Trump's New World Disorder

There Is No Blinking, No Turning Back

And so it begins—the new world disorder.

Less than a month into Trump's term, he has stepped out on the world stage with his first defiant action. Not against Putin (whom he thinks is run by a "savvy genius"), North Korea (with their supposed great beachfront potential), or even China (where his 10% tariff threat seems pretty mild). Nope. Tough guy Donald Trump has picked a fight with Dudley Do-Right.

Trump 2.0 reveals a great deal about the man and the rage politics that brought him to power. Like for example, how come braggards never take on real bullies? But what is equally noticeable is that the most powerful office in the world has been debased to such an extent that nobody (other than the doofus MAGA crowd) believes any of his explanations about imposing the 25% across-the-board tariff on Canada. Attacking Canada is not about fentanyl. It's not about illegal immigration. And it is certainly not about trade.

We are dealing with something else—a more malignant, erratic, and toxic other. Instead of gunboat diplomacy, we are witnessing a gangster shakedown.

Let's look at a few statistics.

Trump claims that "Canada and Mexico, Canada very much so, have allowed millions and millions of people to come into our country that shouldn't be here. They could've stopped them, and they didn't."

In response, the Liberal government put over a billion dollars into new border security. Premier Danielle Smith demanded we put a general in charge. But the facts call bullshit.

This graphic is pretty telling: https://infogram.com/1p1xq9rjw1drvximzqpx00xpvyt60qw2xmn

As for Canada being some massive fentanyl lab, the statistics are equally clear: https://infogram.com/1pe26yy75k135mfm70pnjnkrgzclpm0v3z6

Those in elected office south of the border might be frightened of speaking reality to the gangster from Mar-a-Lago or the pitchfork MAGA mob that elected him, but they will soon have to deal with other serious fallouts from Trump's actions, especially when the supposed stable genius crashes his own economy.

Consider the impacts of a one-sided tariff war. Fruit and vegetables from Mexico represent $20 billion worth of annual trade, while grains, beef, and other meat products from Canada bring in around $16 billion.

Remember that promise Trump made on inauguration day to dramatically lower grocery prices in the first 100 days? Well, good luck with that.

Now, let's consider the impact of a dollar-for-dollar reprisal. That's when it's going to really hurt. And the hurt won't be just in Canada and Mexico. The body blows are coming for American industries, small businesses, and struggling consumers.

Job losses? Absolutely. Inflation? You betcha. A recession? Most likely.

It is going to be a world of hurt. Admittedly, the United States has a much larger economy than ours; however, we have one huge advantage to their massive disadvantage - Donald Trump himself. He divides Americans, but his thuggish, asshole antics have brought Canadians together in a truly inspiring way. And the fact that he demands that we give up our nationhood to make him happy has put a lot of steel in our collective spine. Canadians are nice and polite - until we're not.

So, the tariffs are here. Canadians have been expecting this, and we are prepared for what could be a long and ugly fight.

As for the United States, amidst all the other chaos of Trump's first month, they probably haven't spent much time thinking about what happens when lumber, critical minerals, energy, food, and auto parts are cut off or dramatically increase in cost.

MAGA might like chaos, but capitalists don't. The economy has just come through COVID, high inflation, and slow growth. Donald's behaviour is going to piss off a lot of his key constituencies very quickly. And that's when the shine of the first 100 days will come off in a very clear and noticeable way.

As for Canada, well, I think the words of Winston Churchill sums it up nicely:

"We ask no favours of the enemy. We seek from them no compunction… We will have no truce or parley with you or the grisly gang who work your wicked will. You do your worst – and we will do our best. We do not expect to hit without being hit back, and we intend with every week that passes to hit harder. Prepare yourselves, then, my friends and comrades, for this renewal of your exertions. We shall never turn from our purpose, however sombre the road, however grievous the cost..." – Winston Churchill

Canada. True. North. Strong. Free.

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