NationStates Jolt Archive


North America should follow Europe's example!

La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 04:49
With almost all of Europe changing to the Euro, with the exception of a few nations such as England, I think its time North America switch to one currency. This would of course be the US Dollar, given the Peso is totally worthless and the Canadian Dollar is too inconsistant. Exchange rates can become annoying and then worrying about what resturants in certain Central American and Caribbean take or don't take. This way, Canada and Mexico wouldn't always have to worry about how a strong US Dollar would hurt their economy. I believe it would make life easier as far as travelling and just everyday work (e.g. buying electronics from the US for your company). The countries that would likely change to this would be Canada, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, Jamaica, various other small islands in the Caribbean and other countries in Central America that wish to join in (this is assuming all those nations accept this deal). The currency would be based on the current US Dollar and it's value compared to the Euro and Pound but would take on a more inclusive name so all the countries under it would feel included. It may never happen but hell, its an idea.
Harmonia Mortus
06-09-2004, 05:00
Its a matter of nationalism, the Canadians dont especially like America, and neither do the Mexicans. Plus their money looks way cooler than ours.
Sarzonia
06-09-2004, 05:04
I don't like the idea of one currency completely replacing the individual currencies of other countries. Perhaps use them in addition to the existing currencies.

*mourned the loss of the peseta*
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 05:04
I'm a Canadian and I really could careless what the money looks like cuz ours may look better but its just not worth enough.
Mount Isist
06-09-2004, 05:05
Its a matter of nationalism, the Canadians dont especially like America, and neither do the Mexicans. Plus their money looks way cooler than ours.


and thus why 80% of the people I work with don't speak english. it's mostly spanish from all the illegal immagrants
LordaeronII
06-09-2004, 05:08
Why on earth would North American countries change their currency to "Euro", when that's clearly for Europe?

An international currency could only work if it had no bias towards any specific area.

Do you think Europe would accept it if we asked them to change all their currency to the U.S. Dollar?

Nationalism comes before efficiency.
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 05:12
Why on earth would North American countries change their currency to "Euro", when that's clearly for Europe?

An international currency could only work if it had no bias towards any specific area.

Do you think Europe would accept it if we asked them to change all their currency to the U.S. Dollar?

Nationalism comes before efficiency.


No, no, no, you misunderstood me. I said North America should create its own currency for all the countries inside of it, just like the Euro for Europe. We wouldn't be changing to Europe, but to a system simliar to it but would be valued the same as the US Dollar.
LordaeronII
06-09-2004, 05:14
Ooooooo okay sorry for misunderstanding.

Again, the same problem comes into effect though... Canada and Mexico wouldn't want to for nationalist reasons, even though it would technically make sense in terms of efficiency.

Canada and America do NOT get along. Well it's more of Canada hates America, and America knows too little about Canada to have a real opinion. I mean, our current Prime Minister here in Canada won the election (IMO it was the main reason he won) through a campaign where he accused his major competition (the leader of the Conservatives) of wanting to make Canada more like America....
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 05:17
Where in do you live in Canada, LordaeronII? Ya, Paul Martin said some pretty nasty stuff about Harper but Martin has lost a lot of popularity.
Enodscopia
06-09-2004, 05:25
NO, the USA money should ONLY be DOLLARS in the USA I don't want them mexicans using good old AMERICAN dollars, I wouldn't care if Canada did as long as the would stop being so liberal.
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 05:28
Hey, I'm a Conservative and we're working to get Canada more Conservative, although I think we're failing!
Kerry is a coward
06-09-2004, 05:38
NO, the USA money should ONLY be DOLLARS in the USA I don't want them mexicans using good old AMERICAN dollars, I wouldn't care if Canada did as long as the would stop being so liberal.
Hey, they all use American Dollars anyways. When the new twenties came out, I remmeber the news was everyone hoarding the old ones were woried that they wouldn't be worth anything anyways. People all around the world use and hoard the U.S. dollar.

