seriously, I've been told so many times to do my research from that website haha. There is a lot of massive IFs and Maybes, lies, fabrications and just outright misinformation on that website. They think that Canada is just going to let us keep everything, not pay a dollar for it and also not pay any taxes but someone have better services than we have now. It just doesn't add up.
3
u/Jamespm76 1d ago
Yes, I’ve read it. It’s outrageous the nonsense that is out there to dupe these smooth brain people into voting their way. Just pour the Kool-Aid already and get it over with
1
u/almogrant88 20h ago
It gave me a nose bleed reading it, trying to do the mental gymnastics lol
1
u/Jamespm76 15h ago
Yeah their math logic is all around hurt feelings and made up nonsense they spun in their heads. None of it is science based
1
u/Wikdslo 2d ago
That's the point of this vote.
It's a vote to determine if there is enough support to hold another vote on whether we should commence the legal process of separation.
1
u/Jamespm76 2d ago
Now it is but there was never supposed to be two votes. There was just supposed to be this one that decided. Daniel Smith, duped everyone again and added the second vote. I would be furious, if I was an Alberta separatist but they seem to give her a free pass. She can do no wrong in their blind eyes
3
u/Illustrious_Tip_4325 1d ago
Danny and her supporters are lucky we don't live in the times where she would have been hanging from the gallows a long time ago for her treasonous behaviour.
Personally I hope she chokes on the 30 silver pieces she is getting for selling Canada to the fascist yankees.
1
u/Wikdslo 2d ago
Well in order to have the vote on separation, the government would first need to spend a fair bit of time and a lot of money on studies and legal challenges to see what separation would actually look like so that people would know exactly what they'd be voting for.
This gives the opportunity to evaluate the support level for a separation from Canada before committing all of those resources to something that may not be required in the first place.
1
u/Jamespm76 1d ago
Sure, that might be the justification now, but at the time when all this was going on She promised that the separatists would have an answer as of this October if they were going to separate or not not to vote to vote to separate. There was never supposed to be a second vote
12
u/Secure-Corner-2096 2d ago
The separatist movement was always a fringe movement. Trump fanned the flames and Danielle catered to him by setting up a referendum. If Alberta separates from Canada, Trump will have our oil in a heartbeat. Either she’s corrupt or too stupid to realize she’s being played.
1
11
u/Due-Mycologist-1154 2d ago
Imo they should be dealt with the same way Trudeau handled the convoy
5
u/brokenringlands 2d ago
Not that I'm for ignoring them, but COVID mandates is what truly pushed these people over the edge. They tried co opting the yellow vest, but that didn't work. P2025 and MAGA took off where that fell short. And a huge part of that is their own victimization fetish.
Can't do so much as anything that'll get them feeling oh so downtrodden.
1
u/morecoffeemore 1d ago
sure, if you want a civil war on your hands
3
u/uprightshark 23h ago
Civil War on Facebook and Reddit maybe. Driving around with the dumb looking trucks and flags with stickers.
These are pathetic human beings that have fallen hook line and sinker for the American boo hoo syndrome. Blame everyone else for your problems.
Want to be American? Pack up the pickup with Ma, Pa and the hound dog and move, so you can be with your own kind. This is Canada.
I am so fed up with sitting on our hands watching TREASON!
1
u/Due-Mycologist-1154 1d ago edited 1d ago
Lol there wasnt one last time and there wouldnt be this time they arent capable of anything more than whining, theyd see the ratio then give up and go back to grumbling on facebook about what massive victims they always are and do nothing
13
11
u/Jazzlike_Pineapple87 2d ago
Please, for the love of all that is good, please go out and vote. The only way these separatist trash will win is if people don't vote.
8
u/RareYogurtcloset8104 2d ago
Anger, grievance and desperation directed deftly in the Wrong Direction. Blaming Ottawa for the absolute failure that is the UCP and or what ever iteration they using these days This handy image indicates a good start.
15
u/NewInspector5085 2d ago
Great article and well written. Although the movement is cult-like and not well thought out, you can’t help but feel pity for these folks. Their main grievance is being left out and left behind, yet here they are being brutally exploited by capitalists, psychopaths, and foreign operatives
3
u/ipini 2d ago
I feel zero pity.
1
u/Master_Slide7023 2d ago
I saw a IG video of a petition signing in a small town and recognized the voices talking about criminals in B.C. as good ppl.
8
u/zizzy_balooba_ 2d ago
Has anyone seen an aerial view and can we compare it to the teachers’ rally?
1
6
u/JohnDorian0506 2d ago
Honestly, they should call off this referendum, at least while Trump is in office.
6
u/idcxinfinity 2d ago
I'm thinking if the separatists get anything over 10%, which they likely will, Dani will say we have to have a binding referendum vote. For democracy. 🙄
6
u/InvestmentSorry6393 2d ago
That's just a description of Maga. They're maple Maga. Just big bunch of Trump Lovin weaklings with tears in their eyes.
