An excellent and doable plan for using Trump's economic warfare to to get us somewhere safer and fairer than where we are right now. We used to call this kind of thinking The Leap. Still works! It's about Canada but many other countries, in coordination, should respond to this shock in similar ways - ThreadSky

naomiaklein.bsky.social • 95 days ago

An excellent and doable plan for using Trump's economic warfare to to get us somewhere safer and fairer than where we are right now. We used to call this kind of thinking The Leap. Still works!

It's about Canada but many other countries, in coordination, should respond to this shock in similar ways

Reposted from Canada's National Observer

Canada should hit Trump back where it will hurt the most. With an oil and gas export tax. @sethdklein.bsky.social writes. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/02/03/o...

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pikewrangler.bsky.social•95 days ago

As much as I agree, this would spark a unity crisis in Canada, which we don't need right now. A better idea is to form exclusive trading blocks with like-minded (i.e., not U.S.) countries that respect our sovereignty. Those will take time to develop. Then impose oil export taxes on US.

naomiaklein.bsky.social•95 days ago

Unity? Alberta is the one that went it alone to get a better deal for itself, if I recall correctly

pikewrangler.bsky.social•95 days ago

No doubt that's true. They'll be singing a different tune shortly when the U.S. announces that it'll be purchasing its oil from Venezuela until our economy buckles. Until then, let's try to keep even the appearances of unity until we can diversify our economy.

1984georgeorwell.bsky.social•93 days ago

This is so true. Reminds me of an econ class I took - same impact but the rent goes to the exporting country. Plus they obviously feel that they are weak on the gas imports anyway. Great leverage.

palumboliu.bsky.social•95 days ago

Excellent. We need more things like this, and a creative political imagination

beiman-nancy.bsky.social•86 days ago

Please read Canadian news, learn about Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta.

iantuck.bsky.social•95 days ago

Unfortunately, this would stoke Albertan's secessionist impulses. Not saying it wouldn't be smart policy, but we'd best come up with a way to address this. This *should* be an opportunity to unite Canadians, but it couldn't come at a worse time, in terms of who's in provincial government.

ipaige.bsky.social•95 days ago

Really? The rest of this country would be asking for Alberta to do their fair share. We just spent $34 billion on a pipeline for Alberta. It's amazing how the oil and gas industry has fucked up Canadian politics.

iantuck.bsky.social•95 days ago

I don't disagree. But I stand by my assessment of how it would play out west. If we want Albertans to support the policy (and we should), we need to figure out a way to address their concerns. If that means propping up their employees for a time (NOT their multinational employers), then maybe? 1/2

ipaige.bsky.social•95 days ago

The only way to appease the UPC would be to not add the extra 15%. They're going to scream no matter what. It's not about what Albertans want it's what Koch Industries wants.

iantuck.bsky.social•95 days ago

FTR, I'm not talking about appeasing the UPC. I'm talking about salting the fertile ground for secessionist rhetoric by reducing the suffering of ordinary Albertans. Do I hate it? Absolutely. Do I believe it might go a long way to depleting the oxygen around the secessionist movement? Unsure.

ipaige.bsky.social•95 days ago

I understand that but the UPC, the oil and gas industry and our US owned media will counter any messaging to regular Albertans. The only way I could see this working is taking all the money from the 15% added tariff and investing it in new geothermal electricity production in Alberta and BC.

iantuck.bsky.social•95 days ago

When you mention the pipeline to Albertans (and apologies if you've had these discussions already), you'll find that they think the only reason Canada had to pay so much was because of the Feds environmental laws that made it unattractive for foreign investors. They don't feel gratitude at all.

ipaige.bsky.social•95 days ago

Of course they don't. In the last 50+ years they've always thought they were the victim.

marzbarz523.bsky.social•95 days ago

From AB and I agree with this statement.

thebigsnit.bsky.social•95 days ago

At the very least, we should start charging market rate, No more discounts.

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