[tharmas]

There are two things Canada is guilty of. 1) it spent far too little on its military 2) it trusted the Americans far too much by tying its economy so deeply with the USA.

If you subtract the oil purchased by the USA, Canada has a trade surplus with the USA. A trade surplus that's mostly comprised of finished goods. Canada sells raw materials to the USA and buys finished goods from them.

It is the United States that is the fake friend.

[StephenHerlihyy]

The lack of public awareness is honestly the biggest issue. I’ve got nothing personally against Canada or the Canadian people. And I certainly don’t think Trump’s approach has benefitted the situation. But I also recognize that his grievance have a level of merit. I can critique a government without blaming a people, right? I disagree with how the Canadian government has been handling itself. I think there is a way to resolve these issues, but I think first Canada has to at least acknowledge they exist. Whenever there is discussion like this people love to flood in, eager to defend our neighbor to the north and stick it to Trump. These issues have persisted through many administrations. You ask why Congress doesn’t stop Trump from his actions? It’s because the political consensus in Washington is that they are needed. I have no doubt whoever comes next will blame Trump and declare a new era of friendship and peace. But these issues will be at the core of any new agreement between the countries. People disagree, countries argue. It’s temporary. America wants Canada to succeed and Canada benefits from America’s success. They are just renorming the relationship a bit, which team dynamics tells us takes us back to the storming phase. Give it time and we’ll be rolling along again.

[surgical_fire]

I don't think threats of annexation is something people just shrug off in a short amount of time.

The US has been burning bridges that may take a long time to rebuild, if ever.

"Countries argue", yes. But countries are made of people, and governments tend to be a product of that.

[machomaster]

> I think there is a way to resolve these issues, but I think first Canada has to at least acknowledge they exist.

One can't and shouldn't acknowledge the things that don't exist.

Like:

- Venezuela's drugs being a big problem in the USA

- Russia/China trying to take Greenland

- Norwegian government responsible for giving Peace Nobels

- Canada's efforts to poison USA with fentanyl

They are all fake news and anyone spewing that should ridiculed, not engaged and reasoned with to find the compromise. (Example: since we are talking here and I share my eternal wisdom with you, it is only fair that you should give me all of your weath. Oh, you don't think it is reasonable and don't want to give a random guy anything? Fine, it is a fair compromise then in which you give me half of everything. The Greatest Deal!)