What's at stake with these incapacitated Liberals at the helm?

 

Huh? What a headline in Winnipeg!

I don't know why Canada's best-interests were swept into the dustbin in the "first 100 days" of a popular U.S. President. It seems idiotic to see Canada's best game (international trade) and the resources behind it lost to a novice negotiator in Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Instead of a new age of prosperity with increasing trade and economic development under our belts, with a sparkling new Liberal leadership (and a fresh take on federal governance), every dimension, and every way you look at it the Liberals have been wasting Canada's social capital and fretting about non-issues. Problems facing Canada include recent talk of recession (a shrinking economy), no steps on housing, same doldrums in health care, reversals everywhere in economic development, and a catalogue of peculiar government expenditures unaccountable because we don't have a government, much, including the bizarre twist in foreign affairs with Israel, then a bunch of strange machinations about who gets to drive what kind of car. And talk about picking fights you can never win. How about Canada challenging the U.S. to a trade war?

GROK STARTS In 2024, the total trade in goods and services between Canada and the United States was approximately US$909.1 billion. U.S. goods exports to Canada were US$349.9 billion, while imports from Canada were US$411.9 billion, resulting in a goods trade deficit for the U.S. of about US$62 billion. Services trade saw U.S. exports to Canada at US$90.3 billion and imports at US$57.0 billion, yielding a U.S. services trade surplus of US$33.2 billion. When combining goods and services, the overall U.S. trade deficit with Canada was around US$35.7 billion in 2024. Daily trade flows averaged about US$2.5 billion, with Canada being the top export market for 34 U.S. states. Energy products, particularly crude oil, accounted for a significant portion of Canada’s exports (about 27% of merchandise exports), while vehicles and machinery were major U.S. exports. GROK ENDS

The crux of the story is pretty simple. Half of Canada's economy flows in by rail or pipe, or truck from the U.S., and not a small amount of that is our food. Even the petroleum energy used in eastern Canada flows in from Michigan.

And not just a trade war with the U.S.. Canada is being snubbed at every turn. EU signed the $750 Billion energy deal and there are other new arrangements with the $15 Trillion GDP EU economy. The overall agreement with the EU was $1.3 trillion to start, and already a repercussion for Canada, the EU reports there is no business case for Canadian aluminum and steel. Canada was reportedly told, "Your only market is the U.S.."

Is there any doubt about the problems Canada will face if these trends continue? And continue they do. Mexico is the latest to snub Canadians. Someday soon Canada will require new leadership and new government to go forward. (That was rather obvious until the Liberal switcheroo.)

NOW THIS, AN X POST ON THE MEXICO TRADE FIASCO

🚨🚨BREAKING - THE LASTEST BAD NEWS FOR CANADA

MEXICO'S SHEINBAUM CONFIRMS NO TRADE DEAL WITH CANADA

she makes it clear Carney visiting is not to strike a deal... "it is not necessary" pic.twitter.com/uZmIKbnVpS

— Tablesalt 🇨🇦 (@Tablesalt13) August 6, 2025

One victory for Canadians would be nice, even just one

 

It's a strange phenomenon to have a government standing in the way of well-being. But how strange, really? After all, people stand behind governments doing the strangest things. Take war. People are sent by governments  to die, by the millions, to be shot, blown up, kill and or be killed.

People go right along with this. Some are super enthusiastic. My Grandfather joined the Medicine Hat 175 Battalion in 1916 and rose from Private to Captain before war's end. He was Captain of a Lewis gun machinegun squad. My Dad was on the bridge of the HMCS Uganda spotting kamikazes for Captain Mainguy and Commodore Pullen in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. I asked my Dad in his later years, "Would you do it again?" "Oh Yes."

I don't quite understand his level of enthusiasm for all the killing. It was definitely an exercise devoted entirely to the business of blowing people up. Here's what AI describes for my Dad's wartime experience:

GROK says: 

 Your father’s experience as the “Bogeyman” on HMCS Uganda, especially that haunting moment of locking eyes with a kamikaze pilot, is a profound piece of history. We can dive back into it anytime—whether to explore more about his role, the Okinawa campaign, or the emotional weight of those memories. Just let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll pick up where we left off. Thank you for sharing such a meaningful part of his life. 

GROK ENDS

The long and short of it, 12,000 Allies died in that 70 day battle against 1,900 suicide pilots while 150,000 more Japanese died on Okinawa, soldiers and civilians. (For some reason, the Japanese fleet sat this one out.)

I try to imagine myself in the middle of a carnage of 12,000 dead on my side in 70 days. It's impossible. It's unthinkable. Then I consider what my Grandfather saw in World War One. And I ask Grok to fill in those blanks. 

Here's the core of GROK's response:

Battles Fought by your Grandfather's CEF machinegun Squad:

As you noted, “these are the guys who saw many of the battles.” Your grandfather’s Lewis gun squad, under his command as Captain, likely fought in: 

Vimy Ridge (April 9–12, 1917): The 31st Battalion helped capture the ridge, with Lewis guns suppressing German trenches. Casualties were high (10,600 Canadian killed/wounded), and his squad’s survival shows their grit.

Hill 70 (August 15–25, 1917): The 31st faced fierce counterattacks, with Lewis guns pivotal for holding captured ground. Losses were heavy (9,200 Canadian casualties).

Passchendaele (October–November 1917): The 31st endured mud and shellfire, with Lewis guns providing cover in brutal conditions (16,000 Canadian casualties).

Hundred Days Offensive (August–November 1918): The 31st fought at Amiens, Drocourt-Quéant, and Cambrai, breaking German lines. Lewis gun squads were key in mobile warfare, with your grandfather’s leadership ensuring their effectiveness. The CEF’s total losses were 45,000 in this campaign alone.

The photo, with your grandfather seated and the Lewis gun at his knees, likely captures a moment from this period, possibly late 1918, when his squad’s battle-hardened bond was forged through these trials.  

GROK ENDS

These were different times in Canada. The priorities were different. But one thing's for sure. All those Canadians my Grandfather and Father hung around with, wouldn't have given two seconds to these fucking nebbish cu#ts we have running the country today.