It would seem that the wrong offer continues to be thrown toward Canada. Whenever Donald Trump or sycophants talk about Canada joining the Union, they reference the whole 51st state thing. But Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Perhaps if Canada were to be offered the 51st – 60th state position with the territories joining with Alaska, the offer might suddenly seem “alright” to some. It would give Canada far more power (Almost like another nation), render the Senate under nearly permanent Democratic control, and put the House into much safer territory. But that offer has never come, and that says a great deal about how much the U.S. wants to actually partner. Republicans want to rule Canada, not join forces. No one more so than Donald Trump, who might dream of such rule. To that end, Trump has a new dream, or new angle – as the case may be. He thinks that Canada wants to be tucked in with America under his new “Golden Dome.”
Today, Donald Trump tweeted out that Canada is now considering the offer to join the United States:
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!
To which, Canada responded, “Fck you, too.” Or they meant to do so but were too polite, nay – too Canada, to say so in such a direct manner.
Canada actually probably had some questions. First, given that the whole deal would be premised on a “Golden Dome System,” it would only make sense that Canada sees a working system in place – and emphasis on working, so that they don’t sell their nation off for a pig in a White House. Additionally, Trump has promised that such a system would cost “Zero dollars,” and thus Canada will expect to receive a $61 billion rebate on their taxes, or more if the cost goes up. After all, they certainly don’t want to be told it is free and then see their tax dollars wasted when money could’ve been spent on nice things like universal healthcare and immaculate highways. Then there is the negotiable number of states thing.
(Actually, what we really want to see is what Canada might do if Red America decided to split and kept everything from Texas to Florida and up the plains states. In such a case, where the Northeast, the Midwest, and the Pacific Coast were “free,” Canada may, at that point, be very interested in the new country – call it the “Enlightened States.” Hopefully, that discussion will be left for another day. It is probably best to pray for further American enlightenment, given this country’s success, along with the success of our northern neighbor. Right now, they can be forgiven for not seeing anything worth joining.)
It hardly seems necessary to analyze the real merits of the offer. Too many of us Americans believe that the Golden Dome may be nothing more than a useless system built to stop your grandfather’s ICBMs. It is not clear that such a system could even work for those missiles (Hitting a bullet with a bullet), never mind the next generation hypersonic missiles. It sounds like far too much money for a system that is best off never used, and may actually threaten Mutual Assured Destruction. In a warped way, MAD may have prevented war between nuclear powers for 75 years now. Why change anything with changing technology?
Indeed, perhaps it was best put by Lord John Marbury of The West Wing, who – when asked where he stood on the missile shield, said:
“Well, I think it’s dangerous, illegal, fiscally irresponsible, technologically unsound, and a threat, to all people, everywhere.”
He then went on to challenge the thinking that one could “Make it stop,” (The war machine), noting that if you build a shield, someone will build a “better missile.”
Surely, Canadians have watched enough West Wing to know the argument, that and they’ve certainly balanced a budget. Why would you invest $61 billion – if it all came in within the budget – when you can get the same protection by having good international relations and a massive military set to destroy anyone or anything that threatens the U.S. or Canada?
Canada – and most Americans, also know that nothing is “free” or “costs zero.” Perhaps that is why they have the good sense to want nothing of this 51st state stuff. Now, go to 60 states, and maybe there is something about which to talk. Or just bust this thing wide open and make Toronto the summer capital, and L.A. the winter one. Oh Enlightened Provates!
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Love that clip. The whole episode in fact but I was a huge fan of West Wing and the number of great ‘must watch shows’ far exceeds the ones that were so-so.
Drumpf just loves all this fantasy but there are so many real issues (other than things like Canada’s universal healthcare) that he just doesn’t seem to understand would have to be overcome before this fantasy could ever become reality.
For starters, the Constitutional issue. Oh, not the US Constitution but rather Canada’s. Granted, Canada doesn’t have a formal Constitution like the US does but there are many components–written AND unwritten–that are established as underpinning Canada’s government and, most importantly, its status as a constitutional monarchy, currently recognizing King Charles III as Canada’s official Head of State.
Then, there’s Canada’s political system with a Parliamentary form of government in which the leader of a Party is not just a figurehead but an active participant in the Party’s standing in Parliament. The Prime Minister, for instance, is expected to also be a member of Parliament. (It *is* possible for a Prime Minister to lose the election for his specific constituency/district and remain his party’s leader but it’s also considered unlikely for such a situation to remain for long as his own district rejected him, so why should the Party stick with him?) Also, when the Party in power or the Prime Minister loses the confidence of the people, elections can be called before the next regularly scheduled election. (IMS, a PM’s official term lasts 5 years but a political crisis can lead to new elections after just 2 or 3 years; if the voters ultimately have faith in the current leadership, they’ll vote them back in but, if not, they’ll swap out for new leadership. We saw that earlier this year with Trudeau’s call for new elections after a crisis and, if it hadn’t been for Drumpf’s stupidity with this “51st state” and tariff nonsense, there’d be a new party in charge, not just a new PM.)
Then, there’s a matter of language. Canada has TWO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES, English and French (or “l’anglais et le français”) and these are enshrined in that Constitution (plus there are many other languages–including indigenous languages–that have varying levels of recognition by the Canadian and provincial governments) and the province of Québec specifically recognizes French as its SOLE official language (most government services are available in English as well) and two of the territories (Nunavut and Northwest Territories have indigenous languages that have legal status with English and French). Officially, the biggest hurdle towards Puerto Rican statehood (should the people choose that option in a referendum) has been Puerto Rico’s language issue–Spanish was, of course, the primary language of most citizens but it only became the primary official language about a decade ago. So, a “State of Canada” with a language other than English as either official or co-official language would remove that hurdle for Puerto Rican statehood prospects. (Technically, New Mexico also has Spanish as an official language but that was built in as part of New Mexico’s statehood and that statehood happened more than 70 years before the right’s decision to make language part of the “culture wars” nonsense–and even most of the people behind the English-as-official-language movement have included an exemption for New Mexico especially as the state has kind of moved away from pressing the language matter. As I understand it, official documents basically have Spanish-language copies done as a perfunctory matter rather than any “legal requirement”–sort of like watching a TV show long past the point of really caring about it because you’ve invested so much time you feel obligated to finish it.)
In a word, rubbish. Canada cancelled its participation in NORAD a couple of months ago, which was the shared North American defense alliance that came out of the Cold War. Canadians have no interest in joining the US and we are strengthening economic and security ties with the EU and NATO, exclusive of the US.
Two further words to the Orange King of the Golden Dome: DON’T COME. There’s a G7 meeting in Canada scheduled for next month and his presence would not only require a special ministerial permit to allow a convicted felon into the country, but also an invitation to Canadians to display our deep affection for him.
Fascinating point, Roger, about Trump entering Canada as a convicted felon. If he does so, what might be done with him? Locked up overnight, then sent to a Gulag in, say, el Salvador?
That’s messy; I’d prefer he was simply stopped from entering, firmly but of course quite politely, in the classic Canadian fashion.