The previous statement does not constitute an endorsemant of the U.S. dollar, or a besmirchment of any other currency!
Katganistan
06-09-2004, 05:41
I see no reason to hasten our descent towards "one world government."

Why should we expect Mexicans to give up their money, or Canadians theirs? The whole idea smacks of "we're better than they are, so they can just join us."
CRACKPIE
06-09-2004, 05:47
listen it is this simple. The europeans changed to the euro because they get along. But see, mexicans hate the gringos, gringos hate canadians. In fact, mexicans dont consider themselves part of north america. And guess waht, almost no part of central and south america considers them north americans ( except probably puerto rico argentina-bastards- and panama-sellouts-)
CRACKPIE
06-09-2004, 05:49
NO, the USA money should ONLY be DOLLARS in the USA I don't want them mexicans using good old AMERICAN dollars, I wouldn't care if Canada did as long as the would stop being so liberal.


ahh...a racist comment, followed by a decidedly ultra-con statement. Now Im sure youre anne coulter.
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 06:24
listen it is this simple. The europeans changed to the euro because they get along. But see, mexicans hate the gringos, gringos hate canadians. In fact, mexicans dont consider themselves part of north america. And guess waht, almost no part of central and south america considers them north americans ( except probably puerto rico argentina-bastards- and panama-sellouts-)


The fact in your next post you call Enodscopia "racist" and "ultra-con" when you make comments like "argentina-bastards" and "panama-sellouts-" makes your other post not legitimate. You are the one being racist by saying things like that. And by the way, South America is a seperate continent from North America and I would be surprised if any South Americans think they are part of North America.
Colodia
06-09-2004, 06:29
Actually, if you actually check out the cities close to the American border in Mexico (Rosarito is one), they love American money. Mexican cops look all over for Americans to hand over a fat ticket to. Hell, in one incident of my friend...

Mex. Cop: Your a gringo! You have money! Why you cannot pay?
Friend: Okay, how bout I hand you a check instead?
Cop: *sigh*...fine!
Friend: *once is across the border, cancels the check*
Destroyer Command
06-09-2004, 09:06
With almost all of Europe changing to the Euro, with the exception of a few nations such as England, I think its time North America switch to one currency. This would of course be the US Dollar, given the Peso is totally worthless and the Canadian Dollar is too inconsistant. Exchange rates can become annoying and then worrying about what resturants in certain Central American and Caribbean take or don't take. This way, Canada and Mexico wouldn't always have to worry about how a strong US Dollar would hurt their economy. I believe it would make life easier as far as travelling and just everyday work (e.g. buying electronics from the US for your company). The countries that would likely change to this would be Canada, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, Jamaica, various other small islands in the Caribbean and other countries in Central America that wish to join in (this is assuming all those nations accept this deal). The currency would be based on the current US Dollar and it's value compared to the Euro and Pound but would take on a more inclusive name so all the countries under it would feel included. It may never happen but hell, its an idea.

BAH! You forgot to ask us Europeans before the changes 40% of us where against that currency union shortly after the changes it where nearly 60% everything as become more expensive people do earn less money than before and even people who previously had a big house and two cars now barely can afford to keep their house. Before the currency union I could go to nearly every country east of germany and just pay with the DM, and Monte Negro even took the DM as their national currency. The Brits don't want the EURO because they saw how everyone disliked it.

