North American Union?????

[t_bonee]

Well, I for one will welcome our Canadian overlords and help them round up slaves to toil in their poutine kitchens.

[storysunfolding]

In some ways it makes sense. From what I hear it's very hard to get into Canada without the proper papers. You guys do a great job of policing your incoming and even your outgoing. Granted there is a crap load of area that someone could come in by boat, trek over land and eventually get to civilization, but someone with those resources and that determination could probably manage to come in through US channels as well.

i liked the days of being able to come across the border without all the craziness.

August 2001 I came into the U.S from Canada in a completely suspicious way. I was dirty, sunburned, had a hat covering my face and sunglasses. In the car with me was my friend Tom who just looks scary and in similar state to me. The car, a dark suburban filled with boxes and supplies with heavily tinted windows. We were also towing a trailer full of random equipment with a big box of open electronics parts with wires sticking everywhere.

We thought we'd be held at least for a time to search our stuff.

I drove up.

guard: Are you guys american?
Me: Yes
Guard: Off you go then.

Sure maybe I don't want things that lax, but I love goining in and out of Canada during the summer and I run into alot of extra hassle now adays.

[jonnythan]

In some ways it makes sense. From what I hear it's very hard to get into Canada without the proper papers.

Well you need proof of identity and proof of citizenship. A driver's license (identity) and birth certificate (citizenship) do nicely. Starting in 2008, though, you'll need a passport. It's not exactly difficult.

You guys do a great job of policing your incoming and even your outgoing. Granted there is a "crumb" load of area that someone could come in by boat, trek over land and eventually get to civilization,

You're not very familiar with the border.

The St Lawrence Seaway stretches for a hundred miles, separating New York from Ontario. There is almost constant civilization on both sides and very little policing of the waterways. It'd be absolutely trivial to get in a kayak or other small boat at any of the hundreds of public put-ins on either side and paddle over to a public beach on the other. It's not a lot of work. I regularly see boats full of expensive items traveling on the river, no doubt smuggling items across the border.

It would take no more than 15 minutes to paddle from Brockville to Morristown.

i liked the days of being able to come across the border without all the craziness.

August 2001 I came into the U.S from Canada in a completely suspicious way. I was dirty, sunburned, had a hat covering my face and sunglasses. In the car with me was my friend Tom who just looks scary and in similar state to me. The car, a dark suburban filled with boxes and supplies with heavily tinted windows. We were also towing a trailer full of random equipment with a big box of open electronics parts with wires sticking everywhere.

We thought we'd be held at least for a time to search our stuff.

I drove up.

guard: Are you guys american?
Me: Yes
Guard: Off you go then.

Sure maybe I don't want things that lax, but I love goining in and out of Canada during the summer and I run into alot of extra hassle now adays.

This happens to me all the time. Only once in maybe 25 border crossings in the last 3 years have I been stopped and searched. I always have a car full of scuba and camping equipment, including tanks that look precisely like bombs on an X-ray.

They take a look at my license and my birth certificate, ask me where I live, and send me on my way.

[storysunfolding]

In some ways it makes sense. From what I hear it's very hard to get into Canada without the proper papers.

Well you need proof of identity and proof of citizenship. A driver's license (identity) and birth certificate (citizenship) do nicely. Starting in 2008, though, you'll need a passport. It's not exactly difficult.

I was speaking more towards entries other than along the us/canada border.

[jonnythan]

Ahhhhh. I misread. Pardon me.

[storysunfolding]

Ahhhhh. I misread. Pardon me.

I could have been clearer.

But "fudge" that "poo poo" since it's my 1500th post!

Hell, screw gold contributor, I'm going platinum!

[Johnj]

Bush is getting too big for his britches. If he truly meant that, he wouldn't be forcing the passport issue for Canadians travelling to the USA.

I think he has another agenda and it's not about a "union".

The USA wants our water, our electricity, our oil and our wood.

Bush needs to re-think his "union" idea.

Laura wears the pants in that family.

Bushs only agenda is to sneak another beer past Laura.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha that is some comedy gold right there.

George W and thinking, what an oxymoron.

[qote="Nalian"]Well, if Canada were to suddenly be part of the US or some new country, that would be an easy swing to the left and all the Bush types out.[/quote]

Dude your 33 million wouldn't have much effect on our 300 million.

[storysunfolding]

[qote="Nalian"]Well, if Canada were to suddenly be part of the US or some new country, that would be an easy swing to the left and all the Bush types out.

Dude your 33 million wouldn't have much effect on our 300 million.[/quote]

With the margins in the last presidental elections, it just may