CAN-USA 2025 Tariff Strife (split from various pol threads)

[OldSolduer]

Actu

Actually the Americans have been trying for years to point this out for years but we've been politicians are kicking the can down the road - joyfully ignoring them...... and reality.

FTFY.

 

[Brad Sallows]

So, we spend a little over 1.2% of our GDP on defense, while the US spends 3.4%. But here's a little secret: The US spends it all on the defense of its own defense interests, every last penny. The US decided after WWII that it would be unchallenged militarily by any other country, or even group of countries, and that is their approach to defense spending.

Here's a non-secret: US expenditures also benefit a lot of other countries, and they care about that.

If no-one cared, there would be no whinging when the US stops looking after "its own defence interests" and others have to fill a gap. They could just shut up about the US and get on with funding Ukraine's defence against Russia.

 

[Good2Golf]

Here's a non-secret: US expenditures also benefit a lot of other countries, and they care about that.

If no-one cared, there would be no whinging when the US stops looking after "its own defence interests" and others have to fill a gap. They could just shut up about the US and get on with funding Ukraine's defence against Russia.

Another non-secret. The US beholds other nations it provides direct military support to (read most of the M.E., parts of Asia, etc.)

Of course, the US likes to suck and blow at the same time, so it portrays its support as ‘benevolent’ not ‘controlling’.

By the numbers, the US could probably mind its own business on 1.2-1.5% of GDP, but like the Scorpion said to the Frog, after having stung it halfway across the river on its back, “Sorry, it’s just in my nature…”

 

[GK .Dundas]

FTFY.

Maybe but but the reason politicians can do this is that Canadian voters give them leave to do so .

 

[Brad Sallows]

Another non-secret. The US beholds other nations it provides direct military support to (read most of the M.E., parts of Asia, etc.)

Of course, the US likes to suck and blow at the same time, so it portrays its support as ‘benevolent’ not ‘controlling’.

By the numbers, the US could probably mind its own business on 1.2-1.5% of GDP, but like the Scorpion said to the Frog, after having stung it halfway across the river on its back, “Sorry, it’s just in my nature…”

Sure. Would the world be a better place without it - Russia and China and whoever else doing more of what they please?

If the US is cold and calculating, likely so is everyone else - including calculations to free-ride instead of putting more money into defensive alliances, supporting small like-minded countries abroad in the face of aggression, anti-piracy, etc.

 

[Good2Golf]

Sure. Would the world be a better place without it - Russia and China and whoever else doing more of what they please?

If the US is cold and calculating, likely so is everyone else - including calculations to free-ride instead of putting more money into defensive alliances, supporting small like-minded countries abroad in the face of aggression, anti-piracy, etc.

Yup, so they gotta pay to play the World Police game. Again, can’t suck and blow at the same time.

 

[daftandbarmy]

What makes all this even worse is that Eby looks like an indignant high school basketball coach when he's delivering his 'call to arms'.

Eby responds to Alaskan senator's threat to have cruise ships bypass B.C. ports

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he is standing firm behind the legislation granting the province the ability to levy new fees on U.S. commercial trucks heading to Alaska, despite political threats involving the cruise ship sector from an Alaskan senator.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[ModlrMike]

Does he mean the cruise ships that aren't US flagged owned by companies that aren't US domiciled. Exactly how does that work?

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/who-owns-my-cruise-line-a-guide-to-cruise-line-parent-companies

 

[Kirkhill]

Yup, so they gotta pay to play the World Police game. Again, can’t suck and blow at the same time.

Pax Britannica made a lot of people rich and angry at the same time as it made Britain poor. The Georgians were rich. The Edwardians were poor.

 

[Furniture]

Pax Britannica made a lot of people rich and angry at the same time as it made Britain poor. The Georgians were rich. The Edwardians were poor.

America is in it's Edwardian era... But unlike the empire, America is intentionally accelerating it's demise.

 

[Kirkhill]

Who is going to play Britain's Wilson and Roosevelt to America? Do we bet on 70 years of Pax Sinae?

But those of us who love America must acknowledge how the US ruthlessly exploited its participation in the wars to demolish Britain’s financial, maritime and geopolitical power. It treats its allies as vassals, rather than equals. In Stalin’s War, Sean McMeekin recounts how Roosevelt suggested to Stalin in 1943 that India be taken away from Britain. It was best “not to discuss the question of India with Mr Churchill”, the US president said, arguing that America and Russia should remake India “from the bottom, somewhat on the Soviet line”. Stalin couldn’t believe his luck, or the way Roosevelt spoke of the greatest Englishman of all time.

John Maynard Keynes was sidelined at Bretton Woods. The 1947 sterling crisis was precipitated by America. The US betrayed us over Suez. Ronald Reagan disappointed on the Falklands, and invaded Grenada, a Commonwealth member, without properly informing Lady Thatcher. The IRA spent decades fundraising in the US while murdering in Britain. The UK sacrificed much in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11 for no return; the “special relationship” started to feel abusive. Barack Obama and Joe Biden disliked the UK, and removed Churchill’s bust from the Oval Office. Obama took the EU’s side over Brexit. Trump is an Anglophile, and may offer us a trade deal, but has no interest in our perspective.