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Don Gates's avatar

"Ira told me he has already canceled “all but absolutely core American services” and will be boycotting American produce and other consumables. In anticipation of higher food prices, he’s planning to turn his front yard into an even larger vegetable garden this spring."

I applaud our neighbors to the north. I see they are booing the US National Anthem at Canadian sports events. And they should, because Americans voted for this, so a "Fuck Americans" sentiment is very understandable. I'm right there with them. We could have voted for Kamala Harris. We voted for this instead.

And these changes Canadians are making to their lives to avoid American goods are durable. These are changes that can stick, long after the tariffs have been lifted, and they will not go back to American goods. Paths of trade will be rewired, and dependence on American goods will vanish as these are replaced with goods from other, less capricious trade partners.

Republicans in Congress, who spectate as the government undergoes essentially a venture capital takeover, lack any patriotism. Trump's entire two weeks has been a running Impeachable offense. He should be removed from office, but they have abandoned their oaths.

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SandyG's avatar

Boycotting goods - that's what the American colonists did, starting in 1765.

Again, the US has become the imperialist British. When Joseph Ellis, historian of the founding period, was asked during the Iraq War what would Washington think about the war, he would first say that Washington would ask, "Where's Iraq?" and get his laugh. Then he would say Washington would ask, "How did we become the British?"

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Deutschmeister's avatar

Indeed. Canada and the Canadians have every right to retaliate and to express their displeasure when they did not start the fight. As does every other nation that winds up being negatively impacted by our change in direction that seeks to marginalize them and their role as equal partners on a global stage. One cannot reasonably blame them for not choosing to travel to Jonestown with us if our cult leaders decide that America will drink the liquid concoction and commit political suicide.

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JF's avatar

Republicans have always had a strong authoritarian streak. I have no expectations they will attempt to rescue the country from this coup. But they could; it would only take 5 or so “brave” souls. Naw; ain’t gonna happen.

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Don Gates's avatar

I agree about the authoritarian streak. It's remarkable how people fall for the "Democrats are Venezuelan socialist dictators" lie while they never seem to take seriously the "Republicans are il Duce fascist dictators" accusation.

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rlritt's avatar

Because they like fascists. As long as the people being "put in their place" are Black, brown, female or gay, they be happy to go along with it.

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Will G's avatar

To call some of these people that flavored fire Trump and this chaos "low information voters" is far too generous.

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JF's avatar

I’ve read many times that the average American is terrible at assessing true relative risk; they worry about imaginary or exaggerated or illogical threats while ignoring the gaping maw of disaster right in front of their faces. That’s the only paradigm that explains to me the incomprehensible double standard voters use to assess Democrats versus Republicans.

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BlueOntario's avatar

The "I'd rather be Russian than a Democrat" way of life. They don't really think hard about the nuances of what they believe because it hurts.

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Ellen Thomas's avatar

I agree that the "Bye American" movement could stick. Even if Trump drops the tariffs and proclaims victory, the people of other countries see what he is trying to do. China can supply pretty much everything that we can. Canada and Mexico can now create a strong alliance bypassing the USA, because Trump has essentially voided his trade agreement with these tariffs. I have read that there are "Don't Buy American" movements getting started in the EU, too, although I can no longer find where I saw that.

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JM's avatar

Happened with soybeans during Trump1. There are major countries (like Brazil) just waiting to step into the void.

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