this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2026
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[–] ReallyAngryNerd 62 points 5 months ago (2 children)

How about showing some strenght and just completely scrap it instead of freezing it. Let's dump some US debt and use the trade bazooka while we are at it. We need to show the power we have.

[–] frozenicecube@lemmy.ca 19 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (4 children)

Dumping US debt is sort of the "nuclear option" as the whole reason countries have purchased treasuries is because they were seen as ultra stable. Once they destabilize and lose value as they start getting dumped, it hurts everyone involved. It's definitely an option but much too early to be used over Trump social media posts.

[–] ReallyAngryNerd 31 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's not just some social media post. It's repeated threats to annex a part of europe.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 26 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Threatening to straight up annex Greenland is also a nuclear option. I fail to see how halting trade is an escalation in this context.

The regime has already openly stated, repeatedly, to any media that will listen, and in significant (if somewhat contradictory and nonsensical) detail that they consider Europe an adversary. Get your political leaders to stop pussyfooting around and take the situation fucking seriously. The best time to have started that was a literal decade ago, the first time he took a spin. The second best time to start that is right fucking now.

[–] frozenicecube@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

So I'm upvoting you but please consider my reply here:

  1. I agree that trade is a great place to hit the US. As a Canadian we have been actively boycotting in my household since the threats against us a year ago. I would love a global coordinated effort to move off US social media (like we're doing here), boycott products and digital services, and encourage lawmakers in other countries to repeal laws around digital restrictions they were coerced into enacting.
  2. Threatening ANY country let alone an ally and then having no real domestic repercussions blows my mind and shows their true colors as a country. They have branches of government that could stop this in its tracks but have so far stayed mostly silent.
  3. I'll keep repeating this despite the emotional downvotes by some, but there are better options at this stage than selling off any significant amount (dumping) of US Treasuries in quantities large enough that it would make them care. So many other allied countries we do like will have economic repercussions and it's also hard to predict where once dumping starts how far it could go. Even in "small amounts" if it causes other governments to start panic selling (to not be a country left with useless devalued Treasury bonds) it's a global economic disaster. That's why I call this the nuclear option, because it comes with fallout, not because I think Trump's actions are reasonable or sane.
[–] ramble81@lemmy.zip 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Honestly that’s that only way there’s gonna be any change. America isn’t as much of an autocracy as it is an oligarchy. Go after the money and the people who stand to make money and they’ll lean hard on the government.

[–] frozenicecube@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

Again, check out the impact globally of dumping enough US Treasury bonds that it actually hurts. I'm 100% for the idea of impacting their economy, but what this guy suggests disproportionately hurts countries like Japan who hold a lot of US treasuries. There's collateral damage here.

Want some better options? Go check out Cory Doctorow's last talk on ignoring US IP law and digital locks on products https://youtu.be/3C1Gnxhfok0 . How about organizing EU wide boycotts of US goods and services. These are more targeted options that are still hitting them in the money.

ETA: so again, if someone could inform me how this is wrong please reply with something constructive

[–] simonsays@piefed.social 3 points 4 months ago

Everyone should watch that talk, it’s amazing and would be such a powerful tool.

[–] ramble81@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I didn’t suggest going after treasuries. I said going after the money making apparatus’s of the oligarchs: cars, oil, IT, liquor. Ensure they can’t easily make money overseas.

[–] frozenicecube@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yup 100% agreed.

Sorry, when you said "that's the only way there's going to be change" in response to the guy suggesting dumping treasuries, it came off like you thought that was a good call.

[–] ramble81@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 months ago

Oh. Gotcha. My bad.

[–] mrnobody@reddthat.com 2 points 4 months ago

Honestly, go after any bit of the economy. A "bad economy" is only bad for the wealthy who profit off the system. Wipe out their wealth and they'll be brought to their knees 🥹

[–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Bullies need to be fucking punched in the face, the sooner the better. Trying to be cautious and not overreact only encourages them to escalate.

There is no such thing as "too early" when retaliating against a bully.

[–] 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 months ago

We need to show the power we have.

It's time for sanctions after what he did in Venezuela but we all saw how much of EU opted for bootlicking instead.

This political theatre is continue as usual. They'll make a deal with a slightly less of a compromise which the news won't cover. EU will start pounding chest again when US threatens with new set of deals. And news will show how "EU is standing up to US" again.

Rinse and repeat.