Introduction: Like A Fox
The problems of political analysis and the importance of Range
Before you read this, see www.sodhanstrategies.com
Why are so many supposed political experts in Canada so wrong so much of the time?
This is a topic that has gained much salience over the past few years and has been explored by people much smarter than me but I find it such a fascinating dynamic of of our nation in the current day.
One would expect that in this modern age of insider sources, large databases, artificial intelligence, public surveys and scientific evidence just a click away, those who are making a living off producing and interpreting predictions and forecasts about politics in Canada would have high success rates when making claims about the past, present and future.
There a handful of journalists, pollsters, consultants and writers who I would say have their hand on the pulse of the people but in my 10+ years in politics, I would suggest that the majority of opinions, comments and observations are misinformed, biased and flat-out false
Executives, electoral candidates, public officials, local leaders, interested foreigners and everyday people make decisions based on the supposed authoritative judgement of these pundits and commentators who put themselves forward as being “in the know”.
Yet, we consistently see inaccurate prognostications, bad bets and untrue statements. It could be an emotional attachment to the issue or an ideological affinity to one side or the other. Maybe they have money on the line or they have a personal connection to someone who is a protagonist in the story.
Regardless of the reason, an unbiased and informed perspective is critical to truly understand why events unfold as they do. For the important concerns of the day that involve Canada, it is imperative that we appreciate the short & the long history of the matter, the motivations and character of the people & organizations involved and the potential spectrum of what the future outcome could be.
We need more voices, writers and creators who can explain what’s really happening, what people are really thinking, why decisions are made in the way they are and how we should be interpreting political affairs in the country and beyond that reflect the reality of how messy, beautiful, scary and resilient we are.
I’m throwing my hat in the ring as someone who wants to express their thoughts on the state of Canada in 2025 and beyond. I’m excited about putting my impressions and views into writing and I hope anyone who comes across my posts will value this content!
About Me
Combining a family background as a 2nd-generation Sikh-Canadian with relevant post-secondary credentials & professional experience in Canadian politics, I bring a unique viewpoint to what I will be writing about
If you’ve known me in real life or happened across my social media accounts, you have witnessed my obsession with being knowledgeable about the world we live in by reading recently published books on relevant subjects by credible authors. The reviews that I’m posting about the books that I read are not fake and I’m not just doing it for the clout; I really am reading almost 150+ books a year.
I’m proud to be a nerd. This reading routine has unreservedly benefited my career, my life and those around me because I’ve been able to synthesize all of this research into a coherent position on the way that individuals and institutions operate in neighbourhood, municipal, provincial, national and global systems in the 21st century.
Understanding the historical context and the full spectrum of human characters involved as much as possible allows me to recognize how we have gotten to this point in 2025, both as a country and as a species.
But looking backwards and reading books about the past is not enough!
It is also crucial to live in the moment, to discern how people are making choices everyday in the belief that they are making their own lives, the people they care about, their wider community and humanity at large better.
I don’t want to get into the benefits and challenges of social media over the past two decades but this new technology has undoubtedly allowed us to learn more about those around us, whether in close geographic proximity or halfway around the globe.
For reasons that are valuable and very irksome at the same time, I am addicted to scrolling through the different platforms. Whether out of curiosity, craving, entertainment or a multitude of other causes, I am one of those perpetually online people who is usually aware of breaking news, memes, trends, new slang and the comings & goings of digital happenings before most others. I know this is not healthy as evidenced by my phone screen time usually at more than 12+ hours a day.
I am especially dependent on Twitter/X, which brings both advantages and many issues. As evidenced by the fact that I have over 300k likes on the app, I am on it way too much. Yet, it is such a necessary product to master for anyone who wants to be successful in politics.
I fully acknowledge that it can brings many drawbacks but I’m glad that I’m mostly able to be on top of what is occurring right as it is happening by paying (too) much attention to Twitter/X.
But being familiar with the internet and how it shapes the world is not enough!
The web is not real life. I can’t even begin to count the number of books, articles, media stories, documentaries and other materials that discuss the necessity of appreciating the difference between the identities and experiences we create on our computers & smart phones and who we are as physical bodies operating as human beings.
We have all encountered the shock of a social media user being the opposite of who they are in the real world. While this should not be surprising given the nature of our personalities, we must come to grips with the fact that just because it occurs on the internet, does not make it true in reality.
I enjoy being outside and I enjoy being with other people. With regard to the political sphere, I like going to public gatherings where I can talk to like-minded partisans. I like knocking on doors of strangers to canvass for their vote. I like the whole host of reasons that I would have to leave my house whenever there is an opportunity for me to talk to others as it lets me form my own judgements about what is happening.
I believe that physically being in contact with those around us, even if they are on the other team, is of paramount importance to accurately gauge the direction of future travel, especially as it relates to the community’s thoughts on their elected leaders and the policies they plan to implement
You should have seen my website and the video that is on it by now as it was the first sentence of this post. Ever since I became aware of The Hedgehog and the Fox distinction, I’ve tried to incorporate the Fox style of thinking into my life as I fully believe in the premise that being able to accept different outlooks leads to a greater chance of success.
Another book that has had a profound impact on my life is Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. I highly recommend you read it as he argues that range – defined as more diverse experience across multiple fields – is more relevant in today's society than specialization because the wicked problems of the modern world require bridging knowledge from multiple fields to foster solutions.
Similar to the Hedgehog and the Fox, Epstein showcasing why being able to embrace heterogeneity and a wide variety of different angles, attitudes and information will lead to better results. Being a specialist is valuable but those who are able to combine ideas and data into a cogent analysis will likely have a better interpretation of how to better proceed in the political arena.
Why you should subscribe!
In this Substack, I will attempt to bring together the three aspects of my life that I’ve just laid out
A deep familiarity with history and the making of modern society through reading recently published books on relevant topics by credible authors
An insight into the latest stories by staying on top of social media, especially Twitter/X
A view from someone who is on-the-ground in the Lower Mainland (80%) and in the Peel Region (20%)
Although I’ll be writing about Canada broadly with a lens on politics, the expertise and assessments that I want to bring forward in my posts is the following
Young people and their hopes, expectations, frustrations and optimism about the future, in Canada and elsewhere
Housing and Urban Development
British Columbia and all that concerns this great province
Technology, start-ups and the state of the economy at large
The Punjabi diaspora in Canada and all that comes with it
I’m committing myself to a writing as often and as much as I can with the following set as my tentative schedule
Once a month
I plan on writing longer pieces focusing on current news with special attention paid to the 4 areas above that I have particular competence with.
Once a week
Sodhan’s Synthesis
Investigating what moved the needle in the past 7 days and what the future week could hold
Cool or Cringe
Highlighting someone or something that I think is cool with explanation
Highlighting someone or something that I think is cringe with explanation
Getting Smarter
Reviews of podcasts or news segments that you should check out as it will help you to comprehend what is going on around you.