Canadians

[Infohawk]

Let's face it. Canada is culturally and economically similar to the United States. There are more differences within America than between the average American and Canadian. I would imagine that the provinces would join as states.

Of course, it seems like most Canadians hate the idea. Presumably this is because of American policies or just sibling rivalry. I'd like to see Canadian provinces added (with Canadian consent, of course) but I understand why Canadians wouldn't want to join an unpopular country like the US.

What do you think? Why not?

 

[Farang]

I don't see the point.. I'd like my part of the country to secede in an ideal world, the country is too large to effectively govern. To make it even bigger would just alienate more people and create stronger, more immovable institutions.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Farang
I don't see the point.. I'd like my part of the country to secede in an ideal world, the country is too large to effectively govern. To make it even bigger would just alienate more people and create stronger, more immovable institutions.

To me that just suggests we need more states rights. I'm fine with health care and abortion being states rights for example. However, there's no reason we couldn't have a common defense (which we already do through NATO) and economic system.

 

[ElFenix]

how about rather than giving up all sovereignty and a lot of identity, just very open borders and a common currency (dollars)

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
how about rather than giving up all sovereignty and a lot of identity, just very open borders and a common currency (dollars)

I'm fine with open boarders and a common currency, but I think the idea of a separate Canadian identity is silly for the most part. Quebec aside, I've never seen one. Now for Quebec, I don't see anything in the US constitution that would prevent Quebec from protecting its identity. See Louisiana and Puerto Rico. Louisiana still has remnants of French governement and law. Puerto Rico goes on in its business being Spanish-speaking.

 

[desy]

Right I'd rather break off with Midwest states and the West Coast than the South or New York or Toronto or Quebec, poor Maritimers stuck out on the edge

 

[imported_Imp]

Na, realized in the past year how different we are from Americans and how happy I am here.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Imp
Na, realized in the past year how different we are from Americans and how happy I am here.

And what are those differences?

 

[Dark4ng3l]

I would consider becoming one country with the USA if they would abolish their democracy and reinstate the british monarch as head of state.

 

[nonameo]

It would be the same thing if canada joined america as if america joined canada. The canadian flag looks better on naked women though, so I vote we join canada.

 

[LS8]

The OP asks the question like the US wants Canada.

 

[LS8]

Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
I would consider becoming one country with the USA if they would abolish their democracy and reinstate the british monarch as head of state.

Lets fight a war over it and see who wins.

 

[BoberFett]

This might just be the dumbest idea ever floated on these forums.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
This might just be the dumbest idea ever floated on these forums.

what are the downsides? I see it as a great idea. I think a common border policy with no real 'border' between the us and canada as being a great idea, as well as a common currency.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Farang
I don't see the point.. I'd like my part of the country to secede in an ideal world, the country is too large to effectively govern. To make it even bigger would just alienate more people and create stronger, more immovable institutions.

i'm assuming that you are speaking as an american,

personally, i think most of our problems are the result of a terribly conceived governmental system that breeds inefficiency.

 

[sandorski]

Never. Sure there are many similarities with the US, but the differences are very large. Canadians are not interested in Global Military Reach, "Market solutions" for everything/anything, or the 2 Party system that has corrupted US Politics. The Democratic Party, for eg, is Far Right compared to Canada's Political spectrum. Canadians like Political Choice, not the narrow Political funnel that exists in the US. On the whole, Canadians are far more Progressive and the US far too Conservative.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BoberFett
This might just be the dumbest idea ever floated on these forums.

what are the downsides? I see it as a great idea. I think a common border policy with no real 'border' between the us and canada as being a great idea, as well as a common currency.

The downsides? What, the current US federal government isn't bad enough for you? Can you imagine the complete lack of accountability if we make it even bigger? Is the disparity between Mississippi and Massachusetts not big enough for you? You really want a federal government that passes laws that affect both Alabama and Quebec?

Hell, there's not much difference between the Chinese government and the Bush administration, and they make everything we buy anyway. Why not bring them into the fold too?

The more local the government the better. The bigger government gets, the less it represents the individual and the more it represents large interests, i.e. corporations.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
You really want a federal government that passes laws that affect both Alabama and Quebec?

Sure, as long as they stick to interstate commerce and other things that the constitution is supposed to limit the federal government to.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BoberFett
This might just be the dumbest idea ever floated on these forums.

what are the downsides? I see it as a great idea. I think a common border policy with no real 'border' between the us and canada as being a great idea, as well as a common currency.

