If a referendum is held,will Canadians approve union with USA ? (become, color)

[lucknow]

As a proud and patriotic Canadian I can tell you that such a thing would be overwhelmingly defeated. I doubt very much that 2% of Canadians would vote for it. You probably don't even realize it and it's something that I don't like but a big part of our Canadian identity that transcends race or culture and is part of the glue that holds Canada together is a smug anti Americanism. By smug I mean that the USA is generally looked down upon by most Canadians as a land of brash overbearing cowboys. A land where generally people are so uneducated that our TV shows often interview Americans on the streets of the USA just to provide Canadians with a good laugh. We view the USA as a land of fanatics and we don't like the racism and all the other divisions that are so apparent in the USA. A couple of years ago there was a rumour of a monetary union with the USA. It raised such an instant storm of protest that the government immediately denied any such a thing would ever happen. The chance of Canada ever joining with the USA is about the same as France or Russia joining.

[Cart24]

First of all it is quite insulting to Canadians and their sense of national pride and identity to think that they would just roll over and accept this if it came along.

Secondly, to touch on lucknow's post. I do realize that much of your post was tongue in cheek, but the sad part is that this is exactly how many average Canadians think about Americans.

I have personally lived in both countries and find the level of ignorance on both sides of the border absolutely shocking!

You do realize that someone from New England will probably have lot more in common with a person from Montreal than Texas? or someone from Vancouver would identify with people from Washington state than Toronto. To generalize an entire nation based on TV and Movies puts you on the same footing as the hillbillies you are denouncing.

[harrymiafl]

Only 2% of Cans would vote for union...?

My guess is 52 to 55%...

All the right wingers & centrists would vote YES.
Leftists & French would vote NO.

The opportunity to feel citizen of THE Superpower, produces an irresistible urge to merge...
Only decadent people of the far left want to retain a 3rd World marginalised ethnic identity,
to be the subject of jokes,to feel like the poor isolated relative of Big Uncle Sam.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by harrymiafl

All the right wingers & centrists would vote YES.
Leftists & French would vote NO.

Interestingly enough, when Canadians are asked by pollsters if they would like their province to become a U.S. state, most of the time the highest number of people saying yes is found in Quebec.

There are probably reasons for this, a main one being that becoming part of the U.S. for people in Quebec is so far-fetched a pie-in-the-sky proposition. As opposed to English-speaking Canadians, for whom the “closeness” and similarity (especially cultural) with the U.S. is something they live with and sometimes grapple with on a daily basis.

Contrary to English-speaking Canadians, people in Quebec don’t define themselves in opposition to the U.S. The U.S. is a foreign country to them - period. People in Quebec don’t have the proverbial Freudian “narcissism of minor differences” going on with the Americans.

Also contributing to the pro-U.S. sentiment in Quebec is the fact that a lot of people feel that they are treated more respectfully and warmly by Americans as opposed to other Canadians. Now I do not generally share this experience, but I have heard from some people that because of all the political issues in Canada, people from Quebec can sometimes get the cold shoulder, or get pestered and harassed by people in the other provinces who try to squeeze a statement of unflinching loyalty to Canada out of them.

[harrymiafl]

Ethnic groups which retain the "psychology of the immigrant ",would vote for union...

If I were Can,the feeling of isolation would depress me even more than the weather...
I would like to be part of the superpower,to have glamour,to feel alive...

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by harrymiafl

The opportunity to feel citizen of THE Superpower, produces an irresistible urge to merge...
Only decadent people of the far left want to retain a 3rd World marginalised ethnic identity,
to be the subject of jokes,to feel like the poor isolated relative of Big Uncle Sam.

Now, this thought process is why most Canadians would say no. Unfortunately Harry, generally speaking, only Americans and 3rd world citizens are still gulping down the "Greatest Place on Earth" kool-aide about the US.

[harrymiafl]

I would say..."only " 80% of Amers & anywhere from 20% to...90% of other nations perceive USA as the superpower & "the place to be"...
In global terms,50% + of the world pop regard USA as the "greatest place on Earth"...

[leilaniguy]

What exactly would be the advantage to Canadians anyway?

[kkgg7]

It will make vast economic sense. the US can benefit from Canada's huge natural resources, and Canada will gain from the gigantic US market, propelling competition, innovation and squeezing out monopoly and oligopoly.
However, Canadians will never choose to do that simply because it is emotionally unacceptable (it will feel like being acquired).
Southern Ontario, for example, will fit perfectly in upstate New York and Michigan. It is already producing most of the American cars anyway. where is the Canadian car when the whole sector is considered so important to economy?

[kkgg7]

Originally Posted by leilaniguy

What exactly would be the advantage to Canadians anyway?

Market. For example, Rogers and Air Canada will be able to expand its potential market by 10 times... Oh, wait, they may cease to exist when the competition is on