Why Canada and the U.S. Should Merge, Eh?

[Tonitrus]

But they'd have 20 Senators.

But only 10 Reprsentatives in the House.

Nah, I think they'd have at least 16-20.  Though unless they adjusted the cap on congressmen, similarly sized states will scream.

Canadian provinces joining the existing US system will never work, though.  A more EU-like arrangement would be better, and more realistic.

Or Canada and U.S. could join the EU (need to change the name ten, though). 

[Admiral Yi]

If they're 10% of the US, they should get like 45, no?

[Eddie Teach]

Canadian provinces joining the existing US system will never work, though. 

Sure it would, in the hypothetical situation where the Canadians wanted to join.

[Tonitrus]

If they're 10% of the US, they should get like 45, no?

You're right, looking at the populations, much closer to 30-40.

But it would take native Americans running rampant all over North America to drive the US and Canada together.  And they'd try and put a maple leaf onto the flag somewhere. 

[Neil]

Ontario alone has a higher population than Illinois.  Quebec is comparable to Virginia.  BC and Alberta are similar in size to Kentucky and Oregon.

[Eddie Teach]

Canada in total has less people than California.

[Grey Fox]

Canada in total has less people than California.

And yet a lot more Oil.

[Eddie Teach]

Oil already has enough representatives in Congress.

[fhdz]

It would pretty much wreck the GOP's footing, so I'm all for it.

Except even the Democrats are far too right-wing to pass muster in Canada.  Canadians have no desire to be stripped of proper health care, nor be exposed to the hordes of weapons that everyone in the US is packing.  The border is there to protect us.

Isn't there something of a gun culture among rural Canadians?

[Josquius]

Easing travel restrictions sounds perfectly sane. Do the same with Europe too.

[Admiral Yi]

On topic, the NYT has an article about the US denying entry to a Canadian woman travelling to Florida to board a cruise ship, on the grounds that she had been diagnosed with depression and tried to commit suicide, and therefore presented a threat to others.

[OttoVonBismarck]

On topic, the NYT has an article about the US denying entry to a Canadian woman travelling to Florida to board a cruise ship, on the grounds that she had been diagnosed with depression and tried to commit suicide, and therefore presented a threat to others.

Anytime you have a border crossing where you have to give documentation and go through a process it opens up the floodgates to that kind of noise. That's why I'd be in favor of an uncontrolled land border with Canada much as borders are in the Schengen Area. That, and further economic cooperation were really all the article was talking about (well, and it proposed a currency union which is a general concept I oppose), all the talk of full political unification is really outside the bounds of the article.

[Neil]

It would pretty much wreck the GOP's footing, so I'm all for it.

Except even the Democrats are far too right-wing to pass muster in Canada.  Canadians have no desire to be stripped of proper health care, nor be exposed to the hordes of weapons that everyone in the US is packing.  The border is there to protect us.

Isn't there something of a gun culture among rural Canadians?

I suppose, but they tend to be more into rifles and shotguns.  The heavy restrictions on handguns keep us safe.

[Berkut]

What would be some practical steps towards greater integration that could actually happen and be meaningul?

1. Obviously opening up the border is a no-brainer.
2. Have the US fully adopt the metric system.
3. Trade and business should be largely unfettered. Some issues here with taxes and such though - we don't want US areas trying to lure Canadian businesses away with tax deals, for example. How to handle that?
4. Common currency.
5. Jettison Quebec.

[PDH]

The problem with Canada is that it is full of Canadians.

See, everybody but you overlooks the real problem here.