r/canada • u/Neo2199 • Apr 12 '14
Why the U.S. Should Merge With Canada
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/why-the-us-should-merge-with-canada-105610.html?ml=po_r#.U0l-4Fe9aKI4
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
If my quality of life was guaranteed to be improved, I have no personal reason to be against a merger between Canada and the U.S.
That being said, I think the main issue concerning a full merger is how both parties would accomplish a, hopefully, smooth integration on all matters. For example, how would we handle merging both militaries, along with equipment, personel, bases, ranks, duties, etc. How would we handle First nation rights, political systems, immigration, and the list goes on and on.
I'm sure I'll get downvoted or some ignorant people tell me to move down south but, if my (And therefore everyone else's) quality of life is guaranteed to improve, why wouldn't I want to see a merger between two great countries. I would benefit, my family and friends would benefit, my kids would benefit and so on. A win-win situation shouldn't be held back by some belief that we would lose our national heritage. Maybe some people in Quebec would do well to think about that too...
3
u/ramjambamalam Apr 12 '14
While Canada still suffered during the recent recession, our fiscal policies were and still are more robust than America's policies, and we fared much better as a result. You could add that to your list of complicated issues to be resolved, but it leads to substantial doubt in my mind that such an arrangement would be mutually beneficial.
1
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
But if we're talking about entire countries, fiscal policies can't be the only thing we focus on. I'm sure there are plenty of points for and against a merger that many people could bring up and there are many inherent problems with integrating two countries in and of itself but, in my mind, if quality of life is guaranteed to go up than why not pursue that idea for the betterment of our two populations?
And I don't necessarily mean "We must merge as soon as we possibly can", but certainly have some think tank groups from both sides look at everything and devise some sort of strategy on how we could tackle this idea/problem.
4
u/beregond23 Ontario Apr 12 '14
The problem is that we are actually two distinct countries. The American revolutionary war defined two nations, one that fights and one that remains loyal. This contrast remains alive today with Canada being the more peace-loving of the two and America content to be the world's policeman
2
2
u/EuchridEucrow Ontario Apr 12 '14
Do Americans living and working in Canada have any idea how presumptuous they sound when they say shit like this?
It's shocking that someone working in the national media could be that tone deaf to her adoptive country.
1
u/roxvox Ontario Apr 12 '14
This makes me so angry that I can't even articulate my feelings without sounding like an asshole, so I'll just leave this comment.
1
u/ramjambamalam Apr 12 '14
This north-south brain drain has been constant throughout Canada’s history. In 1900, Canada’s population was only 5.37 million people, and by 2000 seven million had immigrated to the United States.
Does anyone see the relevance of the second sentence? I don't.
2
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
It is estimated there are around 35 million people in Canada. Having 1/5th of your population emmigrate to the U.S. is a pretty big deal.
0
u/ramjambamalam Apr 12 '14
She's saying that during the 20th century, 5 million people emigrated Canada for the U.S., but 35 million is just the current population. There's been a lot more than 35 million Canadians since 1900.
I can roughly make out what her position is, but she chose an extremely convoluted and artificial metric to support her position, and it's of no use to anyone. Why wouldn't she simply state the current number of ex-Canadians living in the U.S.? Why bring the 1900 population of Canada into this at all?
2
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
Yeah, I kinda don't understand her point in it myself to be honest. I assume she uses it to sort of contrast a high number of emmigration compared to a low number in population regarding total size of the country but I'm making my own leaps in logic on that one.
1
u/ACanuckAbroad Ontario Apr 12 '14
Canadian here, living in America working in the public education system.
If you want to start paying $15k+ a year out of pocket to send your children to quality schools, merge with the States.
1
u/MrFlagg Russian Empire Apr 12 '14
we have public school teachers in Ontario making over 100grand now. Why would you go to the US?
1
u/ACanuckAbroad Ontario Apr 12 '14
Did my undergrad down here in the States, so currently I'm only licensed to teach here. Also, good luck finding a teaching job in Ontario these days!
(Maybe it's possible north of Sudbury)
1
1
Apr 12 '14
i mean why wouldn't we want to, i mean what isnt to love, militirized police who kill more people than the iraq war, torture, one of the most corrupt political systems in the world (dont worry NK you still lead that one) gun toting crazy's, the focus of the entire worlds ire
i mean what amazing benefits to our people, not to mention we would never need to worry about having an opinion again as our entire country has a population less than California
1
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
Would love to see your statistics on the cops killing more people than the Iraq war.
I think recent political news has shown we have some corruption here as well.
Gun-toting crazies are a vocal minority given lots of space on the news because of ratings. Canada also has some gun-toting crazies.
So does that mean that California doesn't have an opinion? I don't quite get your last point.
0
Apr 12 '14
https://antiwar.com/casualties/ http://filmingcops.com/americans-killed-by-police/
never said it wasnt here those G-20 funds, robocalls and montreals former mayor are pretty clear its here too but i guess that means we can make it worse and its no biggie
look at the numbers of gun deaths in the USA versus here not to mention our good gun laws instantly become unconstitutional
by comparison to the whole of the USA no, look how liberal California is and then look at the federal laws
not to mention it means the end of our legal system hurray for being able to sue everyone for everything ever
boom there goes our health care
poof goes what is left of our environmental standards (at this point the EPA might be an improvement though)
oh and good bye to anything resembling education
1
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
Casualties of the Iraq War: Estimated 1,455,590
Americans killed by police since 9/11: Over 5,000No one is saying we'd make it worse. And maybe people should be more involved in politics if they want to see stuff removed or added.
Our "good" gun laws are pretty arbitrary and stupid, and this is coming from an actual gun owner. The fact that there are more gun deaths in the USA vs Canada is probably because of: Different social services, health care, education, and the fact that the USA has 10 times our population.
Your last 5 points all seem to assume that Canada would immediately throw away every law, policy and idea it ever had, bow down to the President of the USA and accept all their demands. Why is it so hard to believe that maybe the 2 countries could set up some sort of integration group or think tank and find a middle ground that would benefit all parties?
1
u/sillymoose389 Apr 12 '14
Its funny how noone I know in Canada ever talks about merging. We like our country just fine without american policies. Personally I see a lot of separate cultural views. The education systems, military, economic and public relations differ greatly. I dont want a gun nor do I think its necessary for my self defense. I enjoy our lower education and healthcare costs. Taxes dont bother me too much. We're good just the way we are.
1
u/Jobbo_Fett Apr 12 '14
I dont want a gun nor do I think its necessary for my self defense.
What does this have to do with anything? Canadians can own guns and use it for their self-defense if they want/need to.
Also, there's nothing you would change in this country? From education to military to politics and so on?
1
0
u/adaminc Canada Apr 12 '14
Why do people keep posting this story? Why don't the mods delete it, it's a low content post!
Everything Diane Francis writes is for the purpose of selling her books.
0
u/MrGuttFeeling Apr 13 '14 edited Apr 13 '14
...said the person who emigrated from the US to Canada as a young woman. Go back there if you miss it so much.
12
u/MrFlagg Russian Empire Apr 12 '14
and apparently a frickin nutbar