Donald Trump's liquidation day: chaos and consequences

 

DONALD TRUMP'S LIQUIDATION DAY: CHAOS & CONSEQUENCES CHARLIE ANGUS / THE RESISTANCE APR 4

April 2 will go down in history as the day the President of the United States flushed jobs, economic security and global stability down the loo.

Why? Because he wanted to show that he was calling the shots — not just for the United States but for the world. He has framed this moment as a great act of leadership, a so-called "Liberation Day" for the American people.

But let's be honest: this isn’t liberation. It's a fire sale of credibility and stability.

April 2 will be remembered as Donald Trump's Liquidation Day.

The fact that he dares to call this recklessness “liberation” is another example in the long line of Trump's debasement of language and political office. We must reclaim this powerful word from the clutches of the criminal from Mar-a-Lago.

Historically, liberation has been a sacred concept.

Biblically, liberation invokes the Passover of the slaves out of Egypt. In the United States, liberation is celebrated by the Black community on "Juneteenth" — the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, finally ending slavery. In France, Liberation Day is June 6, and in the villages of Normandy, it is a powerful thing to behold.

For Canada, liberation wasn’t about declarations - it was about action.

The Canadians who landed on Juno Beach in 1944 were not there to celebrate. Not yet. There was still much work to do—so much bloodshed and sacrifice. Our people weren't in a position to celebrate until Canadian soldiers made it to the Netherlands.

When the job of securing their freedom was accomplished, we celebrated a true liberation day over fascism and lies.

But now, we find ourselves facing a new era of fascism and lies. And worst of all, the grifter-in-chief is trying to appropriate a powerful word that our young people paid in blood and heartache to make real.

No, Donald, you have no right to use the world liberation. You sully its noble meaning.

Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" is one where an unhinged billionaire plunged his nation and the world into economic chaos.

"Whether the country is headed over an economic cliff or to the new golden age that he's promising, Trump's party – and every other American – is going with him." - CNN

Many are searching the political tea leaves to make sense of this action. It somehow feels more reassuring if we know there was some bigger plot driving the madness. But the reality is that this is what happens when you give unlimited power to a spoiled narcissist.

Is anyone surprised? The conman's lies were obvious at every step along the campaign trail. Did anyone really think he wanted to return to power to make life more affordable for the struggling working class?

With "Liberation Day," Trump has shown his willingness to throw those voters over the side in pursuit of an unhinged economic agenda. When pressed over the fact that he would drive up costs beyond the point of affordability for those voters, he said he "couldn't care less."

The impacts will be immediate.

The Stellantis plant in Windsor is already going into shutdown. Other key American auto plants will soon follow.

Flavio Volpe, a longtime expert on the North American auto scene, says the production on both sides of the border will grind to a halt: "Don't be distracted. 25% tariffs are 4 times the 6/7% profit margins of all the companies. Math, not art."

Auto is a major driver of the economy. If the assembly lines stall because parts become too expensive, it will hammer the market like a pile driver. And only one man is to blame.

What was stunning about the "Liberation Day" announcement was how bizarre it was. This was total whack-job economics, with Trump throwing tariffs on nearly every country in the world, including an island of penguins off the coast of Antarctica.

Aside from the penguins, other nations will hit back, driving up costs and making the United States more hated, isolated and economically weak.

But April 2 may also be remembered as the day the MAGA mayhem began to fall apart.

In a shocking vote, four key Republicans senators joined the Democrats in calling out Trump's illegal use of "emergency measures" to throw tariffs on Canada. Those Republicans came from Alaska, Maine, and Kentucky, states that were being hammered economically by the power of the Canadian boycott.

Republicans are learning the hard way that when Canadians pull their dollars out of their markets, then the economic cost is being felt by their voters.

We are fighting back.

Meanwhile, Trump also suffered a humiliating loss of a key vote in Wisconsin, where fascist oligarch Elon Musk attempted to buy the election of the Supreme Court - and failed.

Why Musk hasn't been charged is something this Canadian observer just doesn't get.

Needless to say, Mr. Musk-olini is now claiming the Supreme Court election was "stolen." It may be early days, but I have a feeling that Mr. Musk is rapidly wearing out his welcome.

