People are panicky out there. Times are tough and when I traveled south a week ago there were obvious signs that things were tighter than in our neck of the woods. The US government is clamoring for a buy US first policy and Canadians are scurrying to convince them that such ideas are, frankly, wonky:
Canada's ambassador to the United States stepped up diplomatic pressure on U.S. senators Monday to restrict Buy American policies, warning they could spark the kind of worldwide trade retaliation that led to the Great Depression. In a letter to Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, the respective leaders of the Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, Ambassador Michael Wilson asks legislators to refrain from bringing in new laws that would restrict trade, lest they lead to similar actions by other nations.
I am sure Mr. Wilson is a very good man but he is also the architect of the bulk of Canada's debt, the man who wasn't Paul Martin. So I take his point of view on anything with a grain of salt. So, has he offered Canadian and US preferred buying? If we have Wilson's semi-free trade agreement that was supposed to make the border open (try to get a job in the US, try to being back beer) why can't we have a buy "North American First" policy? I like US made goods. I have about 27 bottles sleeping unopened in the cold room of very good BBQ sauces, the likes of which Canada has no concept. We think BBQ is a hot dog on a hibachi for God's sake. Being a colder zone, we could revive Steve and Barry's on hoodie sales alone. In return? Oil. Discount oil on a five year locked in contract. And uranium. And banking practices and regulations. And lumber and all those other things we sell them that we do cheaper. In exchange, we take craft beer, BBQ sauce and hoodies. Screw you totalitarian Chinese creditors - why honour the debt? Screw you totalitarian energy resource providers - why support those who oppose democracy? Why deal with them when you have the backing of the Alberta Wheat Pool and the most stable group of international banks going? And when not lap up all that BBQ sauce in return?
Comments
Ben (The Tiger) - February 3, 2009 11:13 AM
Are you proposing a customs union, Alan?
Alan - February 3, 2009 11:19 AM
Sure why not. If we think of these problems being caused by unconscionable transactions in which shadowy interests hold vacuous credit over all our heads, why not respond by way of emphasizing real goods, real trade among real free and democratic people. I am all for defaulting on the credit swap phoney baloney anyway. They want steel? We got steel. They want grain, we got grain. But they want prudent bankers who take pay cuts and not billions in bonuses in tough times? We got that, too.
Ben (The Tiger) - February 3, 2009 11:23 AM
I'm game. I mean, I have a personal customs union -- dual citizenship and I typically smuggle things back and forth across the border. (I'm a citizen in both places and they're my personal belongings...) So why not extend my conditions to the rest of the populace?
Seanie - February 3, 2009 11:44 AM
A well place whisper that the rest of the world will start a trade war with them, that their economy sucks, and that we in return for certain exemptions will help them with that trade war by diverting things their way rather than elsewhere, might do the trick. Then again, the diety of democracy, I mean President Obama is looking for a good first 100 days in the eyes of the voters, most of whom are blue collar, worried about their jobs, anti-foreign goods, gung hu, damn the torpedos flag wavers right about now.
Ben (The Tiger) - February 3, 2009 11:48 AM
Yeah, I'm a little worried about public opinion here.
I mean, a majority of Republicans are still pro-free trade, but it's a narrower and narrower majority...
Alan - February 3, 2009 2:41 PM
I hadn't read this before I posted this morning. I don't even know if it was up.
ry - February 4, 2009 1:57 AM
If all you wanted was bbq sauce, Al, all you have to do is order some, mon ami. I can run a couple pallets to FOB McLeod pretty cheap if'n you want. Pay the van rental, gas, and $0.02(American) a mile and I'll get you all the bbq sauce you can stand, homes.
Alan - February 4, 2009 8:29 AM
See! And for that I offer the Alberta oil patch. Deal!