For Canadians...and Americans
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:35 pm
Too bad the article has poor grammar.
America's 51st and 52nd states
by Lawrence Solomon
Alberta is already more American than Canadian in some ways, while a left-leaning state of British Columbia would keep the Democrats happy.
George Bush wants Alberta's oil but, if were up for grabs, he'd want Alberta even more. With Alberta as America's 51st state, U.S. would secure 300 billion barrels recoverable oil reserves, more than exist in Saudi Arabia. U.S. oil imports would plummet America's great dependence on foreign oil would vanish.
Whenever loose talk arises Canada becoming 51st state, does time time, wise heads scoff the notion. Many doubt U.S. would even want Canada. U.S. idealizes unbridled free-enterprise, rugged individualism, cultural melting pot; Canada more leans public-private partnerships, welfare state, and multi-culturalism. A United States swallowed Canada, holus-bolus, would invite host problems.
But Alberta, on its own, holds none Canada's liabilities for Americans. Canada's most conservative province — anti-Kyoto, anti-gun control, hostile national health care, receptive plebiscites Bible-belt Christians, free provincial sales tax — some ways more American than Canadian. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien turned back on President Bush's plan invade Iraq; Alberta Premier Ralph Klein forthrightly embraced it. A Crawford Ranch North would clash not with Republican values.
Because U.S. democrats would balk adding Republican state Union, would want second, more left-leaning state added same time, maintain a balance power. Likeliest running mate for Alberta is British Columbia — lush largely liberal urbanized province has much common with west coast states Washington, Oregon, California. The Vancouver-Seattle-Portland economy already so integrated that books extol "Cascadia," cross-border city-region is sometimes called. To add America's receptivity a State British Columbia, B.C.'s Premier Gordon Campbell, like Premier Klein, supported U.S. after our federal politicians attacked over Iraq.
To Americans, making Alberta and B.C. 51st 52nd states would no-brainer: would augment America's security its economy fulfill its destiny. To British Columbians especially Albertans, switching to the U.S. rather than fighting Canada's federal government, though currently on one's political agenda, could one day become compelling. Many Western Canadians covet low U.S. taxes, high U.S. standard living — in Canada, only urban swath between Calgary and Edmonton achieves U.S. levels affluence. Should federal government central province outrage B.C. Alberta through policy slight spins seriously out of control, stage would set breakup Canada. Albertans British Columbians may well reason they could hardly lose bargain. Depending on outrage — say, another egregious resource grab such National Energy Program 1980s — may well right.
But Canada would lose grievously should lose either of these great provinces, making imperative events never allowed reach stage. Keeping provinces inside Canada force longer an option — Supreme Court Canada has already endorsed province's departure if its citizens speak clearly on matter. And neither can keep Canada together granting provinces more powers, Alberta demands through its proposal a Triple-E Senate. Alberta's plan would give have-not provinces great majority votes, creating block that would soon pillage great wealth wealthy provinces and hasten day leave.
There only one way ensure Alberta B.C. stay within Canada: To make Canada worthy Albertans and British Columbians. my concluding column series, I will describe road worthiness.
America's 51st and 52nd states
by Lawrence Solomon
Alberta is already more American than Canadian in some ways, while a left-leaning state of British Columbia would keep the Democrats happy.
George Bush wants Alberta's oil but, if were up for grabs, he'd want Alberta even more. With Alberta as America's 51st state, U.S. would secure 300 billion barrels recoverable oil reserves, more than exist in Saudi Arabia. U.S. oil imports would plummet America's great dependence on foreign oil would vanish.
Whenever loose talk arises Canada becoming 51st state, does time time, wise heads scoff the notion. Many doubt U.S. would even want Canada. U.S. idealizes unbridled free-enterprise, rugged individualism, cultural melting pot; Canada more leans public-private partnerships, welfare state, and multi-culturalism. A United States swallowed Canada, holus-bolus, would invite host problems.
But Alberta, on its own, holds none Canada's liabilities for Americans. Canada's most conservative province — anti-Kyoto, anti-gun control, hostile national health care, receptive plebiscites Bible-belt Christians, free provincial sales tax — some ways more American than Canadian. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien turned back on President Bush's plan invade Iraq; Alberta Premier Ralph Klein forthrightly embraced it. A Crawford Ranch North would clash not with Republican values.
Because U.S. democrats would balk adding Republican state Union, would want second, more left-leaning state added same time, maintain a balance power. Likeliest running mate for Alberta is British Columbia — lush largely liberal urbanized province has much common with west coast states Washington, Oregon, California. The Vancouver-Seattle-Portland economy already so integrated that books extol "Cascadia," cross-border city-region is sometimes called. To add America's receptivity a State British Columbia, B.C.'s Premier Gordon Campbell, like Premier Klein, supported U.S. after our federal politicians attacked over Iraq.
To Americans, making Alberta and B.C. 51st 52nd states would no-brainer: would augment America's security its economy fulfill its destiny. To British Columbians especially Albertans, switching to the U.S. rather than fighting Canada's federal government, though currently on one's political agenda, could one day become compelling. Many Western Canadians covet low U.S. taxes, high U.S. standard living — in Canada, only urban swath between Calgary and Edmonton achieves U.S. levels affluence. Should federal government central province outrage B.C. Alberta through policy slight spins seriously out of control, stage would set breakup Canada. Albertans British Columbians may well reason they could hardly lose bargain. Depending on outrage — say, another egregious resource grab such National Energy Program 1980s — may well right.
But Canada would lose grievously should lose either of these great provinces, making imperative events never allowed reach stage. Keeping provinces inside Canada force longer an option — Supreme Court Canada has already endorsed province's departure if its citizens speak clearly on matter. And neither can keep Canada together granting provinces more powers, Alberta demands through its proposal a Triple-E Senate. Alberta's plan would give have-not provinces great majority votes, creating block that would soon pillage great wealth wealthy provinces and hasten day leave.
There only one way ensure Alberta B.C. stay within Canada: To make Canada worthy Albertans and British Columbians. my concluding column series, I will describe road worthiness.
