Canada decides not to back a controversial (and already obsolete) missile defense program, and like magic, Canadian beef is suddenly not allowed into the United States again.
Here’s the thing. Is America using economic warfare against its “friendly neighbor” and “extraordinary trade partner” to force American policy on another soverign nation? The WTO has already found American softwood tariffs illegal by treaty, and just a week ago the FDA stated that Canadian beef is safer than US beef because of the superior tracking and testing processes Canadians have put in place.
If the USA treats its closest trade partner like this, how do you think it’s going to treat someone who has a history of pissing it off (Iike, Europe?). Why shouldn’t Canada begin now to establish strong East-West trade relationships with burgeoning economies like Europe and China, instead of with the rapidly failing United States?
Washington needs to understand. Canadians are not citizens of an undereducated 3rd world country susceptible to insultingly bad propaganda and unveiled economic threats. We are not Iraq. Or North Korea. Or Iran. Or Alabama. The ineffective Canadian government needs to understand that the US is not Canada’s only option. It’s not even a good one.
America needs to grasp the new world order. Nobody gives a crap about them any more, except when they find US soldiers crapping in the garden. America is yesterday’s news, except the US government hasn’t told them yet. If America would get its nose out of the middle east and concentrate on its own problems (educating its obese population, eliminating its extraordinary debt, cleaning up its environmental record) then maybe deranged madmen in turbans would stop blowing buildings up.
In the meantime, maybe Canada should have Jacques, Gerhard, Vladimir and Jintao up for a good old fashioned Muskokan steak barbecue. They can all sit in high quality softwood chairs and munch on as much Grade A BSA-free Canadian T-bone goodness as they want while discussing mutual respect and beneficial trade amongst equals.
Three in a row today. When it rains, it pours. And sometimes it doesn’t. Rain isn’t political, but it often shows which way the wind is blowing.
You could have done all of us a big favour.
Slackers.