US Still Trying To Make Canada A State

To many people, Felonious Punk’s tactics make no sense. On the one hand, he announced yesterday (Wednesday) that he would increase tariffs on Canada and the EU after they responded with tariffs of their own. Later in the day, however, Punk’s Commerce Secretary goes on Faux News and says that Canada becoming a U.S. state is the “best way” to merge the two countries’ economies. The chaos is intentional and the President is hoping that Canada will just give up.

Fat chance.

“The best way, the president has said it, the best way to actually merge the economies of Canada and the United States is for Canada to become our 51st state. If they want to merge it, that’s how you make it the 51st state,” Lutnick said.

Never mind that newly elected PM Mark Carney has already said, “Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form.”

Lutnick kept pressing. “But think about this for a second, why are American cars made in Canada? … Those jobs should be in America. And that’s what the president thinks, and that’s what he says and that’s what he’s going to execute. So the key point is, Canada’s going to have to work with us to really integrate their economy. And as the president said, they should consider the amazing advantages of being the 51st state of the United States of [America].”

The entire exchange is cringeworthy to the point that one might question Lutnick’s sobriety during the interview. Certainly, no sober person thinks that the incredibly difficult and painful act of bringing Canada into the US is going to solve all the economic problems. But then, sanity seems to be in short supply with this administration.

For its part, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly had one stark warning to share Wednesday: “If the U.S. can do this to us, their closest friend, then nobody is safe.” Making the statement prior to what is likely to be a contentious G7 meeting today, Joly added, “We have done nothing to justify [Punk’s] attacks on our country, on our economy and our identity,” Joly said. “Canada is your best friend, best neighbor, and best ally.”

“The only constant in this unjustifiable trade war seems to be President [Punk’s] talks of annexing our country through economic coercion,” she continued. “He called our border a fictional line and repeated his disrespectful 51st state rhetoric. Well, Canadians have made it very clear that we will not back down, and we will not give in to this coercion.”

Here’s the full video of the Minister’s statement:

Among the many things that would make merging the two economies nearly impossible is the healthcare issue. Canada has a universal, single-payer healthcare system funded primarily through taxes. Merging would require massive fiscal adjustments and likely raise taxes in the US or reduce services/access in Canada, both politically unpopular options. Canadians are generally very attached to their universal healthcare system and see it as a core part of their national identity. Americans, on the other hand, are too stupid to understand the concept of a single-payer system.

Canada also has more robust social safety nets than the US, including unemployment insurance, welfare programs, and social services, the very items that Punk’s administration is currently stripping from the US. Attempting to merge the two without either dramatically increasing the budget or painfully cutting services is impossible. Canadians are not likely to go along with such coercion.

Most importantly, Carney has made it clear that he will not entertain any kind of conversation with Punk that doesn’t fully respect Canada’s complete and total sovereignty. Canadians are fiercely protective of their national identity and independence from the US. Political resistance to relinquishing sovereignty would be immense and likely insurmountable.

Continuing to make the suggestion, constantly trotting out Lutnick, Rubio, and other cabinet members to incoherently make excuses, is nothing more than a distraction tactic as Punk attempts to steal Canada. This is not a friendly maneuver and neither US nor Canadian systems should trust President Shitforbrains or any of his lackeys.

Canada is not for sale. Canada cannot be coopted into being a state. Canada is a sovereign nation and the sooner Punk gets that through his thick head, the better life will be for everyone.