THE MIRACLE OF THE ECONOMY

THE MIRACLE OF THE ECONOMY- 

By Bernard Bujold - 

The economy is a concept, just like the civilization of the planet. A concept is a thought and in the end, it's not scientific. A concept works as long as the population and its politicians accept it, otherwise everything is theoretical and open to change! So we shouldn't expect a rigid formula from our politicians, but rather a vision... 

In the United States, it's Donald Trump's vision. In Canada, all the popular polls predict that Canadians will prefer Mark Carney's vision for their future (44% for Carney vs. 38% for Poilièvre). 

We'll have to wait and see on election day, two weeks from now ( April 28, 2025 ). This week, political enthusiasts will be treated to two debates ( April 16 and 17 ). 

To be continued...

SPRING FESTIVAL 2025 AND PARADISE ON EARTH

SPRING FESTIVAL 2025 AND PARADISE ON EARTH... 

By Bernard Bujold -
The spring of 2025 will go down in history as the spring of the economic transformation of planet Earth with the creation of tariffs... 
In a way, it's the end of the party! What Donald is aiming for with his tariffs is to impose the idea that the United States no longer wants to pay for other countries' parties... The U.S. no longer wants to be the world's “economic umbrella”, as it has been for the past few decades. 
According to Donald, the future of the planet will be a party for everyone (a kind of paradise on Earth), but everyone will have to bring their own lunch... 
On Wednesday, April 8, Donald suspended many of the tariffs for 90 days, except for China, and the tariffs may eventually be totally eliminated, but all countries will have to do so too, which will then produce a new kind of global economy. 
According to Donald, most countries (except, of course, China) have contacted his government, and they all agree to negotiate a new, fairer economic formula with the United States. For the old man that I am, it's a lot of upheaval, but hey, you've got to live with the times, and above all I love picnics, on the grass or on the beach, and I believe in paradise on earth... 
Happy spring and have a good weekend! 
NOTE: Don't forget the Canadian elections on April 28 (in 2 weeks) and the two debates this week (April 16 and 17)...

THE TOY STORE

THE TOY STORE... 

By Bernard Bujold - 

I've always loved toy stores and figurines in particular. In fact, when I was a teenager and discovered photography, I had fun photographing my figurines and imagining adventures worthy of the cinema. 

And let's never forget that the art of aging well is knowing how to remain a teenager with toys...

THE CASINO ROYALE

THE CASINO ROYALE - 

By Bernard Bujold - 

Donald Trump is reminiscent of James Bond in the film Casino Royale... 

According to several economic experts, the chances of him winning his gamble on transforming America's relations with the rest of the world are 50%. He can lose everything, just as he can win very big. Trump’s policies are high-risk, high-reward! 

According to Trump, his presidency is unique in that he has nothing to gain or lose but his signature in history. And Donald likes signatures that stand out... 

To be continued! 

NOTE: I submitted my idea to an artificial intelligence engine to check if I was wrong (out in the field) with my thinking. I don't like looking like an idiot... 

The AI engine replied with a 5-page analysis, analyzing and confirming every line of my text... 

Donald Trump looks indeed like James Bond. They're two gamblers

In conclusion, we live our real life like a movie...

SUNDAY IN TOWN

SUNDAY IN TOWN- 
By Bernard Bujold- 
I like to take advantage of the weekend to go for a walk in the city. My three faithful companions and I had thought of going for a walk on this Sunday afternoon of April 6 at the foot of Mont Royal, but we chose downtown instead, and in particular the Indigo bookshop. It's quieter than Mount Royal, where it's often crowded... 
A great discovery, Mark Carney's VALUE(S) is the book of the hour... I already have a copy on my bedside table, but I've bought a few extra copies to give to friends. 
Have a good week and “Long live election campaigns...” 
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/values-building-a-better-world-for-all/9780771051555.html

THE AGE OF ARTISTS

THE AGE OF ARTISTS... 
By Bernard Bujold - 
In another part of my life, I loved to rub shoulders with artists and developed many friendships in the process. One of those friends was singer Manon d'Inverness. Even though I'm now light years away from my former life, I continue to follow the evolution of my former “worlds”. and thanks to Facebook, I learned that Manon had just launched a new album in French of her songs: LA NUIT TROP NOIRE AVEC DU BLEU. 
A beautiful album by a great Quebec artist. The quality of the voice, the music, and the lyrics are of the caliber and style of Richard Desjardins, Michel Rivard, or even a group like Les Cowboys Fringants. A truly inspiring album! 
You can listen to Manon d'Inverness's album on all music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and others. Good luck Manon! 
Note: My favorite song on the album, which in a way reminds me of my time with artists: DOUTER...
https://www.facebook.com/manon.dinverness

POLLS ELECTIONS CANADA 2025

POLLS AND THE CANADIAN ELECTION - 
Mark Carney's lead in the election campaign continues to grow, reaching 50.5% in polls from April 1 to 3, 2025, compared with 33.1% for Pierre Poilièvre. As of April 5, the campaign has 22 days (3 weeks) left. Stay tuned! 
https://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2025/04/liberals-maintain-strong-and-stable-lead/

THE MUSIC OF SPRING 2025

THE MUSIC OF SPRING... 

