What if?

What if....? 

I remember my former colleague, the great historian of Latin America James Dunkerley, once saying that asking the question 'What if?' was the English historical equivalent to French theory. Yes, the French might have great philosophers and critical theorists, but for some English historians it's enough to ask, 'Yes, but what if such and such had happened?' 

Over on his blog Roderick Benns draws our attention to a great little 'what if' scenario that the Globe recently wrote about:  'what if Canadians had elected their prime ministers according to the American system? What would have happened?

See his blog post here and the Globe article here.

Personally, I wish we would all stop considering the American system and spend a little more time understanding (and obeying!) the parliamentary democracy that we actually have!