25% of "free" is a fair tariff

CC# 151—a modest proposal we can all get behind

I first published this tattered flag early in COVID times—this time bloodied by the bully to the south, but still unbowed.

I write my modest and free City Conversations (CC) blog on the American Substack platform, which tells me it has two million paying subscribers out of more than 20 million in total— I guess that’s a good conversion rate, since the company is now valued at $650 million, up from less than $50 million in 2019. Meanwhile CC has less than 1,000 subscribers, all free, but most posts seem to be read by 2-3,000 folks thanks to reposting on CityHallWatch and some other venues. I personally pay modest amounts to subscribe to a handful of blogs on Substack that I value—Canadian, Australian and UK, as it happens—not American, as it happens. Two Canadian blogs I pay for, Lean out with Tara Henley and The Line, are written by journalists who fled conventional newsrooms and provide excellent, independent reporting on a wide range of topics. I highly recommend them.

My Substack writing journey started in March 2021, in COVID’s dark and early days. President Trump’s tariff attacks on Canada will hopefully not result in disease and death, but will cause major and ongoing harm to Canada and Canadians—folks in other countries, including the US, will also be hurt, but for the moment I’m focused on Canada—sorry (after all, I am Canadian).

My social media are already abuzz with many Americans disclaiming responsibility for Trump’s vicious attacks on Canada, Mexico, Panama and Greenland—sorry (again, Canadian) but you voted for him—what did you expect? Perhaps it’s my social media algorithms, but Canada seems to be getting more sympathy than the others, so far. Thanks for that. Please keep it up—we need it.

Our family is already planning our own retaliation, as are many Canadians—we look for labels that say “Product of Canada,” (98% Canadian content) and “Made in Canada” (only 51% Canadian content—go figger!) Sorry (again, Canadian) about the US wine and booze—if I’m honest I prefer Canadian, Kiwi, European and Aussie wine, Irish and Scotch whiskey over bourbon. And as for beer, let’s face it, there’s no competition.

But there is one thing I can suggest here on Substack, both to my few readers and to the millions of Canadians who subscribe to other blogs—don’t buy American!

If you are a paid subscriber to a US blog, revert to “free” status if available—let’s face it, isn’t a free subset of “paid”¹ more than sufficient for a country that so disparages and attacks ours? Vote with your feet and your pocketbook. Even better, assure your American blog hosts that 25% of “free” is a fair tariff.

If you are currently paying for US Substack blogs, or any other US media, go “free” and spend the savings on Canadian blogs and media. Canadian writers, who on average earn less than $10,000 per year, will appreciate your investment in our truth. The top Substack blog, “Letters from an American,” (you can’t make this stuff up), earns its author $5 million per year. Maybe they can donate 25% of that to the Canadian industries of their choice—just sayin.’

And if you have anything remaining, consider supporting Mexican, Panamanian or Danish/Greenlander writers—or just buy their products and services instead of American. Also, if you agree with my sentiment, please share to your social media.

We are heading into dark, uncharted territory. Take care.

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Brian Palmquist writes on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Musqueam people. He is a Vancouver-based architect, building envelope and building code consultant and LEED Accredited Professional (the first green building system). He is semi-retired, still teaching, writing and consulting a bit, but not beholden to any client or city hall. These conversations mix real discussion with research and observations based on a 50-year career including the planning, design and construction of almost every type and scale of project. He is the author of the Amazon best seller and AIBC Construction Administration course text, “An Architect’s Guide to Construction.” A glutton for punishment, he recently started writing a book about how we can Embrace, Enhance and Evolve the places where we love to live.

1. Most Substack blogs make some of their content available to free subscribers.