And yes the old currencies looked way better than that blue yellow porridge fantasy currency!
Ankher
06-09-2004, 09:11
Its a matter of nationalism, the Canadians dont especially like America, and neither do the Mexicans. Plus their money looks way cooler than ours.Please stop confusing the US with America. :rolleyes:
Kirtondom
06-09-2004, 09:16
With almost all of Europe changing to the Euro, with the exception of a few nations such as England, I think its time North America switch to one currency. This would of course be the US Dollar, given the Peso is totally worthless and the Canadian Dollar is too inconsistant. Exchange rates can become annoying and then worrying about what resturants in certain Central American and Caribbean take or don't take. This way, Canada and Mexico wouldn't always have to worry about how a strong US Dollar would hurt their economy. I believe it would make life easier as far as travelling and just everyday work (e.g. buying electronics from the US for your company). The countries that would likely change to this would be Canada, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, Jamaica, various other small islands in the Caribbean and other countries in Central America that wish to join in (this is assuming all those nations accept this deal). The currency would be based on the current US Dollar and it's value compared to the Euro and Pound but would take on a more inclusive name so all the countries under it would feel included. It may never happen but hell, its an idea.
Why should the British Bahamas etc etc want the dollar when it can have the pound?
Tweedy The Hat
06-09-2004, 09:24
With almost all of Europe changing to the Euro, with the exception of a few nations such as England, I think its time North America switch to one currency. This would of course be the US Dollar, given the Peso is totally worthless and the Canadian Dollar is too inconsistant. Exchange rates can become annoying and then worrying about what resturants in certain Central American and Caribbean take or don't take. This way, Canada and Mexico wouldn't always have to worry about how a strong US Dollar would hurt their economy. I believe it would make life easier as far as travelling and just everyday work (e.g. buying electronics from the US for your company). The countries that would likely change to this would be Canada, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, Jamaica, various other small islands in the Caribbean and other countries in Central America that wish to join in (this is assuming all those nations accept this deal). The currency would be based on the current US Dollar and it's value compared to the Euro and Pound but would take on a more inclusive name so all the countries under it would feel included. It may never happen but hell, its an idea.


'with the exception of a few nations such as England'

BRITAIN, you weak minded uneducated excuse for an American moron!
Tweedy The Hat
06-09-2004, 09:27
and thus why 80% of the people I work with don't speak english. it's mostly spanish from all the illegal immagrants

I bet they write better English than you do, also!
Tweedy The Hat
06-09-2004, 09:30
listen it is this simple. The europeans changed to the euro because they get along. But see, mexicans hate the gringos, gringos hate canadians. In fact, mexicans dont consider themselves part of north america. And guess waht, almost no part of central and south america considers them north americans ( except probably puerto rico argentina-bastards- and panama-sellouts-)

Why the hell can't you write in proper English the way the Mexicans probably do?
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 17:13
I'm not an American, Tweedy Hat and so what if I made a damn mistake. Plus, shut the hell up about people's english speaking abilities, just makes you sound arrogant and proud.
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 17:20
'with the exception of a few nations such as England'

BRITAIN, you weak minded uneducated excuse for an American moron!




That doesn't make me "uneducated" you stupid hick, means I made a mistake. Or are you the arrogant type you believes they don't make any of those? If you honestly believe you don't, then you are fuckin' screwed in the head.
Santa- nita
06-09-2004, 18:01
You are right they their governments dont like us, but they love
The US Dollar, take away the Dollar and see them cry.

My Idea is all nations currency should have the same value
no matter what they call it or what it looks like.

We allways invite all nations to Post and or telegram us
about any subject anytime even if we agree or disagree,
or just to say hi.
Dakini
06-09-2004, 18:02
fuck that. keep your "in god we trust" the hell off my money.

also, our dollar is inconsistent? bush has screwed your dollar up a lot in the past while...
Colodia
06-09-2004, 18:04
fuck that. keep your "in god we trust" the hell off my money.

also, our dollar is inconsistent? bush has screwed your dollar up a lot in the past while...
It'll restablize, it always does.
Dakini
06-09-2004, 18:06
it had better. i have american currency that's hardly worth exchanging anymore because of the crappy exchange.

and a while back, the canadian dolar went up a lot against the american dollar because we experienced higher growth or something. some report came in and our dollar went up. yay.

oh, and i still stand by my statement of keeping in god we trust the hell off my currency. plus all your bills are green with boring crap on them. i like ours, with birds and hockey scenes in multiple colours.
Colodia
06-09-2004, 18:07
it had better. i have american currency that's hardly worth exchanging anymore because of the crappy exchange.

