Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living

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.

    • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
      3·
      6 days ago

      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.

        • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          6 days ago

          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.

        • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
          21·
          6 days ago

          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.

            • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
              2·
              6 days ago

              Please stop with the name calling. I hate when people do that, and you hate when people do it to you. I get it. We’re all mad. But I’m not gonna interrupt, I would like to hear your take on my question in the comment I posted to you above. Peace.

              fuck it, I’m gonna upvote all the comments in this chain, regardless of the name calling, because I can.

              • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
                3·
                6 days ago

                Why are you upvoting them when they are having an american tantrum? Not going to stop you, you do you and all that but I would guess its not helping.

                • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  1·
                  6 days ago

                  You make a valid point. My answer is agency, I suppose.

                  I liked the thread. You guys are mad at each other but I am interested in the topic so I wanted to hear more. I upvoted all of you, and I interjected a bit myself. Let’s try to make this a better place than Reddit! Amirite?

                  • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
                    3·
                    6 days ago

                    I am mad at the states and the people who live there with this mentality. I am not really mad at one more silly “you can leave it” american, but like the article in question we Canadians are just done with this shit. I don’t and will not sit here and have this bull in a china shop sort of thing play out, I will speak my piece (rationally and without name calling etc.) and not just let the american get away with saying silly wrong things. They have shit all over my nation since I can remember and now its all playing out, we don’t have to put up with it.

                • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
                  3·
                  6 days ago

                  Oh, please tell us what you have been called. I would like to know as clearly I am some sort of “troll bot” and require input.

                  • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    1·
                    6 days ago

                    Oh come on my friend from yesterday, discuss the points. What even are the points at this point?

                • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  1·
                  6 days ago

                  Yeah I saw that, but you do it too. I think it’s funny because you both have good points and fucking hate each other, so it’s both entertaining and educational lol keep punching’em!

            • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
              2·
              6 days ago

              Those, and this might shock you, are not nations but states.

              I moved from Ontario and don’t pay taxes there anymore as well. The fact you think that states are nations is odd. The states (the nation as a whole) does make you pay taxes when you leave, use none of their services and for all purposes stop being american. Something something taxation without representation…

            • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
              3·
              6 days ago

              You can literally walk into Mexico without any US guards stopping you.

              US guards no, Mexican ones yes. The usa is one of only two nations that will demand a cut of your income when outside of the states and no you can’t become not american so no you can not leave in the way that matters.

              Now whether the other country lets you in is their business. Which is not the fault of the USA.

              Yes telling people if they don’t like it they can leave but then having such a bad international reputation does in fact make some of the fault land on the usa.

              • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
                1·
                6 days ago

                The usa is one of only two nations that will demand a cut of your income when outside of the states

                Yeah that one is 😵

                Hey I wonder if that goes for billionaires who own multinational corps as well.

                • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
                  2·
                  6 days ago

                  That is a great question, and I guess it depends if they are “american”. We know Musk is not, so no taxes there, and most can shelter their income in a way that they pay nothing.

                  The issue for the little people is that (everywhere but United States and Eritrea) generally you pay taxes in the place you are living. So if you live in say Poland you would be using Polish services (healthcare, police, roads, you get the idea) and therefor pay Polish income tax. And most would say that is fair. The us though asks for their cut regardless where you are on top of what ever the local government takes. If rich enough you can just say where you “live” regardless of where you lay your head.

                  • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    2·
                    6 days ago

                    Let’s be real, none of the Magnificent Seven pay any taxes in any country. Unless you count bribes as taxes.

                    So if you live in say Poland you would be using Polish services (healthcare, police, roads, you get the idea) and therefor pay Polish income tax

                    Maybe I’m misreading you, but, yeah so unless you register a company in Estonia for a pittance, get a flat 20% tax rate on all income made domestically or abroad. See how it works? I know nothing of business, when I haggle I try to raise the price I pay, it’s a known issue, but I know that if someone can do that, then god only knows what an army of litigants and accountants with a billion dollars and a taste for blood could invent to circumvent their just dues.

                    Do you know of the game Nomic? It’s a game where when it’s your turn you can propose and vote to change the rules, the whole point is that the ruleset keeps changing based on what the players decide.

                    That, to me, is modern capitalism. And the more money you have, the more votes you get to change the rules in your favor.