A post suggests that Canada accept the US as the 11th province

[papau]

From: FISHHEAD64 30-Nov 17:01
To: ALL

I think Canada would welcome the US as the eleventh province. So long as they don't drag down our standard of living. But it might be a mitzvah on our part to offer it to them
A number of Americans I've talked to since Bush has come into power have spoken to me wistfully about how they wish their country was more like Canada.
* My gay friends appreciate the tolerance and rights (including the right to marry).
* My African American and Latino friends are impressed by Canada's multicultural milieu, and the less acute racial divisions.
* My friends with kids appreciate the fact that Canada spends more per capita on childhood education than any other G7 country, and that we have strict gun-control laws.
* My friends who can't get health insurance marvel at our universal, state-sponsored system of coverage.
* And my hippie friends are enticed by the government's recent record on creating parks (not to mention the decriminalization of pot).
* Almost all my friends admired Canada's refusal to participate in the invasion of Iraq, and the fact that we primarily use our military for peacekeeping roles that the US eschews. They also admire Canada's leadership in getting the convention on banning land mines off the ground (which the US has refused to sign).

Some comparative statistics:

1. Health care achievement - Canada no. 7 in the world, US no. 15:
http://wwwnt.who.int/whosis/statistics/discussion_papers/pdf/paper28.pdf
2. Quality of education - Canada no. 4 in the world, US no. 18:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/11/26/education.rankings.reut/
3. Overall standard of living - Canada no. 3 in the world, US no. 6:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/24/1027497352616.html
4. Life expectancy in Canada: total population: 79.56 years; male: 76.16 years female: 83.13 years (2001 est.). US: total population: 77.26 years male: 74.37 years female: 80.05 years (2001 est.)

to which I add: Jackson's breast with pastie stunt would not stop all conversation

[megatherium]

1. I'm not sure this is a good idea . . .

I lived in Canada for a year back in the Reagan years. They really are far ahead of the US. (I also just visited Edmonton last August, and was very impressed at how clean and beautiful that city is.) Anyway, I'm afraid if the US became the 11th province of Canada, we would just ruin it. It would break my heart if that happened.

[Devlzown]

2. I wonder if we would start living longer,

or would the Canadians start dying sooner?:shrug:

[papau]

3. depends on whether the GOP are allowed .... or banned

:-)

[MINEMAN]

4. if it's so great

please go

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. More to the point, why don't you just go.

You won't be here long anyhow.

[0rganism]

6. Perhaps Canada could annex specific states?

Western Washington and Oregon could join BC, while everything east of the Cascades is ceded to Idaho. New England should rightfully become its own province, as French is not as commonly spoken as it is in Quebec. (the Pats could Dominate in the Canadian league!) Florida would naturally be offered to Cuba as reconciliation. And so on.

I think with a little work, this plan could be a winner. The liberals and progressives would be happy, the racists and fundamentalists could have most of the southeast for their own romping grounds, and the moderates would be okay either way.

[KamaAina]

8. Would they settle for Hawai'i?

This was seriously discussed, in the 1880s when Hawai'i was still an independent kingdom, but in danger of being overrun (quite soon, it turned out) by the U.S. imperialists.

Think of it! Canada would no longer need to try to pass off B.C. as its "warm province". And we'd gain because our population of 1.2 mln would put us roughly on a par with Manitoba, rather than being one of the very smallest U.S. states.

We've even got the Union Jack in the field of our flag:



the Pats could Dominate in the Canadian league!

Are you sure? How well would Brady's short passing game adapt to the three-down rule in the CFL? :-)

[Jose Diablo]

7. Ya think Mexico would take back Texas? n/t

[Vogon_Glory]

14. Mexico Take Back Texas???

Now that would be entertaining. Aside from the fact that most Texas Anglos (Myself included, I'm embarassed to say) don't speak Spanish that well, I'd find the political fates of the likes of Rick Perry, Tom DeLay, and Lamar Smith in a re-Mexicanized Texas to be very entertaining. Far too far to the right for Mexico's PRI, far too boorish and Protestant for Mexico's PAN party, those personas sin cultura would find themselves out in the cold in short order.

[roguevalley]

9. where do I sign, eh?

[camero]

10. Just accept us as immigrants, eh.

The freeps can stay here. :)

[Minstrel Boy]

11. There's ongoing discussion about the Turks and Caicos Islands

joining Canada. Seriously.

"The idea of union with this second largest cluster of islands in the Western Hemisphere was first suggested by Canadian Prime Minister Borden in 1917, but not until the 1970s did it receive serious attention when - at the urging of Islanders - Max Saltsman, an NDP Member of Parliament, initiated a debate in the House of Commons through a Private Member's Bill. Although the Government of the day rejected the concept, it has remained an issue of perennial popularity."

http://www.aplaceinthesun.ca/

[KamaAina]

12. Brilliant. But are they big enough to support a hockey team?

Could be a dealbreaker... :-)

[MINEMAN]

13. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=856&ncid=856&e=2&u=/nm/200