Should Western Canada Join the United States? (Vanity)

Self ^ | Sept 13, 2002 | Edward Watson

[Edward Watson]

SHOULD WESTERN CANADA JOIN THE UNITED STATES?

The best thing for us Western Canadians is to join the US. We have a lot to offer - 2.5 TRILLION barrels of oil in the Alberta oilsands, greater than all the oil in the Middle East. About 300 billion barrels are recoverable using today's technologies. Oil offshore BC estimated at two to three times the size of Alaska's total oil fields. Natural gas, water, minerals and wood coming out of the yingyang.

If the three Western provinces and the Yukon territory joined the United States as three states, the US would grow by nearly 30% in area or gain an additional million square miles of territory but only gain an additional 8 million people. That's less than the population of greater Chicago in territory as large as Alaska, Texas and California combined.

Benefits to the US:

Territorial contiguity with Alaska

The largest concentration of oil in the world (as large as the entire STATE of New York)

Highly educated workforce

Water

Hydroelectricity

An additional 1 million sq miles of land

Minerals

Wood

The most awesome natural beauty anywhere in North America

Much easier to defend northern border with porous Canada

Best weed and magic mushrooms in North America

Benefits to Western Canadians:

No more marginalization by the East

No more half vote status (i.e., Western Canada needs two votes for every one in Eastern Canada for the same number of MPs)

BC becomes the second largest US state after Alaska and ranks #24 in population. Alberta becomes the 4th largest state and ranks #31 in population. Saskatchewan becomes the fifth largest state in size and 45th in population

US dollars

Can work anywhere in the US without needing Green Cards

No more six month waiting period to get a gun

No more 18-month waiting period to get an MRI scan while suffering excruciating pain for a disintegrated knee

No more 12-month waiting period to see a heart specialist AFTER suffering a heart attack or stroke

Drawbacks for the US:

Can't pretend "Canada is our greatest friend" anymore

Whiny Eastern Canadians and Europeans

Confused new American-Canadians who can't figure out if they're Republicans or Democrats - a lot are to the left but not as far left as the Liberals who govern Canada

Change venerable flag and must include three maple leafs among the 50 stars

Federal Reserve give par to Canadian dollars during expansion

Drawback for Western Canadians

Can't look down upon the 'arrogant' Americans anymore

No more health care for all

Become hated as we travel overseas for vacation

Can't holiday in Cuba anymore

Can't get Cuban whores for $10 anymore

Can't get Cuban cigars anymore

Can't get Cuban whores using Cuban cigar club acts anymore :(

All the US needs to do is mount a marketing campaign towards Western Canadians extolling the advantages of joining the union. Failing that, help Quebec separate from Canada. The moment that happens, we'll be begging for membership within a New York minute rather than live in a Canada even more dominated by Ontario.

Ah, one can only dream.

[Black Powder]

Ah, one can only dream.

Or you can simply move to the land you adore.

[billorites]

We take the Prairie Provinces.

Canada takes Vermont and Massachusetts.

Call it even.

[Plutarch]

It depends whether we get 6 Democrat or Republican Senators.

[spyone]

sign me up.

[Vince Ferrer]

I was just considering starting a thread about this issue, but with Mexico instead.

[fhayek]

You would more than welcome to join us, but there will NOT be any maple leafs on the star spangled banner.

[Coeur de Lion]

No you get a star just like everyone else. If you want a maple leaf you can put one on your state flag. I don't think the Western provinces will secede. I think the only time that will happen is if Quebec succeeds

[adaven]

Edward,

I think you have me sold, just as long as we can take those wacky letters out of your new Zip codes. :-)

Interesting post - thanks!

[Righty1]

Ever heard of a poison pill?

[cmsgop]

I was in a nice resturant in White Rock BC. I asked for a Mai-Tai and the Bartender looked at me like I Bit his sister.....

I had to tell him how to make it. You Guys are in the Third World Man!!!

[motexva]

I had a political science professor who said the Canadian constitution was too weak to hold the divergent interests of Canada together. He said Quebec would become independent, but closely allied with USA, and most of Canada but the northeast would join the USA outright, and the rest would remain a protectorate or something of UK. It sounded pretty wack, but didn't Canada make a huge section of itself into an autonomous zone for the native people, and Quebec seems like it will oneday vote for independence? It seems like something like this could happen.

[marron]

Can't get Cuban whores for $10 anymore

We'll send you some Journalism Majors for free.

[PhiKapMom]

Do the folks in that region vote conservative or liberal? I figure if you vote conservative we would pick up some Republican Senators which in that case would make this a worthwhile proposition.

[okie01]

"I was in a nice resturant in White Rock BC. I asked for a Mai-Tai and the Bartender looked at me like I Bit his sister.....

"I had to tell him how to make it. You Guys are in the Third World Man!!!"

A Mai-Tai is a Third World drink.

CC & soda. Now, that's a First World drink!

[Vince Ferrer]

Ever heard of a poison pill?

Sure, but we're going to merge one way or another. I'd like it to be on our terms, rather than some Aztlan sillyness. There are a lot of good things about Mexico, the natural resources, the hard working people, the culture, which would be good to have here. Some bad parts, like the government, could be destroyed in the process of becoming a state. Other things, like the corruption, can be minimized by competition with and free movement between the other states. Once it is within the United States it would be easy for Americans to invest and own property there, which would greatly help them.

[okie01]

Drawbacks for the US:

How many libs you bringin' with you?

[jslade]

How do we start? Sounds good to me!

[GaryMontana]

I live in Montana.

I often visit Alberta and British Columbia.
This is a wonderful idea!

My friends in Calgary will at first not enjoy losing all of their socialist benefits, but one they recognize that they don't have to wait two years to see a doctor, they will like the system.



I VOTE to add Manitoba too. Eastern Canada does not apperciate Western Canada.