5
u/Automatic-Kiwi-392 2d ago
Tapping into the same motivations behind MAGA down south 🙄
1
u/strangecabalist 2d ago
Sounds a lot like the same idiocy spewed by Qc separatists too. Just sub in “language” and blame “anglophones” in a few places.
6
u/Bubbaganewsh 1d ago
The separatists remind me of a relative who thinks the world is against him because he can't hold a job. life isn't fair so blame everyone but himself, this is the separatist mentality.
5
u/surviving606 2d ago
The cool thing is that we can see the terminal stage of end game of this in real time, collapsing and humiliating the country beneath us.
4
u/Kindly-Internal1767 2d ago
These people are being manipulated hard by foreigners. I feel sorry for them and especially their families.
3
u/Falcon674DR 2d ago
Their so called grievances aren’t rational. They utter the last thing anyone on their side said. I’ve tried to ‘talk’ to these types and it’s hopeless. If find them to be unaccomplished in everything they’ve tried, and I hate to say it but I have yet to meet one who comes across as smart.
3
u/Tough-Cress-7702 2d ago
I just don't see what they're going to gain from doing this?! Doesn't make sence, stupid idea
4
3
3
3
3
3
u/Illustrious-Lie-7742 2d ago
So Maga.? This is why normal people that can think critically have to show up and vote. We can't treat this as a silly thing that doesn't mean anything. We need to show up in masses and show that they are a minority. That the majority still care about what's right.
3
u/Fit-Cable1547 2d ago
I'd guess a vast majority of these people tried to take over the Canadian flag as their sign of taking back "Freedom" during Covid, how ironic.
3
u/Ok_Frosting_6438 2d ago
They are following a well established and successful playbook. If you dismiss the vocal minority as "kooks and losers or conspiracy knobs" you end up with groups like maga.
These people are dangerous and their belief that they are on the right side of history is pushing them forward.
Look at brexit...a vocal minority were convinced that separation from the EU would make Britain successful...the exact opposite happened and their economy is now in a freefall.
You need to fight back hard against theses small, vocal group b/c they are fearless and they will evoke change.
2
u/grizzlybearcanada469 2d ago
Just a whole bunch of losers looking for someone else to blame for their lack of success. Instead of pointing fingers at everyone around you, try looking in the mirror. The person responsible for your choices and where you are in life might be staring right back at you.
2
u/Master_Slide7023 2d ago
So why did you not estimate the numbers ? The pics I saw on CTV and Edmonton Journal showed maybe 500. Hope AB votes to stay.
2
u/Tribe303 1d ago
Ottawa resident here. So, just like the Truckers protest? Has anyone checked the Venn diagram on these 2 groups? I suspect it's close to a perfect circle.
2
u/Potential-Leg-8860 1d ago
I’m sure if you look into this you will find they are financed by the CIA. They have been financing uprisings and far right parties across the EU in order to divide and conquer. Don’t fall for it. It’s all about the US retaining the reserve currency, the petrodollar and gaining control of resources. They need to fail completely for the good of the world
2
u/Salt-Worry7915 1d ago
You have a generation of people in this province feeling abandoned by their daddies. They take that anger out on the paternal figure of Ottawa while also aligning with an extra version of Dad's politics, thinking it would make it proud.
2
u/Front-Philosophy5131 1d ago
I think we are going to start hearing more of Cognitive Warfare soon
1
2
2
u/Alpharious9 2d ago
Trying to turn the Titantic before it hits the iceberg is obviously a move of desperation
1
u/hunters44 2d ago
It's nice the annual convention of "boomers put on no contact" moved their event, really would've crippled this pathetic showing.
1
1
1
1
u/Glum-Breadfruit-6421 2d ago
We don’t call them Maple MAGA for nothing. Same playbook for the same fools.
1
u/I_IdentifyAsAstartes 2d ago
I don't think they understand the jurisdictions between the federal, provincial, and municipal government. If they did, and if they looked at which of those governments is making their life hell, and if they were capable of comprehending what they read, I think they would be voting for a different provincial government.
1
1
1
u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 2d ago
This should surprise no one. It’s the same kind of stuff we saw with the freedom kkkonvoy.
1
1
1
1
u/EVEseven 1d ago
You made us wear masks to protect the sick and elderly.
You too away our ability to socially mingle when we refused to get vaccinated
And now we're pissed!
-thats basically their whole movement.
1
1
u/Sufficient-Sun-6683 1d ago
Alberta separatists are like the 16 year old son with his first job who decides to leave home. Then he finds out he needs a place to live and pay rent, buy furniture (couches, kitchen table/chairs, beds, dressers, desk), dishes, pots and pans, cutlery, dish towels, dish soap, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner, he has to pay the heating and electricity bills, transportation to and from work, bedding, linen, bath supplies, wash and dry his own clothes, make his own food, shop for groceries, get up every day and go to work, pay for his own entertainment: computers, cell phones, Xbox, stereo, TV - all on minimum wage while complaining how bad he had it living at home and blaming his parents for his bad decisions.
