Should the USA and Canada be one country?

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?

What do you have against Canada? We're in the War business and they're in the Peace business. It's OK to go to Cuba from Canada, so it must be a free Country, because you can't do that from the USA, so I guess it's not a free Country. Would the Canadians have to get the same CIA Media that feeds the braindead in the USA or will they be allowed to seek the truth? These questions are legion. We haven't even discussed the debt. That'd be like a millstone around those Canuck necks, and I, for one, like the Canucks. Before the USA locked up the border, I used to go there often. Doesn't seem to be a free Country in the USA anymore. Anyways, the suggestion is like asking if we should give all Cananians a good case of the clap. I'm not thinking you'll get many favorable responses.

Um, how about no.

No, no and ****ing no.

Jetboogieman said:

No, no and ****ing no.

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I like how most of those voting "no" are not Americans or Canadian.

Mostly Europeans responding so far. What are you scared of, Anandablue?

Peter Grimm said:

I like how most of those voting "no" are not Americans or Canadian.

Mostly Europeans responding so far. What are you scared of, Anandablue?

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I'm Canadian bub bub.

No, simply because of how much more Left Leaning their population tends to be in relation to the United States. It'd be like the UK/Scotland situation all over again.

If were ever going to take Canada, it should have been during the Revolution. Unfortunately, neither side was willing to look past the French Catholic / Anglo-Saxon-German Protestant divide seriously enough to make that any sort of union a reality at the time.

I would hate to see Canada get ruined.

You could make the case that US CAN MEX are already a bloc via NAFTA.
Not strictly speaking the same as EU but close.

Two radically different cultural norms.

See the EU, and how well THAT'S working out for THEM.

KevinKohler said:

Two radically different cultural norms.

See the EU, and how well THAT'S working out for THEM.

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Different how? I don't see the differences.

dogtowner said:

You could make the case that US CAN MEX are already a bloc via NAFTA.
Not strictly speaking the same as EU but close.

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True, in a way. Still a lot of political, financial, and legal barriers between the countries though.

Jetboogieman said:

I'm Canadian bub bub.

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Then I'm guessing you just haven't thought it through. No worries.

Would never happen, because Canada would turn us down.

Unity between the United States, Canada, and eventually Mexico is generally perceived as inevitable in the next 100 years. The things that keep us from being separate countries are shrinking at an exponential rate and will continue to shrink at an exponential rate. Eventually, political and economic disunity for the North American Region will become an anachronism.

As an older Canadian, I don't believe this will ever happen in my lifetime, but I do believe that a more comprehensive "union" will eventually happen - although I answered the poll by saying, no.

It is impractical, in my view, to talk about one country because Canada and Canadians would be lost and swamped by numbers. Several of our Provinces would be the equivalent of Rhode Island in population yet significantly greater in wealth of resources both land and natural. Canadians would never agree to simply being absorbed and become 12 new States in the United States of North America. Our voices and world view would become virtually irrelevant when drowned out by 10 times our population to the south.

I do believe, however, that we are on an inevitable course to at least an economic union. The wealth necessary to exploit a lot of our natural resources already comes from American entities, as well as Asian sources. The current government in Canada, a conservative one, is much more open to this type of joint development than many on the Canadian left.

There's not enough time and space to go into all the logistical complications involved in becoming one country. The largest impediment, most likely, would be the emotional one. Canadians, if they're being honest, love Americans, love having America as our neighbour, and selfishly love that any military attack on Canada would be seen as an attack on America, allowing us to skimp on defense spending that is nowhere near adequate for the size and scope of country we need to defend. America is like a big brother that allows us to be confident that no one is going to bully us. And lots of Canadians, with all that, are still a little snobbish about considering themselves better than Americans. It's similar to Toronto and Torontonians often believing they're pretty much a younger version of NYC and we will get there in time.

Bottom line, closer economic union is inevitable but joining under one national umbrella won't happen unless at some point America decides it's in their best interests to take us by force.

Your Star said:

Would never happen, because Canada would turn us down.

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Why do you say that?

In my opinion, the reason it won't happen anytime soon is because of rural, rightwing Americans. I think you could sell the benefits to Canadians and urban, educated Americans in the north.

Peter Grimm said:

Different how? I don't see the differences.

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We value different things. Hockey vs Football. Motorcycles vs snowmobiles. Cops on bikes vs cops on horses (I kid) ( but not really) (no, I kid)

You would force one set of rules, one set of leaders, and one currency onto two different acting, different thinking groups of people.

