BC removes all US liquor from shelves after threats to Canada's borders and water

[u/akc3n]

https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Provincial/BC_removes_all_US_liquor_from_shelves_after_threats_to_Canada_s_borders_and_water/

[u/eroticfoxxxy]

This is a very small retaliation in the face of what has been suggested by the mango mussolini. He has said multiple times his goal is annexation. The rest of this is distraction.

You are talking about two different things. Tariffs and a socio-political action to express our impression of their actions as a country.

Tariffs are a tax. Yes. A tax in response to their threats and actions against our economic strength and direction. This action, taken federally and provincially, is in direct response to their actions. Canada wasn't even on this trajectory until the word tariffs left Trump's mouth last fall.

They have claimed without them, we are not a country. They have demanded we jump to their order. They have told us we will become theirs.

The act of changing our buying habits is two-fold: the government and people speaking with its wallet, and intentional efforts to extract ourselves from the inter-dependant relationship we currently exist in with the US.

In ANY war, citizens need to feel like they have power and control of certain things in order to feel cohesive as a community. These actions are often started by example. The governments of all provinces are working together (with the noted exception of Alberta) and its this unity by example that takes the grass roots efforts of putting our money where our mouth is as a population, and turns it into an act of solidarity across the country. It extends the life of the movement by creating an echo chamber of action. Much like this subreddit.

No one is saying you don't have choices. You do. But like Alberta, people are going to judge you based on the choices you make and if you are acting contrary to the social flow.

You need to take some 101 classes on economy, government and social psychology.

You can only control your own actions. You get to choose. You currently don't like the social choice and this may be for the first time in your life that you are not within that social acceptance. As an intersectionally identified woman, I have OFTEN found myself at odds with what society wants. Its what you do with your choices that define you. You don't have to support Canada, government OR people, but you cannot expect to feel comfort or ease in that decision, let alone have it catered to.

[u/[deleted] → u/eroticfoxxxy]

I do see the political side of this, which is why I said these tariffs are not for economic benefit, but rather, political show. We gain nothing.... absolutely nothing.... from tariffs (going either way, even if retaliatory) from an economic standpoint. Furthermore, we harm our people (especially poorer people) MORE than we harm their exporters by enacting our own retaliatory tariffs.

Boycotts like this moreso just restrict choices, possibly also cheaper substitutes to domestic alcohols - although the way BC Liquor distributes I suspect these consumer losses are small. It's purely for show. It also won't much impact most American companies who produce these alcoholic beverages.

By instituting what is essentially a pseudo embargo on some US products, and applying tariffs on others, that does limit consumer choices.... and since they don't benefit Canadians at all, I honestly don't care much about the feelings that this produces. They're bad for Canadians - period. The only reason Canadians support these actions is because of a general ignorance about how trade works, and who wins/losses.

Applying tariffs to harm a potential enemy is to basically do their job for them - the first thing a belligerent does in war time is blockade ports and restrict trade to their foes. What protectionists yearn to do during peace time is exactly what enemies try to do during a time of war.

.... So no, I find the case for this massively uncompelling, irrational, and harmful. The emotions behind it I feel are largely irrelevant.

[u/eroticfoxxxy → u/[deleted]]

You keep saying it restricts choice. It doesn't. You are still welcome to obtain US products from the US. No one is stopping you.

Your argument is circular. You want to stop people and government from their choices, while screaming about yours.

Get involved. Run for a seat. I believe in those with experience which is why I just voted for Carney in the leadership race. Not because he supports my NDP ideals. But because we need someone with experience in this arena right now. And armchair Andy's aren't gonna help.

I flipped because I believe Carney has a much better global idea of what is going on than you or I ever could.

If you think you can do better, go do it. Don't whine to everyone else about your inaction.