By Bernard Bujold - 

April also brings new music to the gym... 

My choice is Gregorian chant with HILDEGARD von BIGEN and the album CANTICLES OF ECSTASY. It may sound strange, but Gregorian chant is perfectly suited to a gymnasium... 

Have a lovely weekend and spring 2025. 

Note: Don't forget the date of April 28... 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10171214342830541&type=3

THE TARIFF WAR

THE TARIFF WAR - 

By Bernard Bujold - 

Prime Minister Mark Carney has responded to the U.S. tariffs by imposing the same tariffs on American automobiles, but Carney considers that Canada has been spared reciprocal tariffs and he does not intend to attack the U.S. on this front. If elected on April 28, the Carney government will begin negotiations with the U.S. for a new complete trade agreement. According to Carney, the Donald Trump administration's tariffs are changing the global trade landscape, but we need to adapt, and he believes that we will never return to the globalism of recent years. The modern economy will become protectionist, and we'll have to live with that reality.

THE LIBERATION DAY

THE LIBERATION DAY... 

By Bernard Bujold -

Donald Trump spared Canada in his new tariffs, but he is changing the economic map of the entire world with his protectionist tariff announcement on Wednesday, April 2. According to Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, the whole world will have to adjust to the U.S. economic plan and develop independent economies. Carney will be meeting Canada's various political authorities in the next few days, after which he will announce his government's strategies. 

Observers agree that the big winner of the day is Carney and his election campaign. Trump's retreat from Canada takes all the campaign angles away from Pierre Poilièvre. 

To be continued. 

SEE THE REPORT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-tariffs-trade-war-stock-market-04-02-2025

THE WORLD ECONOMY IN 2025

BARRIERS TO TRADE RISE ALL AROUND THE WORLD-
By Bernard Bujold - 
It is not Donald Trump who started the trade war but he jumped on the train. All the economists know that the whole planet is actually in a trade war that was never seen in decades. That is why Mark Carney said that the commercial relation between Canada and the United States will never be as before because he knows that all world governments worldwide have changed from globalist to protectionist. Donald Trump is not the creator of the tariff but a follower of a trend... 
See the full story in the WALL STREET JOURNAL 
https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/trade-war-explodes-across-world-at-pace-not-seen-in-decades-0b6d6513?st=h427mQ&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

SERIOUS POLITICAL CRISIS IN FRANCE

SERIOUS POLITICAL CRISIS IN FRANCE -
Marine Le Pen's conviction on Monday, March 31, 2025, and her immediate ban from running for president in April 2027 has triggered a major political crisis in France. With an average of 34% to 38% in the polls, Le Pen leads all her opponents by 10 to 20 points in most scenarios. This judicial decision by France evokes the situation of Donald Trump in the USA, who was granted immunity after his November 2024 victory. Le Pen could have enjoyed similar immunity if he had won in 2027, but the verdict, despite his appeal, eliminates that possibility for now. Many observers see this as a profound war between justice (the judges) and the popular vote (the politicians). 

SEE THE REPORT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/frances-marine-le-pen-found-guilty-of-embezzlement-b8c42dac?st=bJ1n83&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

MODERN POLITICIANS IN 2025

MODERN POLITICIANS... 

By Bernard Bujold - 

Many people wonder why there is a kind of respect between Donald Trump and Mark Carney. In my opinion, the link is their outlook on the economy's future, as both recognize that the world can no longer be globalist, but each country must build its own economy. With over 75.9% of Canada's exports going to the U.S. in 2024, it's clear that this was suicidal and must be changed. The U.S. exported only 17.4% of its products to Canada in 2024. Carney and Trump are perfectly aware of this abnormal situation. That's why both politicians respect each other! 

On a lighter note, we could compare the three public figures, Trump, Carney, and Elon Musk, with the Gauls from the story Asterix. Indeed, Donald and Elon are reminiscent of Obelix and Asterix. Mark Carney is more the intellectual of the group, rather like the Druid Panoramix, who is not an intimate of Obelix and Asterix, but he understands them. 

I could be Agecanonix... 

For those interested, I've taken my election poster out of the shed and put it up in the garden... 

To be continued...