I don’t know if it’s helpful, but I know a lot of Europeans around me seem to also boycott anything US out of principle nowadays.
Framing it as “helpful” is stupid and irrelevant. Where you spend your hard earned money is a form of voting. Buying a product isn’t just a simple trade of goods and services anymore - it hasn’t been in a long time as long capitalism is the dominant form of monetary policy of the governments around the world.
Again people, keep voting with your wallets. It’s actually more effective than what many governments at many levels can do!
It’s the only real power we have.
Because despite all their bullshit ideologies through Hollywood, America only cares about money.
Most Canadians are right!
I don’t even care if it’s helpful for trade negotiations. It’s great for our economy and it’s good for me.
Canadians have been feeding the US economy for a hundred years. Why the fuck would anyone vacation outside of Canada?
Four in five Canadians surveyed believe boycotting U.S.-made goods or avoiding travel to the United States could help strengthen Canada’s bargaining position with its southern neighbour…
It should not be a bargaining position. It should be a straight-up divorce.
this is another one of those opinion polls where public opinion doesn’t matter, depriving the empire of your money is demonstrably helpful
It is! Thank you for the help.
I mean tbh as someone in the states I don’t even know what good we make that’s even remotely worth
Alc -> plenty of alternatives esp with european selections Produce -> there are alternative importers (depending on region) Fast food chains and junk food -> nah lol
Bourbon, for me. It’s the one consumable product made in the USA that qualifies as a genuine contribution to world cuisine for me, and I am going to miss it tremendously.
There’s always other distilleries that do similar things.
If you absolutely have to travel here… I hope nothing happens. If you can’t find an alternative good… sorry for the trouble.
Boycotting is literally not doing something. It doesn’t really meet the bare minimum of action despite being a step in the right direction. Returning to a neutral position from supporting something materially isn’t applying pressure without political organization to receive it and direct it.
So you know what? You don’t have to boycott stuff.
The rest of us can do as we choose, and us Canadians are going to choose to not spend money on US stuff.That is missing my point, aggressively. You can make more strawman arguments if you wish, but if you’re still hemming and hawing about your consumer spending as activism, not only that but for the sake of Canadian nationalism, you’re a long way from having political priorities. You are satisfied with nothing. Your leadership will take note of your complacency.
Boycotting is more than negative, and less than positive. Boycotting is nothing. Not boycotting is aiding and abetting. Expecting results from nothing is just silly.
You mean like writing pithy pseudo intellectual comments on Lemmy?
That is not what pithy means. These are diatribes, tuned to make things as specific as possible for incredible foolish and disingenuous people. Pithy is quick and to the point. That would never work on you.
Dog what in the fuck are you on about
No posts in a week, take a lap. Better burner next time. No attention points. Blocked.
Oh no don’t block me!
What difference does post frequency make. I assume you post garbage day after day given the quality of your recent moronic posts
Nobody is missing the point. We’re all discussing boycotting, and for some reason, it triggers you. Have fun defending your ridiculous assertion that boycotts are useless against strangers on the internet.
What has the boycott accomplished? This question seems to make you a might testy, doesn’t it?
Well. Vegas is empty. Florida is empty. Kentucky lost a massive part of its Bourbon market. All American produce in Canadian grocery stores is being replaced with produce from other countries.
It is absolutely having an impact. To say otherwise is to ignore reality.
Vegas is empty because it’s unaffordable. Even Americans avoid it. Canadians cannot afford US healthcare in Florida.
Kentucky lost 8% of its bourbon sales, hardly massive, and people need to stop drinking carcinogenic liquids anyway.
Glad you have it all figured out.
That’s not delinking from the USA. That is changing consumption habits. I’m not going to reiterate yet again the financial relationship between Canada and the US. You have to actually acquire and wield political power. You cannot just ask your government to delink.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/13/business/canada-trump-tariffs-trade
Have a nice life, arguing with strangers.
You are satisfied with nothing.
I’m not going without. I can still get everything I need and want. It just doesn’t come from the US.