The downsides? What, the current US federal government isn't bad enough for you? Can you imagine the complete lack of accountability if we make it even bigger? Is the disparity between Mississippi and Massachusetts not big enough for you? You really want a federal government that passes laws that affect both Alabama and Quebec?

Hell, there's not much difference between the Chinese government and the Bush administration, and they make everything we buy anyway. Why not bring them into the fold too?

The more local the government the better. The bigger government gets, the less it represents the individual and the more it represents large interests, i.e. corporations.

Well, Canada's Debt only is approx(off the top of my head) approx $600 billion(Federal and Provincial). So in that sense it's not too bad. I still am completely opposed to the idea though.

 

[cwjerome]

Where would those "angry Americans" go?

 

[DrPizza]

Once the Canadian dollar and American dollar are equal, we should switch to the "Amero". And, we could allow travel back and forth from both countries as we did 10 years ago. Passport to go to Canada? (Actually, I don't think the Canadians worry about it.) Passport to return to the U.S.? Just another ridiculous development in the post-wake of 9/11. Meanwhile, 1 million illegal Mexicans sneak across our border. Good thing all the terrorists attempt to cross the border at regular border crossings.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BoberFett
This might just be the dumbest idea ever floated on these forums.

what are the downsides? I see it as a great idea. I think a common border policy with no real 'border' between the us and canada as being a great idea, as well as a common currency.

The downsides? What, the current US federal government isn't bad enough for you? Can you imagine the complete lack of accountability if we make it even bigger? Is the disparity between Mississippi and Massachusetts not big enough for you? You really want a federal government that passes laws that affect both Alabama and Quebec?

Hell, there's not much difference between the Chinese government and the Bush administration, and they make everything we buy anyway. Why not bring them into the fold too?

The more local the government the better. The bigger government gets, the less it represents the individual and the more it represents large interests, i.e. corporations.

:thumbsup:

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BoberFett
This might just be the dumbest idea ever floated on these forums.

what are the downsides? I see it as a great idea. I think a common border policy with no real 'border' between the us and canada as being a great idea, as well as a common currency.

The downsides? What, the current US federal government isn't bad enough for you? Can you imagine the complete lack of accountability if we make it even bigger? Is the disparity between Mississippi and Massachusetts not big enough for you? You really want a federal government that passes laws that affect both Alabama and Quebec?

I don't see any major issues

Hell, there's not much difference between the Chinese government and the Bush administration, and they make everything we buy anyway. Why not bring them into the fold too?

well thats a bit of a stretch

The more local the government the better. The bigger government gets, the less it represents the individual and the more it represents large interests, i.e. corporations.

Thats more a function of the broken sham of a political system that is the American government. Its intentionally designed from the start to work poorly.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: Farang
I don't see the point.. I'd like my part of the country to secede in an ideal world, the country is too large to effectively govern. To make it even bigger would just alienate more people and create stronger, more immovable institutions.

i'm assuming that you are speaking as an american,

personally, i think most of our problems are the result of a terribly conceived governmental system that breeds inefficiency.

Yes, American.

I live in the Pacific Northwest. We have a great economy and some of the world's most important businesses (although now I suppose if we seceded we'd lose Boeing since they are technically headquartered in Chicago, but my stance is more idealistic anyways and doesn't take into account such things). However since we are rarely a swing state, we never see presidential candidates. Political power centers are nowhere near us. For me, as someone from Washington, to effect change in the country is extremely difficult. Not only am I 1 in 300 million, we have considerably less power than other corners of the country and so really my voice is like 1 in a billion. I'd much rather have to answer only to my state legislature (or a regional one), where I would have a much better chance of getting into legislature and doing something. Answering to a capital that is over 2000 miles away and run by a bunch of hillbillies from Texas and the South does not really strike me as fair for us.

 

[dennilfloss]

Get rid of your republic for a parliamentary system that recognizes our queen as head of state, dump the permissiveness of religion and puritanism in your politics, become a more tolerant and polite society, dump your hardon for the individual in favor a more collective outlook, stop seeing military service as the measure of leadership, stop imposing your values and will on other countries, embrace science and universal health care...

That's for us to even begin to consider it, while drunk and puffing on a BC Bud fattie.