Canada is acting out of survival. Like an abused wife, we are doing everything we can to get out the door, while keeping a smile on to placate to this egomaniac in the Whitehouse.

[+] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca -23 points 1 hour ago (4 children)

I'm sorry, isolationism by the US is not "war" no matter how much the media tries to use that specifically terminology.

And neither is it an excuse for centralizing power, making partisan appointments when they've historically been democratic, or running up a war budget when a quarter of the population can't afford food on the table.

[–] Polyphilic@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

You can reframe the point all you want. Bottom line is trump laid a wide suite of tariffs against Canada to create a win lose dynamic.

Its has direct negative impacts on the canadian economy and it was every bit intentional to do exactly that.

Trump attacked Canada, full stop.

Nice how you manage to conveniently gloss over his direct threats to canadian sovereignty.

And remember I said economic war, never suggested there was military involvement.

[–] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca -4 points 54 minutes ago (1 children)

My friend, the point is he's governing as if it's a military war by centralizing the power of government. If you were looking at a different country and saw the same actions, you would judge their leadership a lot more harshly

[–] Polyphilic@lemmy.ca 0 points 31 minutes ago

Even if they are, so what?

If you were looking at a different country that was actively being bullied, would you argue some crap about centralizing power?

If Denmark started centralizing power in response to trumps threats to the sovereignty of greenland, then what?

You talk like this is a problem that government is responding to external existential threats in the means that are available to them.

Are you arguing the Carney government should relinquish power?

Should they decentralize their capacity to influence things inside the country?

Perhaps you can answer just this.

What is your point?

[–] Kichae@lemmy.ca 3 points 35 minutes ago

Did we forget the whole "join us, voluntarily or not" rhetoric coming from the White House? That language alone was a threat of war. Actual war. Like, with tanks and shit.

Carney is engaging in disaster capitalism, and must be called out for that. But let's not forget the disaster part.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

USA is not being isolationist.

They initiated regime change in Venezuela in January and invaded Iran in February.

They're also actively participating in trade talks.

You need to re-evaluate your opinions on things if you're operating on such misconceptions.

[–] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca -4 points 53 minutes ago (1 children)

I'm sorry, why would it be considered a misconception that I don't want power centralized?

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 2 points 45 minutes ago* (last edited 44 minutes ago) (1 children)

If you seriously and genuinely read that comment to mean I disagree with your thoughts on centralization of power than you lack the reading comprehension to participate in this conversation.

Go back to middle school English class or drop the disingenuous act and acknowledge that you were mistaken on your assumption about what isolationism is.

[–] Rat_in_a_hat@lemmy.ca -3 points 22 minutes ago (1 children)

What do you think tariffs are? They're literally defined as isolationist and protectionist methods by a government.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/07/trump-isolationism-globalization-china-competition-manufacturing-tariffs-migration/

https://www.progressivepolicy.org/tariffs-and-economic-isolationism-four-principles-for-a-response/

https://www.gfmreview.com/world/economic-isolationism-how-trump-s-trade-policies-undermine-global-stability

https://uslawexplained.com/isolationism

Here's a wikipedia article if you'd like: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariff

It's also the terminology applied preceding to WW2 when isolationist policies of European countries applied tariffs to imports from competing empires. Which is why the couldn't recover well from WW1.

So I appreciate the condescending tone, I really do.

But if your only issue with my comment is that "I don't understand tariffs" and that's what you decided to be aggressive about when the main premise is Carney's overreach of power, then that's not my problem.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 2 points 21 minutes ago* (last edited 20 minutes ago)

But if your only issue with my comment is that "I don't understand tariffs"

I never mentioned tariffs. Youre not good at conversations.

My issue is youre dishonest and misinformed. I'll be blocking you now as you contribute negatively to my lemmy experience.

[–] systemglitch@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Lol!