Trump Raises Tariffs on Northern Neighbor Again.  10 25 2025

Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Canada again, a whole 10%.  He also suspended communication with Mark Carney, deciding to skip a meeting planned with him.   This was due to Doug Ford, Ontario premier, who ran this advertisement  during the ballgame:

It is rather humorous, a full throated rejection of the very thing Trump has made himself famous the world over for, taxes on imports, tariffs.  In Reagan’s own words we see a leader who was a free trader, who predicted a crisis would occur if tariffs were used in dealing with a close trading partner, in this case, Japan.

It is unknown if he went ahead with tariffs.  But given his feelings about it, it looks unlikely.  As Reagan noted in the speech, tariffs take center stage. (see above),  

“ What eventually occurs, first, homegrown industries start relying on government protection in the form of high tariffs,  they stop competing, and stop making the innovative management and technological changes they need to succeed in world markets.  And then, while all of this is going on, something worse occurs.  High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.  The result is more and more tariffs, higher and higher trade barriers, and less and less competition. So soon, because of the prices made artificially high by tariffs, and subsidised inefficiency and poor management, people stop buying. Then the worst happens, markets shrink and collapse, business and industries shut down,  and millions of people lose their jobs. The memories of this occurring back  in the 30’s made me determined when I came to Washington to spare the American people the protectionist legislation that destroys prosperity.”

Ronald Reagan, ex president, at camp davis april 25, 1987 (see above)

A recording of what Reuters has called pieces of this thread was played in a 30 second advertisement during the ballgame in Canada, resulting in a 10 percent additional tariff on Canadian goods.  Some Canadian commodities will be spared if they are in a free trade agreement.  

Canada already got it by 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, this brings the tax to 60%. 

People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. 

““The advertisement aired Friday during the broadcast for Game 1 of Major League Baseball’s World Series, in which the Toronto Blue Jays are facing off against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD,” Trump posted.

“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” he wrote.”

Reuters 10 25 2025 

Trump’s neighbors all love him.  Cuba, back under embargo Trump restored in his first presidency, are no doubt Trump supporters. America’s nearest neighbor in the north, Canada, was also propositioned by Trump to be a “51st  state”; they now face Trump’s ire as they are sovereign.  Mexico now is expected to call the gulf there the “Gulf of America”, instead of the Gulf of Mexico.  Most of the west was once called Mexico, until 1846 when it was occupied by the American army.  Is it a land claim?

His own party is divided; but there are still free traders in the bourgeoisie, although they seem to be remaining quiet.  This advert risks awakening them, resulting in Trump’s latest taxes on imports.

Trump is also placing large tariffs on Russian oil, in an attempt to fight the war there against Ukraine.  He is supplying satellite communication with Starlink to Zelinsky’s army there; they use it to target Russian oil production with American guided missiles.

About 4 million people nationwide came together to denounce Trump on the 18th of October, 2025. It was the second “No Kings” demonstration;  it took place in many cities, as well as New York, Chicago and LA.  There was no violence, they shut down downtown for hours. 

It is this type of activity and the response to it that could determine  what Trump is thought of.  Canada has yet to retaliate, but when it comes Carney will be tested.  Retaliatory tariffs seem to be all that Trump understands. 

But if enough people would show up for the demonstrations, Trump could be brought under control.  Right now the bourgeoisie  won their first elections for president after 20 years, they also took Congress.  As usual, they are having a revolution. 

But 4 million showed how many really feel about the protectionist bourgeois, who know non metric industry only sells in America.  Huge tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is keeping  GM, Ford and Stellantis alive. The tariffs allow for American exports to be priced higher than they would be sold without tariffs. Detroit has yet to go metric, Trump has gone as far as suggesting gasoline should not be abandoned as climate change is a farce.  

An isolationist America, with protectionist economic structures to prop up non metric industries, which have yet to even publicly announce an attempt to go metric, in Detroit and DC.. An electric vehicle is out of reach for most, yet in China EV’s cost about $20,.000 US.  Thank you Donald for placing fetters on the means of production, keeping America non metric for another 4 years.

The solar panels for the roof fall the same way, it is too expensive due to tariffs to invest in them, as they are also made in China. 

It makes you wonder if someday Trumpers will build a wall at the Northern border.  Like the Mexico one, only also to keep American workers from defecting.  Detroit is basically there already.  Will Don “Build That Wall”? 

