Since I have so many new followers, it was time to update this. Hi, all my new followers and people stumbling upon me. Let me tell you about me: - I am a Libertarian. Big L. NOT a Republican. NOT a Democrat. NOT a Liberal or Conservative. I guess you can technically call me a Classic Liberal. - Yes, I know my party has problems. I acknowledge them and try to help make them better. - I talk about politics and both agree and disagree with people you love and hate. - I am very respectful in disagreement and debate. I'm not the one who's going to devolve into calling you names in a debate. I also welcome respectful debate. - I firmly believe that disagreement (on almost every subject) is not hatred. I follow a lot of people with whom I disagree sharply. - I'm an IT guy by trade - leadership currently, but I came up through the sysadmin and netadmin ranks. - I also talk about music of all types and I like most things. There is one huge exception that someone who knows me will inevitably mention in the replies. - I also talk about sports, and am a fan of the @NHLFlames (#CofRed), @RedSox, @OhioStAthletics and @BuffaloBills (#LetsGoBuffalo) - and there are other teams I like, so we'll probably talk about that. - The sport I talk about most is curling, for sure, and I am what you would call a former curler at this point. That's worth more than just a list entry. - I have been called The Minister of the Pants (pic of me wearing the pants while laying across the laps of @TeamUlsrud below - I am pretty sure the photo credit on this is @PhotoVagrant who is undoubtably the greatest curling photographer in history) by @curling. I talk a little more about that on my @redargyle profile but I'm trying to talk about it more here. - I do have a LinkTree (in my bio) where I give you links to all my socials, and I have a lot of them, but I'm most active here. - I live in Central Pennsylvania, but I have lived in Rochester NY (#585represent), Enfield CT, and for shorter times in Buffalo NY, Calgary AB, Raleigh NC, Olean NY (@StBonaventure graduate) and Columbus OH - and I've been to lots of other places. - Yes, I'm American, and yes, I talk a LOT about Canada, too. Our two countries are both great and we have a lot to learn from each other. Our two countries are also not perfect, and we do well to accept that. - Yes, I criticize the government. Of just about every country :D. I am fighting for a world set free in our lifetime. - I talk a lot about places trying to break away and gain their sovereignty - Bougainville, Catalonia, New Caledonia, West Papua, among others - and places where there are significant independence movements - Alberta, Quebec, the Basque region, Scotland, Greenland. - I think the U.S. territories should be granted statehood or sovereignty. I definitely don't think American Samoans should be denied citizenship. - I am never going to be for the annexation of another country. - I'm #AlreadyAgainstTheNextWar. - Poutine is the greatest food on the planet and I will die on that hill. - You can disagree with any or all of that and we can still be friends. - I'm a real person. I promise. I am happy to connect and converse with you and with anyone - so feel free to tell your friends, connect, ask questions, whatever. Ask me anything.

Most Americans do not support the poor treatment or trolling of Canada. The problem is, when the Trump Administration does this, it's very easy to build a pitchfork-wielding mob against the US. And it's not helping anyone to build acrimony.

I'm just gonna say it. Tanya Tagaq is a fucking badass. In her 2nd song, she says what everyone is thinking. youtu.be/llvlpQhK12U?si=jXhC…

This is an excellent point. The US armed forces have prepared for a potential zombie apocalypse, to be frank.

For all those worried about a US invasion of Canada - as Mark Carney insinuated he had contingencies concerning in a NY Times interview: In an unprovoked war of aggression against a democratic ally, the US would stand almost entirely isolated on the world stage. Forget trade agreements: the US would be embargoed worldwide. Furthermore, since the majority of Americans don't support the aggression against Canada already being exercised by the Trump Administration, it'd be pretty lonely on the domestic stage, too. I'm not saying anything strange or fringe, or anything that anyone in the Trump Administration doesn't already know. Just thought we needed this dose of reality.

It is better business for Canadian steel companies to follow the trade agreements. Those who argue otherwise like to point to a single example and extrapolate, rather than calling it the anomaly that it was.

I didn't Vote Trump for lower gas prices. But I didn't Vote Trump at all. I voted @ChaseForLiberty, @JoForLiberty and @GovGaryJohnson for lower gas prices and a freer society in general.

Hey, @Grok, if the US invaded Canada, militarily, what would be the retaliation from Canada and its allies? Also, who could each side count on as allies in a potential conflict?

I cannot stress this enough. nitter.cf/TheEmmapreneur/status/…

Every post about this is showing the can squirting and I'm not OK with it.

Should I do X live stuff? Would anyone care what I had to say live?

A reminder that the US does many times more trade with China than Canada does. Outrage over any Canadian trade agreements with China from the US are hypocrisy, plain and simple.

This woman's vehicle was falsely identified by a Flock camera; she was imprisoned for two weeks because of it. Where is the human review of evidence? Why are devices being allowed to imprison people without review? Warrantless search and unchecked AI are not the way to security.

I kinda want to win this. Please go to the OP and vote for me.

Trump would be an absolute fool to do this. I think the fears are overblown and I hope I'm right. In addition to ending one of the most envied two-country relationships in history, overnight, this would put at least a quarter million Americans in Canada at serious risk. It would also make us the villains of the world - the biggest heel turn in history. Americans do not want war with Canada. I can't believe I have to say that. If Trump seriously does this, or even threatens, it would be time to invoke the 25th Amendment.

Actually, this is a common misunderstanding of how CUSMA/USMCA trade rules work. Using some Chinese steel or aluminum in Canadian-built cars isn’t a violation at all. Here is exactly how the agreement handles it: The 70% Rule: To qualify for tariff-free trade across the border, automakers must source at least 70% of their steel and aluminum from within North America (Canada, the U.S., or Mexico). The 30% Allowance: The remaining 30% can legally come from anywhere in the world - including China -without breaking a single rule. The confusion usually stems from "trans-shipment" fears - the idea of companies dumping cheap foreign steel into Canada just to sneak it into the U.S. market. Canadian trade policy actively tracks imports to prevent that specific loophole. But using global materials within that 30% window? Entirely legal and baked right into the agreement. A Canadian-built car with Chinese steel in it is 100% CUSMA/USMCA-compliant, provided it hits that 70% North American threshold. By the way, no official finding has discovered Chinese steel or aluminum being passed off as Canadian. This is an allegation that has been made by U.S. steel industry groups, but they lack evidence for this.

It's seeming like the Papua New Guinea parliament is going to be playing the long game on Bougainville independence. But at least they have a clear path. thenational.com.pg/bougainvi…

Some have criticized Carney for walking away from the CUSMA/USMCA negotiations. Anyone who knows the art of the deal know that walking away from the table is sometimes part of the negotiations. Now hopefully the sides will come together and get us a mutually beneficial agreement with minimal tariffs. Seems like there are good signs that this will happen.