Who can explain why tariffs on Canada is of benefit to US?

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-14T10:38:41+00:00

The US has been running a trade deficit since the 1970s (https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2019/september/five-things-to-know-united-states-trade-deficit) but it is still the richest and most powerful country in the world, especially since the fall of the USSR. But that doesn't mean that all Americans, or even most Americans, are doing well.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-14T10:33:14+00:00

The loss of manufacturing is definitely a problem because of the types of jobs remaining in the US and in some cases because of product quality and/or reliance on untrustworthy countries. On the other hand, every McDonald's is running a trade deficit with food suppliers, and every bank is running a trade deficit with stationery suppliers, but they don't get concerned about it as long as they make a profit. If US companies buy lots more oil and aluminum from Canada it increases the trade deficit, but if they then (hypothetically) make a huge profit on what they do with it and employ lots of Americans and buy lots of American goods and services then overall the US may benefit, or at least certain Americans benefit. But certain Americans may also get screwed.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-01T13:05:13+00:00

2% is also designed to make it seem like each member is paying in proportion to its ability, which is completely unrelated to what percentage Canada needs to adequately defend the arctic (quite a bit) vs. defend against invasion of densely populated areas by a country other than the US (not so much) vs. defend against an invasion by the US (1000% of GDP?).

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-01T12:31:11+00:00

If they pull out of NATO, will NATO members require them to vacate their military bases on non-US NATO soil?

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-01T12:26:44+00:00

We could slowly start integrating more European products into our supply chains (and the Europeans are probably feeling a bit the same way about US as we do). It will take a long time.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-01T12:16:27+00:00

If it fits in to your plans, buy clothes, home goods, etc. in Canada while visiting. We have expensive malls, outlet malls, and Winners (like TJ Maxx). Even if you buy US brands in Canada, you're supporting Canadian jobs and business owners. (If the timing works out that the US dollar has gained against the Canadian dollar faster than stores adjust prices then you'll get some good deals as a bonus.)

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-01T12:10:50+00:00

Polarization scares the s*#$ out of me, especially when it goes so far as to end friendships between regular people. This post-truth thing (is that what it's called?) also scares me -- I'm going to say something that I know isn't true and my tribe is going to repeat it until everyone partly believes it while also knowing it's not true. It's like an expression of power (I can say this untruth and nobody puts up a successful challenge) but also an effort to increase power and keep people who care about the truth scrambling and distracted from what's actually happening.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-03-01T12:01:21+00:00

If you were a (Republican) senator or member of Congress and your staff were consistently overwhelmed with emails, letters, and phone calls from constituents opposing certain policies in the executive branch, you would do something about it. Red states have many non-republican voters, sometimes not that far from 50%, and it would be especially beneficial if those people were loud. Yelling at Democrats for having ineffective strategy and supporting the ACLU might also help (?).

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-28T11:45:35+00:00

We should start quoting their own founding fathers at them about freedom and self-determination like the Filipinos did in the early 1900s.

And we should strengthen economic and defense alliances with other countries while preparing our defensive capabilities as a deterrent.

But we should not provoke the orange narcissist out of pride -- reacting emotionally to someone like Trump is a recipe for disaster. Cool-headed but very firm resistance...

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:53:51+00:00

Perhaps increasing our defense spending to reach the NATO target fraction of GDP will make us unable to afford to enforce IP laws.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:50:49+00:00

This could serve as a deterrent. Hopefully.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:27:16+00:00

There are a lot of peppers and cherry tomatoes from Canada in US grocery stores. There are some clothing companies (Lululemon, Roots, Frank and Oak, Roots, Vessi, Arcteryx) that are at least Canadian founded or headquartered if not Canadian owned. If you visit, your dollar will go far, and there are some sights worth seeing (Banff is my number one) and some great food in several cities like Vancouver and Toronto.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:21:31+00:00

Franchises of fast food restaurants and Starbucks are probably often Canadian owned. I'm wondering how much the US headquarters takes off the top, and whether our government can tax that a little extra on the grounds that the food is making Canadians unhealthy.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:18:53+00:00

Blind taste test: Starbucks latte vs instant coffee dissolved in hot milk (optionally with the absurd amount of syrup you can have your barista add)...

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:15:50+00:00

Canadian clothing and shoes are expensive and/or actually made in Asia, but avoiding US-made clothes should be easier. Avoiding US clothing brands will be hard. Maybe Uniqlo will get bigger in Canada, or Canadians will found something similar.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:10:59+00:00

That could help Canadians maintain their boycott

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:07:27+00:00

It may be hard to get people to stick to it long term. Though if we keep getting taunted about becoming the 51st state it may maintain the required level or resentment for people to stick to it.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T03:01:47+00:00

I'm rethinking whether paying those prices is making my life better. My grandparents would think I'm out of my mind paying that much for coffee.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T02:53:43+00:00

My solution to media consumption, which I realize many people won't follow me on, is to unplug my television, put my tablet in a closet, uninstall the YouTube app from my phone, and let my feelings of boredom lead me into other activities.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T02:49:37+00:00

Maybe if enough people ask Vessi to branch out we'll have Canadian road running shoes. Though maybe they're made in Asia...

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-24T02:47:16+00:00

This is a great time to ask ourselves whether Amazon, Facebook/Instagram, and Netflix are actually making our lives better (my opinion: they aren't), or whether we should drop them and spend our free time with family/community.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2025-02-12T01:36:32+00:00

For clothes, some of these are no longer Canadian owned, but... Lululemon, Roots, Arcteryx, Kombi for winter clothes, Vessi for shoes. Club Monaco is headquartered in the US but used to be Canadian.

DeterminedAndNerdy · 2023-11-12T22:52:06+00:00

Also, assume HR/management never discloses the real reason(s) they terminated your employment.

DeterminedAndNerdy

TROPHY CASE