US annexing Canada, only a matter of time?

[MasterJedi]

I think it's only a matter of time until the US annexes most if all of Canada!

The US economy would expand almost unimaginably and we would get more jobs and natural resources.

Just don't have Quebec in the mix or everything would go down the pooper.

[Gustaf]

That's imperialist BS, I am all for letting people have their own independent nations if they want to. And Canda is doing fine on it's own.

[JohnFKennedy]

I must admit, I don't know much about Canadian geography myself but I think it is ok as an independent country, I like the arrangement the way it is.

[Platypus]

Whilst I would love to have them, I really only think that the Prarie provinces have any chance whatsoever of joining the US, only because they hate the federal govt so much. but even that is a loooong stretch. Why would you want to leave a country with free healthcare, great education, and liberal ideals, especially if it was your homeland?

I would live in Canada if I didn't love America-it is my homeland. My heart resides here, not in Sakatchewan. So if I dont want to step up, why would they want to step down?

[MarkDel]

Whilst I would love to have them, I really only think that the Prarie provinces have any chance whatsoever of joining the US, only because they hate the federal govt so much. but even that is a loooong stretch. Why would you want to leave a country with free healthcare, great education, and liberal ideals, especially if it was your homeland?

I would live in Canada if I didn't love America-it is my homeland. My heart resides here, not in Sakatchewan. So if I dont want to step up, why would they want to step down?

Hughento,

So would it be fair to say that you prefer the Canadian system of government, and Canadian "philosophy" of government, over the US?

[Platypus]

whlst I don't like the fact that they have a monarch as HoS, and that one party is a bit too powerful 9although if you look at opinion polls...), overall I think it is a very good system, on par with the US.

In terms of their social programs, yes they are better.

[MarkDel]

whlst I don't like the fact that they have a monarch as HoS, and that one party is a bit too powerful 9although if you look at opinion polls...), overall I think it is a very good system, on par with the US.

In terms of their social programs, yes they are better.

Hughento,

So then it's fair to say that you believe in a "paternalistic" society with a significant increase in the welfare state and a significant increase in personal taxation?

[Platypus]

I believe that if you can offer a good social security system, and still have extremely high levels of freedom of speech, it doesnt matter how much you tax. Well, within reason anyway.

That's why the world's top three countries, according to the UN, are scandinavian-Norway, Sweden, Iceland-they have high taxes, and great social security.

[Platypus]

Belgium, America and Canada are all equal 6th, my mistake.

http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2003/indicator/indic_8_1_1.html

I'm a little surprised Australia is so high up, whats their system?

Also a bit surprised by the poor showing of France.

[MarkDel]

I believe that if you can offer a good social security system, and still have extremely high levels of freedom of speech, it doesnt matter how much you tax. Well, within reason anyway.

That's why the world's top three countries, according to the UN, are scandinavian-Norway, Sweden, Iceland-they have high taxes, and great social security.

Hughento,

So I guess the answer to my question would be "yes" then? As for the UN report you cite...I guess all studies have their place, but please consider that the people who issue this report have a fairly substantial agenda.

[JohnFKennedy]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

[MarkDel]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

[Gustaf]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

Any study that has Sweden that high GOT to be correct.

I think all studies do show that Scandinavia and the smaller international Anglo-Saxon countries are the best places to live...that includes actually asking people what they think.

[MarkDel]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

Any study that has Sweden that high GOT to be correct.

I think all studies do show that Scandinavia and the smaller international Anglo-Saxon countries are the best places to live...that includes actually asking people what they think.

Gustaf,

I guess I have to go check out Sweden at some point. Of course, I promised myself I would never return to mainland Europe after my last visit where I encountered more hostility than a naked leper. After my last trip to Europe, I jokingly told people that the only way I would come back is if I came in by parachute as part of an invasion...LOL

[JohnFKennedy]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

Any study that has Sweden that high GOT to be correct.

I think all studies do show that Scandinavia and the smaller international Anglo-Saxon countries are the best places to live...that includes actually asking people what they think.

lol, I used to be obsessed with Iceland when I was little, always wanted to live there, beautiful country (from what I have seen in pictures)

[Platypus]

I believe that if you can offer a good social security system, and still have extremely high levels of freedom of speech, it doesnt matter how much you tax. Well, within reason anyway.

That's why the world's top three countries, according to the UN, are scandinavian-Norway, Sweden, Iceland-they have high taxes, and great social security.

