Is it time for Canada to annex Blue America?
When I lived in DC and people talked about “statehood” I’d always put in a plug for “provicehood.” It seems my idea is catching on.
The United States is struggling. Increasingly bitter cultural and racial divides hobble the country. The political system is all but rigged with gerrymandering and unlimited special interest money. The health care system is broken, and even modest reforms risk repeal. A good education can mean a lifetime of debt. With no hope of any gun control on the horizon, there is now on average one mass shooting a day. Climate change is already wreaking havoc, but decision makers pretend it doesn’t exist. And, overseas, America’s international reputation has never been worse, even among traditional allies.
Canada has its problems too. Our falling birth rates and insufficient immigration numbers are putting significant limits on our potential long-term growth and prosperity. Our economy lags behind other OECD countries in terms of innovation and our entrepreneurs tend to be very risk-averse. We remain a resource economy. And then there is the weather. Our winters are simply hell.
Now, what if I told you we could solve all of these problems, both Yankee and Canuck, with one simple step? Interested? Well, it’s true. I propose that we formally offer certain American states the opportunity to join Confederation and become Canada’s next provinces.
Might not work out quite that well: Hampshirites and Mainiacs can be pretty independent cusses, and a lot of them wouldn’t like all of the regulations under Canadian law.
Of course, much of the blue states aren’t so very blue: outside of the big cities, New York was quite red. Donald Trump carried two of Delaware’s three counties. In only two states, Massachusetts and Hawai’i, did Hillary Clinton carry every county.
Of course, I realize that our host isn’t really pushing this idea, but simply publishing it as an interesting article. Perhaps the idea would have worked better if it had been for cities to declare themselves to be free city-states.
“Donald Trump carried two of Delaware’s three counties.”
Which contain one-third of its citizens. Total.
Also, the Quebecois are pretty independent cusses themselves, while most Mainers couldn’t find their ass with both hands.
Come to think of it, where in the US do people not consider themselves independent cusses? This is the curse of America — everyone in it thinks he or she is self-made.
Them’s fightin’ words, sir! My mother’s family is from Maine! I didn’t live there long myself, only one winter (when I was in the third grade), but that’s one tough place.
Mainiacs are pretty resourceful people, able to handle life in some of the harshest conditions in the United States.
True enough, but it still notes the problem: when our esteemed host ‘suggested’ blue state secession, he ignored the problem that even in the blue states, a whole lot of people voted Republican.
We actually had that situation, when Virginia seceded, and the people in several counties didn’t approve; they then seceded from Virginia, to form West Virginia.
As you know, eastern Tennessee tried to do the same as West Virginia but failed, which is why we have no state of Franklin.
There are a “whole lot” of liberals in red states, too, if we’re considering 35% a “whole lot.”
You know enough history to know that there were people in the North who were anti-union and some in the South who were against secession. It’s not as if Americans are loathe to pick up and move.
The actual logistical problem is that Canada wouldn’t want us.
On Maine: My wife’s grandmother lived and taught elementary school there for more than 30 years. I’m very familiar with Maine. It reminds me of Cecil County, but with more rocks.
I like it if we can have Conservative Canada. Let’s make a trade.