Jeff Burgar
Remember Ukrainian jokes? Italian? Catholic? Name a nation, province, religion, race, hair colour, height or more. It has a joke named for it.
Of course, due to “political correctness” most jokes have gone generic. Or faded away. There are still American or Canadian jokes, few of which offend us, unless we are of particularly thin skin.
Even so, the first election of Donald Trump, especially right here in North America, was worth a million jokes, at least, on late night TV. Strange how say, poking fun at the Pope could cost a career, but to lefties, the leader of the Free World is still fair game.
Canada becoming a state, or Greenland being annexed, should have national leaders rolling on the floor with laughter. Not so. Denmark, of which Greenland is a part, isn’t taking the normal, staid humourless European approach to “those uppity colonials.” Trump isn’t ignored, as any stupid American on holiday in Europe is usually ignored. They, like our own Canadian leaders and media, are taking the bait.
The only mature leadership is coming from our own Alberta premier Danielle Smith. Good for her!
The rest? Well, Ontario Doug Ford has a hat that says “Canada is Not for Sale.” Lame, eh?
Something better? Typically Canadian, so not especially insulting? How about, Canada – $100 Billion Trillion Loonies. +$100 Kabillion BeaverBucks. +$100 Katrillion Mooseys. +Paid Snow Removal Forever. Gold or Canadian Cash Only. Absolutely No Credit.
Our own take on President Trump?
Well, we used to call a certain style of negotiation “(Insert Ethnic Name Here) Negotiation.” That was a name we found reading a book long ago.
Also, along the line, we picked up another ethnic description. This was called “Greek Accounting.” Before one gets on their high horse over this, let us explain. Greek Accounting is used to describe a style of keeping track of money which actually means “Cash In – Cash Out.” It’s a style of keeping books. You might have debt, or people owe you, but you only reckon you are getting ahead if you have money left over at the end of the month. No matter where it came from, or where it might have to go. For those curious, ‘Accrual Accounting’ is what regular accountants do.
On negotiations? Well, we have since learned our old ethnic name is more recently called ‘Anchor Negotiation.’ Basically, make your initial position ridiculously unreal. Selling something? Ask 10 times what you really want. Buying something? Offer a tenth what you will really pay. That’s the basic idea. And it has a whole psychology behind it.
Which, given the hysteria in our nation today, suggests most politicians, and media folks, have never read anything more complicated than calories on a soup can.
President Trump’s style is Anchor Negotiation. Not a joke! It’s a real tactic! It is used to make the other side come to reality and get serious in a big hurry. Once they are done flapping their jaws, as happening now.
Politicians in and outside America shamelessly freeloaded on the United States for decades. Which is a whole different story and certainly, not a joke.