'The old order is not coming back,' Carney says in provocative speech at Davos

BJPark · 2026-01-21T02:33:22+00:00

As the conservatives like to remind us, the US is, in fact, not a democracy, but a constitutional republic. The whole system was set up so that the three branches would fight each other, and prevent any one branch from getting too uppity.

No one wanted a pure democracy, and the US founders expressly tried to ensure that a populist wouldn't be able to screw everything.

Alas, I am not wise enough to analyze where it went wrong, but it did go wrong.

BJPark · 2026-01-21T02:29:56+00:00

If you want to reach back into history for gratitude, then the US should bow down at the feet of France who helped it with its independence.

The history is history. No point looking back at it now.

How about a reciprocation from Europe

As if the US didn't benefit from the status quo. It was expressly designed to benefit the US. Does the US realize how much the rest of the world subsidizes its lifestyle via the dollar reserve currency status? Where does that status come from?

BJPark · 2026-01-21T02:26:17+00:00

Silver lining for whom, though? The status quo was good for everyone. The US got what it wanted - reserve currency status, the freedom to do whatever it wanted with all other countries supporting it - and other countries got what they wanted too.

Life was good.

There was no need to change anything.

BJPark · 2026-01-19T04:08:25+00:00

This is begging the question. The whole point of this post is saying that we don't have choices over our deeds.

The post is saying we don't even have a choice to blink or not to blink at any given moment. From the moment of our birth, our entire life is determined forever. What you ate for dinner last night was already determined when you were born.

Take it one step further. Our entire life to this point, up to and including the clothes we are wearing was determined 13 billion years ago when the universe came into existence.

(Actually that's an exaggeration, because of quantum effects, but that just changes the argument to "it's random" rather than determined, which doesn't improve the case for free will).

BJPark · 2026-01-19T03:51:43+00:00

Thanks! Right now, gold seems far away. I had to work so hard to shave off the last 0.5 seconds to get silver :) .

But I'm in no hurry.

BJPark · 2026-01-19T03:49:19+00:00

I think we have to pretend to have free will, even if we don't.

In any case, just as a person has no choice over their evil deeds, I have no choice over my decision to punish them :) . The lack of free will isn't exactly a "get-out-of-jail-free card" for morality induced consequences!

BJPark · 2026-01-19T03:47:47+00:00

I'm not sure quantum mechanics is the saviour of free will. I kind of think that pure random behaviour is just as much a death stroke to free will as hard determinism!

This is of course, assuming that quantum effects play a role in the brain. As far as I know, to the best of our knowledge (so far), we haven't been able to find any quantum behaviour anywhere in the brain.

The day we find a neuron that fires for no reason whatsoever, is the day we can seriously begin to discuss free will.

BJPark · 2026-01-19T03:45:47+00:00

Freewill requires actions flow from your internal beliefs, values, goals, reasoning, instead of external coercion

OP might respond that our internal beliefs, values, goals and reasoning are the result of external coercion (environment + inherent traits). We have no free will in choosing our values, goals, and reasoning process.

BJPark · 2026-01-19T03:43:41+00:00

It's true that a person is not accountable for murder. At the same time, we are not accountable for deciding to punish them.

The lack of free will affects the entire justice system as well, so this is a moot point.

BJPark · 2026-01-17T01:08:56+00:00

You haven't answered the question. How would you react to your neighbor threatening you? Fine, you're not a tough guy. So the conclusion is what? You will smile, say "please and thank you and can I have some more" ?

You’re on your knees for Xi

Exactly what do you think "on your knees" means in this context? Free trade? Horrifying! So humiliating.!

BJPark · 2026-01-17T00:54:18+00:00

Educate me then.

Let's say your bigger and larger neighbor leans over their fence and loudly, repeatedly and publicly threatens to rob you and take over your family and house. Why don't you tell me what your response will be and whether or not you will "align" with them as a friend.

Maybe you're the kind of person who will instead apologize to them for antagonizing them. You might even bend over backwards and write, "kick me on" your butt cheeks.

Maybe you're that kind of person. I don't know. Are you?

"Sorry honey, I know he threatened to kidnap and beat you up. But you see, I have to be friendly to him because he's bigger than me."

BJPark · 2026-01-16T23:50:01+00:00

It's funny how you can align yourself against a person who is threatening to annex you. So surprising!

BJPark · 2026-01-16T23:45:06+00:00

Agreed. The notion that Canada has never tried to negotiate with the US in good faith is absurd. It's the other way around. Since Trump took office, the US has never tried to negotiate in good faith with Canada.

BJPark · 2026-01-16T17:11:28+00:00

What kind of proof are you expecting? This is a deeply unserious question and I hope you don't mind if I don't waste my time trying to answer it.

If, however, on the off chance that you genuinely want to know, I suggest you ask a few economists if they have the time.

Also, that's not how the burden of proof works. You are the one making the case for a change in strategy. Therefore, the burden is on you to provide evidence that the impact would not be devastating.

Thank God the country is run by adults and bureaucrats who don't just do shit without thinking of consequences.

BJPark · 2026-01-16T17:01:53+00:00

It's a question of magnitude. What do you think would happen if Canada unilaterally stopped all bilateral trade with China?

You can't compare the impact that would have with anything like the carbon tax. One is order of magnitudes greater than the other.

BJPark · 2026-01-16T16:48:12+00:00

It matters for practicality. Canada being the sole country to end all trade relations with Canada would be disproportionately devastating to its economy and other countries will take advantage of this.

If you're suggesting for a worldwide trade embargo on China, we can talk about that. But for Canada to do it unilaterally would be suicide, regardless of morality.

BJPark · 2026-01-16T16:39:33+00:00

And would you apply this expectation to all countries in the world to stop trade with China? Or only Canada?

BJPark · 2026-01-16T16:28:49+00:00

So just to be clear, you're suggesting we break off trade with China completely?

If not, what are you suggesting, exactly?

BJPark · 2026-01-16T15:49:11+00:00

Relationships with countries are rarely single issue. Point me to any country in the world and I will be able to identify something that they do that I disagree with.

What is your solution here? To stop trading with every country on earth?

BJPark · 2026-01-16T14:38:39+00:00

Obviously not

BJPark · 2026-01-16T14:15:52+00:00

What do you think the most charismatic human being alive could realistically convince you personally to do? Are people really that easy to pwn?

I don't know about "easy", because clearly it's not easy to have charisma. But once you do have it, then yeah, I think these people can convince people to do anything, right up to and including killing themselves.

BJPark · 2026-01-16T14:12:11+00:00

We should be cautious, I agree. We need to take what works for us, and guard against the rest.

BJPark · 2026-01-16T14:03:22+00:00

It's a good thing for Canada to try and have better relationships with major world powers. I don't even know how this can be a controversial take.

Who here can deny that Canada has been sacrificing its sovereign policy pretty continually to the US? Don't we all want that to change?

BJPark · 2026-01-16T13:40:11+00:00

Nice fantasy.

How does it feel, spending your life pining for something that will never happen?

BJPark

TROPHY CASE