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.

Billions, maybe even trillions… have been spent fueling the war between Ukraine and Russia, and for what? That’s the question the so-called powers that be should have asked themselves from day one. Instead, they threw money, weapons, and resources at a conflict that has only drained economies and cost lives. And here in Canada, we call ourselves peacekeepers? What kind of peacekeeping involves sending ammunition and piles of cash to prolong a war? Not the kind I’d stand behind, that’s for sure.

But now, here comes Donald Trump, the man so many love to hate. They bash him, ridicule him, and some are working overtime to take him down. Yet, when you step back and actually look at what’s happening, who’s the one leader making real moves to stop this war? Trump, like it or not, he’s the only one with an inside track on bringing this thing to an end, and he’s already making more progress than the so-called world leaders who have been fumbling this mess for years.

It’s my opinion only that everything done so far has been a waste. I’d even go so far as to say that some nations have been all too happy to watch economies collapse under the weight of war spending. Makes them stronger, doesn’t it? No need to name names as anyone paying attention can see who’s benefiting from this chaos.

Again: Trump, on the other hand, is pushing for a resolution. And whether you like his methods or not, anything is better than the non-solutions we’ve seen so far. Because at the end of the day, this war isn’t just about money, it’s about lives. And the sooner it stops, the more people get to live. It’s really that simple.

You don’t have to like Trump. Hell, you can hate him if you want. But if stopping this war is the goal, he’s the only one actually trying to make it happen. And and through my eyes, that’s worth paying attention to.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and 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, here we go again. The stock market’s taken another tumble, and folks are running around like the sky is falling. The S&P 500 is down, the FTSE 100 dropped, and Europe’s markets followed suit. All because of some comments, some tariffs, and the usual dose of uncertainty.

Now, I’ve been around long enough to see my fair share of these so-called market disasters, and every time, the headlines scream doom and gloom, people get in a tizzy, and investors start selling off in a panic. But here’s the thing… this isn’t the first time, and it sure won’t be the last.

If you’ve got money in the market, and I mean some of your money (because no one should be putting all their eggs in one basket), don’t let the day-to-day noise shake you, as stocks go up, stocks go down. That’s how it works, and if you look back through history, they always recover, it might take time, but patience is key.

Actually, this is where smart investors take a step back and see an opportunity. When the market dips, it means stocks are on sale. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll know which companies are solid and worth holding onto for the long haul. Buying when prices are low and holding on until they rise again? That’s how wealth is built, and again… not by panic-selling every time there’s a bump in the road.

Take Jason Goldstein, the brewery owner mentioned in the news. He’s watching prices rise, stockpiling cans, and adjusting his business strategy. The thing is he’s not throwing in the towel, more so he’s adapting. That’s the mindset investors should have. Think ahead, stay steady, and don’t let the fear of the moment cloud your judgment.

Finally, one thing I can tell you from experience, what goes down always comes back up. It just takes a little time and a little nerve.

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

Only On The Walters Post

A bit more on tariffs along with other things here in CANADA.

When it comes to trade wars, Canada is punching way above its weight—and not in a good way. Every time the U.S. slaps a tariff on something, we fire back with our own. Now, it might feel like standing up for ourselves, but in reality, we’re the ones taking most of the hits.

Let’s face it: the U.S. is an economic giant, and we’re the small guy in the fight. Oh sure, we might land a punch or two, but they can take it. We, on the other hand, feel every blow a lot harder. In my mind, instead of playing this tit-for-tat game, Canada needs to take a smarter approach, one that protects our businesses and workers without making things worse.

The Reality of Size and Strength

The U.S. economy is massive, over ten times bigger than ours, and when tariffs go up, American companies can often adjust. They have more suppliers, more buyers, and a bigger market to fall back on. We don’t have that luxury. When Trump hit our steel and aluminum industries with tariffs, we hit back with our own. But guess what? Our businesses and consumers will end up paying the price.

When we put tariffs on American goods, it doesn’t bring their economy to its knees… it barely makes a dent. But here at home, prices go up, jobs get put at risk, and businesses struggle to compete. So, who’s really winning that fight? Not us.

A Smarter Approach

Rather than going punch for punch, Canada should focus on building its own strength. That means doing more right here at home… bringing in new industries, supporting businesses, and making more of what we need ourselves. We can’t keep relying on other countries for everything. It’s time to stand on our own two feet.

Look at what the U.S. is doing. They aren’t waiting around for other countries to save them…they’re making things at home, investing in their own industries, and looking after their own people first. We should be doing the same. If we put half the energy we use on trade fights into making Canada more self-reliant, we’d be in a much better position.

Instead of always looking to sell elsewhere, we should be figuring out how to make our own products, process our own resources, and create jobs that keep money circulating in Canada. If all this trade trouble with the U.S. has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t afford to keep depending on others. It has to stop. We need to focus on making Canada stronger, not trying to fight battles we can’t win.

And you know what? If we do this right, prices on things like groceries and other essentials should come down. The more we make here, the less we have to import at high costs. It’s not just about industry… it’s about food, too. We need to stop covering up good farmland with concrete and start using it to feed ourselves. Maybe it’s time to bring back the old farmers, the ones who really knew how to work the land, and learn from them instead of relying on massive corporate farms that care more about profit than people. We have the land, the skills, and the resources—it’s just a matter of putting them to use for our own benefit instead of everyone else’s.

So to sum things up: Tit-for-tat might feel good in the moment, but Canada needs to be playing the long game. That’s how we stay strong… not by picking fights we can’t win, but by making sure we don’t have to fight in the first place.

Until the next time: Keep your minds open & Your Stories Alive! GW

Short Note: “Why Canada” Is Giving Mark Carney a Shot, in the news this morning.

Hmm, well Mark Carney might be stepping in as Canada’s temporary prime minister, but let’s be clear… he wasn’t put there by the votes of all Canadians. Leadership changes like this might follow the rules, but… they don’t always sit well with a lot of the people. With an election looming, it’s up to Canadians to decide if Carney should keep the job, or if someone else should take the reins. Now that’s the truth of the matter.

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.

I read an article the other day that got me thinking about X and its role in national unity. The idea that X is a threat just because of who owns it doesn’t sit right with me. The real problem isn’t the owner, it’s how we use these platforms.

Free speech is a key part of any democracy. Whether we agree with someone or not, we need to defend their right to speak. It’s easy to blame one person, like Elon Musk, for causing trouble, but the issue is bigger than that. If we start controlling platforms because we don’t like what someone says or does, we’re getting close to losing our own freedom to speak. And that’s something we should be careful about.

I get the point in the article about X showing more extreme views, but isn’t that just a sign of what’s happening in society as a whole? People have always had strong opinions, and now, with social media, we just see more of it. We can’t just blame the platform or its owner for the way people use it.

In my mind the real solution isn’t banning X or any platform. The solution is teaching/showing people how to think for themselves. We shouldn’t need to hide from tough ideas, we need to be able to argue against them. Banning X might seem like a quick fix, but it’s a bad idea. Taking away the platform could make things worse. It’s not about silencing the voices we don’t like, it’s about letting people hear different opinions and decide for themselves.

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