I watch videos about US tourism being down because the majority of their business comes from Canada. Stores are shutting, businesses going bankrupt, places like Vegas are losing millions a day because we Canadians are staying home. I watch the videos and giggle. We’re making a dent and Americans are feeling it.
Meanwhile, we vacation in civilized countries in Europe and enjoy a spot of tea while calling out Americas wearing Canadian flags.
If opposing fascism is about your personal comfort, then I have some choice analogies for your position in history
I’m all about opposing fascism but the US is not a friend of Canada. They made these problems, they have to deal with it.
I’m 100% for shutting the borders and ending all trade with the US knowing damn well it would hurt Canada.
And when it comes to it, I’ll happily stand the the southern border and lob bullets in their direction when required.
Boycotting a couple American goods is in no way going to manifest and totally blocking off the border. I mean, I feel like my criticism is misplaced here, because you’re completely unrealistic. Look, we can go around in circles, but I’m going to dinner, and the fact is, all I’m saying is that striking is what’s necessary to push for any of these goals. None of these goals even matter if there’s no way to achieve them. Apologies for dictation errors. Thank you guys for helping me pass the time at work. I hope you actually understood what I’m saying instead of just getting mad, but I doubt it.
Look, we can go around in circles,
You replied to me once, I replied to you once. Wow.
I have no idea what you’re talking about or where you’re coming from.
My point is the US is no longer a friend to Canada and they are an active threat to Canada. I choose to not do business (or as little business) as I can with them. I refuse to cross the border and give them my money. I will support as many and all actions against the USA and will pressure my political representatives to do the same. I think Canada should secure our southern border and work as hard as we can to no longer trade with the USA until the USA makes a major turn away from being a neo-fascist oligarchy.
I don’t see how that’s being unrealistic. The US is not our friend. We as a country should work together to turn our backs on it. We are a major trade partner with the USA. We can focus those attentions to other parts of the world and do some damage to them.
Boycotts are the acts of choosing deliberately to avoid doing something. So the actions that Canadians have done is travel within Canada more and and travelling to Mexico and overseas more as well.
The US wine boycott has been a boon for Niagara and Okanagan regions. The “Buy Canadian” movement !buyCanadian@lemmy.ca has been thriving alongside the “Boycott US” !boycottus@lemmy.ca one.
Choosing to not so something is actively doing nothing. These stats are completely irrelevant except to minor business owners who run wine plantations or hospitality businesses. It applies zero pressure against the US government.
I respectfully disagree that it has put no pressure on the US government. Part-time Ambassador and full-time clown Pete Hoekstra has been threatening to make travel to the US harder unless we embrace travelling to the US, which is the Trump administration’s impotent abuser method of showing how much they need us. State Governors, Congresspeople and Senators are making trips north to meet our provincial Premiers and ministers to beg for us Canadians to come back. But this isn’t in their control as it’s organic collective action.
These are mediocre political footballs that do not interfere with the true power relationship between the US and its metropole allies. So long as your leadership is more worried about Wall St and mining companies, this is what you will be asked to focus on. If you think what I am talking about is some kind of diversion or technicality, you need to get real. The US doesn’t need Canada for manufacturing or something. It’s like Japan, RoK, the UK, they put up the barest facade of sovereignty while adhering slavishly to US economic policy. That is where the leverage comes from. Not your tourism, not your consumer spending, but the leverage over your own leaders that you refuse to exert. Without that every decision they make will uphold the dollar system and nothing you guys are linking me to can move the needle. That’s the nature of finance, it has exponential political power when allowed to run everything and it crashes and burns. Stop them!
Alright, I tried.
- You are choosing to ignore the benefits to ourselves as Canadians, and the targeted catastrophic losses to specific US industries and localities, even if it is a teensy dent in the overall US economy (buoyed by its parasitic healthcare system and AI).
- You are choosing to ignore how Canada’s been able to coast while the US descends into authoritarianism and its associated economic and political chaos.
- You are choosing to ignore the relations Canada’s government is mutually seeking with Mexico, Europe and Asia and its associated increase in exports and imports.