As the previously strong American economy faces growing instability, Trump's tariff war follows the same disastrous playbook that plunged the world into a global depression in the 1930s.

If history is any guide, we risk a similar economic catastrophe.

But Canada has been preparing for this fight. We know what’s at stake.

Throughout these months, I have been thinking of the enormous sacrifices our relatives made in past struggles to bring a true liberation of people.

The last time we faced a challenge of this magnitude, our American allies were just one beach over from us. We were united in the fight again tyranny. Together, we were unbeatable.

And our Canadian soldiers were as inspired as their American cousins by the words of General Eisenhower issued on the morning of June 6:

"The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!"

These are dark days. But the determination of the Canadian people fills me with such hope. Slowly but steadily, we are pushing forward on the road to liberation - a liberation from lies, intimidation, and economic oppression.

We must encourage our American friends who are still pinned down on the beach.

Theirs is a tougher struggle – towards the liberation of democracy and a return to the rule of law.

But we won't stop until the job is done.

Just as we stood firm in 1945, Canada will remain true, north, strong, and free.

Join Sparky and me on BlueSky socials!

 

On March 21st 2025, Facebook banned me from using my account for a minimum of 6 months. I don't remember the exact reason but it was something like "against community standards." 

I had shared several posts from well-known newspapers in support of my country Canada, against the aggression of the American government threatening to "annex" Canada. 

As soon as I can access my Facebook account, I will post my new social media address on BlueSky socials and let my 3000 Facebook followers decide if they want to continue to follow me. 

Cheers,

Lynda

Sparky sends his woofs! 

B.C. warily reacts to apparent dodge in Trump tariff announcement

 Vancouver Island Free Daily 

Wolf Depner
about 15 hours ago

B.C. Premier David Eby said Wednesday lobbying efforts in the United States against tariffs appear to be making a difference after Canada appears to have dodged additional tariffs beyond those already announced, but Eby and other members of his cabinet also warned of uncertainty and economic hardship ahead. 

"It's clear that our work to date has been finding traction," Eby said in pointing to Republican lawmakers from Kentucky and Alaska. He said they have started to push back against tariffs and annexation threats by Trump. "Our resolve and our swift opposition to these tariffs is having an impact and we cannot let up now," Eby said. 

He made these comments while speaking in the legislature on Bill 7 and shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all imports to the United States that do not comply with the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But if Trump spared — for now — his country's two most important trading partners, Canada will not escape existing tariffs on steel and aluminum and tariffs on automobile and automobile parts that come into effect 9 p.m. PST. Countervailing duties on B.C. forest products also remain in effect. 

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said he did not expect Trump to announce that he would build an "economic wall" around the United States. 

"This is going to have impacts on us, regardless of what the number or the percentage of tariff is," he said. "When the U.S. sneezes, Canada catches a cold. If they do go into a recession, which some economists have predicted, it will have some impacts on Canada." 

Kahlon said earlier that uncertainty remains.

"It was hard to make sense of President Trump's speech," he said. "We have seen some information come out and we are analyzing that now."

B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar also pointed to this uncertainty.

"I think it's bit early to say that we have dodged the bullet," Parmar said. "I think it is important for myself, for the premier and others to now go and get up to speed in terms of what's happening.

"There is still more time for another (Trump) tweet or something." 

Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad said he was very pleased Canada is not facing these additional tariffs.

"I was a little surprised when I saw that, particularly when you look at the tariffs that are in place with so many other countries," he said. "Having said that obviously, we are in a long trading relationship with the Americans, but...it still doesn't change the situation that British Columbia is very vulnerable."

These comments appear against the backdrop of the legislature debating Bill 7.

While Eby last week announced his government would change parts of the bill after a broad coalition consisting of business leaders, legal scholars and the political opposition had expressed concerns about excessive cabinet powers, Kahlon defended pushing ahead with the legislation.

"We have to have the tools available," Kahlon said. "This still creates uncertainty for us that we need to navigate and certainly we will be analyzing what this means in the short term. But in the long term, in the medium term, we have a lot of work still to do." 

Rustad questioned why government is continuing the debate on Bill 7, which he said should be withdrawn. 

"I wonder why we are in the legislature today debating Bill 7 to give this government extraordinary powers," Rustad said. "What is the purpose of doing that when we are not facing these tariffs. This is simply a power grab by this government." 

