Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
ChevySpoons - Let's make it a real debate .. not the televised American election version! I can't see how you could not win (unless, of course, you don't have 'good hair'?)
And BruSan, I am not sure it should take someone with a very scientific background - just common sense - to beat Suzuki either these days, but bring that one on too!
High tech and the internet unfortunately have made sure that Canada is catching up to the US in terms of how fast we make the same mistakes north of the border as have been made south of it - I am not so sure we are still the 'traditional' 10 years behind.
I hope both Americans and Canadians will give Trump a chance. He is definitely an unorthodox candidate/president-elect (from the perspective of 'modern expectations') but I am cautiously optimistic that electing him was not a mistake .. in fact, I think it will turn out to be quite the opposite, despite the fact that there are very powerful and determined dark forces who will try to trip him up constantly as he moves through the muck that is America right now and tries to lay down a foundation for a better future. I don't think he will be bad for Canada either.
No, things aren't going pretty well, at least from where I sit as an Albertan. Let's look at one of your points.
Ah - so you're just upset that you're not allowed to threaten life on the planet by continuing to pump massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere with impunity.
That's a pretty narrow, provincial, and selfish attitude to take. And one that doesn't really merit much in the way of discussion.
Alberta's hitched its economic wagon to a commodity that is toxic and has hugely negative externalities for the rest of the world. It should not be the government of Canada's responsibility to coddle that industry at the expense of the rest of humanity.
And, in case you missed it, low oil prices are a worldwide phenomenon - not a curse that the malevolent Trudeau conjured up just for you. You guys have a highly cyclical industry that goes through well-known boom/bust cycles. The rest of the Canadian economy is doing rather well.
Seriously, the nonstop AB oil whining is tiresome. You guys are like the PQ - seeing everything only through the prism of your own narrow self-interest and expecting the rest of Canada to kowtow to your wishes as if the rest of the country didn't exist. At least the PQ has the intellectual honesty, though, to be upfront about the fact that it doesn't care about the rest of Canada.
As for the OP's question, no, such an idea would not work. True, the states shown on the OP's map may seem to be more in tune with Canada, but I doubt that they really are. Beyond the popular social issues (gay marriage, abortion, single-payer healthcare, etc.), I don't think residents of those states would take kindly to an unelected head of state at both the federal and provincial levels, no Senate houses at the provincial levels, and an unelected federal Senate (in short, a Westminster parliament). There are other political and attitudinal differences, but those are the major ones, I think, that would make or break such a deal.
I am a loyal American, I believe in what this nation is supposed to be. I am also conservative politically, but I only voted for my congressman and other local leaders. I found both presidential candidates repugnant and unqualified. I believe trump was elected simply as a rebellion against the radical left, PC culture and the general decay that is obvious in our nation today. Some people believe trump can reverse these things, I really doubt it. The radical left became violent after the election and they are now threatening a west coast secession.
Canada is the closest ally the US has, so much like us but yet different. I personally love Canada and have always enjoyed visiting Canada. My advice to our Canadian friends is to be prepared for what may happen to the USA. You know our history, civil war and rebellion are in our past. It can happen again, the divisions we face today are deep and irreconcilable. To make matters worse we are now lead by a president who really is not qualified. The radical left is already plotting, they openly talk of violence, obstruction and extra constitutional measures to take over our government. The right is emboldened, and some of the uglier elements of the right are making openly racist and hostile comments. This really looks very bad to me. Many Americans are simply worried and afraid because of the divisions, threats of violence and the presence of an unqualified man in the White House. This is not the USA I grew up with.
I hope sanity returns but history shows us an ugly picture of what we may be heading for. All great powers fall, well this could be our time. Canadians hopefully are pulling for us, but you should also be prepared to protect yourselves if this country dissolves or descends into disorder. It happened 150 years ago, everyone should recognize the potential for our history to repeat itself. In a better world it would be nice to see North America move closer together, but in the current reality the US is the biggest threat to North American stability.
I wish I could say that our society can be healed, but I just don't know how it can be. There is so much division, crime, drugs etc. anyone over 35 can remember when this was not true to the extent it is today.
I think the term if it aint broke dont fix it applies in this hypothetical scenario,Canada is doing just fine without the need to burden itself with 40 million + disgruntled Americans. We also dont need the land as Canada has more land than it knows what to do with.
,so whats in it for Canada in this hypothetical situation?
Bottom line? if your country (America) is in the crapper fix it dont expect Canada to do it for you.
I would imagine that's how most Canadians would feel. I have no evidence for that, but it seems logical.
Ah - so you're just upset that you're not allowed to threaten life on the planet by continuing to pump massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere with impunity.
That's a pretty narrow, provincial, and selfish attitude to take. And one that doesn't really merit much in the way of discussion.
Alberta's hitched its economic wagon to a commodity that is toxic and has hugely negative externalities for the rest of the world. It should not be the government of Canada's responsibility to coddle that industry at the expense of the rest of humanity.
And, in case you missed it, low oil prices are a worldwide phenomenon - not a curse that the malevolent Trudeau conjured up just for you. You guys have a highly cyclical industry that goes through well-known boom/bust cycles. The rest of the Canadian economy is doing rather well.
Seriously, the nonstop AB oil whining is tiresome. You guys are like the PQ - seeing everything only through the prism of your own narrow self-interest and expecting the rest of Canada to kowtow to your wishes as if the rest of the country didn't exist. At least the PQ has the intellectual honesty, though, to be upfront about the fact that it doesn't care about the rest of Canada.
The oil industry recession in Alberta has drastically impacted every industry from engineers to accountants, small shops, restaurants, and even dental practices. Taking money out of the economy has consequences not only for the oil industry, but for all of Alberta, and consequently for all of Canada.
It isn't just Alberta that hitched it's wagon to oil. Oil is used all day by everyone throughout the world regardless of whether they leave the house. It isn't enough to give up oil, or to give up driving, but be prepared to give up the tires on your car, electronics, plastics, man-made textiles, and more.
Nat, I don't think their grade 8 students would be able to tell them that. I don't believe they teach that kind of thing to their students down there. Americans believe that Canada is socialist (or communist) because that's what they've been taught to believe. It's a belief that they grow up with, it's what they perpetuate ..... just as the person you responded to has tried to perpetuate.
.
That's a lie!! We are not taught that Canada is socialist or communist at any level of our education.
I would imagine that's how most Canadians would feel. I have no evidence for that, but it seems logical.
In order for a deal to be made, everyone has to benefit. California needs water, so by joining Canada, California benefits.
I don't yet see how Canada benefits by gaining California. First, there's the problem of all the movie stars who think that because they can act, they can speak to world issues. Take that Leonardo di Caprio guy, for instance. There was a Chinook wind one day while he was filming in Alberta, and since that day he's been running around claiming that he witnessed global warming first hand. He's a stupid man who knows nothing about climate, has never heard of a Chinook wind, and is a self-appointed spokesperson on climate change. If ignorant people like that would leave California, the state might look at bit more attractive.
Unfortunately, being on a fault line means West coast USA is off the table as a pipeline route.
How would Canada benefit by gaining the US West coast?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
