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anigoSo, I'm trying to get ready for work this morning and I hear something on the radio about the meeting of the Americas and how Pres. Bush gave no more than a passing "howdjado" to Canada and was all snuggly to Mexico. (This, may infact be a misquote of the situation - I wasn't exactly in super-chipper-paying-attention mode this morning, but the question it brought to my mind is the point, not the misquote)
So. Here's Canada. All big, and sparcely populated and not a *real* super power and stuff, sitting next door to the US. And if the US decides, for what ever reason, not to let Canada come over and play with its toys, what options for retaliation are available to Canada?
"Fine, we'll just close our borders" (uh... yeah, *that's* effective)
"Fine, we just won't ship you any more um... uh... wheat! Uh.. no, Uh... BEEF!!! uh, oh, yeah, there's that isn't it.. uh... um... I know, we won't send you any more of our Computer Techs!! Yeah!"
"Fine, we'll just bring our Army... um... What, Bob and Fred (AKA -"the army") are out at MacDonalds? Ok, that won't work. Maybe we'll fly one of our Hercules Helicoptors over you and wait for it to malfunction. (And it will) How's THAT for a threat."
"Fine, we'll just get the RCMP (That's Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to ride their horses over there and poop on you."
"Fine, we'll just blow all of our leaves on your country"
This isn't designed as either Canada Bashing or US bashing, it's just a big old global question that can be asked in any scenario. When your friend and neighbour is the biggest, most popular, most powerful guy on the block, what options do you have other than to smile and nod, or pretend you're not home.
So. Here's Canada. All big, and sparcely populated and not a *real* super power and stuff, sitting next door to the US. And if the US decides, for what ever reason, not to let Canada come over and play with its toys, what options for retaliation are available to Canada?
"Fine, we'll just close our borders" (uh... yeah, *that's* effective)
"Fine, we just won't ship you any more um... uh... wheat! Uh.. no, Uh... BEEF!!! uh, oh, yeah, there's that isn't it.. uh... um... I know, we won't send you any more of our Computer Techs!! Yeah!"
"Fine, we'll just bring our Army... um... What, Bob and Fred (AKA -"the army") are out at MacDonalds? Ok, that won't work. Maybe we'll fly one of our Hercules Helicoptors over you and wait for it to malfunction. (And it will) How's THAT for a threat."
"Fine, we'll just get the RCMP (That's Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to ride their horses over there and poop on you."
"Fine, we'll just blow all of our leaves on your country"
This isn't designed as either Canada Bashing or US bashing, it's just a big old global question that can be asked in any scenario. When your friend and neighbour is the biggest, most popular, most powerful guy on the block, what options do you have other than to smile and nod, or pretend you're not home.
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We have neighbors?
Date: 2004-01-13 07:37 am (UTC)And those workers don't have legitimate citizens working on their behalf through big gigantic lobby groups to Washington, D.C., telling the Pres to make them legal.
Whereas the Mexicans do have these things. I want to say we have something like 8 million illegal Mexican migrant workers here, but that seems to low. And of course, you can't call any American company and have them admit that they have such workers. Yet these men and women who sneak across the border then find advocacy among actual voters and raise holy hell. And it's an election year.
In other words, there ain't a lot of Canadian lobby groups here to catch Mr. Bush's attention. And you know what? I'm not sure Canada wants his attention. I think the "pretend you're not home" thang is the best bet. That's what I'd do. But Canadians love me.