Canada

I find "Trump 2.0" useful to differentiate how I expect things to go down. Trump 1.0 came in and and flailed a lot. The US' system of checks and balances moderated many of his "policy goals". Trump 2.0 looks to replace competence in the bureaucracy with loyalty, and subverting any checks and balances.

A lot of power has accumulated within the office of the Presidency in the US. I used to figure that an advantage of the US system vs the Westminster model is that a PM with a majority in Parliament has very little he can't do, as long as they are able to whip the votes. It seems that the US has drifted into an elected King almost. Broad authority within the Presidency will probably not go away anytime soon.

This makes for a very unstable government, assuming elections even stay fair.

Trump is old, there is going to be a post Trump era soon, but I don't see a reversal if this model of governance. We can only deal with the US in 4 year terms from now on. Anything long term is too uncertain.

Well I can't, but my point is actually having the opposite perspective: that even a well integrated world economy will eventually experience truly awful times, and, eventually, collapse. I didn't mean to suggest isolationism was inherently better, apologies for any ambiguous wording.

I hear North Korea is doing great.

In 2022 rail freight accounted for $209.2 Billion in goods from and to Canada and Mexico, Truck freight accounted for $996.4 billion.

https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/transborder-freight-annual-report-2023

If trains are the cheapest and most efficient way to move materials, what is causing the use of trucks instead of trains for North American trade?

It’s more expensive to ship across the oceans and requires a whole set of other infrastructure.

It only needs two ports and two docks. One of each at each end of the shipping route.

It’s exceedingly more easy to ship across land borders and to try and say my point isn’t valid like this is laughable.

Do you really think building and maintaining thousands of miles of roads and rails is cheaper than a few ports?

It’s more expensive to ship across the oceans and requires a whole set of other infrastructure.

We already have the infrastructure to ship to these markets, or we wouldn't already have established trade deals with them.

It’s exceedingly more easy to ship across land borders and to try and say my point isn’t valid like this is laughable.

No shit Sherlock, did you get your MBA in Economics from DUH University?

Your point isn't valid because we have the modern technology to easily ship across oceans, and nothing is stopping us from improving the ways we do that to make them more cost effective.

Your entire argument is "Its cheaper and easier" while ignoring the very real problems being dependent on the US for trade brings.

Europe would rather get the material from continental Europe if they can, just like we’d rather ship within NA if we can.

Every country would prefer this. Another "No shit Sherlock" point from an absolute genius graduate of DUH University.

Just because we can, doesn’t mean we have to do so at greater expense and time. It’s very normal for companies to stay within their continental area before deciding to expand to shipping overseas.

If your point is that we need to remain tethered to the US for our own good you should work for Trumps PR team instead of arguing in support of what he wants for free.

Queen's English can remain correct if referring to Queen Victoria.