Joke: A Canadian and an American walk into a bar.
The American orders a “Bud” – the “King of Beers.”The Canadian orders water.
The American asks, “Why didn’t you order a beer?” and the Canadian replies, “Well, if you’re not going to have one, why should I?”
Canadians have a lot to be proud of, and it’s not just beer. But among many other things, we make excellent beer, which is perhaps why some of our big brands have been bought by American companies.
In Prince George, we have some excellent microbreweries.
Whether it’s a Viking from Trench, an award-winning brew from Deadfall, or Crossroads’ Sexy Beast, there’s something for every taste.
We also have Pacific Western, still going strong and producing very good suds.
And we have cideries and a winery for those with a penchant for something different.
When we think about buying Canadian, maybe we should also think about buying local.
This applies to more than just beer sales. Our economy is intrinsically linked to the United States. We produce and sell them raw materials, and they send us back manufactured goods, fruits, and vegetables.
But perhaps a little self-sufficiency and sustainability might be a better approach. Buying Canadian and buying local should be our priority.
The Donald has proclaimed in a royal manner that “we (the United States) don’t need anything from Canada.”
This statement couldn’t be further from the truth.
If we were to stop all cross-border traffic in goods and services today, it would cripple the American economy. Sure, we would suffer as well, because trade with the United States is a two-way street.
But they need us, despite what The Donald has to say.
However, he has learned from figures like Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Mao that if you repeat a lie often enough, eventually people believe it. For example, the claim that the United States subsidizes Canada to the tune of $200 billion per year has been thoroughly debunked.
If anything, Canada is subsidizing the American economy by providing energy at well below market value. Oil, gas, and electricity flow over the border and keep their country running.
The fallacy of his claim is obvious in his rhetoric about wanting Canada to become the 51st state.
If we really are the poor and failing nation he keeps saying we are, why would he be so desperate to annex Canada? You don’t pursue something that has no value. You don’t buy things that will make you worse off. And you don’t engage in an active campaign to convince Canadians they would be better off as a state if you didn’t recognize how great Canada is.
The United States’ national debt stands at $31.5 trillion. Canada’s is $1.2 trillion. Using the 10:1 metric resulting from the population differences, we are well below half of the per capita debt that Americans carry.
In other words, the American economy is a “dead man walking.” They have made bad political and economic policy decisions and are unwilling to face the tax and fiscal burden their economy requires. Eventually, it will collapse.
Adding Canada to the United States would give their economy a boost by providing them unfettered access to our natural resources, including the world’s third-largest supply of crude oil, critical minerals, high-quality wood, vast amounts of hydroelectric power, and — let’s not forget — some pretty fantastic beers.
All of The Donald’s posturing is about getting access to Canada’s bounty without having to pay for it. And maybe some Prince George beer!
Todd Whitcombe is a professor of chemistry at the University of Northern British Columbia.
