A few random observations, charts and factoids to provide some context on what is going on in the world.
O Canada!!!
Canada looks to be facing some tough decisions about its future.
The United States has just implemented a 25% tariff on most goods coming from Canada.
President Trump has stated that this tariff will be in place until Canada tightens border security into the United States concerning illegal aliens and illicit drugs (primarily fentanyl) coming into the United States.
This has the potential to be disastrous for the Canadian economy.
22% of Canada's GDP comes from exports to the United States.
U.S. exports to Canada represent only 1.5% of its GDP.
Those numbers do not provide Canada much leverage in implementing retaliatory tariffs in response.
Keep an eye on the CDN-US dollar exchange rate. The only way out for Canada may be to devalue their currency. It is already down over 8% in the last year.
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| Source: https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=CAD&to=USD&view=1Y |
The tariff issue is just the beginning of Canada's problems.
Under Justin Trudeau's open border policy, almost one-third of the population of Canada is now foreign born. This is more than double what the U.S. share of foreign born is now (15.6%) which is still the highest in the history of the United States.
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| Source: https://x.com/cremieuxrecueil/status/1885487809600913529/photo/1 |
If the children of two foreign born parents are added to the total (Canada also has birthright citizenship), HALF of the Canadian population has strong foreign roots and little attachment to the country.
Even worse, the immigration that has occurred recently in Canada has been predominantly male.
Males now outnumber females in the age 20-29 age demographic by 10%.
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| Source: https://x.com/cremieuxrecueil/status/1883763800157139133 |
Does common sense suggest that this is good for Canadian society in the long-term?
Does it also not make sense as to why Trump is as concerned about the Canadian border as he is the Mexican border when you see what has happened in Canada the last few years?
How many are looking at Canada as a way station into the United States?
Canada has the opportunity to make some changes in its direction this year.
The Liberal Party first needs to replace Justin Trudeau as its leader now that he has announced his resignation. A new party leader is expected to be elected by the end of March.
That new party leader will then presumably represent the Liberal Party in the national election that is scheduled for October, 2025.
As of right now the Conservatives have an overwhelming lead in the popular vote polling.
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| Credit: https://x.com/surveilz/status/1886029780820038021 |
This would translate to an overwhelming number of Parliamentary seats for the CPC.
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| Credit: https://x.com/surveilz/status/1886029780820038021 |
It promises to be a very interesting year in Canada.
A Coming Population Surge in Central and South America?
When you look at the following graph you have to ask if the Democrats had been able to continue their open borders policy whether anyone would have been left in Central and South America in another four years.
An incredible 6.5% of the entire population of Nicaragua came to the U.S. in the last four years.
It was 6.1% for Cuba and 5.9% for Honduras.
Haitian immigrants received a lot of attention during the 2024 election but only 4% of that nation's population made it to the U.S. during the Biden years.
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| Source: https://x.com/fentasyl/status/1885512801084420511 |
I am sure that most of these people believed that they were getting a one way trip to the United States.
Donald Trump seems determined to make sure it is a round trip.
The most recent poll on this issue conducted by the Democracy Institute after deportations began shows that Americans support mass deportations by a 62%-35% margin.
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| Source: https://www.the-express.com/news/politics/162039/donald-trump-immigration-plans-poll-democracy-institute |
That is about as strong a consensus we have seen in this country on any controversial issue in a long time.
Those Central and South American countries may be seeing a surge in population the next four years.
Why Are Women Not Paying Their Student Loan Debt?
Men are paying back their student loan debt but women are not.
Why is this?
It is an interesting question.
Is it because many more young women are Democrats than young men and they believed it when they were told that Joe Biden or AOC was going to cancel their debt?
Is it because women are more likely to major in college studies that tend to lead to lower paid jobs? Many more gender studies, communications, psychology and other fluffy majors that are a dime a dozen leading to lower pay jobs. Men are more likely to major in STEM courses that are in higher demand with higher pay.
Is it because more women take out loans for cosmetology, medical assistant and other associate degrees from for-profit schools that often turn out be bad education investments?
Whatever it is, this is not a good look.
Most Popular Attractions in the United States
This is an interesting graphic showing the most popular attraction in every state.
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| Credit: https://x.com/fasc1nate/status/1885765079624192259 |
Is It Really That Rainy in London?
London, England has a reputation as being gray and wet a lot of the time.
It is undeserved.
The entire eastern half of the United States gets more annual rainfall than London does.
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| Source: https://x.com/_fat_ugly_rat_/status/1885144704192246125 |
In the United States, Seattle is viewed similarly to London.
However, both Dallas and Tulsa get more rain in an average than Seattle does.
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| Source: https://x.com/_fat_ugly_rat_/status/1885144704192246125 |
Again, who knew?
Now you do.
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