How you voted

So what did we learn yesterday?

Quite a bit, as it turned out.

First, never, ever, ever make kneejerk, emotional, OMG-did-you-see-that? decisions about your portfolio. Never sell into a storm. Never run screaming to cash. Just have another beer, leave things be and watch the world unfold with a wry amusement. Stuff works out. Always. If your investments are balanced, diversified, global and hedged, you’re cool. Stay that way, whatever the headlines.

Second, he’s crazy. Seriously.

Trump lost a boatload of creds this week threatening tariffs, saying they were inevitable, changing the rational for them, toying with financial markets, humiliating other leaders and nations, then making drama-queen last minute stays of execution. Completely unpredictable, untrustworthy and patently unpresidential. The boy cried wolf. He scared millions. Without cause.

Third, this has hurt us.

When Canada can teeter on the precipice of a recession and lose historic access to its biggest market on the unhinged actions of one guy, we sure look like a less stable place to invest. That’s not on our national leadership, our talents, workforce, resources or potential. It’s just a geopolitical reality for the next four years. Trump probably cost us hundreds of billions in one day.

Fourth, it’s not over yet. We get to do it again in March.

Fifth, the Americans have purposefully humiliated, reduced, bullied and diminished the entire political leadership of Mexico, Canada, Panama, Columbia and Denmark in the last two weeks. They also hit out at China this morning. The Eurozone is next. The MAGA people are puffed up, saying “We won! They caved!” In reality this can only hurt America as respect is drained away. Not good for any of us. Wolves are circling.

Sixth, this pissed us off.

The talk of annexation. The 51st state threat. The manufactured, mythical crisis about a leaky northern border. The allegation America subsidizes our trade. The belittling and mocking of our government. The capricious nature of an executive order. The arrogance of a last-minute reversal after months of angst. Bully America – despite a century of friendship and support which flew on the wings of Canadian waterbombers dousing Los Angelos flames.

This is what our poll showed. In 24 hours over 5,100 of you took the survey. It ain’t scientific, but it’s a huge sampling.

Overwhelmingly you support retaliation, believe Trump would have acted regardless of who our PM was, favour using our energy as a weapon, will boycott American goods, oppose the direction Trump is headed in and roundly reject the notion of joining that country.

Politically, you say Chrystia Freeland is toast. And in a dramatic departure from mainstream polling, in the next election 41% would support Carney-led Liberals, while a slight majority would choose the Conservatives. Those numbers shifted overnight from almost a dead heat in our poll between the two parties, after the thirty-day reprieve was announced.

So, seventh, Trump has hurt Poilievre. If an audience like this one – skewing to the right, real-estate heavy and wealthier than most – can come to that conclusion, seeing the Con leader as a lighter version of sloganeering Tariff Man, the landscape is changing. Mr. Poilievre will have to do better than insult, and craft disparaging names for his opponents.

Now, can we get back to the price of bungalows and tax shelters?

Here is what you had to say:

(SURVEY RESULTS – Click to enlarge, new window will open)

About the picture: “Thought you might like this pic, given recent concerns,” writes the Blog Dog known as IHCTD9. “Mom and her two kids moved in behind the shop. One of the guys (Jacob R.) got a great shot of her. Funny thing is, they moved in on the week of 1/20/2025. Hmmm… She’s been keeping a real close watch on us too. Not sure what to make of it. They are a majestic trio though, rare in these parts. Keep your chins up Canucks!”

To be in touch or send a picture of your beast, email to ‘garth@@garth.ca’.

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2025/02/04/how-you-voted/