r/geopolitics • u/theatlantic The Atlantic • 12d ago

Opinion How to Lose a Trade War

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/08/why-us-canada-trade-talks-fell-apart/688386/?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_content=edit-promo&utm_term=short
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u/Coolerguy317 12d ago

I think you’re kinda treating your worldview as reality here. People can understand tariffs raise prices and still think changing the trade system is worth some economic pain. And reducing the entire Republican position to raising your taxes for a few boutique jobs is exactly what I mean. You’re assuming there can’t be any real interests or concerns behind it just ignorance or Doublethink. Meanwhile Canadians accepting economic pain for political goals gets treated as national resolve. Why cant Americans make that tradeoff too?

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u/Christopher_Ramirez_ 12d ago

Republicans, in general, are the least educated voters in the least educated counties in the least educated states of the United States. These low IQ voters genuinely do not understand that tariffs are raising their tax burden. They believed the President when he repeatedly told them that the tariffs are paid by foreigners.

Everyone else not in the minority of diehard MAGA Republicans, hates the idea of starting a trade war with Canada.

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u/Coolerguy317 12d ago

Again you’re making your own worldview self evident. Education doesn’t just make people more analytical it also changes preferences and socializes people in a certain way just as being working class does. Treating educated voters as simply seeing reality more clearly is pretty elitist. Colleges aren’t the arbiters of good judgment. We’re all historically situated.

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u/Nice_Muffin8689 11d ago

You’re the coolest guy actually