These are choices you are free to make, as much as many Canadians will choose to avoid the US and support local for the reasons I have tried my best to communicate to you. Have a nice day.
AI is buoying the US economy? We make buoys out of cement now?
You are ignoring the systemic causes of the problems facing Canadians. Is helping a little old lady cross the road in Toronto sticking it to Trump as well? You may as well administer CPR to a man bleeding out of his neck.
I’m sorry but what? You’re implying that that’s where the action ends. Are you Canadian? A lot of action I see where I am has a large focus on community, and it has always been like that even before the boycott. Yes, we can be better, but actively chastising us because we seemingly don’t meet your standard isn’t useful for neither you or us.
Hope you have a good day. Sorry
Boycotting is literally not doing something.
And it only took five days worth of it to get Jimmy Kimmel back on the air.
It doesn’t really meet the bare minimum of action despite being a step in the right direction.
See above.
Returning to a neutral position from supporting something materially isn’t applying pressure without political organization to receive it and direct it.
Basically false. See above.
Maybe shop your Boycotting Doesn’t Work bullshit elsewhere?
His comments reek of a second year polisci student at Queens.
Compelling stuff. So what are you expecting Kimmel to do? What follows from that?
Compelling stuff. So what are you expecting Kimmel to do?
Your claim was that boycotts are ineffective, which i easily refuted with the Kimmel example.
What follows from that?
Confidence. If getting Jimmy back on the air only took five days of angry protest, what else should we protest?
So much for the futility that you’re trying to peddle.
And how many other shows have been shut down since the Kimmel return? Zero.
Yes. I asked what effect getting Kimmel back on air has. I don’t know if you’re familiar with him, but he is actually a talk show host. Not every public figure has political power. You sound like the conservatives who think they saved Bud Light and Cracker Barrel from the scheming woke. It’s embarrassing. I already forgot who Kimmel even was after that incident until you reminded me.
I’m not the one peddling futility, you’re the one claiming we ought to be satisfied with boycotts. I suppose we can wait a few years, double back, and see who was right. Are you game? I can set gloating that I was right as a reminder in OrgMode five years from today.
Yes. I asked what effect getting Kimmel back on air has. I don’t know if you’re familiar with him, but he is actually a talk show host.
So you’ve decided to be condescending. Let’s see how that works out for you.
Not every public figure has political power.
And sometimes, that public figure gets treated unjustly, which causes a firestorm, which elevates the power and influence of said public figure. As in the case of Jimmy Kimmel.
You sound like the conservatives who think they saved Bud Light and Cracker Barrel from the scheming woke. It’s embarrassing.
You sound like a typical lemmy.ml user. This makes it impossible for you to sound compelling or thought provoking. As such, I floss my ass crack with your assessment.
I already forgot who Kimmel even was after that incident until you reminded me.
Let me see if I can help you out:
I don’t know if you’re familiar with him, but he is actually a talk show host.
There, you’re all caught up.
I’m not the one peddling futility, you’re the one claiming we ought to be satisfied with boycotts.
No, you’re doing the lemmy.ml member schtick.
I suppose we can wait a few years, double back, and see who was right. Are you game? I can set gloating that I was right as a reminder in OrgMode five years from today.
Why? You’re from lemmy.ml, where reality doesn’t matter, and goalposts are always moving.
Why? You’re from lemmy.ml, where reality doesn’t matter, and goalposts are always moving.
Definitely send that link to someone who gives a fuck.
What has the “firestorm” that Jimmy Kimmel ignited resulted in? What do you consider the main issue at stake? Is it fascism? Or is it what’s on your little screen? Seriously, what has this “firestorm” accomplished, and for who?
What has the “firestorm” that Jimmy Kimmel ignited resulted in? What do you consider the main issue at stake? Is it fascism? Or is it what’s on your little screen? Seriously, what has this “firestorm” accomplished, and for who?
One of two things are true:
You don’t grasp the concept that pushback against fascism matters, and that every bit of pushback matters. Which means you’re a fucking idiot.
Or
This is goal directed behavior, designed to undermine. You know, the lemmy.ml shtick.
So what else would you suggest the average Canadian do?
