Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living
This week the US imposed 50% tariffs on US$20bn (£15bn) of Canadian goods, and Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister, has vowed to match them “dollar for dollar” after the collapse of trade talks between the two countries last weekend. Donald Trump retaliated on Thursday by ordering the federal government to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Such actions have added fuel to a widespread boycott of US products and services by Canadians that began early last year in response to the president’s trade war and threats to annex his northern neighbour.
More than 3,500 people from across Canada shared with the Guardian via an online callout how they have made changes to their lives in response to the US administration’s political and economic stance. Many expressed deep anger and sadness, but remained resolute that this was now a new way of living.
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As opposed to a large eye above a pyramid.
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And? What does that have to do with paying taxes as an ex pat from the states? You are a pariah state, and also have to notify the government about layoffs (its called WARN). Oh but please brag more about how shit your nation is, I am sure I will be humbled into compliance.
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So why the hell are you telling people that they can just leave easy? Come now, even your tale paints a fucking nightmare. You even describe the very issue with an american living outside of america (mostly the us sucks in and out of the usa). Did you know most places also let you move around freely inside of the nation? Hell I have done it twice in my life here in Canada, and its not something to brag about. This is a big issue with americans, your damn exceptionalism because most countries have a fuck lot more then half that. You are living in a shit nation throwing shit at other nations.
You don’t get to tell people fables and then tell them to “grow up” due to your situation being shit, it makes zero sense.
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The fable is that americans can “leave” if they want to. They can’t, do some research. Do you think working one year contracts as an English teacher in Asia counts as giving up your american citizenship? Do you think having to pay double tax is normal? We will be calling each other out till the heat death of the universe.
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Bro, it’s not fair to tell people who don’t like the country they live in to move. If everyone did that then there would be no country left. It is fair to stay and try to create the nation you want, doesn’t it? What kind of nation do you want? I mean that seriously, I think you have something to say, and I think this thread derailed into name calling. So may I constructively ask you, what is your main topic of contention with your country that you would want changed? I understand that this is a broad question, and if you wouldn’t mind, I would prefer an answer that is a description of the kind of society you would want to live in.
What type of society would you feel happy in? Can you describe it? I think it is important for us all to talk about these things, genuinely.
Thanks.
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The usa will not let you leave, that is the point.
Oh, and no its not normal to double tax. Only two countries impose this income tax system: the United States and Eritrea.
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I can quote sources stating quite the contrary- not only is it very much more than 10,000, the businesses affected are most outspoken about the sudden lack of it.
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Hey that makes three troll bots, we must be getting to be an issue and not at all a weird copeing mechanism to critical pushback.
I don’t know about you but I am definitely a trollbot.
What was the joke?
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Yeah, I don’t think they would be this upset if it did not matter.
Something something all the cards…
Hey I wear a suit to bed out of respec.
The very fact I can get these clown world references is not a good sign of the world we live in.
THEY CAN’T the us still considers them american and requires taxes and all the other bullshit to be paid.
You should really just stop all these “subsidies” to us then, I am sure they exist and are not just more bullshit. Actually lets have both our nations stop the shit, I am sure the us will do just fine without potash, power, wood, steel and aluminium. Oh wait, we will get to see what happens!
The us of a does not give Canada subsidies, in fact our history has been your nation ripping mine off for years (softwood lumber, oil, power, etc. etc.)
HA! Spoken like an american. Enjoy your time thriving, since clearly your winning like Charlie Sheen.
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Please where is the lie?
Do you think that having a Canadian friend is some pass? Your nation sucks and has been a drain on the world. Your nation has cut off trade, you never “took” Venezuela just kidnapped it’s shitty leader. I only hope we cut the power so you can see that 1% in action.
We will see how this all plays out, so far the us is falling apart and is becoming persona non grata.
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I thought we were talking about whether Canada and the UK can fire people at will like in the US…
As someone that has fired people in Canada both with and without cause (layoff), the call out is funny. We are a real nation that does not have the “right to work” us bullshit.
I am glad we don’t, its not even hard to work with as an employer. This whole thing is about this other dood saying that americans are more hireable in other nations and that americans can just leave if they don’t like it there. (They can not).
Actually if you take a gander at the whole thing this firing statement was just an aside.
My friend, I am from Europe, I am pretty well read on American politics (sigh… how can you not be, right), and Canadian as well. So to me I’m seeing… Two cultures clash right here. And it’s interesting to me. That’s why I upvote the both of you’se comments. Even though it’s very antagonistic in nature. Fuck it, I know conflict, I’m just trying to get to the meat.
I’m with Canada 100% of the way by the way, all Europeans are. Elbows up. As far as we are concerned, Canada is part of Europe. Honorary Europeans. You fit right in.
Other considerations: Japan, New Zealand, maybe Uruguay, Australia-ish, and one more but I can’t recall my full list right now
I have never seen people more at each others throats then french Canadians and the French. But then again knowing Europe that does seem about right to fit in.
As a nation Canada has to get new partners and I think Europe is key to that so its good that the sentiment between us is good. Sucks for Ontario (they are our big province) since they are built off of trade with the states, and with that more or less done they are going to suffer.
Well I mean… The French in general are a pretty contentious people! France is not all of Europe. Don’t tell the French though, they will fight you.
Also, all our quibbles and strifes are pretty fraternal in nature. We all agree on the basics. We just disagree who is the best at everything at all times throughout history and forever will be.
Yeah, it’s like that time my best coke dealer developed schizophrenia. It fucking sucks, but you know what, I found to get coke elsewhere, so you work around the issue kind of.
The french Canadians can be really mean as well. When I was young I was in french immersion and my teacher was from France. We had a trip to Quebec city and she refused to go (she states she never will even though she has no issues with french around the world), and then the Quebecois refused to speak french with us students since we where taught non Canadian french. It was, something. I dropped out of immersion and never spoke french since.
Hahahaha that is so wonderfully weird. Yep. I mean, listen, try speaking English in Paris. English is literally the Lingua Franca of the world at the moment. You don’t speak English? You don’t make money. You speak English? You make even more money!
In the 80’s tho, the French literally could. not. would. not. give. a. fuck.
They still don’t but they used not to, too.
“Que voulez-vous dire par ‘est-ce que je parle anglais’? Parlez français comme une personne normale et nous pourrons discuter.”