Merging of America and Canada

[Bogotanian]

I was thinking about this idea randomly and came across this article. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/01/the-big-idea-why-canada-and-u-s-should-merge.html

Do you think it would be beneficial for either country to merge into one nation? Sure there are some serious political differences between the two nations, but there is a lot that they share. They have similar cultural backgrounds and are good allies already. According to this article, a combined US and Canada would be a huge economic superpower. It would be a nation overflowing with natural untapped resources, and a combined US/Canada would have an economy bigger than the European Union. This would benefit America for the abundance of resources in Canada and job creations, while Canada would benefit from having America's military protection and being able to develop the northern regions and populate more areas. This is a step that could be taken to counter a future where China's economy will be greater than the United States' and possible military threats, such as with Putin claiming parts of the arctic that Canada has claimed.

I actually think that this sounds like a pretty good idea for both countries. I know that there are a lot of cultural and societal differences and there would have to be some compromises, but does anyone think that this is a viable idea? Or do you think that there are to many differences between the countries to even think about this approach? Or maybe if they don't become one nation, do you think it would be beneficial to at least have a European-Union type approach to the borders where they are completely open borders between the US and Canada?

However, would Canadians view this as a "landgrab" from the US?

[Bogotanian]

ahhh sorry I put this in the wrong place. Feel free to take it down, I meant to put it in Extended Discussion

[Maltese_Falcon91]

Bogotanian

Do you think it would be beneficial for either country to merge into one nation?

Bogotanian

It would be a nation overflowing with natural untapped resources, and a combined US/Canada would have an economy bigger than the European Union. This would benefit America for the abundance of resources in Canada and job creations, while Canada would benefit from having America's military protection and being able to develop the northern regions and populate more areas.

Yeah, no.

Aside from the cultural differences, paying taxes for the United States military's "protection" isn't quite the wonderful thing you seem to think it is. Also Canada is already a nation with untapped resources, and we can develop the northern regions just fine without American assistance.

Even then, if it was a good deal, well, Canadians still like having some say in how their country is run. Most of the population does sit in Quebec and Ontario, but the little guy in Alberta or Manitoba still does get some say in a federal election. One person out of thirty four million might not seem so great, but it's a damn sight better than one person out of roughly three hundred and fifty million (after the hypothetical merger).

[Morberticus]

Maltese_Falcon91

Let's destroy America with our weapons of mass destruction!

Welp, looks like Canada will have to be liberated.

[Ashenflame]

From a tourist perspective, merging all of North America would be nice. No more passports and being accused of stealing jobs and drugs and generally trying to destroy society.

From a political perspective, oh gosh, all chaotic hell would break loose as everybody re-established their pecking orders!

[Maltese_Falcon91]

Morberticus

Welp, looks like Canada will have to be liberated.

Yeah, I'm sorry, Can you speak up? I can't quite hear you over the sound of my free healthcare. Yes, I know you were being satirical, I've just wanted to use that comeback for ages.

[Lucky~9~Lives]

Maltese_Falcon91

Yeah, I'm sorry, Can you speak up? I can't quite hear you over the sound of my free healthcare.

Deafness isn't exactly a ringing healthcare endorsement.

[VeganIncubus]

Would our national bird be the maple leaf?

[Xiam]

I don't think it would work. Health care would be a big problem, as America wouldn't like anything they think equates to "Socialism" and Canada wouldn't want such a broken bullshit system like America has.

We've also got s**t like how Canada actually seems to like its ties to England. She's on their ******** money, for crying out loud.

And I'm worried that if we're the same country, we might corrupt them.

[VeganIncubus]

********, we'll probably have to worship the moose god.

[Cupcakes HD on youtube]

hopefully itd influence us to go more green or whatever, banning certain chemicals used in foods and stuff.

but canada has more spiritual people which recently a different article suggests means they are crazies. xd Theres probably more native americans up there too to spread weird ideas lol. I suppose some aborigines would be refreshing but, still.

[Exoth XIII]

Dizzy_Solace

hopefully itd influence us to go more green or whatever, banning certain chemicals used in foods and stuff.

but canada has more spiritual people which recently a different article suggests means they are crazies. xd Theres probably more native americans up there too to spread weird ideas lol. I suppose some aborigines would be refreshing but, still.

According to the more reliable polls (read: not the Gallup poll,) 40% of Americans still don't buy into evolution. (Gallup seems to think that's 60%, but they like to load their questions.)
I think we'll fit right in.

[Mooby the Golden Sock]

We'd probably be better off forming a North American Union. Start it off with Canada, USA, and Mexico, and consider expanding to Central America/Caribbean later.

Yeah, I know, Mexico would start off as the weak link in the chain. But making it easier for Mexicans to cross the border to work legally would mean we could stop worrying about border control *GASP* and instead start encouraging more tourists to head down there. Hopefully this would result in Mexico cleaning up the cartels a bit too, possibly improving its economy for the long haul.

[Cupcakes HD on youtube]

Exoth XIII

Dizzy_Solace

hopefully itd influence us to go more green or whatever, banning certain chemicals used in foods and stuff.

but canada has more spiritual people which recently a different article suggests means they are crazies. xd Theres probably more native americans up there too to spread weird ideas lol. I suppose some aborigines would be refreshing but, still.

According to the more reliable polls (read: not the Gallup poll,) 40% of Americans still don't buy into evolution. (Gallup seems to think that's 60%, but they like to load their questions.)
I think we'll fit right in.

The cocnept of evolution is so simple once a person understands it, but I can see where pre-internet bible belt oldies would not believe it through sheer not listening lol.

[Lexx Le Lain]

We don't really need a single governing body for two countries to get along and have open relationships... Canada and the US are strong allies, and likely will be for the foreseeable future. Every country has positives and negatives... there's just no reason to even considering merging the US and Canada at the present time.