As IF Times

link:  https://www.rebelnews.com/nova_scotia_premier_defends_right_to_wear_poppy_after_judges_demand_staffers_remove_them

One of the most annoying things in recent modern life is the phenomenon of “shrinkflation”.  As everyone has discovered by now, the price of everything has noticeably increased in our daily lives.  Why this has happened is a topic for another discussion, but suffice to say, it’s an issue that affects mostly everyone profoundly unless you are part of a government pay regime.

Let’s clarify what this is.  Consumers become more reluctant to purchase a given product because prices increase.  For example, a bag of potato chips that used to cost 3 dollars is now 4 dollars. People notice these things and thus, they avoid buying these more expensive chips.  What to do?  Well, a genius marketing fix was created.  Why not keep prices as they once were….but decrease the amount of product being sold in the package?  This stroke of genius has been embraced by all consumer companies and thus, producers maintain their saleability on store shelves.

If the producers were totally honest, they should re-label their products for transparency, thus M&M’s would simply be “M” and potato chips would be “some chips of potato”.  That’s not even mentioning the fact that many products aren’t even as they are implied.  Kraft single slices aren’t even cheese and thus, they are not allowed to label it as such. Thus, in this way, producers can hide from consumers the fact that the product that they’re accustomed to consuming is not the same as before.  It’s not exactly bait and switch, but it is a subterfuge nonetheless.

This genius technique of selling  much less of something than what is advertised is one which the political establishment has adopted with great success.  The best example of this is the nation once known as Canada.  I say once known, because the packaging has long outlived the actual contents.

Similar to the deceptive packaging described above, Canada is still regarded by some as a proud, free nation, welcoming to all and benefactor to the planet. In fact, the labelling on the package, aka the national anthem, states boldly, “the true north strong and free”. Who doesn’t recognize the unofficial icon of Canada which is a forthright, broad shouldered, Dudley Do Right of a Mountie. This used to represent the general “goodness” and decency of the nation, or as a former prime Minister invoked, “da Canadian values”.

The main pillar of Canadian-ness, if there actually is one, is that of a free,  lawful and peaceful society.

However, if there was any nation in the world best representing the phenomenon of “shrinkflation”, it’s Canada.  Recently, the premier of Nova Scotia had to go to court to fight for the right to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day, a long honored Canadian tradition. Ironically, this is the day on which Canadians honor those that fought and died in wars for the preservation of the free society in which we live today. It was a judge that wanted to prevent this. There is so much angst about offending virtually anybody who complains loudly enough that Canadians are willing to omit all traditional Canadian customs and values. Canadians are notorious for accommodating any and all sorts of complainers, in the name of inclusivity.

THE cornerstone of a free society is the sanctity of free speech. This liberty is specifically enshrined in the foundational document of the Constitution of The United States.  Because this is the foundation of any free society, it is also explicitly written in the Canadian Charter of Rights:

“…Section 2(b) of the Charter guarantees “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression including freedom of the press and other media or communication” This right is recognize as a fundamental freedom and is protected against actions by all levels of government…”

Seems pretty clear, BUT WAIT!  There also follows a weasel clause which states:

“…it also allows for reasonable limits on expression if those limits are prescribed by law and can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society…”

In essence, it’s free unless someone decides it’s not a good idea.  So it’s really only a strong suggestion.  As we know, any vacillations in wording on laws are like small holes in a house. Like rodents, politicians will find their way inside.  Thus, the nation has prohibitions on what can be said online under penalty of fines or jail for non-compliance.  This is a page taken from the parent nation, the UK.  Access to certain internet site are now blocked if they don’t conform to official government approval. When asked how Canadians would access information, they are referred to, you guessed it, the official government media outlet, the CBC.

