Rae is raving mad — With thanks to Thomas Paine

On December 13 1776, in the dark days of the US War of Independence, Thomas Paine wrote a little book called “The Crisis”. He began with these words –

“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”

The tariffs announced last night by President Trump on many Canadian goods are being imposed under s.338 of the so-called Smoot Hawley Act. They have not been used in 96 years in this way.

They have been imposed by Presidential proclamation, which is how Trump rolls and rules these days.

As the members of the Canadian delegation comes home this morning, they can hold their heads high. Canada couldn’t sign a deal the Americans tried to change at the last minute. Ask anyone who has done business with Donald Trump. That’s how he does it. It can’t work.

There will be lots of time to second guess what happened. But we need to come together as we have never done before.

We cannot succumb to tyranny, to the use of aged statutes that have not been used for a century. Trump is now our George III. Our American friends have to understand this. We are not Belarus. We are a real country that was ready to do a deal – and still is – for both parties but not prepared to put up with these “knavish tricks”.

More on this in a few days in the book I have edited – “Reclaiming Canadian Sovereignty in a Ruptured World”. You can order it now.

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