Whisper to a Scream: Canada vs. the United States

Canada is in a very different situation to the Americans—I think people, Canadian media, in particular, forget that. The propaganda is inflation needs to be fought, conquered, by increasing interest rates. Because of the media spillover of the American chorus that inflation CAN be fought with increasing rates, and because other media, Indian for example (I tend to watch a lot of Indian stuff) tends to see us as like Americans, we tend to believe the rhetoric that we are. We are not.

Canada has a TRADE SURPLUS, and has had one for years. We SELL more than we buy. We are a COMMODITY nation; Albertans like to say we sell a lot of oil—we don’t and usually only to Americans, and Quebecers get very little credit for the fact we are also the world’s largest exporter of Maple syrup. But, we sell lots of stuff all over the world because we have invested in EDUCATION and have very smart people. We have a lot to offer.

As long as the price is right. Money determines everything

The Americans haven’t had a trade surplus since 1975.

They IMPORT everything, except oil; they are the world’s largest exporter of oil. They tend to be big shoppers. They buy a lot from China. The thing is Americans BUY more than they sell. The oil they’re selling doesn’t cover the cost of the stuff they are buying.

Americans have an inflation PROBLEM that originated with the supply chain crisis (where stuff bought couldn’t be delivered, now resolved) and became exacerbated by the Russian Special Military Operation. Americans don’t like Russians and felt entitled to disrespect them. They appropriated Russian money kept in the States. The Russians decided to opt out of SWIFT, controlled by Americans, and trade independently because the Americans stole their money. Lots of ways to euphemize the act, but Russian money was appropriated by American interests, and that’s stealing.

Stealing is wrong, and A LOT of countries don’t want to keep their money in the States in case they steal again. That means they want to be PAID for the stuff the Americans bought. The Americans don’t have the money, so they are increasing interest rates to keep money in the country. Sounds like a good deal, money in the bank gathering interest. But, other countries don’t trust the States, and they want their money back. Americans keep raising interest rates in an appeal to them.

Americans have nothing to sell; but, countries will trade with them for oil, an actual thing. However, there is an international market for oil, andAmericans cannot set the price. They would like it to be high, SWIFT was their way of controlling the market, but because oil trades are happening independent of SWIFT, they cannot control the price. So, oil is consistently dropping. And, that puts them in a predicament of constantly raising interest rates trying to cajole other countries to put off being paid.

Canada is in the situation where we have things to sell, but if our dollar gets too strong people will not buy. And, we need people to support our businesses and if interest rates get too high, businesses cannot borrow money to attract educated workers. And, buildings cannot be built to house new Canadians. And, schools won’t expand. Et cetera, et cetera

We are in a situation with business leaders thinking we are fighting an American war.

Nothing of the sort.

We are a commodity nation with a shortage of workers, very much in a different situation to the Americans.

My thing is smart, healthy people able to get to work. Probably, also having a place to live wouldn’t hurt. A government that prevents the ability of a worker to get to work also thwarts the ability of a business to profit.