NationStates Jolt Archive


The AU

Zilam
31-03-2006, 17:23
Well the other day I jokingly made a suggestion that the US, Canada, mexico and other latin american countries should do a EU type organization. Now I know that many americans would be against, especially all the conservatives. But really, I think the EU is doing a rather decent job, so why couldn't we follow suit and do something similar? I mean we'd have to figure out what it took to join, like a certain economic level and so forth, but I think there could be many benefits.

**note** AU= American Union.
HC Eredivisie
31-03-2006, 17:25
At first I thought you ment the African Union.
Zilam
31-03-2006, 17:30
At first I thought you ment the African Union.


Oh my bad mate, I fixed it though in the OP
Wallonochia
31-03-2006, 17:40
Well the other day I jokingly made a suggestion that the US, Canada, mexico and other latin american countries should do a EU type organization. Now I know that many americans would be against, especially all the conservatives. But really, I think the EU is doing a rather decent job, so why couldn't we follow suit and do something similar? I mean we'd have to figure out what it took to join, like a certain economic level and so forth, but I think there could be many benefits.

**note** AU= American Union.


Isn't that how the US started?
The Jovian Moons
31-03-2006, 18:19
AU is one astronomical unit. The Earth-Sun distance.
Zilam
31-03-2006, 18:22
AU is one astronomical unit. The Earth-Sun distance.



...ahem...would this work better UAC?(union of american countries)
The Infinite Dunes
31-03-2006, 18:32
Nah, the US is far too nationalistic. I don't see it ever particpating in anything more than NAFTA for a looong time. And they only participate in NAFTA because they get to organise it on their own terms.

I think you missed out a key part of the EU - to encourage political union.
Wallonochia
31-03-2006, 18:38
Nah, the US is far too nationalistic. I don't see it ever particpating in anything more than NAFTA for a looong time. And they only participate in NAFTA because they get to organise it on their own terms.

I think you missed out a key part of the EU - to encourage political union.


Which is something I don't see the US ever doing. Hell, we have problems with the union we're already in, without adding another layer.
Sol Giuldor
31-03-2006, 18:39
Actually, I am the Super Conservative and I agree with this idea. We must unify, or the Chinese will eat us.
Sol Giuldor
31-03-2006, 18:41
[QUOTE=The Infinite Dunes]Nah, the US is far too nationalistic.

Not at all, Americans are anythin but nationalistic, it is because of this blasted democracy. Power is spread out WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY to far, there is no sense of American culture, well not a large one at any rate.
The Infinite Dunes
31-03-2006, 18:47
Nah, the US is far too nationalistic.

Not at all, Americans are anythin but nationalistic, it is because of this blasted democracy. Power is spread out WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY to far, there is no sense of American culture, well not a large one at any rate.It is not only acceptable to possess US a flag, but to publicly display one too! Therefore you are nationalistic by UK standards, possibly even jingoistic.
Wallonochia
31-03-2006, 18:48
Actually, I am the Super Conservative and I agree with this idea. We must unify, or the Chinese will eat us.

There's a huge difference between economic integration, and political integration. I could see the former occuring, especially if the US ended up with a larger amount of control over the various institutions that would be created such as a central bank.

But political integration? Not a chance.

And personally, I'd like to see a politically less integrated but economically more integrated North America.

Not at all, Americans are anythin but nationalistic, it is because of this blasted democracy. Power is spread out WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY to far, there is no sense of American culture, well not a large one at any rate.

Are you saying that democracy is a bad thing?

I do agree that there is little sense of "American culture", especially outside of primetime television.
Lacadaemon
31-03-2006, 18:53
It is not only acceptable to possess US a flag, but to publicly display one too! Therefore you are nationalistic by UK standards, possibly even jingoistic.

Oh rubbish. There is a guy on the A19 with a little choggy shop/hotdog caravan thing who is always flying the union flag - admittedly usually upside down - and no-one thinks he's a jingoist.

And you see the Cross of St George all over england.
The Infinite Dunes
31-03-2006, 18:59
Oh rubbish. There is a guy on the A19 with a little choggy shop/hotdog caravan thing who is always flying the union flag - admittedly usually upside down - and no-one thinks he's a jingoist.

And you see the Cross of St George all over england.It's possible to hand the Union Jack up-side down? I thought it was symetrical about the x-axis...

Ok, so I exagerated, but definately do not have anything like the cult of the flag that there is in the US.
Lacadaemon
31-03-2006, 19:12
It's possible to hand the Union Jack up-side down? I thought it was symetrical about the x-axis...

Ok, so I exagerated, but definately do not have anything like the cult of the flag that there is in the US.

Yah, the diagonal stripes aren't symetrical about the x-axis. The broad white band in the diagonal stripe is supposed to be uppermost in the upper left canton (flag speak for quarter).

You are right about there being less flag flying in the UK in general, but in part I put that down to marketing. US companies tend to stick the US flag on tonnes of shit, so it's culturally more ingrained I imagine. I don't really put it down to jingoism per se.
Maraque
31-03-2006, 19:17
The US, Canada, and Mexico are forming a union... it won't benefit anyone but big business, and it is being discussed at their summit in Cancun. By 2010 this is suppose to happen.

Find it on google, I'm too busy to find the article now.
East Canuck
31-03-2006, 19:27
We already have economical accord that some partners are ignoring and slapping illegal tariffs. I don't see how what you propose would be that much different.
Keruvalia
31-03-2006, 21:16
I'd love to see it happen in my lifetime, but getting Americans to convert to the metric system is like pushing a truck up a hill with a rope. That will be the union's downfall.