Comrades In Arms

If you want to know about Governments all you need to know is two words: Governments lie. I.F. Stone (1907-1989)

There isn't a day goes by we don't hear or read about tariffs. The word tariff is just a fancy way of saying rate or fee. Let's not kid ourselves, it's a fucking tax. U.S President Trump started the anxiety and it appears the trade war is far from ending.

Obviously, Trump has his reasons. Personally, I think he's gone a bit too far. However, Canada has used tariffs for protectionism and retaliatory purposes, especially with Dairy Marketing Boards for many years. Tariffs on imported beer are also ridiculously a high price. More on that in a moment.

These manipulating operators claim there are many advantages of the fees. However they restrict competition, create high prices and limit choices.

Now we'll talk about adult beverages, specifically beer. We all know alcohol is outrageously overpriced in this "Great" White North. Our "beloved" governments swear the reason for high taxes on booze is to fund the O.H.I.P. (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) system. They also claim it enhances social responsibility. As far as I'm concerned the latter is absolute insanity.

Let's take a trip in my time machine to July 22, 1989. My ex-wife and I hosted a birthday party for our first son. He was one year old. We invited family, relatives and friends and I supplied all the food as well as the refreshments. It was without a doubt a gala event.

For the past couple of years I was drinking American canned beer purchased at the L.C.B.O. (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). Various suds such as Milwaukee's Best, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz and Old Milwaukee cost $16 or $17 for a case of twenty-four. A lot cheaper than Canadian beer, so I bought five cases for my son's party.

However, like everything, all good things must come to an end. A few months later the dictatorial big Canadian Breweries (Molson, Labatts and Sleemans) cried and whined (like the spoiled brats they are) to the Provincial government, specifically to the Provincial Treasurer Robert Nixon.

His initial reply to the Breweries was, "You just have to sharpen your pencils." I thought fantastic, excellent. Finally competition and a politician with balls as well as a common sense attitude.

As usual, the cheap American beer was short-lived. As usual Nixon was no different from most legislators. He reneged on his decision and sided with the feeble, snowflake breweries.

He established a high tax for each case. So now the American suds was more expensive than Canadian brew. Once again a two-faced politician siding with the breweries who are leeches.

Getting back to tariffs, let's take a peek at some international beer sold in Ontario. Beverages such as Sappora (Japan), Heineken (Dutch), Red Stripe (Jamaica and Netherlands), Corona (Mexico) as well as Stella Artois (Belgium) are more expensive than Canadian beer. Why? Because of fucking Canadian tariffs, provincial regulations and monopolies, which all amount to the ridiculous price.

Epilogue

Canadians have been financially abused and swindled by government and private business. We accept it because in most cases there's diddly-squat we can do about it. So just remember, if you're sitting back having a Corona or Heineken or enjoying a glass of milk and a fried egg sandwich, Trump isn't the only individual with a tariff obsession.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The end

The Harvenut Puritan Project