Nicholas Jay Boyes

Milwaukee Wisconsin

American Democratic Republic

10 25 2025 

edit 1 6 2026

Potential of a New Front in the South.  Venezuela and Capitalist Military Power.  10 16 2025

Potential of a New Front in the South.  Venezuela and Capitalist Military Power.  10 16 2025 

So far it doesn’t look too sophisticated, but there have been several small boats bombed in the Caribbean, suspected of containing the often lethal forms of luxury items.  The boats so far, at  least what was filmed, look like small wooden boats with 2 outboard motors attached to them.   It is hard to believe one could smuggle much through it, and we are left to ponder how far they could go with a full tank of gas.

The logic behind this is Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela is behind the trafficking of the illegal luxury items.  The cocaine is grown down there, and Maduro is suspected to be sending it as it is only affordable by the bourgeoisie, the latter’s luxury consumption well known.

First there was Hugo Chavez, the oil rich socialist, who was first elected in 1998, and took power in 1999.  There was an attempted coup d’etat lasting 47 hours in 2002,  but Chzvez was returned to power.

After this Chavez was elected twice, as  a socialist, until he became ill with cancer and died March 5th 2013.  It was at this point power went to Maduro, leading to another coup attempt by Juan Guaido, which was also rebuffed.

Maduro has been ruling ever since, in what could be considered favorable conditions for  a developing world form of socialism.  The opposition has long since given up on universal suffrage for their concerns, dividing instead to do political obstructionist tactics like election boycotts.

It looks weak.  But the Nobel Peace Prize was just given to the bourgeois leader who hopes to topple Maduro.

Here comes Trump to threaten the developing world leader with modern technology.  Unable to sell their oil due to the embargo, Venezuela is poor.  Cuba is in a similar condition.  In Cuba blackouts due to reliance on fossil fuels is common;  Cuba has yet to be able to tap into China as a source for industry like wind turbines and solar panels. 

There have so far been several boat bombings, but given the fact they seem to be down there looking for illegal smuggling, it must not be too common or they would have found more than a few small boats with outboard motors leaving Venezuela.  Columbia has complained some of its boats were bombed, in violation of their sovereignty.  Apparently they are targeting both countries with aerial bombardment.

The luxury industry is well known for its corrupt tastes, and fuels a small empire in  Mexico.  It is a bloody business, with assassinations, kidnappings, etc, practiced all to get the bourgeoisie their products. The items are worth a hundred dollars a gram, it is a rich man’s game.

The proletarian luxury item has been becoming legal  in many places.  The memories of the “war on drugs” scar a generation, when pot smoking was taboo.  With Trump in power it looks unlikely pot will be legalized any more than it has been, legal in the big city, illegal in the country.

So what it seems to come down to is the war against Russia is not going so well.  Russian antiaircraft drones and missiles are defeating NATO, aircraft are not even flying above the front lines in Ukraine.  They are so desperate to win they are now talking about sending long range ballistic nuclear weapon carriers to Ukraine, whose  leader has already asked for nuclear weapons. The assumption is the nuclear warheads that can fit on the Tomahawk missiles will not be sent. The presence of a satellite system in use, Elon Musk’s project, ensures Moscow can be targeted with the long range ballistic missiles. 

At this point, after the embarrassing loss in Afghanistan to a small guerilla force without even aircraft, if the hundred million dollar price tag for aircraft is still going to be paid is in question. Without a less developed opponent, like Gaza,  American weapons are increasingly outdated.  

In the developing world it is still difficult to down aircraft.  It requires modern technology., which is lacking in Venezuela.  They are vulnerable to aircraft, and in a conflict this could be decisive.  The only question now is if Trump will really do it, and invade Venezuela with aircraft and bombings.

For a long time the Americans basically claimed all of Americas as their territory.  They tried to claim Cuba in the Bay of Pigs disaster, a loss for Kennedy.  Nicaragua is another example of socialists in conflict in the Americas. Chile under Salvador Allende resulted in a coup, with bourgeois assistance.

Making America Great Again includes a Department of War, and a Gulf of America.  It also includes mass deportations of Mexicans, who are returning to their own conquered territory in Southwest, often encountering the Customs Border Guards only to be deported.  Venezuela has been sending two flights a week of its citizens who entered illegally since Trump was elected.

 One has to wonder if a show of force with the outdated weapons is in order. Venezuela has oil under it, and the pipeline politicians want to drill. The show of force continues in the developing world.  Without an aircraft’s ability to fly over Venezuela and bomb targets it would seem to be not such a good choice to harass the socialists.  But the bourgeoisie has a technological advantage, and Russia cannot intervene.  Perhaps this is merely a distraction from the real battles in Europe.  Something to distract from the obvious inability of NATO and America to be able to stop Putin.  Or it may simply just be the old guard reasserting itself, to “make America great again”. 

Nicholas Jay Boyes

Milwaukee Wisconsin

American Democratic Republic

10 16 2025