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I'm pretty sure the majority of Americans and Canadians will be against this idea.... however I'd like to put it out there for discussion.
Unless you're living under a rock, you know that there exists such a thing as the European Union. In it, several European countries have come together to form a bloc in which they share a common currency, certain branches of government, in which there is a free flow of people, and they are working toward a mutual defense system.
I will lay out a case why I think such a union between the United States and Canada could be beneficial to both parties, and could work better than even the EU.
1.) Cultural similarities - Both countries speak English as their first language. The way they talk are virtually indistinguishable from one another. Vancouver and Seattle have more in common with each other, culturally, than either one does with Birmingham Alabama, for example. Toronto and Buffalo have more in common than either has with Dallas.
This is not the case in the EU, and their union still works. USA and Canada are a natural cultural fit.
2.) National Defense - Today, we have NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) which essentially serves to link up the United States and Canada as one unit when it comes to the defense of our continent from foreign invasions. Canada benefits from the US' huge military providing security, and the US benefits from the early warning and defense from the north by, potentially, the Russians or others.
The EU has no such defense agreement, but their union still works. Norad has existed and worked well for both countries since 1956.
3.) Alaska - The only way to get to Alaska is to drive through or fly over Canada. It helps to be able to get to and access your own territories freely.
4.) Economy - Canada is extremely blessed with natural resources. At least equal to that of the United States. Russia is more blessed than either one. The only way Canada or the US can match the Russians is to combine forces.
Here's a breakdown:
CANADA -
Proven oil reserves: 173.9 billion barrels
Proven gas reserves: 70 trillion cubic feet
Proven coal reserves: 7.8 billion tons
Energy portfolio... total value: $20.2 trillion
Metal and ore reserves... $1 trillion
Reserves composition (value):
79% Potash
6% Iron ore
5% Nickel
3% Gold
3% Copper
1% Zinc
1% Platinum (PGM)
Years of production: 56
UNITED STATES -
Proven oil reserves: 35 billion barrels
Proven gas reserves: 300 trillion cubic feet
Proven coal reserves: 237 billion tons
Energy portfolio.... total value: $28.5 trillion
Metal and ore reserves... $613 billion
Reserves composition (value):
20% Copper
19% Iron Ore
12% Gold
5% Platinum (PGM)
4% Zinc
3% Potash
Years of production: 44
RUSSIA -
Proven oil reserves: 87 billion barrels
Proven gas reserves: 1,163 trillion cubic feet
Proven coal reserves: 157 billion tons
Energy portfolio.... total value: $40.7 trillion
Metal and ore reserves... $1.63 trillion
Reserves composition (value):
49% Iron ore
20% Potash
14% Platinum (PGM)
8% Gold
5% Nickel
4% Copper
Years of production: 99
So you can see, the only way the US or Canada can match Russia as far as resources go is to combine forces, in which case we surpass the Russians.
So this benefits the Americans on the global stage. On the other hand, the US is blessed with a large, educated, and industrial population and we have the largest GDP in the world by a long shot. Canada could benefit greatly from free American investment minus all the legal and currency hurdles that exist today.
5.) We get Burger King back, and two types of bacon > one type of bacon.
What do you think? Would you be in favor of the USA and Canada joining forces, or is it better to continue as is?
Unless you're living under a rock, you know that there exists such a thing as the European Union. In it, several European countries have come together to form a bloc in which they share a common currency, certain branches of government, in which there is a free flow of people, and they are working toward a mutual defense system.
I will lay out a case why I think such a union between the United States and Canada could be beneficial to both parties, and could work better than even the EU.
1.) Cultural similarities - Both countries speak English as their first language. The way they talk are virtually indistinguishable from one another. Vancouver and Seattle have more in common with each other, culturally, than either one does with Birmingham Alabama, for example. Toronto and Buffalo have more in common than either has with Dallas.
This is not the case in the EU, and their union still works. USA and Canada are a natural cultural fit.
2.) National Defense - Today, we have NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) which essentially serves to link up the United States and Canada as one unit when it comes to the defense of our continent from foreign invasions. Canada benefits from the US' huge military providing security, and the US benefits from the early warning and defense from the north by, potentially, the Russians or others.
The EU has no such defense agreement, but their union still works. Norad has existed and worked well for both countries since 1956.
3.) Alaska - The only way to get to Alaska is to drive through or fly over Canada. It helps to be able to get to and access your own territories freely.
4.) Economy - Canada is extremely blessed with natural resources. At least equal to that of the United States. Russia is more blessed than either one. The only way Canada or the US can match the Russians is to combine forces.
Here's a breakdown:
CANADA -
Proven oil reserves: 173.9 billion barrels
Proven gas reserves: 70 trillion cubic feet
Proven coal reserves: 7.8 billion tons
Energy portfolio... total value: $20.2 trillion
Metal and ore reserves... $1 trillion
Reserves composition (value):
79% Potash
6% Iron ore
5% Nickel
3% Gold
3% Copper
1% Zinc
1% Platinum (PGM)
Years of production: 56
UNITED STATES -
Proven oil reserves: 35 billion barrels
Proven gas reserves: 300 trillion cubic feet
Proven coal reserves: 237 billion tons
Energy portfolio.... total value: $28.5 trillion
Metal and ore reserves... $613 billion
Reserves composition (value):
20% Copper
19% Iron Ore
12% Gold
5% Platinum (PGM)
4% Zinc
3% Potash
Years of production: 44
RUSSIA -
Proven oil reserves: 87 billion barrels
Proven gas reserves: 1,163 trillion cubic feet
Proven coal reserves: 157 billion tons
Energy portfolio.... total value: $40.7 trillion
Metal and ore reserves... $1.63 trillion
Reserves composition (value):
49% Iron ore
20% Potash
14% Platinum (PGM)
8% Gold
5% Nickel
4% Copper
Years of production: 99
So you can see, the only way the US or Canada can match Russia as far as resources go is to combine forces, in which case we surpass the Russians.
So this benefits the Americans on the global stage. On the other hand, the US is blessed with a large, educated, and industrial population and we have the largest GDP in the world by a long shot. Canada could benefit greatly from free American investment minus all the legal and currency hurdles that exist today.
5.) We get Burger King back, and two types of bacon > one type of bacon.
What do you think? Would you be in favor of the USA and Canada joining forces, or is it better to continue as is?