Is it time for an expanded digital services tax? Why not tax foreign social media like we tax sugar, alcohol, nicotine, and fast food? The imposition of minimum pricing rules per account or per post would be a huge disincentive. Maybe regulate them like traditional media. Ban foreign ownership?
Edit: spelling
Oh, I see. I hadn’t considered that that could be used as a pretense for military action.
Trump’s stable genius trade advisor was just on one of their propaganda networks suggesting that Canada is also run by Mexican cartels. It’s all a bit Monty Python, honestly. Just waiting to hear who he’s nominating for Secretary of Silly Walks.
After some quick interneting, apparently we have the technical and industrial capacity to do so, but lack intention, having committed to peaceful, civilian use of the technology through non-proliferation treaties, etc.
I mean, in an ideal world, that’s how it should be.
I think it very much is for certain states. Particularly Florida.
I would very much rather we err on the side of caution when it comes to our sovereignty and Trumps erratic, ego driven foreign policy.
I may have picked it up wrong, but I think i read somewhere that European and Canadian based travel providers are already reporting a 40% reduction in travel bookings to the US.
That might require a fact check, but if true, that could be quite devastating for the US tourism industry. And we’re only a few months into his presidency, so one might expect that to drop further.
I also read that realtors in Florida specifically are being overwhelmed with requests for quick sales on foreigner owned properties.
It’s not nothing.
Are you under the impression that the Ricans invented and own music, TV, movie theatres, and video games? You are literally on the internet right now. All of human knowledge is at your fingertips, and you could very easily go and confront some of your very perplexing assumptions.
As far as I understand, Canada and the EUs’ prospective counter tariffs are fairly surgical in that they will take aim disproportionately at red states.
In terms of vacationing in the US. Your airlines, hotel chains, restaurant chains etc. all pay federal taxes. Therefore , spending money anywhere in the US, with few exceptions, is Canadian money in Trump’s war chest. With that in mind, a general boycott makes logical sense.
The same goes for Costco Canada, Walmart Canada etc, of course. Multinationals all more or less repatriate their profits or franchise/licencing fees back to Mordor.
Can you elaborate? I don’t follow?
I am currently trying to convince my employer to ditch Google and all associated services, as well as the US-based cyber security suites that are currently tanking the performance of all of our workstations. It would be nice if there was an easy replacement for Windows. Linux is a no-go for our IT people.
The day that all the soggy burger-lettuce that’s holding him together finally gives out will go down in history as the 2nd time that ‘Ding Dong the Witch is Dead’ reaches number 1 in the UK music charts.
Fascism or cold winters? It’s a toughie, all right!
Who had ‘Canada invokes article 5 as Trump prepares land grab over price of eggs.’
You’ve heard of Lebensraum, but who expected we’d be worrying about trumps insatiable lust for Eierraum.
His son is already floating the idea of running in 2028, so the wild ride with this particular fascistic dynasty is far from over. It will probably continue into the next decade or so, at the very least. And if Canada maintains its sovereignty over the next four years, that does not mean we’re in the clear. Far from it.
I’m 100% with you on ‘deterrents.’ I think it would reveal an extreme lack of competence, not to mention a dangerous lack of planning for our leaders not to consider seriously the idea of a robust deterrent at this point. I hope it’s already being floated.
The fact that our leadership created the conditions for or allowed to worsen our over-reliance on a single trading partner doesn’t speak much to the levels of competence we should expect out of Ottawa.
Never thought I’d ever say it, but I’m not terribly opposed to an independent Canadian nuclear deterrent these days.
I can think of no other workable solution if we’re serious about remaining Canadian. The Ricans would steamroll us conventionally. Without a credible deterrent, Slobba the Slut could very well ramble himself incoherently from ‘economic pressure’ to ‘occupational force.’ We don’t know what his puppetmasters and wormtongues are whispering in his ear, or how far he and his sycophants are willing to go for a cheaper egg.
Honestly, same. I already cancelled Florida and Arizona trips for later in the year and told friends in Phoenix that I’ll likely never be back. We’ll probably make plans to meet up elsewhere.
This is the republican party now. And Trump may not even be the worst to come. We already see his goons waiting in the wings. Political whiplash is the new normal in the US, and i feel like we will see the division continue to exacerbate over the next few decades for them domestically until something gives.
I hope we in Canada take this new reality seriously and prepare ourselves appropriately as we enter the 30’s.
/doomer
Do it! Many have already deleted their accounts, including me, and the only thing that has really changed is that delivery takes a bit longer.
I can’t deny the convenience Amazon provide people in terms of their logistics and the range of products available in one place.
In saying that, it’s really not that difficult to forgo, and there are plenty of alternatives. Don’t buy books: get a library card. Buy your electronics from Canada Computers or other similar stores. Healthy Planet and Well.ca are great for cosmetics and self care. Trade prime for a Plex server. There are plenty of options.
I fully deleted my amazon account at the start of this Trump mess and asked them to delete all of my personal data. Life goes on.
What’s the over/under on Canada developing a nuclear deterrent?
It would be interesting to see how that would poll amongst Canadians.
If the threat of annexation is as serious as we are being led to believe (and I think it is), what realistic options do we have in terms of defending our sovereignty? Actuellement, all that stands in the way of Canada’s forced accension to statehood or, more likely; territorial vasalisation by an imperialist USA, is the short stroll to Ottawa.
Obviously, developing nuclear weapons while signatory to non-proliferation treaties is a can of worms that I’d hate to see opened, and the mere acknowledgement and/or open development of such weapons could invite serious economic or even a military response.
Is it even possible to develop a nuclear deterrent in secret? Does Canada have the savoir-faire? The technology, the materials, the delivery systems? Do we beg France and the UK to officially declare that they would respond to any armed aggression against Canada?
Wtf do we do? What timeline is this?
Sell our minerals to China in exchange for security guarantees? Fold and allow ourselves to be absorbed into the US?
I can’t believe this is where we are. What an anxious time to be a Canadian.
I see your point, but I feel like spreading the risk a little would’ve been the more secure trade policy. 70% reliance on one country seems borderline obscene. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 so there’s not really any point in me complaining about what should have been. All we can do now is work to correct the mistake.