Only On The Walters Post!

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Lately, there’s been a lot of noise about car prices going up, and just like always, the blame is being tossed around like a hot potato. This time, they’re saying it’s because of a trade war, with tariffs flying back and forth between Canada and the U.S.

But let’s slow down and look at what’s really going on.

President Trump hasn’t slapped a 25% tariff on finished cars coming from Canada. That’s not what’s happening here. What he’s talking about, and has been pushing—is a tariff on imported auto parts, especially those coming from outside the U.S., like China or Mexico. So it’s not the whole car—it’s the pieces. Big difference.

Now, Canada didn’t just sit back. We fired back with our own counter-tariffs. If an American-made vehicle has parts that aren’t from Canada and it doesn’t meet the CUSMA rules, (Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement) that part of the vehicle gets hit with a 25% tariff on the way into Canada. That means things are getting tangled up fast.

So where does this leave the average working Canadian? Standing at the dealership, wondering why prices are climbing, when most of the cars were already overpriced before this nonsense started.

Truth is, there’s a glut of unsold vehicles. Lots are packed. Sales are soft. And they’re not soft because of tariffs, they’re soft because again… vehicles cost too damn much to begin with, and our economy is already hurting.

What we’re seeing now is just another excuse. Another way to quietly raise prices and blame someone else. And I’ll tell you, this isn’t about protecting industry, in my mind, it’s about protecting profit.

What we really need, plain and simple, is for the powers that be to stop taxing the paychecks of the working man and woman completely. Every time we turn around, there’s a new deduction, a new fee, a new excuse for why we can’t keep what we earn. It’s wrong. We are the ones keeping this country going, building, farming, fixing, teaching, raising families—-and we get punished for it, while the suits up top live off our backs without lifting a calloused finger.

Bottom line is this; Let a person keep “every” dollar they earn, and you’d see real change overnight. Folks would have more to spend, more to save, more to invest in their families and communities. Small businesses would thrive and local economies would pick up steam. That’s how you build a strong nation folks—not by squeezing the life out of the very people holding it together.

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

Only On The Walters Post!

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Well, I gotta say, this one caught me by surprise as I always figured Hooters was the kind of place that would be around forever, like the sun coming up, or a good ol’ country road. But now, here we are, in 2025, and they’re filing for bankruptcy, yep, that’s right. Hooters, the place where men used to walk in and feel a little more important, has hit some rough patches.

Now, I’m no expert on restaurants, but I’ve been around long enough to know when something’s got staying power. Hooters seemed like it had that. It started way back in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Over the years, it grew into a kind of American icon. People knew what you were talking about when you said you were going to Hooters, even if they didn’t want to admit it. It wasn’t just about the wings, though they weren’t half bad. It was about that whole “swagger” thing. A man could walk in there and feel like he had a little more weight in the world. Just sayin’ the word Hooters was enough to put a few extra pounds on your ego.

But times change, don’t they? Now, Hooters is struggling. Inflation, rising costs for food, and the fact that folks just don’t seem to be as interested in the same things they used to be. It’s a tough world out there, and even deep-fried wings and neon lights couldn’t save them. Can’t say I ever thought I’d see the day when even Hooters couldn’t keep the lights on.

I reckon it’s a bit like a farm that’s been around for generations but can’t keep up with the times. At first, you think nothing can touch it. You’ve got your good soil, your steady hands, and you’ve seen everything come and go. Then, one day, the weather changes, the prices go up, and before you know it, you’ve got to sell the place. Hooters wasn’t any different, really. They gave people a good time, made ‘em feel good about themselves, but in the end, you can only hold on so long before something gives.

Now, Hooters is restructuring and selling off some of its spots. Maybe they’ll find a way to bounce back, but I gotta wonder, will it ever have that same magic again? Will folks still get that kick out of walking through the door, or will it just be another memory, like an old barn that’s seen better days?

Well, no matter what happens, I’ll always remember when saying “I’ve been to Hooters” was like adding a little shine to your reputation. It was a different time, and I suppose it’s gone now, just like the good ol’ days of country roads and simple living.

Until the next time: Keep your minds open, your stories alive, and your wings extra crispy. GW

Only On The Walters Post!

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

I have also noticed that there’s been a lot of talk about tariffs, especially with Trump’s announcement to push them forward. Some folks might worry, but I think this could actually be one of the best things to happen to Canada. Hear me out—we’ve spent too long relying on other countries for everything. Maybe this is the push we need to start standing on our own two feet.

Look at Siemens. The German tech company just invested $150 million into a research and development facility for AI-driven battery production in Canada. That’s a serious commitment to our economy and a sign that Canada’s no longer just the place where everyone gets their raw materials. With the right investment, we could lead in tech, too. And that’s the kind of thing we need more of—Canadian businesses getting the chance to innovate and grow right here.

And let’s be clear, there’s no better place than Germany when it comes to making high-quality products. They’ve got a reputation for precision and craftsmanship, and that’s something we could learn a thing or two from. But, while I’m glad to see Germany stepping up, I’ve got a lot of respect for Elon Musk and what he’s doing. That guy’s revolutionizing the world in real time, cutting unnecessary spending, and pushing the envelope. Right now, he’s getting rid of a lot of fat in the system, and let’s face it, that’s exactly what Canada needs too. If we could find the right person to shake things up the way Musk has, it would be a game-changer. But let’s be real, finding that person will be one hell of a challenge.

So, let’s embrace the shift. Support Canadian businesses, and if we’re smart about it, we’ll not only grow the industries of the future, we’ll help make sure we’ve got the right leaders in place to get us there. It won’t be easy, but then again, nothing worth doing ever is.

Until the next time: Keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW

Oh, and if those tariffs hit your grocery bill a bit too hard, well, maybe it’s time to dust off those old skills you were taught or should have been taught, and make do with what you’ve got. After all, we’ve been getting by on less for years, no reason we can’t keep doing it.

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

For a while now, there’s been talk urging Canadians to stop shopping at or eating at American-owned businesses. The problem is, these complaints miss the point. These companies aren’t just foreign, they provide jobs and support local economies.

Take Walmart, Home Depot, or fast food chains like McDonald’s and Tim Horton’s. My wife and I were recently in the city picking up supplies, and everywhere we went, gas stations, fast food, retail stores, people were busy, standing in line, buying what they needed, and supporting Canadian workers.

What some boycotters don’t get, is that these businesses employ thousands of Canadians. They’re not pulling money out of the country; they’re putting it in the pockets of hardworking people, paying rent, and buying supplies locally. Although, there is room for improvement, no doubt.

Now boycotting these businesses might seem like a protest against American ownership, but the real cost is the workers who depend on these jobs. Hell, it’s easy to criticize from the outside, but taking away these opportunities hurts your neighbors, not the big corporations.

Instead of focusing on where a company’s headquarters is, we should support businesses, big or small, that contribute to the Canadian economy. At the end of the day, folks are just trying to make a living, and these companies help make that happen.

You know, I’ve been saying this for years. On the one hand, we’ve got to support businesses that employ Canadians, whether they’re American-owned or not. These businesses help put food on the table for a lot of folks. On the other hand, there’s something to be said for keeping our money here at home, supporting the hardworking people who run Canadian businesses. At the end of the day, it’s about finding balance. It’s about supporting the people who make this country tick—whether they’re working at a big-box store or running a small shop down the road.

And, frankly, if you’re not buying from these places, where are you getting your stuff from? The local farmer’s market? Well, that’s good, but last time I checked, not all of us have a fresh crop of toilet paper in the backyard. Let’s keep things real and support the businesses that help us keep our bellies full and our lights on.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW