Should Canada Join the US?

I was just pondering it...what do you guys think would be the pros and cons of it?

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Co-Owner
Bueno Technologies

[aclu14]

Well, they've kind of joined forces against Russia in the Olympics already...

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I'll think of a better sig when I feel like it! Now stop bothering me! :D

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[Serendipity]

I don't know about that, Aclu: I saw the ice hockey tonight (it was night over here)... Canada seemed pretty pleased. http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/wink.gif http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

If Canada is smart, they don't join the USA!

[The Horseman]

What would you do about the Territories? (offer statehood, or keep them as they are?). And can you imagine what the Quebecians would say?! Most of them don't even want to be in Canada, let alone the US.

[Serendipity]

I suspect that quite a few Americans wouldn't want to accept Queen Elizabeth II as their Head of State. I mean, blood has been shed over this issue. http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[CBranski]

While there are striking simililarities between the US and Canada, there are also striking differences. We're better off as two seperate countries, and i wouldn't want to deal with Quebec either.

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Tony Soprano for Sherriff!

[Phreakmeister]

When will the next referendum for independence in Quebec be held? And how many have there been held so far?

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Do you believe in death after life?

[The Horseman]

I think that the last referendum in Quebec was in 1995. There's unlikely to be another one, apparently, as the Liberals are making good headroads in Quebec against the seperatist party. The Federal government will give Quebec independence, but only if the majority want it.

[weldordave]

Status Quo. Why screw up a good friendship with marriage? Besides, their national anthem is so cool! I think deep down I'd rather see the US join Canada than Canada become part of the US "Borg".

[aclu14]

yeah really

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[Serendipity]

Though as I said, Dave, I doubt that the US would accept the Queen... I mean, Americans love our Royal Family (sort of. Probably in the same way that we Brits do. I couldn't care less about them, for example, but lots of Brits can't get enough of 'em) but don't want the Queen to "rule but not govern" as she does now.

[The Horseman]

Sorry Serendipity, but I'm a hopless pendant. The Queen reigns, she doesn't rule. Blair rules.

Why would Canada join the USA to get race problems, higher crime rates, die because they have no health insurance, have a bogus President, be hated everywhere, be known as big mouthed and ignorant, to be seen as cultural jokes, etc. etc. ?

What the hell would Canadians want that for? Canada is respected, the USA is a joke.

[aclu14]

And i bet Q E 2 has never choked on a pretzel and let it get to the papers...

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[weldordave]

Originally posted by Yukon:
Why would Canada join the USA to get race problems, higher crime rates, die because they have no health insurance, have a bogus President, be hated everywhere, be known as big mouthed and ignorant, to be seen as cultural jokes, etc. etc. ?

What the hell would Canadians want that for? Canada is respected, the USA is a joke.
1. You have race problems. Asians in the west. Frenchies in Quebec. You can't decide what language to use.
2. You have crime. What of Coquitlam and all the people killed at the pig farm? The RCMP seems to keep quite busy up there.
3. You have national health but is it timely? From what I here and read you may just die of old age before being treated.
4. I forgot who your president is. Does he do anything? He has not helped me with my civil rights or ended my police state and I am an hour from your border.
5. I HAVE been just about everywhere and was only hated 50% of the time.
6. YEP! I speak my mind. Ignorant? I think that civil right was "effectively suspended". But I'm still waiting for a certain individual to explain all that to me.
7. YEP! A cultural joke! What's culture? Oh, another lesson you can teach me. Maybe you can use YOUR culture as an example!
8. No country is a "joke". Each is unique, different, and should be viewed as a venomous snake. Leave it alone and it leaves you alone. Prod it and it will bite and kill you. Maybe not instantly, but it will kill you. If I were a lessor man I would say "Wasn't Canada a step-and-fetch-it for the Queen until recently?" But I won't.
9. etc. etc.?? Come on, say it. Don't use Latin shorts. I'm sure your full of reasons that you can clearly and concisely state without the use of etc. (et cetera). Next thing you'll be using et al.

WELD,

Clean your pistol, polish your gold-tooth, look in the pond, and you'll you get a pretty good idea why Canada would never join the USA.

[Phreakmeister]

1. You have race problems. Asians in the west. Frenchies in Quebec. You can't decide what language to use.

There's a difference between having different cultures and races and having cultural and race problems. What Canada (thank God) doesn't have, is cases like Rodney King and Amadou Diallo, just to give a few examples. Oh, remember the race riots in Cincinatti last year?

2. You have crime. What of Coquitlam and all the people killed at the pig farm? The RCMP seems to keep quite busy up there.

Sure, Canada has crime, every country in the world has crime, but hardly any country in the world has as much crime as the USA. Crime in the US has risen to Napolitan levels.

4. I forgot who your president is. Does he do anything?

No wonder you don't know who the Canadian president is, since Canada doesn't have a president... The Chief of State is the British Queen Elizabeth II. You probably know her, don't you?

He has not helped me with my civil rights or ended my police state

As if Dubya has...

5. I HAVE been just about everywhere and was only hated 50% of the time.

That's exactly what the US (and especially the US government) has done wrong: create hate. Most Americans don't realize it, coz they are too reluctant to see the catastrophic consequences of US foreign policy.

7. YEP! A cultural joke! What's culture? Oh, another lesson you can teach me. Maybe you can use YOUR culture as an example!

Yep, the American culture is a joke. But you probably know it better as "the American Way of Life".

8. No country is a "joke".

But there are countries that come awfully close to it...

Each is unique, different, and should be viewed as a venomous snake. Leave it alone and it leaves you alone. Prod it and it will bite and kill you. Maybe not instantly, but it will kill you.

And that's what happened on September 11th: the US kept on annoying a viper, and the viper struck back. (Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with the attacks, not now, not ever. But their hatred of the US is justified, I'm afraid...)

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R.I.P. Rafael
(July 26, 1983 - April 15th, 2002)

PH,

I like your response to our "hillbilly" friend.

With regards to # 4, the Queen is the titular head of state in Canada and is represented by the Governor General who is appointed by the Prime Minister.

The Queen has NO legal authority in Canada and the GG position is ceremonial in nature. The GG has no any legal authority that cannot constitutionally be overridden by Parliament.

With regards to #8: I really don't feel that the hatred of the American people which is so prevalent in the middle-east is justified as it is the policies of the American aristocracy (JUNIOR Bush and past Presidents) that are so despised.

The American people are wonderfull and really are no different than Canadians.

[This message has been edited by Yukon (edited April 26, 2002).]

[Phreakmeister]

Sure, it's the policies of the US government which are justifiably despised, not the policies of US individuals. I couldn't agree more with you on that. And sure, there are a lot of nice people in the US. But have you met one single American having the guts to criticize the US government? They're alive, but they're really on the fringe of society...

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R.I.P. Rafael
(July 26, 1983 - April 15th, 2002)

::Thought this site criticized the government, not just of the US, but of all nations actually::

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Co-Owner
Bueno Technologies

[Phreakmeister]

True, and since the US government is one of them...

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R.I.P. Rafael
(July 26, 1983 - April 15th, 2002)

[weldordave]

Gee, thanks Phreak! The post was an answer to the points raised by the non-hillbilly. The point was that anybody can bad-mouth any aspect of any other country but it can be mirrored by your own country, if you care to see it. When confronted with it the usual result is name-calling, such as yukon has stooped to. If you follow the posts, I stated my opinion in the tenth post. But such trivial attacks, such as yukon's deserve to be answered as to how each point can be related to his country. Right? And believe it or not, this hillbilly is quite versed in Canadian politics. We've done ALOT of work in Canada when the Canadians couldn't, wouldn't, or refused to do it. Further, the culture of any country can be ridiculed. It's their culture. I don't view the McKenzie brothers, fatback, and beer as Canadian film culture but yukon would stoop to key in on that. You failed to comment on #3. How's your uncle doing? Rather than lament and criticize your system, I truly wish health care, worldwide, would be modeled after working aspects of all countries. Don't forget that our culture and heritage came from everywhere. It's a little Dutch and a little Chinese. A full Dutch or a full Chinese would have a hard time understanding how it got all mixed up. We just don't really worry about it. Especially when you take into consideration the varying and vast regions of the US, who is there, and how they chose to live. Here we celebrate Cinco de Mayo AND the Chinese New Year. I think it's a great culture. To have a little bit of everything. So, you see Phreak, every aspect of yukon's post can be equally mirrored by his country. Like "bogus president" can be mirrored to "bogus Queen" or "bogus GG". By this I mean the way the Queen, by birth only, is given such high reverence. Not by what she ever did or worked for. Blah, blah, blah. If I continue I run the risk of more name-calling onslaughts.

[Phreakmeister]

The reason this is such a short response, is that I'm about to leave on holiday. Therefore you guys won't be hearing from me for the next week. I hope to be able to return on May 5th.

Anyway, my uncle is exactly the reason why I haven't responded to #3. Altho I'm not fond of the US system of health services, I know that over here it's at least just as horrible. Therefore no comment from me on that issue.

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R.I.P. Rafael
(July 26, 1983 - April 15th, 2002)

[aclu14]

Yee Haw!

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WELD,

It is quite obvious that you are American so I won't bother pointing out the inaccuracies contained in your last lament - it would be too much for you to absorb.

I do have great respect for Americans in general because I find them to be quite nice. However, American gullibility is legendary especially with regards to the rest of the world.

p.s. How many "world championship" sporting events did you watch this weekend ?

In response to the "World Championship" events...

The US networks broadcast these events much less than their European counterparts because:

(1) Pretty much all of the European nations are (at largest), the size of a large US state, and therefore an event for just that nation won't attract the crowd that a US-only event will.

(2) European nations are close together. The US only has Canada to the far north and Mexico to the far south to contend with. The US and Canada regularly compete against one another in sports, but the language barrier often and economic desparity between the US and Mexico hinders such events.

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Co-Owner
Bueno Technologies

[RubberDucky]

only way i can see canada joining the US would be when quebec becomes its own nation. at that time i'd expect british columbia and maybe alberta to consider joining the US.... perhaps the other provinces would follow?

it'd be interesting if it happened.. doesn't really matter though, we are pretty similar when you get down to it

[weldordave]

While polishing my gold tooth by the reflection in the pond I thought of the "international" thing. I have no idea where yukon thought that by watching international sporting events it makes you more rounded, but OK. Canadian teams come to Seattle to play baseball, hockey, soccer,etc. We go there for same. I was in Seoul 1988 on a pass from Freedom Bridge for the Olympics. Does that count? Were you born then? I was in Hawaii for the INTL surfboarding contests. On and on through the 70's, 80's, and 90's. So my watching is pretty much BEING there. How about being to about every country in the world? Does that count? And to be international all I have to do is look out my window. Just about every nationality, religion, culture, or ethnicity is represented here in the great Pugetropolis area. I'm in a mixed race/cultural marriage, Buy my gas from a Sihk, work for a Jew, tolerate Southern Baptists till they become Westerners, have a Greek Orthodox church down the street, a Mosque down the other way, a Korean store at the end of the block, a VFW within taxi range, and love going to my wife's friends house to eat curry. She's Indian but British? Don't matter to me, that lady can cook! And on and on. All this from what you call a hillbilly. Why don't you list your location??????Canada??? While coming home from work the other night I passed a Canadian Army convoy on I-5. Were they coming to free me from this "police state" or restore my "civil rights"? (I still don't know what they are). Oh please save me from this evil and repressive regime!!!!! Or come to watch TV as from another thread I guess Canadians are repressed from that. (Canadian TV laws)
And in another answer to your question about the sporting events I "Watched". Maybe that was the weekend I was working on a hydroelectric project in Canada because the Canadian engineers had a problem they could not work through! They probably saw the event though!

[The Empress]

Originally posted by Serendipity
I suspect that quite a few Americans wouldn't want to accept Queen Elizabeth II as their Head of State. I mean, blood has been shed over this issue. http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

The Queen is not the head of Canada!
Do you also think that we live in igloos and that it snows all year around here?

Being a Canadian I would not like to join the US. Does guarenteed free health care mean anything to you?

[Serendipity]

Originally posted by The Empress


The Queen is not the head of Canada!
Do you also think that we live in igloos and that it snows all year around here?

Being a Canadian I would not like to join the US. Does guarenteed free health care mean anything to you?

Read This Page (http://canadaonline.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fcanada.gc.ca%2Fhowgo c%2Fqueen%2Fquind_e.html), Empress. Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State of Canada. Like it or lump it. :) I don't much want her either, but it's Jubilee year, her mum's just died, and I don't want to upset the poor dear. ;)

As for the igloos, etc., of course I don't think that - please don't be so petulant. Being a Brit, I don't want the US to join Canada. And guaranteed free healthcare means a lot to me, I've enjoyed it all my life.

[The Empress]

Serendipity: this is from a website on canadian history (I don't know how to post links)
"Canada's substantial role in the first world war won it representation distinct from Britain in the League of Nations after the war. It's independent voice became more and more pronounced, and in 1931 Canada's autonomy from Britain was confimed with the passing of the Statute of Westminster ."
Canada is an independent country the governor general (representative of the Queen) is merely out of respect. The job mostly consists of ribbon cutting ceremonies, there is no real power.

Regarding the comments about igloos and health care I was not paying attention and I mistook you for an American. My deepest apologies.

I live near a border crossing and hear lots of stories about Americans coming over with skis in July! Again my deepest apologies.

[Serendipity]

Apologies accepted, Empress :) But, just as she is here, the Queen is the Head of State of Canada, even though this is purely a nominal or ceremonial role. I believe the phrase is that she "rules but does not govern", effectively she just rubber-stamps whatever the democratically-elected government decides. Of course, she has no executive power. Her position is the same over here - on paper, she could dissolve the government, but all hell would break loose if she actually tried it! And, of course, Canada is autonomous and self-determining (just like Australia, NZ, etc., etc.), but is still a Commonwealth country - which is not necessarily a bad thing to be. :)

P.S. To post links, either click on the Http:// button and follow the instructions, or use this formula: [*url=http://addressaddressaddress]Tidy Link[/url*] BUT omit the asterisks. That will appear like this: Tidy Link :) Hope this helps. I just checked the FAQ and it doesn't seem to cover it.

[weldordave]

Damn! There goes my igloo theory. Just kidding Empress!!!! I go to Canada quite a bit and love your country. It has good points and bad, as do ALL countries, especially the "Southern Slum".
One personal observation: ALL Canadians are patriotic at all times. Whenever I ride with a Canuck, he always has the Maple Leaf somewhere on his bike.

[aclu14]

I wanna move to Europe.

[Serendipity]

Originally posted by aclu14
I wanna move to Europe.
That's a little off-topic, Aclu. Care to start a thread and tell us why? :)

[jettmotto]

talk about off the subject.....
i think the reason our (american) health care sucks is cos we are getting over populated in spots.....
and to ANYONE who says we deserved 9/11 cos the way we are to other counties, if the U.S.A is so bad why do we get so many immigarnts??? yea ok then!

[jettmotto]

oh yea and and i don't think america has culture. diff. parts maybe but america itself no. we are all diff. cultures (the people who live here) from the spanish to the viatnamees to the ...

[Serendipity]

Well, as you say your comments re: 9/11 don't belong in this thread. But as for culture:

Canada could have enjoyed:
English government,
French culture,
and American know-how.

Instead it ended up with:
English know-how
French goverment,
and American culture.

John Robert Colombo 1965


I know there's more to American culture, but the side of it we Europeans always see is the Britney/McDonalds/Hollywood side. It's hard to blame us for being cynical about American culture. There are quite a few British newspaper columnists who advocate a sort of Britain-is-the-51st-state mentality, an attitude with which I disagree. But now I'm off topic :)

[weldordave]

So ya think that someone should start a topic to try to explain the 1000 or so cultures in the US? Or has this been done before? I know, I know------off topic.

[Serendipity]

Actually, that wouldn't be off-topic, Dave! :)

But I certainly don't think the US is unique in its multicultural condition - when one London, England high school profiled its pupils recently, they found over 300 major languages spoken.

[weldordave]

Ya know Dip, the last two English people I've met swore allegiance to the crown. One was a lorry driver in Seattle. Never been to England but was from S. Africa. True gentleman, great sense of humor. Last an English teacher. Indian lady married to an Aussie. Ah, what a lass! I conclude that the English culture is as just as askew as American culture. How will we go on?

[Serendipity]

By celebrating our multicultural societies, Dave! I don't regard Brit culture as "askew" at all. But neither is it homogenous.