That's just gonna create hostility, and instability.

Again, see EU.

Well not all of Canada speaks English, we have a sizable Francophone population as well. Also politically we are very different, if Canada joined the U.S., the president and the House would always be Democrat. Despite all of our similarities we also have out differences. I would never support it in a million years.

CanadaJohn said:

As an older Canadian, I don't believe this will ever happen in my lifetime, but I do believe that a more comprehensive "union" will eventually happen - although I answered the poll by saying, no.

It is impractical, in my view, to talk about one country because Canada and Canadians would be lost and swamped by numbers. Several of our Provinces would be the equivalent of Rhode Island in population yet significantly greater in wealth of resources both land and natural. Canadians would never agree to simply being absorbed and become 12 new States in the United States of North America. Our voices and world view would become virtually irrelevant when drowned out by 10 times our population to the south.

I do believe, however, that we are on an inevitable course to at least an economic union. The wealth necessary to exploit a lot of our natural resources already comes from American entities, as well as Asian sources. The current government in Canada, a conservative one, is much more open to this type of joint development than many on the Canadian left.

There's not enough time and space to go into all the logistical complications involved in becoming one country. The largest impediment, most likely, would be the emotional one. Canadians, if they're being honest, love Americans, love having America as our neighbour, and selfishly love that any military attack on Canada would be seen as an attack on America, allowing us to skimp on defense spending that is nowhere near adequate for the size and scope of country we need to defend. America is like a big brother that allows us to be confident that no one is going to bully us. And lots of Canadians, with all that, are still a little snobbish about considering themselves better than Americans. It's similar to Toronto and Torontonians often believing they're pretty much a younger version of NYC and we will get there in time.

Bottom line, closer economic union is inevitable but joining under one national umbrella won't happen unless at some point America decides it's in their best interests to take us by force.

Click to expand...

Best answer so far.

I think what will eventually happen will be an arrangement similar to the United Kingdom.... minus the king. I think the benefits to the Canadian people would be too much to pass up. If you're a business owner in Canada, imagine being able to operate freely in the 50 states without the legal, currency, and political hurdles. Talk about opening up new markets.

If you're a regular joe in Canada, imagine being able to travel to Florida or California with nothing but a drivers licence, or being able to send your kids to Harvard or Stanford without having to fit in to a tight international student quota. It's about being able to move, travel and live anywhere you want, get whatever job you want, and opening up a ton of new doors. I can't imagine the Canadian people, especially in Western Canada, passing that up if it were actually laid out in front of them.

I think it will happen eventually, though, maybe not in our lifetime. I think the principal resistance today would be from politicians who don't see the need due to a weakened Russia and Europe, as well as from rightwing southerners who would fear that the balance would tip in favor of the left as Canadians are seen as more leftist.

However, I believe that at the end of the day, the almighty dollar will win out. It makes too much economic sense. Canada is too vast and underexploited with its small population, and needs to be linked to the industrial and financial machine that is the USA in order to see its assets fully realized. We would both be wealthier with an economic union and, at the end of the day, I think that will win out at some point.

Carjosse said:

Well not all of Canada speaks English, we have a sizable Francophone population as well. Also politically we are very different, if Canada joined the U.S., the president and the House would always be Democrat. Despite all of our similarities we also have out differences. I would never support it in a million years.

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Is your French-speaking population bigger than the US' Spanish-speaking population?

I'll be honest - I'm very familiar with Western Canada... I've been many times to Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and such.... but I've never set foot east of Alberta. I'm not sure how they are culturally over there.

CanadaJohn said:

As an older Canadian, I don't believe this will ever happen in my lifetime, but I do believe that a more comprehensive "union" will eventually happen - although I answered the poll by saying, no.

It is impractical, in my view, to talk about one country because Canada and Canadians would be lost and swamped by numbers. Several of our Provinces would be the equivalent of Rhode Island in population yet significantly greater in wealth of resources both land and natural. Canadians would never agree to simply being absorbed and become 12 new States in the United States of North America. Our voices and world view would become virtually irrelevant when drowned out by 10 times our population to the south.

I do believe, however, that we are on an inevitable course to at least an economic union. The wealth necessary to exploit a lot of our natural resources already comes from American entities, as well as Asian sources. The current government in Canada, a conservative one, is much more open to this type of joint development than many on the Canadian left.