Sounds like political shrinkflation to me. The Canada of today is not what they were selling even a decade ago.  At the very least, change the national anthem to reflect this reality.  Though I’m not sure how they’ll fit “the true north, weak and not really free” into music stanzas.

link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg0m79gm10o

The biggest news of the week was the imposition of tariffs by the US on its heretofore best trading partners, Mexico and Canada.  The expected outcry ensued from the respective governments about the unfair bullying tactics of the US and then the knee jerk retaliatory actions followed..

What could have precipitated this action on the part of the US?  General bullying? Manifest Destiny? Regional hegemony?  Well it took root with Donald Trump’s pledge to protect American citizens and their borders from infiltration of illegal migrants and associated with that, a continued flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl and of course, the associated crime.

It’s the national equivalent of having your neighbors with whom you share a fenceless property line, allowing their dogs to defecate on your lawn.

The rational response should be, “Wow, that is a problem, we’ll do better to stop that kind of activity, since we’re good neighbors and all”. Of course, that didn’t happen.  The response has been more like, “what dog?” Canada and Mexico took umbrage at the mere accusation of being un-neighborly and imposed sanctions of their own back at the US.

In the case of Canada, which at the moment is led by nobody, but nevertheless, the recently resigned Prime Minister Trudeau still presents himself as the savior and champion of Canada’s interests by invoking patriotism and the Team Canada flag. While this is entirely laughable and tragic, some delusional Canadians are voicing their national pride in denouncing the Americans and rallying around some of Canada’s political leaders.   They’ve already coined an expression for this: Stockholm Syndrome.  Some may recall that in the 1970’s, the heiress to the Hearst fortune, Patty Hearst, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.  After a period of captivity, she wound up sympathizing with her captors and acted on their behalf in committing various crimes.

Just a few years ago, Trudeau’s government imprisoned citizens daring to protest his Covid mandates, sending the police in to forcefully break them up, arrested organizers of the trucker’s convoy, garnished their bank accounts and labelled them enemies of the state for not complying with unjust vaccination mandates. Court cases surrounding this exist to this day.  In addition, Canadians were prevented from entering or leaving the country and made to walk only in the direction of arrows in grocery stores.  Some may also recall Trudeau proudly declaring Canada a post national state and that allegiance to the pride flag was more important than the maple leaf.

Suddenly as the nation is soon to be under the pressure of US tariffs, he invokes the patriotism flag….and the quadruple vaccinated are falling for it.

What is the tariff?  The tariff will be 25% on all goods entering the US unless the border issues are addressed.  People with short memories are reminded that the Liberal government themselves had plans to implement a carbon tax of at least that much to ALL Canadians in a few weeks time in order to fight the quixotic battle against climate change.  This was the entire reason for the unpopularity of the governing Liberals in the first place.  I’m convinced that Trudeau is annoyed that tax money would go to Americans instead of their own coffers.  As we know, all socialist regimes only use taxation in the most creative ways to fund their existence. Recall that the mayor of Toronto wanted to tax rain.

Like all demagogues, he invokes the classic “we’re all in this together” bleat to signify solidarity with all Canadians. Nothing says “in it together” like having your food, shelter, travel, vacation  and alcohol paid for by the taxpayers while also enjoying pay increases at will. This is reminiscent of Oprah Winfrey, a billionaire, imploring the little people to donate money to help re-build Maui… since they’re in it together.

The financial and cultural lives of Canada and the US are inextricably tied together. Are Canadians not going to use Amazon? Netflix? NFL? Trash TV? McDonald’s? Not travel to Palm Springs and Hawaii and Florida?

This tariff battle is the equivalent of staying with one card in blackjack when the dealer has a face card showing.  He cannot win. The good consequence of this period of stupidity is that now the conversation will be re-ignited on the larger issue of nationhood. The regions of the nation will have to consider in greater depth the terms of the confederation and the distribution of power….or even if Canada continues as a nation.  If a visionary cannot make the case for nationhood but only demagogues continue to be elected pushing the latest shiny thing, there is no future as a nation.