"Can we Democrats be your next province?"

[Minstrel Boy]

I'm always embarrassed by the lionization of Canada - we have problems of our own, which will only be exacerbated when Paul Martin becomes PM - but I thought you might be interested in this opinion piece in today's Toronto Globe and Mail, by Paul Lewis, a professor at Boston College. It's not a serious suggestion, but it's a good, serious rant.

...

Can we Democrats be your next province?
by Paul Lewis
Globe and Mail, Sept 22

Having endured the outrages of the 2000 presidential "election" and the 9/11-empowered Republicans' reactionary policies, progressive Democrats, Greens and Independents across the United States are smouldering. Especially in the 20 states that went for Al Gore in the Northeast, Midwest, and West, more and more of us are appalled by the combination of dishonest rhetoric, regressive tax giveaways, international adventurism, environmental degradation and unprecedented arrogance spewing from the President and his congressional cohorts.

...

In stunned disbelief, we have signed petitions, given money to progressive causes, and joined street protests. But arghhh! and aarghhh! again, many of us have had it. We're fed up and need to move on -- or out. But where to go?

A map of the state-by-state voting in 2000 suggests the obvious answer. With the anomalous and proud exception of New Mexico, Gore states are contiguous either to Canada or to other Gore states. In the most peaceful and democratic way, without invoking images of Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, these states need to secede from the Union, reform into provinces and join Canada.

As soon as one considers the idea, the advantages become obvious. Citizens of the new Canadian provinces would enjoy basic entitlements and benefits unheard of in the U.S., including: universal health care; good and affordable colleges and universities; good mass transit in major cities; lower rates of violent crime and pollution; affordable prescription drugs; and enhanced respect for the civil rights of all people, including gays and lesbians.

more:

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030922/COCANAM22/TPComment/TopStories

[ixion]

1. hmmm.. nice concept, but it would start a civil war

inverse from the last one. Damn these neocons! Look at what they're doing to our republic. :-(

[Atlant]

3. Good. The sooner the better, because it's practically inevitable!

Start a Civil War?

Good. The sooner the better, because it's practically inevitable!
We can't be both a theocratic dictatorship and a liberal democracy
at the same time, and I'm getting tired of my part of the country
being pissed on by the theocrats.

Atlant

[DBoon]

5. The Civil War started long ago

Say 1968 with Nixon.

[Yupster]

9. Recruitment would be very high in

the south as it always is, and Georgia boys would tell stories of General Sherman as they burned San Fransisco to the ground.

[Interrobang]

2. Cool! Let's do it!

I wanna be able to move to California without having to give up my socialized medicine... Canada needs some warm-weather territory, and if we can't annex Cuba (yet another suggestion to piss off the right-wingers!), this would be perfect! :)

[liberalhistorian]

4. Well, while I am well aware of the fact that Canada

certainly has problems of its own (what country doesn't, no matter how good it is?), this suggestion sure as hell doesn't sound too farfetched to me and it would have my wholehearted support! I say let's go for it, in all seriousness.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again now, if the Bushistas pull of another coup next year and are still in power in January of 2005, I'm taking the kid and getting the hell out of here to Canada, I don't give a damn if I have a job or not. I'm not that far from the border (I'm near Cleveland), so it wouldn't be like we were going to Siberia or something. The times I've been in Canada, it's been so wonderful to be out of Shrub country for awhile. And it does allow dual citizenship.

[pansypoo53219]

6. canada isn't that far.

I like snow, but , if Canada is going into a rite wing phase, what's the point?

[Minstrel Boy]

7. well, there's right wing and then there's

Reich wing. Though Paul Martin represents the corporate wing of the Liberal Party, in US terms that would make him a DLC Democrat, not a Republican.

[Cat Atomic]

8. Can you imagine what the US would be like if it was all

Republican states? It'd look like 1910. The people would be owned by corporations, they'd have no rights, and they'd be flat-ass broke. But at least they'd still have Sean Hannity to listen to.

[Atlant]

10. A lot of folks would get exactly what they so richly deserve. (NT)

[FDRrocks]

11. LOL

I so love the way you Canadians are. I plan on moving there someday, if the situation here doesn't improve.

That being said, when I was younger I had a theory.

Canada is being low-key about international situations b/c they want to build there forces, and then invade North America peacefully and rename the sum area of both countries Canadia.

Yes, all it took was a bottle of vodka and a mispronounciation. But I almost like the idea. Give us a parliament over here, we are dying.

[Pastiche423]

12. Cascadian Province

I love it! And I wouldn't need to call a moving company.

John, your thoughts?