There's not enough time and space to go into all the logistical complications involved in becoming one country. The largest impediment, most likely, would be the emotional one. Canadians, if they're being honest, love Americans, love having America as our neighbour, and selfishly love that any military attack on Canada would be seen as an attack on America, allowing us to skimp on defense spending that is nowhere near adequate for the size and scope of country we need to defend. America is like a big brother that allows us to be confident that no one is going to bully us. And lots of Canadians, with all that, are still a little snobbish about considering themselves better than Americans. It's similar to Toronto and Torontonians often believing they're pretty much a younger version of NYC and we will get there in time.

Bottom line, closer economic union is inevitable but joining under one national umbrella won't happen unless at some point America decides it's in their best interests to take us by force.

Click to expand...

... it almost certainly won't happen by force. There's such a thing in this world as high foreign investment between countries. What occurs between the United States and Canada is on another bracket entirely.

While it is theoretically possible Canada could forcefully disengage itself from America by making gigantic mega sacrifices and shooting itself in the stomach and head, in a real politics sense it would never happen.

KevinKohler said:

We value different things. Hockey vs Football. Motorcycles vs snowmobiles. Cops on bikes vs cops on horses (I kid) ( but not really) (no, I kid)

You would force one set of rules, one set of leaders, and one currency onto two different acting, different thinking groups of people.

That's just gonna create hostility, and instability.

Again, see EU.

Click to expand...

They like football in Canada, and we like hockey in the USA. Did you know they show the NFL on TV in Canada? Did you know that most NHL franchises are in the United States?

Canada and the US are MUCH closer, culturally, than the European Union nations. I would expect us to form a union similar to the United Kingdom... where England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland are distinct countries, but all operate under one umbrella, so to speak.

I would guess that's where we're headed eventually.

Morality Games said:

... it almost certainly won't happen by force. There's such a thing in this world as high foreign investment between countries. What occurs between the United States and Canada is on another bracket entirely.

While it is theoretically possible Canada could forcefully disengage itself from America by making gigantic mega sacrifices and shooting itself in the stomach and head, in a real politics sense it would never happen.

Click to expand...

The American public would never stand for taking Canada by force anyway. That's not on the table, and it isn't what I had in mind in my OP.

Can you imagine the military marching on Vancouver.... that would be like seeing the military occupy Cleveland. Would never be acceptable.

Any sort of union or closer relations would be something mutually agreed upon and negotiated by our politicians, or it wouldn't happen at all.

Peter Grimm said:

Best answer so far.

I think what will eventually happen will be an arrangement similar to the United Kingdom.... minus the king. I think the benefits to the Canadian people would be too much to pass up. If you're a business owner in Canada, imagine being able to operate freely in the 50 states without the legal, currency, and political hurdles. Talk about opening up new markets.

If you're a regular joe in Canada, imagine being able to travel to Florida or California with nothing but a drivers licence, or being able to send your kids to Harvard or Stanford without having to fit in to a tight international student quota. It's about being able to move, travel and live anywhere you want, get whatever job you want, and opening up a ton of new doors. I can't imagine the Canadian people, especially in Western Canada, passing that up if it were actually laid out in front of them.

I think it will happen eventually, though, maybe not in our lifetime. I think the principal resistance today would be from politicians who don't see the need due to a weakened Russia and Europe, as well as from rightwing southerners who would fear that the balance would tip in favor of the left as Canadians are seen as more leftist.

However, I believe that at the end of the day, the almighty dollar will win out. It makes too much economic sense. Canada is too vast and underexploited with its small population, and needs to be linked to the industrial and financial machine that is the USA in order to see its assets fully realized. We would both be wealthier with an economic union and, at the end of the day, I think that will win out at some point.

Click to expand...

An economic union that is more entangled than it is now, yes. And it may happen sooner than you or I think because of developments in the Arctic - clearly Canada and Russia have by far the largest claims in the Arctic and Russia appears to be inclined to seize first and work out the difficulties later. I can see Canada and America entering into an agreement to jointly exploit Arctic resources and by doing so dampen any attempt by Russia to take control of more than what they're entitled to.

We in Canada would likely have issues with your national debt and with your healthcare and immigration policies to name just a couple of the literally hundreds if not thousands of cultural/political differences we have.

But it would be fun to watch Washington adapt to parliamentary government with multiple parties - liberals might actually be able to get back to actually being liberals!!