[Buffy]

Originally Posted by Racoon

Do you think a North American Union is not a plausible reality? After the success of the European Union?

Originally Posted by Racoon

Hell, they're already here en masse.

I agree completely: Its not just plausable, its probable and good for all concerned, and as you say, its already here.

There are wingnuts on both ends of the spectrum with conspiracy theories and their AM talk radio, and if we let them stop us, well, "then the terrorists win."

Originally Posted by Racoon

...and especially the bottom line of their new currency?

The Canadian and US dollar have been stabily linked for decades and our economies are actually heavily integrated both for manufacturing and resources.

Mexico is a bit more problematic with wide swings really due to political instability and a chronic problem with corruption at every level of business and the legal and political infrastructure that really needs to be fixed before we have "full" economic union, but their oil resources have balanced this out.

They also have to get over hating gringos almost as much as folks north of the border have to get over disdain for "messicans."

I've pushed my daughter into taking Spanish in school, even though many of the "cool kids" are taking French: as I've told her, there's gonna be a lot more Mexicans and Central/Southwestern Americans to talk to than there are Quebecois...

BTW Racc, thanks for keeping the Noticias en Espanol thread going: Its one of my favorites around here!

Dios mio, la NAFTA (isn't it feminine?) es inevitable,
Buffy

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by Raccoon

I didn't mention terrorists. on this topic, altough infiltration along the border should be a major concern.

But with integration, the border you need to protect--Mexico and Guatamala/Belize--is a fraction of the size of the US/Mexico border, and much less hospitable. (I've also heard that the terrorists know about the wild pigs in the jungle and are scared spitless of the stories of those unclean Amazon Women so it offers very few points of entry! )

I of course find it facinating that paranoia about this sort of integration has no party boundaries. You can be a left-wing or right-wing isolationist, but if you are either kind, you're still "supporting the terrorists!"

I want my lettuce picked cheap,
Buffy

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

The term lame duck...

Glossary - US Department of State

...seems to be gaining traction. Which, for me, is incredibly disheartening considering that the man still has 726 days (nearly 2 full years) left in office.

Now *only* 607 days... only.

So, IYO, what progress has been made since this January presentation of state? What balls have been dropped? What remains?

[InfiniteNow]

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