Trump's tariff announcement and the debate about whether to move ahead with Bill 7 coincided with the news that two credit-rating agencies have downgraded B.C.'s credit-worthiness. S&P Global downgraded British Columbia’s rating for the fourth time in four years. The agency downgraded B.C.'s long-term credit rating to A+ from AA- and its short-term credit rating to A-1 from A-1+. Moody’s Ratings also downgraded aspects of B.C.'s credit. 

Both agencies cited B.C.'s rising debt and deficit.

"The downgrade is a reflection of a structural deterioration in British Columbia’s credit profile, characterized by larger deficits and higher levels of debt than previously projected," Moody's said in its assessment. 

The latest provincial budget pegs the provincial deficit at a record-setting figure of almost $11 billion. 

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said this development "was a strong likelihood given the complex circumstances we find ourselves in with the high risk of tariff impacts." 

She added that B.C.'s economy remains diversified and resilient and Kahlon said B.C. still has "fiscal strength" to respond to the tariffs. But he also echoed Bailey when he said the government is reviewing every single program. 

"(We) have a huge fiscal problem in this province," Rustad said. "There is no question that this government has been completely fiscally irresponsible, putting our children at risk, putting this province at risk." 

Tesla’s sales on a steep downward trend around the world

 

By Melissa Eddy and Jack Ewing

Melissa Eddy reported from Oslo, and Jack Ewing from New York.

April 2, 2025Updated 10:58 a.m. ET

If there is anyplace Tesla should be thriving, it’s Norway. Electric vehicles account for more than 90 percent of new car sales in the Scandinavian country, and buyers here are among the most sophisticated in the world when it comes to understanding the nuances of batteries, charging and range.

So, it hardly bodes well for Tesla that its sales in Norway have declined more than 12 percent so far this year. Sales for the first three months of the year were even worse in Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Sweden.

In fact, Tesla’s sales have been on a steep downward trend around the world: The company said on Wednesday that its global sales in the first quarter fell 13 percent from a year earlier.

Tesla said that it delivered nearly 337,000 cars during the quarter. That is down from 387,000 in the first three months of 2024 and less than in any period since the second quarter of 2022.

The company’s tepid sales at a time when electric vehicle sales were rising around the world reflected a number of serious problems, not least a consumer backlash against the prominent role that Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, is playing in the Trump administration.

Geir Rognlien Elgvin, an urban planner with the City of Oslo, bought his first Tesla in 2013, months after they were introduced in Norway. He has toured the company’s battery Gigafactory in Nevada. He met Mr. Musk when the executive was still mostly known for wanting to address climate change with electric cars and his rocket company, SpaceX.

But as Mr. Musk drifted to right-wing politics, Mr. Elgvin’s enthusiasm waned. And he grew concerned about the company’s data security policy.

Several months ago, he swapped his Tesla for a battery-powered cargo bike and a shared electric Volkswagen. “I would never drive a Tesla again,” he said. “It’s a question of ethics.”

Last year, Tesla accounted for nearly a quarter of car sales in Norway, far more than any other carmaker. But in the first two months of this year Tesla slipped to third place behind Volkswagen and Toyota. Teslas made up just 9 percent of new cars sold, less than half of its market share a year earlier.

For Tesla, the decline in the world’s most advanced electric vehicle market is ominous, signaling problems to come elsewhere. “Norway is always a good place to look into the future,” said Will Roberts, who follows electric vehicles at Rho Motion, a research firm.

There are several explanations for Tesla’s sales decline. The company depends on two models, the Model Y sport utility vehicle and the Model 3 sedan, for almost all of its sales. The Cybertruck pickup, Tesla’s newest and most polarizing model, has been plagued by recalls and has not sold as well as Mr. Musk predicted it would.

Tesla once set the standard for battery range, software and driver-assistance technology. But traditional carmakers have become more adept at building electric vehicles and have begun to catch up to Tesla in technology. Competitors like Volkswagen, Volvo, BMW — and, outside the United States, BYD, Xpeng and other Chinese manufacturers — offer a diverse selection of luxury sedans, minivans, pickups and compact cars.

“Tesla pretty much all of these years has been alone in Europe and the U.S.,” said Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, a research firm. “That’s not the case anymore.”