24 Nov 07
what do you think of the north american union ( one definition would be a partial economic integration of all states north of the panama ( to include the carribbean states ) but not to allow free migration of peoples ( national frontiers to be maintained )..a common currency alongside national currencies..a common energy policy, a forum to lift up work standards, a common banking to set loans and rules for sound banking, etc...a parliament ( to be placed in puerto rico ) where member states could meet to set out long term goals on various issues ) and lastly a joint invastion of venezuela to seize all the oil....
24 Nov 07
Originally posted by reinfeldThat last bit seems strange, but overall doesn't strike me as a terrible idea. It's basically the European project americanised.
what do you think of the north american union ( one definition would be a partial economic integration of all states north of the panama ( to include the carribbean states ) but not to allow free migration of peoples ( national frontiers to be maintained )..a common currency alongside national currencies..a common energy policy, a forum to lift up work stan ...[text shortened]... erm goals on various issues ) and lastly a joint invastion of venezuela to seize all the oil....
24 Nov 07
Originally posted by agrysonBe suspicious!...It's a GW Bush idea, so there is automatically an implied warning. 🙂
That last bit seems strange, but overall doesn't strike me as a terrible idea. It's basically the European project americanised.
I have been told he has been working on this covertly for many years and (get this) has not used any government funds, for flights, meetings, other expenses, so as to keep it secret, off citizens radar and avoid Congress' ability to demand information or have hearings.
Begs the question: Is Bush looking to dispose of USA sovereignty or swallow Canada and Mexico. hmmmm?
24 Nov 07
..well, the oil thing is a joke but i was thinking of a loose politcal organization as america had with the articles of confedration ( for our first 11 years of or so before we came up with the constitution..the articles had a fraility as they allowed for a great deal of state soviergnty which is what you would want in a north american union...to let the member states join in some matters with one voice but maintain their strong independent national states..
24 Nov 07
Originally posted by MacSwainThe guy ain't all bad. Sure, he's a twit when it comes to certain aspects of foreign policy, but even a twit can see the benefits of a larger, more cohesive economic block to counter rising European and Asian power.
Be suspicious!...It's a GW Bush idea, so there is automatically an implied warning. 🙂
I have been told he has been working on this covertly for many years and (get this) has not used any government funds, for flights, meetings, other expenses, so as to keep it secret, off citizens radar and avoid Congress' ability to demand information or have hearings ...[text shortened]... question: Is Bush looking to dispose of USA sovereignty or swallow Canada and Mexico. hmmmm?
25 Nov 07
Originally posted by reinfeldI don't really understand the point of such a union, but then again I don't understand the point of the EU either. Has it improved the standard of living for all member nations?
what do you think of the north american union ( one definition would be a partial economic integration of all states north of the panama ( to include the carribbean states ) but not to allow free migration of peoples ( national frontiers to be maintained )..a common currency alongside national currencies..a common energy policy, a forum to lift up work stan ...[text shortened]... erm goals on various issues ) and lastly a joint invastion of venezuela to seize all the oil....
25 Nov 07
Originally posted by pawnhandlerI'm Irish, living in France. The French may bitch about it, but believe me, they'd be MUCH worse off without it (and deep down, they all know it grudgingly). As for Ireland... from third world country to one of the richest countries in the world today per head? I think the EU has had a point.
I don't really understand the point of such a union, but then again I don't understand the point of the EU either. Has it improved the standard of living for all member nations?
25 Nov 07
Originally posted by agrysonAlthough I agree with you, let's see what impact there is upon EU economies arising from the high immigrant / workforce movements we are now seeing before we declare it a resounding success.
I'm Irish, living in France. The French may bitch about it, but believe me, they'd be MUCH worse off without it (and deep down, they all know it grudgingly). As for Ireland... from third world country to one of the richest countries in the world today per head? I think the EU has had a point.
There's an awful lot of "hidden costs" that have yet to ripple through, for example, simple translation costs in public services (education/health/police etc) are already proving themselves a substantial fiscal burden in the UK, and are likely the tip of the iceberg in that respect....and the government capping on their budgets is going to mean resources will run dry rapidly.
We'll never know the truth about this....if corporates will, without compunction, hide the truth of their balance sheets until Chapter 11 or worse occurs, what makes you think a Government is going to stand up and admit "we're broke".
I can certainly understand the concern expressed elsewhere in these forums regarding Mexico>USA migrations.
25 Nov 07
Originally posted by ZadadkaThe American Union will be an economic and policy union, a trade bloc, there's no immigration policies on the table. As for the immigration things, I think that's a british problem, why are you translating? They live in england, if they want to deal with public services, they can deal with them in english, it's only official European policy documents that are required by EU law to be translated.
Although I agree with you, let's see what impact there is upon EU economies arising from the high immigrant / workforce movements we are now seeing before we declare it a resounding success.
There's an awful lot of "hidden costs" that have yet to ripple through, for example, simple translation costs in public services (education/health/police etc) are alr ...[text shortened]... erstand the concern expressed elsewhere in these forums regarding Mexico>USA migrations.
Also, immigration is widely regarded as the biggest positive influence for the Irish economy, without the influx of cheap labour our housing boom would never have happened. Yes, it's early days yet, but integration has been good and there are very few racial problems considering that our population has increased from ~4mil to ~6mil in 15 years, mainly from immigration.
25 Nov 07
Originally posted by reinfeldYeah, generally around the west coast from what I'm told, makes the paddy day parade a bit more colourful! But lots of Polish, Latvian and Chinese people as well. We went from having nothing but potatoes, cabbage and ham to having the cuisine of the world at our fingertips! (I like food)
..alot of brazilians i hear...