Off the top of my head items for Canada's To Do list
A few ideas for a world where all bets are off
The bad news is we didn’t dodge the Trump tariff’ bullet, the worse news is there’s more in the clip. The problem is not the trade balance and it’s not the border, it’s that Trump is a bully and an inept one at that.
“I want to fight a small man and lick’em - Henry Adams to Charles Francis Adams, Jr. July 23, 1863 celebrating news of the fall of Vicksburg. In his defence, it was self-mockery.
The first thing in any tight spot is to assess the situation.
We can’t even rely on Trump to act in his own long-term self-interest, let along his country’s enlightened interests. His decisions spring from immediate gratification buttressed by misinformation. His book should have been called The Art of the Ordeal because that’s his entire idea of bargaining.
Every good deal maker knows to create winning conditions. Each 51st state jab strengthens our resolve. We will win because he’s shown us we have everything to lose and the US has nothing to gain. We can’t feel down or sorry for ourselves. Look how he’s letting down the people of Ukraine.
Brand US is bust
The US’s crowning achievement is not its global dominance. It is that it used its dominance to create a rules based world order. Trump is melting down the crown for its scrap value.
Future Site of Trump Trailer Park
It’s an axiom that the closer the neighbours the more damaging a beggar thy neighbour strategy. But the rest of the world is watching Trump repudiate the trade agreement he insisted on in his first term. Add to this the Paris Accord, WHO, the Iran nuclear deal, and what is an agreement with the US worth?
What should Canada do?
Appropriately Canada’s official efforts have been directed at staving off tariffs. That they failed is the product of Trump’s sullen boorishness, not the work of our representatives.
Our unofficial efforts - boycotting US products and travel and, willing the %$&@##’ ing puck into the US net achieved through a national mind meld - have been enormously gratifying. But now we must prepare for the erratic long haul.
This post is my attempt to contribute to the conversation that is already well underway in Canada and, as of the Ides of February, Europe. To kick it off, here’s some random principles. Your thoughts are earnestly solicited. Limber up your fingers, it is all hands on keyboards.
Trump looks for soft targets for Trumpian imperialism. The sooner we show we are a hard target, the better for us all.
Stay on brand – the polite people with Gordie Howe’s elbows you don’t want to take into the corner.
Be Anti-Trump not anti-American. The best negotiators strengthen the hand of potential supporters on the other side. Our most important allies are in the US, be they the well-informed people who hate what Trump is doing to their country or those who thought Trump was a financial wizard who would make them rich.
Being less dependent on the US does not being more independent. It means diversifying and strengthening relationships with like minded nations.
We’ve recognized that we must spend more on defence. Do it in conjunction with the Europeans and allied Pacific countries. This will maximize our ties to them and encourage US arms makers to pressure Trump.
We’ve also recognized we must strengthen our east-west infrastructure. Don’t make the mistake we made in the 19th Century and turn inward. Be a global trader and build the outside in.
The US is next door. We can’t ignore it. But carefully play the China card. If we must deal with authoritarians at least it’s stable.
Don’t give up hope. The end of the beginning of the Trump era has already begun. The Republican majority in Congress could end in two years – possibly earlier in the House.
Work actively with the rest of the free world to combat the lies and minimize the pernicious effects of MAGA and its devotees in other places.
Above all, reject the conceit that Trumpism can’t happen here.
A few weeks ago I wrote four posts that deal with why the US is prone to Trumpism but warn that we only enjoy partial immunity. If you’re interested, here’s the first.
Trumped: democracy in the Ideas Era Part 1
With the re-election of Donald Trump the adage, “Once bitten, twice shy” was convincingly vanquished by “There’s a sucker born every minute” in a cage match. While the pundits discuss the match, this post is about the arena. In a couple of days, I’ll post about the cage.