Hughento,

So I guess the answer to my question would be "yes" then? As for the UN report you cite...I guess all studies have their place, but please consider that the people who issue this report have a fairly substantial agenda.

It's the UNHDR-completely neutral, and I actually think it is run by an american...

anyway, it is still one of the most authoritative and recognised sources.

Personally, I doubt I could live in Norway, I can't ski

[Gustaf]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

Any study that has Sweden that high GOT to be correct.

I think all studies do show that Scandinavia and the smaller international Anglo-Saxon countries are the best places to live...that includes actually asking people what they think.

Gustaf,

I guess I have to go check out Sweden at some point. Of course, I promised myself I would never return to mainland Europe after my last visit where I encountered more hostility than a naked leper. After my last trip to Europe, I jokingly told people that the only way I would come back is if I came in by parachute as part of an invasion...LOL

You would certainly not be treated like that in Sweden...I think...most people here aren't aginst Americans, just Republicans..oh, well...

You could hang out with pro-Americans, like me.

And, above all, we are NOT, repeat NOT, part of mainland Europe...

[MarkDel]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

Any study that has Sweden that high GOT to be correct.

I think all studies do show that Scandinavia and the smaller international Anglo-Saxon countries are the best places to live...that includes actually asking people what they think.

Gustaf,

I guess I have to go check out Sweden at some point. Of course, I promised myself I would never return to mainland Europe after my last visit where I encountered more hostility than a naked leper. After my last trip to Europe, I jokingly told people that the only way I would come back is if I came in by parachute as part of an invasion...LOL

You would certainly not be treated like that in Sweden...I think...most people here aren't aginst Americans, just Republicans..oh, well...

You could hang out with pro-Americans, like me.

And, above all, we are NOT, repeat NOT, part of mainland Europe...

Gustaf,

I think I'm about to make a fool of myself...but I always thought of Sweden as part of mainland Europe...why am I wrong?

[JohnFKennedy]

it isn't directly connected to mainland, but Finland connects with Russia.

[Gustaf]

UK is pretty low on that list, I would have thought we would be in the top 10, I would love to go to Iceland, my school runs a geography trip there but I am not going to do geography A-level, plus it clashes with a politics trip to DC and New York .

JFK,

That's what I'm talking about...any survey that doesn't have the UK as one of the top ten places to live is way off...

Any study that has Sweden that high GOT to be correct.

I think all studies do show that Scandinavia and the smaller international Anglo-Saxon countries are the best places to live...that includes actually asking people what they think.

Gustaf,

I guess I have to go check out Sweden at some point. Of course, I promised myself I would never return to mainland Europe after my last visit where I encountered more hostility than a naked leper. After my last trip to Europe, I jokingly told people that the only way I would come back is if I came in by parachute as part of an invasion...LOL

You would certainly not be treated like that in Sweden...I think...most people here aren't aginst Americans, just Republicans..oh, well...

You could hang out with pro-Americans, like me.

And, above all, we are NOT, repeat NOT, part of mainland Europe...

Gustaf,

I think I'm about to make a fool of myself...but I always thought of Sweden as part of mainland Europe...why am I wrong?

It depends on how you look at it...if you wanna travel from Germany to Sweden without crossing water you have to go through Poland, Russia and Finland...and culturally Scandinavia is pretty different from continental Europe. But most importantly, I like to set ourselves apart from those people...

[MarkDel]

Gustaf,

How much water must one cross to get from Denmark to Sweden at its narrowest crossing? It's only a few miles, right?

[JohnFKennedy]

It is around 32 kilometres I think, (rough estimate from my Atlas). Not sure in miles, scale was in km.

[MarkDel]

JFK,

1 mile=1.6 kilometers

So the distance was slightly more than I realized. I always thought of this "gap" as no more than a few miles wide.

[Gustaf]

Gustaf,

How much water must one cross to get from Denmark to Sweden at its narrowest crossing? It's only a few miles, right?

Yes, lol, there's a bridge and everything.  A bridge too far, I'd say...I was just trying to rationalize my emotions...

[JohnFKennedy]

JFK,

1 mile=1.6 kilometers

So the distance was slightly more than I realized. I always thought of this "gap" as no more than a few miles wide.

that was just an estimate, could be quite a bit smaller, I only scanned it quickly, I may not have had the closest point.

It is either 16 or 32 I think, there is an island there and I am not sure whether it is part of Sweden or Norway.