Democracts Don’t Find Canada Stimulating

I love Canada. . . mostly. It seems very pretty and I have truly liked the Canadians I have met. I’m a big user of Canadian oil and timber. I’m grateful that Canadian soldiers have fought alongside Americans in every conflict that I can think of, and have always distinguished themselves. I wouldn’t wish Canadian healthcare on anyone, and I really did not like “The Red And Green Show,” but that’s ok -- into every relationship a little rain must fall, eh?

Unfortunately, that rain is about to turn into a downpour, and it ain’t water falling from the sky. The democrats, in their union-sopping protectionist ways, have chosen to start a trade war with our dear friends the Canadians.

All over the country, federal, state, and municipal authorities are now scouring their worksites looking to make sure that Canadian products are not being used by their contractors and are demanding that contractors certify that they are using only American made products. It’s “Buy American” time, stimulus style. This a great way to treat a friend.

In response, a group of cities in Ontario have banned U.S. companies from competing for billions of dollars worth of municipal contracts. Hmm. . . no one could have seen that coming -- at least no one with a “D” behind their name.

I understand that Canadian authorities also may have seized the crews of various American television productions taking place in Vancouver, and may have sent teams of suicide pipe-fitters south of the border with instructions to fix our infrastructure or die trying. No doubt this is what Janet Napolitano was talking about when she accused Canada of allowing terrorists to cross their border.

So far, Obama has remained silent on this issue, to avoid inciting awareness.

In all seriousness, protectionism is a fool’s game. The historical evidence and theoretical evidence is so overwhelmingly one-sided that you really do have to be an idiot to believe that protectionism is a good thing. I hope that somebody in D.C. wakes up before this goes too far.