Trade War!

I guess it isn't really a surprise, but Canada and the US could not come to terms, even though the Canadian team had already given far too many concessions to the US side.  I know there are conflicting stories, but pretty much everyone believes the Canadian version, which is Howard Lutnick turned up pretty much at the last minute with a new set of demands, including trying to put limits on Canada's trade deals with other trading partners!  This is completely typical of Trump and his lick-spittle lackeys, and mostly is simply his way of trying to humiliate others.  As painful as it is (and it could get painful indeed, including with services, which would impact my job), I think it was the right call.  I so hope the GOP is pounded in the midterms (and of course I hope even more that Trump vanishes from the scene before the midterms from natural or unnatural causes...), but it is a long way off from them.  And truly I don't see any way for the US to get its house in order aside from a civil war that would actually open things up for meaningful reform of the Constitution (no electoral college, no 2nd amendment, major rethinking of the Supreme Court), which won't happen in my lifetime most likely.

I suppose it's just as well that I ran off to Iowa (and then Chicago) a few weeks back for my cousin's funeral, as I really don't think I will travel to the States until after the midterms and maybe not even then.  On the positive side, my step-brother is improving, so I don't think this will be an issue for future travel (as I was fearing for a while).  Still, it is frustrating not to travel to the States.  There are good reasons for me to go down to North Carolina (including an upcoming production of Stoppard's Travesties I might have checked out otherwise), but it is just not on the table for the immediate future. 

Edit (8/28): Trump actually followed through with his threat to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.  I mean not a single person outside the federal agencies forced to use it and his dwindling idiotic fan base is going to use this, but it is still an embarrassment (I mean really beyond an embarrassment) and it will have a pretty significant impact on costs.  I hope this time around Google Maps tells him to Fuck right off and that they aren't changing it based on his whims.  What a sorry excuse for a human he is, and I honestly don't see how anyone with the federal government can continue to work there and have any respect for themselves.

The New York governor had a good line that instead of spelling HOMES with the Great Lakes, now it was only going to spell SHAME.  And this was a very appropriate cartoon in the Toronto Star that pretty much sums up how everyone feels about this narcissistic credit.

I believe it was in the Guardian that one of the columnists pointed out that Trump was now in the position Machiavelli warned the Prince against the most of being hated but no longer feared.  That's certain where he is now, though no question the other EU and Asian nations need to stand up to Trump as Carney finally did because he is a bully who feeds off dominating others and there is no end to his demands once you give in.  No question is a very ugly mirror for the American people to be contemplating themselves in...