We'd Rather Be Canadian -Canadian Action Party

So the "heart of the election issues" is...America bad, Canada good?

It would seem that CAP has declared that it's "opponent" in this campaign isn't the Liberals, Conservatives, Bloc or NDP, but rather the United States of America. I guess it's not surprising, given that, more and more, that's who Paul Martin sounds like he's running against too.

Actually, what we`re saying is, "We don`t want to integrate with the USA."

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Dave Ruston

>>Actually, what we`re saying is, "We don`t want to integrate with the USA." <<<

Ill pass that along to all the people desperate to "integrate" with Canada down here...

I thought the clip was pretty straight forward, we don't want to be slaves to the corporate greed, the military industry and we stand on guard for a free, democratic, sovereign Canada. We the people deserve consultation and input before our country becomes part of a North American fortress serving corporate interests. We the people have never been asked.

If enough people realize what has happened, in our name, this election might give us the opportunity to speak out and change this destruction before its too late. We'd rather be Canadian through and through.

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

Please define "integrate". We're already integrated with the US, just as we were before 9/11, and before the FTA. Shared geography integrated us long before politics abd trade did. How close is too close, and how far away is distant enough?

Yes, let Canadians decide, and not a small group of sellouts.

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Dave Ruston

What colour is the sky on your planet, Dave?

If i really wanted to hear from a smartass american I'd fart.

>>Please define "integrate".<<

I have been asking these people to precisely define that for ages now. They want to keep it deliberately ambiguous so it can mean all things to all people. I have said before, this is all about “branding” to sell a product.

There is no such thing as "deep integration™". What they have done here is take a term, “integration” and divorce it from any context that it may have been used. It is now being used as a catchall phrase to describe ANY cooperation with the USA. What this does is enables you do short circuit any reasoned debate on any given issue and condemn it as an attack on your sovereignty. Anyone who tries to point this out can be labeled a corporate turncoat or an American sellout. It appeals to the nationalist instinct that everyone has and it is being used to demagogue any issue that comes along to make themselves look like the preserver of Canadian sovereignty from the evil Americans. It sews resentment where there need not be any and it serves to manipulate the people through their prejudices into doing what the politicians (or politician wannabes) want them to do.

The people who try to manipulate the voters in such a way display an inherent willingness to deceive which should scare the hell out of you.


>>How close is too close, and how far away is distant enough?<<<


How is this for a crazy concept: Why not do what is best for Canada, rather then simply the opposite of what the USA is doing?

>>>Yes, let Canadians decide. <<

Quite frankly, I can't wait.

"How is this for a crazy concept: Why not do what is best for Canada, rather then simply the opposite of what the USA is doing? "

Sadly on most counts doing the exact opposite of what the USA does is best for Canada.

Examples - no illegal wars, torture or use of chemical weapons on civilian areas.

Private for profit health care that sees over 40 million with no health care.

Addressing poverty - top 10% of Americans control over 80% of the wealth.

Cleaning up the environment - USA had to be shamed into signing onto a new round of climate talks.

Democracy - we are forging ahead with democratic reforms while they seem hell-bent on alienating voters with unaccountable electronic voting machines for example, or lobby groups dictating law.

Corporate accountability - there is little to discern between the US government and the largest corporations. Benito called it fascism, most of us call it undemocratic.

Those are but a few examples but CAP is on the right track.

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If there was ever a time for Canadians to become pushy - now is the time - for time is running out on this nation called Canada.

<a href='http://canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2005/12/us-influence-welcome-dailykos-readers.html'>Please do!</a> <p> Thanks!