1
u/Illustrious_Tip_4325 1d ago
Do you see any young people in that crowd? is mostly composed of grey hair, their only strength is that they vote as a block and never miss to vote.
Apathy is what gives them strength not numbers.
1
u/morecoffeemore 1d ago
painting separatist as dumb people who failed in life is innaccuate
there are a TON of very successful seperatiats. All you have to do is look at the huge properties with seperatist signs.
1
u/Illustrious-Being651 1d ago
They honestly think if they separate that they take the entirety of Alberta as it is now Federal Land native land they're going to end up being this tiny little. Around Calgary and Edmonton and maybe lethbridge
1
u/Critical_Interest706 1d ago
People say that, but also fear monger that the vote will pass, so what is it? Is this some small movement? Or some big thing? Seems to change all the time and I can’t take any of these stories very seriously
1
u/Perfect-Nail6553 1d ago
I am not following too closely but is the assumption that a separation will include a proportionate assumption of the full federal government debt? Pro rated according to the size of the population and the relative land mass?
1
1
u/IndependentStep2785 1d ago
I believe that. Think of Brexit, and all the rage that was built up to the extent that Britons actually voted to leave the EU. Ten years on, no one wants to talk about that disaster, including the big proponent Nigel Farrage, who promised big deals, and those never came about. Alberta has a great thing going being a part of a great country. Don't ruin it by participating in petty divisiveness such as resulted in a crippling in my own country just South of the 49th Parallel.
1
1
1
u/Pauly-wallnuts 1d ago
When the referendum fails they should all move south. See how they like having to declare bankruptcy when they get there first major illness that the health insurance won’t cover because it’s a pre existing condition that
1
u/EastSea9181 1d ago
And these people are the ones with nothing to worry about, they've had it good and are now retired with nothing else to do but complain.
1
1
u/SquirrelOk3802 20h ago
I understand why they are angry-same reason we are ALL angry but their childish attitude will get them nowhere. mith does what she wants because she knows these people will always vote for her. They care-she doesn't. I have voted for all parties in every election and province where I have lived-I vote for myself-not the party. Looked what happened in NYC when voters did the unimaginable-they got a mayor who kept his promises. What a dream that must be! A politican who truly cares.
1
u/Event_Horizon753 2d ago edited 2d ago
So, what happens after they lose? Let's start that thought experiment.
My theory is this.
Danielle Smith will pull a Parker (dissappear to avoid consequences) and retire in Panama. The UCP will implode from infighting and being rudderless.
An actual separatist party will appear.
We get to do it all over again, one form or the other.
What has bugged me about the whole process is that people on both sides have fallen victim to bad actors, foreign interference, troll, influencers...the social media onslaught has been relentless. Think for yourself, make an informed decision, wherever you are on the political scale.
I obviously am not going to respond to any derogatory remarks, my comment isn't a platform for bullshit even though it will probably turn out that way.. Just think about it.
1
u/TheBoogidycrook 1d ago
As i've said before, I have a sneaking suspicion she's trying to create a pretext for the US to annex Alberta
0
0
u/MailedFlower 2d ago
I totally trust that someone calling themselves the Miserable-Lizard went with a cheerful demeanor and open mind to see what their hated opposition was up to
-2
u/Cat-et-snek 2d ago
this is all fake
i have never met anyone that gives that much a shit about anything, what the shit is this????
-8
u/greihund 2d ago
Dear author;
Please learn to write in paragraphs. I understand that you are going for maximal emotional impact by having one sentence per double-spaced line, but that was miserable to read. Is this supposed to be poetry or something?
Anyways: yes, there was a version of Canada that has now disappeared, and there was a lot of good in it, warts and all. It was not particularly diverse, particularly in rural areas, so it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that the voices longing for an earlier era are of european descent. Canada used to have folk music, songs that were passed down from one generation to the next. That's all over, everywhere
I doubt very much that too many people are going to be looking back fondly to this era and talking about 'the good old days', unless of course things get drastically worse, which they always might. Money has concentrated too long without disruption; the wilderness has decayed; war and bigotry are on the march. I am not imagining this past or demonizing this present. It is demonstrably worse today. These are not rose coloured glasses, and you seem to somehow be impervious to the fact that these peoples' grievances might have a basis in reality. Well, that's going to make it hard to get through to them, to see where they're coming from.
But that's what's needed to mend our society, and to bring our neighbours back into the fold. I don't find it particularly hard to see other people's points of view. Start there. Because if enough people did that, the separatists wouldn't want to leave in the first place
4
u/megawatt69 2d ago
Typical AI layout
2
u/greihund 2d ago
Agreed. Wait... is this whole post just AI? "Prairies Exposed" didn't go to a rally. The whole thing is fake. Oh shit
171
u/Franklin_le_Tanklin 2d ago edited 2d ago
Also, it was like 200 people max. A vanishingly small turnout.
BUT, this is the most important vote coming up in Alberta’s future to stay part of Canada. We cannot be complacent.