If the U.S. would just have the mind set of taking over all the adjacent countries in a forceful military sort of way,
You're right, invasion/occupation (as you're all too aware) costs way too much.
I mean not a hint of sarcasm believe it or not in the blatantly off topic rant that follows...
On the other hand. To
let Canada join the US (more Canadians than you might expect would be totally on board) would actually be unpallatable to Americans.
Capitol Hill wouldn't accept the provision to its Electoral College of ten odd more
states with the voting habits of Rhode Island.
Just think - if the US
only elected Democrats and Canado-Tory-Liberals for twenty-some-odd years straight it would resolve the US deficiut (a feat that eludes
so called American conservatives) - but only at the expense of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Gurmman, Raytheon, Haliburton and a few others.
Just think of the chaos that would ensue with lobbiests in Washington!
The other option is making Canada a series of territories like Puerto Rico. But Canada has more oil than Saudi Arabia and more fresh water than the US and Russia (fresh water is the new oil in 2020). It's at least earned the right to statehood. Maybe you could
secretly make a territorial arrangement with the maritime provinces and Quebec, but I didn't say that out loud.
No, the US gets a way better deal with a (so called)
free trade arrangement with Canada and as long as Canada elects Prime Ministers like Harper, the US doesn't need an invasion or have to worry about messy business like
occupation for its north-of-the-border lapdog.
Private corporations that forget a whole separate
market exists north of border is pretty small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.
Consider that what the entire Canadian consumer market brings to the table for any US corporation (The Gap, Ford, Old Navy or the Piggly Wiggly) is about the size of the state of Florida. The corporations that forget we have unique licensing arrangements can be forgiven. In fact we pretty much expect such SNAFUs as I'm sure residents of Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico have learned as well.
As a Canadian, I'm rooting for you guys! (I'm a Canadian who loves America - so much so I'm a vet of your US Army) I hope the US dollar and economy gets better ASAP - we're relying on you guys - as Dennis Leary said - to control mean SOBs that control **** bombs! I want the US dollar to be the world's currency. The Loonie is just a small buffer that can't hide from US dollar devaluation forever.
Being such close neigbours we get all the economic benefits of the world's premier super power - a neigbour with whom we can speak English, and we don't have to deal with your
unique health care arrangements.
GO USA!