and a while back, the canadian dolar went up a lot against the american dollar because we experienced higher growth or something. some report came in and our dollar went up. yay.
umm....yay?
Dakini
06-09-2004, 18:09
well, it's bad for me exchanging things, but it's good for the country...

so i'll just have to hope that the u.s. does something right before my birthday.
Kwangistar
06-09-2004, 18:12
Expanding our currency would be bad, the euro was a bad idea, and given that the economies in the Americas are even more diverse than those in Europe, it would be worse here.
Seosavists
06-09-2004, 18:13
become more expensive people do earn less money than before and even people who previously had a big house and two cars now barely can afford to keep their house.
Which people earn less money. How has that anything to do with the Euro?
Santa- nita
06-09-2004, 18:18
All Nations currency should have the same value
no matter what they call it or what it looks like.

That allows for Nationalist feelings about
thier Nation and Currency, I think thats the only way to fix this.
La Terra di Liberta
06-09-2004, 18:34
All Nations currency should have the same value
no matter what they call it or what it looks like.

That allows for Nationalist feelings about
thier Nation and Currency, I think thats the only way to fix this.


Clever and it keeps all the nationalist happy. And Dakini, I'm a Canadian and yes, our dollar is inconsistant. It was at 63 cents US last year or a couple of years ago and now its at 78 cents US. It's too up and down to be reliable.
Destroyer Command
08-09-2004, 11:41
Which people earn less money. How has that anything to do with the Euro?

thats easy, nearly everyone since everything has gone up in price most employer just say "You know, pal everything is SO expensiv now, I just CAN'T afford to pay that wages anymore, But I 'really' don't want to fire you, so how about you just work a little bit more for the same money...." etc etc thats how people earn less money. to be fair some employees came up with that slution of their own and some of that demands from the labor union where just ridiculous, but basically thats the it is. Nearly everything has gone up in price and the only thing you would hear from everyone is "But just about EVERTHING has increased in price, MY shop HAS TO KEEP UP!"

If you ask me, that currency union makes normal consumers look like idiots because they let it happen...
Psylos
08-09-2004, 12:34
thats easy, nearly everyone since everything has gone up in price most employer just say "You know, pal everything is SO expensiv now, I just CAN'T afford to pay that wages anymore, But I 'really' don't want to fire you, so how about you just work a little bit more for the same money...." etc etc thats how people earn less money. to be fair some employees came up with that slution of their own and some of that demands from the labor union where just ridiculous, but basically thats the it is. Nearly everything has gone up in price and the only thing you would hear from everyone is "But just about EVERTHING has increased in price, MY shop HAS TO KEEP UP!"

If you ask me, that currency union makes normal consumers look like idiots because they let it happen...It didn't happen where I live (southern France). Everything is more or less the same price. My salary is the same, just up a bit as it increases every year as normal.
NeLi II
08-09-2004, 12:38
Ah, fuck the euro.
Zaad
08-09-2004, 13:02
Well, we are having so much fun watching the EU attempt to balance out the powerlust of certain european nations we've decided to continue watching to see if it's really that good of an idea.


Seriously, I doubt that will ever happen...barring the reorganization of canada, the US, and mexico into one super-nation.

Again something I highly doubt as Canada seems to enjoy basing their identity on the fact that they are not the United States of America... :confused: ...and neither the US nor Canada really have a good enough use for Mexico to justify incorperating it.

An old couple rooming over a wild party that is taking place above that odd fellow that lives in the basement.
Superpower07
08-09-2004, 13:50
Me and my friend share the same view:

We think that the EU, while the concept was good, is not really working out well (IE what was it, their 3rd attempt at a constitution failed or something?). Besides, if all the world were to switch to one currency, it would rapidly cause inflation/recession in parts of the world before it levels off . . .
Biff Pileon
08-09-2004, 14:17
it had better. i have american currency that's hardly worth exchanging anymore because of the crappy exchange.

and a while back, the canadian dolar went up a lot against the american dollar because we experienced higher growth or something. some report came in and our dollar went up. yay.

oh, and i still stand by my statement of keeping in god we trust the hell off my currency. plus all your bills are green with boring crap on them. i like ours, with birds and hockey scenes in multiple colours.

Simple economics 101..... A strong currency is not always a good thing. Case in point. Country A uses rocks as currency. Country B uses sticks. Rocks are worth 1.25 sticks. Companies in country A will look for suppliers in country B to buy goods from because it is cheaper to buy there, thus increasing the imports for country A and the Exports for country B. If the exchange rate goes the other way with sticks becoming worth as or more than rocks, the advantage will swing the other way.

People seem to think that the strength of a countries currency somehow equates to the quality of life found in said country or it somehow makes a country better than others. The USSR had an official exchange rate for the Ruble, it was 1.5 Rubles to the Dollar. So I guess that made the USSR better than the US? No....it meant that they bought more goods (food mostly) from us than we bought from them. Thats why we in the US import more than we export, it is cheaper to buy abroad than it is to buy here.

Personally....I wish the dollar was much weaker. It would improve our economy and create many more jobs. But, thats my opinion.
Psylos
08-09-2004, 15:27
Simple economics 101..... A strong currency is not always a good thing. Case in point. Country A uses rocks as currency. Country B uses sticks. Rocks are worth 1.25 sticks. Companies in country A will look for suppliers in country B to buy goods from because it is cheaper to buy there, thus increasing the imports for country A and the Exports for country B. If the exchange rate goes the other way with sticks becoming worth as or more than rocks, the advantage will swing the other way.

People seem to think that the strength of a countries currency somehow equates to the quality of life found in said country or it somehow makes a country better than others. The USSR had an official exchange rate for the Ruble, it was 1.5 Rubles to the Dollar. So I guess that made the USSR better than the US? No....it meant that they bought more goods (food mostly) from us than we bought from them. Thats why we in the US import more than we export, it is cheaper to buy abroad than it is to buy here.

Personally....I wish the dollar was much weaker. It would improve our economy and create many more jobs. But, thats my opinion.It is a matter of how much you can pull before upsetting the trading partner countries. Japan has a policy of a weak money and the US regularly shout at them for not doing enough to make their currency stronger.
The best policy is having a currency as weak as possible while pretending to have a strong currency policy.
Biff Pileon
08-09-2004, 15:35
It is a matter of how much you can pull before upsetting the trading partner countries. Japan has a policy of a weak money and the US regularly shout at them for not doing enough to make their currency stronger.
The best policy is having a currency as weak as possible while pretending to have a strong currency policy.

Absolutely..... When I was stationed in the UK the exchange rate was terrible. It was $1.82 to the Pound when I arrived in 1983 but it did dip to $1.03 at one point and everyone I knew (myself included) exchanged every Dollar we had for Pounds and waited. The exchange rate soon went back to $1.53 and then I exchanged my Pounds back into Dollars making a tidy profit.

Although, my rent did go from $265 a month to $149 a month due to the fluctuation. ;)
Iztatepopotla
08-09-2004, 15:45
Man, most people in this thread need at least a basic course in economics.

A government has control of the economy through the currency. By determining how much there is of it you can have some control over inflation and economic growth and, more importantly, international trade.

Canada, Mexico and the USA won't merge their currencies because they have very different economic policies and objectives, and none of them will want to relinquish control over it. It's a matter of independence, not "we hate the USA".

The Canadian Dollar is not unstable since inflation in Canada has been quite constant. If you compare it to the US dollar it may appear unstable, but we can also say that it's the US dollar the unstable one (actually the USD has been losing a lot of ground against other currencies, like the Euro and the Pound. Consequently the CND has also increased it's value against the USD).

The Mexican Peso has been quite stable over the past 5 or so years, it's still losing value, but doing it in a regular way, keeping pace with inflation. In reality it's not as bad as it sounds, since it helps maintain a very healthy foreign trade (balanced), unfortunately it doesn't help the economic growth.

As for panAmericanism, I think it's a good idea, but the time for it has not come, mainly because the US would have to agree to share power and, being in a position of almost absolute power in the region, why would they?