The Canadian Dependance Movement

 

A Scot has elicited comments from Canadians on Trump’s suggestion that Canada become the 51st state. 

I am surprised to see that almost all of the comments are positive. One New Zealander chipped in, “Can we be the 52nd?”

Is X a good reflection of the general Canadian public? Online polls are worth little in general, but recent studies indicate that X is quite a balanced sample of American opinion, just about equally representing left and right. So it is liable to be just as accurate for Canada.

More impressively, those in favour of union tend to give salient reasons. Lower taxes. A stronger currency. A stronger defense. More opportunity for careers.

Conversely, I have not seen anyone opposed to the union give any good argument against it. The opposition seems to be only emotional. Generally involving name-calling: accusations of treason or more general insults. One feels they have not thought about it.

I think something important is happening here.

I do feel regret over the possible loss of a distinct English-Canadian national culture, the culture of Anne of Green Gables, Mordecai Richler, Stephen Leacock, Al Purdy, and the like. But the Canadian government has already done everything it can to destroy that culture: declaring that Canada has no cultural mainstream, renaming everything, taking down statues, and subsidizing only aboriginal and alienated immigrant artists. A continental government might be more respectful. It could hardly be worse.