Canada 2183

The discussion of the maritimes joining the US versus a Celtic confederation
is quite fascinating.

Likely: 1) The maritimes will try to survive. In the long run, it is why they
joined Canada (some folk thought it was their best place to be, I believe they
were right). Some folk of course disagreed. 2) Survival may or may not
indicate independence, alliance with another power, or submergence into a
larger power as the best option.
3) I could see the Maritimes joining the US - they aren't that
culturally different than some of the New England states. I could see them
joining
Scotland or Ireland - they fiercely retain their culture. I could see
them independent, as places like PEI especially eschewed confederation when it
was first offered.
4) I could see the US NOT accepting them - powerful voting blocks in
California, New York, and other areas aren't going to want to dilute the
Congressional power pie any further so I suspect they may kibosh any attempts
to expand the list of states. Though that does not rule out protectorate or
some similar status. 5) I could see the Celtic states not accepting them (we'd
be sort of quaint newcomer bumpkin wannabee cousins in many eyes over there).
Plus there are
matters of pragmatism - defence is probably impossible or at least
improbable and common administration would provide only a limited benefit set.
6) Remaining with Ontario and other Canadian provinces under reasonably common
jurisprudence, trade regulations, etc. might be administratively and legally
far easier. Let Quebec separate... it isn't like they can take the land and
they'd be stupid to give the rest of Canada grief about
free-passage and decently open trading laws - they'd suffer worse in one
of those conflicts.

I suspect it most likely the Maritimes and the other provinces would hold
together. Most folk may not see it because it differs from the US flavour,
but there is a lot of sleeping patriotism up here - look at how we've
responded to wars, internal and external disasters, etc. Always with more
vigour than one might expect for a reasonably laid back people. I think it
quite likely the whole seperatism issue will still be raging in 2183... but
if Quebec has gone (and Canada has collapsed - which is no more likely
than
the US collapsing from its many internal racial and social/economic
tensions)... then the Canada of 2183 is quite likely composed of all the
provinces but Quebec.

If both Canada and the US collapsed, that'd be a different situation - I
think BC and Washington might get together, the Midwest and the Canadian
Prairie Provinces might get together, and the Maritimes and the New England
States might well unite. These groups have a lot in common, if the
centralizing bond of nationhood were removed. But if it isn't, there are still
enough patriotic folk to hold together either country.

Or maybe it'll be like Canadian Bacon... and the US will just surrender
peacefully. You guys to the south of us really can't win you know... we
already control Hollywood and we'll eventually get that silly line in the
Constitution about the President being American born amended to read North
American... just admit it... if the Tuffleyverse had been written in Toronto,
the NAC wouldn't exist, and Canadians would be running the USA.
:)

Tom

Wow, I never realized what a Pandora's Box I'd open. Perhaps I've even cause a
bit of digression from the game itself.

First off, let me say, I realize a lot of what I have happen in my timeline is
highly unlikely. However, if we go with the "Infinite Worlds, Infinite
Possibilities" arguement, it does happen this way somewhere.

I just thought it would be interesting to see a world with a lot of powers, no
superpowers. Canada and the US HAVE both completely collapsed in my world (For
reasons stemming both from current issues AND from fictional issues to arise
within the next 100 years or so). My timeline also drags it's feet a bit, the
whole process of geopolitical shifting and of technological advances and space
travel take a bit longer than in the Tuffleyverse. And I do believe I already
mentioned a
BC/Washington/Oregon
union. I once read a National Geographic article on the US/Canadian
border, and when they got out west, the writer was surprised to find that the
cultural differences were greater between western and eastern states or
provinces than between the US and Canada. As one Montanan put it, the Rocky
Mountains are a bigger divider than the Canadian border is.

As for Canada eventually taking over the US, hell, if you're stupid enough to
WANT it, knock yourselves out. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to be an

American, I love living here, but if you take us over, you gotta RUN us, and
that's a headache I wouldn't wish on anyone (Except maybe an old girlfriend or
two).