Only On The Walters Post

So here’s the deal. GM moving work from Oshawa to Indiana isn’t the whole story, it’s just the headline the media likes to wave in your face. The truth is it’s part of a much bigger iceberg. You see… manufacturing jobs haven’t just gone south to the U.S. Hell they’ve been bleeding out to China, Mexico, the U.K. and basically anywhere that offers tax breaks and cheap labour to big corporations for years now. And you know what? Canada just sits here whining about it.

Truth told… we’ve turned into a country that relies on others to make pretty well all of our stuff. Look around your house…your phone, your clothes, your tools, most of it was probably made overseas. Damn shame. You know as hard as it is to believe, once upon a time, Canada built things. Now however, we have office towers full of people in nice suits spreading half truths and calling it news. They figure I guess that Its easier to complain than to roll up our sleeves and start working.

And that is the kicker, isn’t it? We act surprised when companies pull up stakes. “Oh no, Oshawa lost another shift.” Well, what did you expect? If other countries make it easier and cheaper for businesses to set up shop, of course they are going to pack the moving vans. That is not betrayal, it’ is ‘s what you call capitalism doing what capitalism does. You don’t like it? Fine. Then start opening businesses here in Canada. And make damn sure you buy Canadian products when they do.

But no, we would rather moan. We would rather believe the media or some government official, when they pin it all on America or China. The truth is it is partly our fault. We got lazy. We stopped making things. We let our industries dry up while convincing ourselves we were becoming some kind of knowledge economy. Well knowledge does not build cars, and it certainly does not put food on the shelves. You can’t outsource everything and still expect to stand on your own feet.

At this rate, we might as well sign the papers and become part of the U.S. or maybe China since they make half the junk we buy anyway. That is the direction we are drifting in whether we admit it or not.

Canada is at a crossroads. Either we keep crying while factories close and jobs vanish or we get serious about bringing industry back. And no, I do not mean another government committee with coffee and muffins. I mean real businesses, real jobs, real work.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW