Mike,

I have seen TV coverage suggesting that many companies and the communities they support are in danger of disappearing if the present situation continues much longer. It is a VERY SERIOUS problem in those areas dependent on lumber works for their livelihoods!

Watching this situation develop has only added fuel to my negative opinion of "globalization" and of [phoney] "free trade". Phoney because the US, free trade's greatest PROponent, continually obstructs free trade by many and various means.

Why does it harm my view of globalization?... because in this case the US feels that OUR (various) ways of charging royalties or other fees for the trees cut does not suit their ideas! So, to "globalize", we ALL have to do things INTERNALLY the way they are done in the US. Sorry, but I am not prepared to live in such a homogenized world, and I rather value that there are varying ways of skinning cats in various parts of the world. Ways that have developed based on local need/acceptability and suit the localities well.

Frankly, I think Canada will be FORCED to become a state (or states) of the union. While I've always felt that this could well happen some time in the more distant future, I now think that it may happen during my lifetime.
My prior conviction was based on water - plentiful in Canada and hard come by in much of the US - and I expected that to take a century or more to become a real issue.
Now, with all this security paranoia and with protectionist measure increasing in number and scope and with the US planning to use its might whenever displeasured I can see this accelerating greatly. What choice will there be - go voluntarily or be squashed into it!


>Still no political category in here. Hint hint.
>
>http://www.partnershipforgrowth.org/default.asp?id=fpbrswnynwsi1022bb11281026
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>This lumber dispute, this is the first I've heard of it. Is this a major thing in Canada right now?
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>In what ways that Canadians can stick it to the Bush Administration? And what, if anything, should people on this side of the border be doing to help?
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>I've been thinking a bit about the border between Canada and the US. I'm interested in knowing if Canadian's would be open to the idea of becoming states in the United States of America. If the answer is no, what would we have to do to make you change your mind?