I’m sitting here debating how much wasted time explaining this is worth… (didn’t mean this to be rude, I meant it literally in that I could have written a much longer reply, and actually did sit to see how much time I’d waste on social media. Turns out a lot. )
Trump’s newest round of threatening parts of the world with annexation has been going on since he won the US election. Canada, Greenland, Panama, etc.
Right now the responses to his loud mouth ramblings have been proportionate. He mouths off, troops are sent to make it more of an escalation if he actually tried anything. It’s moving the pawns around waiting to see if there’s an attempt of a “check” coming. What plays, if any come next.
Your suggestion is to flip the table and hurt everyone at a point when only pawns have been moved.
I fully recognize as a Canadian the slap in the face that a threat of annexation has from an allied country. The sense of betrayal, and the concern that maybe it might happen. That said, you respond proportionately and appropriately without causing collateral damage.
Selling off US Treasury bonds hurts all US treasury bond holders across the globe, not just the US and not just the countries doing the selling. I called it the nuclear option because it does a lot of collateral damage and is a move reserved for when it’s more than just talk.
If you act on your table flip this early, not only was it you that escalated, you that removed all other measured and calculated moves, but you now have provoked the other player and given them more cause to then start punching you in the face.
You start your comment by insinuating you hold all knowledge but that it’s a waste of time explaining things to a dumb fuck like me. Just so you know, that’s not a great way of engaging with someone.
I didn’t insinuate anything. You’re being awfully combative when we’re both in agreement that his behavior is unacceptable. I also didn’t call you a “dumb fuck” so from my perspective you’re projecting. My major concern with your comment is that any selloff large enough to hurt the US also hurts ALL others holding US Treasury bonds so it’s an extreme move to do now. That’s it.
You didn’t actually say in your initial comment that you didn’t mean dumping all US bonds but again, any selloff enough for them to notice or cause them to panic also hurts others. Fundamentally I agree with you (though you seem to really be looking for a fight) but I also still maintain that there are other options like I’ve mentioned elsewhere in the thread. If you’re hellbent on going after US treasuries the other option (maybe more proportional) is for countries to stop reinvesting in them as they mature and make that known.
ETA: I’m indifferent to downvotes but can someone at least reply to enlighten me then where I’m missing the mark here in suggesting other options, and why selling off US treasuries is a good idea at this stage?
You called it a “trade bazooka” and now you’re back tracking saying you only meant a little bit when I explained why that move is maybe not the best move right now because it hurts many countries globally. You have also yet to acknowledge my point. Who’s not replying in good faith?
Ok. The trade bazooka is something else entirely. Look it up and learn something. I said sell some US bonds AND use the trade bazooka. Since you’re only after a fight I’m not going to indulge you any further. Have a nice day.
It’s not just some social media post. It’s repeated threats to annex a part of europe.
I’m sitting here debating how much wasted time explaining this is worth…(didn’t mean this to be rude, I meant it literally in that I could have written a much longer reply, and actually did sit to see how much time I’d waste on social media. Turns out a lot. )Trump’s newest round of threatening parts of the world with annexation has been going on since he won the US election. Canada, Greenland, Panama, etc.
Right now the responses to his loud mouth ramblings have been proportionate. He mouths off, troops are sent to make it more of an escalation if he actually tried anything. It’s moving the pawns around waiting to see if there’s an attempt of a “check” coming. What plays, if any come next.
Your suggestion is to flip the table and hurt everyone at a point when only pawns have been moved.
I fully recognize as a Canadian the slap in the face that a threat of annexation has from an allied country. The sense of betrayal, and the concern that maybe it might happen. That said, you respond proportionately and appropriately without causing collateral damage.
Selling off US Treasury bonds hurts all US treasury bond holders across the globe, not just the US and not just the countries doing the selling. I called it the nuclear option because it does a lot of collateral damage and is a move reserved for when it’s more than just talk.
If you act on your table flip this early, not only was it you that escalated, you that removed all other measured and calculated moves, but you now have provoked the other player and given them more cause to then start punching you in the face.
You start your comment by insinuating you hold all knowledge but that it’s a waste of time explaining things to a dumb fuck like me. Just so you know, that’s not a great way of engaging with someone.
I’m not saying dump all US bonds. I’m saying send a signal. It’s been done before, with some success (https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/11/business/bond-market-trump-treasury-yield-rates). I agree it’s not a perfect solution to the problem, but showing strength is the only thing a bully understands.
I didn’t insinuate anything. You’re being awfully combative when we’re both in agreement that his behavior is unacceptable. I also didn’t call you a “dumb fuck” so from my perspective you’re projecting. My major concern with your comment is that any selloff large enough to hurt the US also hurts ALL others holding US Treasury bonds so it’s an extreme move to do now. That’s it.
You didn’t actually say in your initial comment that you didn’t mean dumping all US bonds but again, any selloff enough for them to notice or cause them to panic also hurts others. Fundamentally I agree with you (though you seem to really be looking for a fight) but I also still maintain that there are other options like I’ve mentioned elsewhere in the thread. If you’re hellbent on going after US treasuries the other option (maybe more proportional) is for countries to stop reinvesting in them as they mature and make that known.
ETA: I’m indifferent to downvotes but can someone at least reply to enlighten me then where I’m missing the mark here in suggesting other options, and why selling off US treasuries is a good idea at this stage?
I said some US debt. Some is not all. I can see you’re not acting in good faith here.
You called it a “trade bazooka” and now you’re back tracking saying you only meant a little bit when I explained why that move is maybe not the best move right now because it hurts many countries globally. You have also yet to acknowledge my point. Who’s not replying in good faith?
Ok. The trade bazooka is something else entirely. Look it up and learn something. I said sell some US bonds AND use the trade bazooka. Since you’re only after a fight I’m not going to indulge you any further. Have a nice day.
Wow. Your opening sentence is certainly one way to lose all credibility in the rest of your post. An unusual approach to arguing a point, for sure.
Yea, I just re-read it and I didn’t realize how it came across so I left it up but put a strike through and an edit.