Posted on 07/09/2005 12:18:50 PM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
|
A University of Alberta professor I know sent me a lengthy article he's trying to get published, entitled: "Let's get while the getting's good."
In it, Leon Craig, professor emeritus of political science, lays out a case for Alberta to declare unilateral independence. And he lays it out well.
Craig makes no bones about it.
|
Alberta, he says, should go it alone.
Almost overnight, we would become one of the most prosperous nations in the world.
But -- and this is his key point -- the main reason to secede is not because Albertans would have more money. Not that there's anything wrong with money.
More importantly, we would create a country that reflects our own political and social beliefs, values and traditions, and our understanding of the common good.
Canada, says Craig, has been so badly governed since the Trudeau era, it has doomed itself to a Third World, banana republic fate.
We will become -- are in fact becoming -- the Argentina of the 21st century.
Political corruption gets rewarded instead of punished, productivity slides, and the opportunistic politics of envy becomes the basis of our whole system of national government.
The only promising place left in Canada, he concludes, is Alberta.
And Alberta owes it to itself, to its future citizens, and to like-minded people in the rest of the country to save itself.
As a sovereign and independent nation, he suggests, our population -- viable to begin with -- would double in 10 years, even allowing for a welcome exodus of Albertans who would be happier back in Canada.
Far more good people move to take advantage of opportunity than flee from it.
Our social policies -- marriage and family matters, medicare, civil and religious freedoms, etc. -- would no longer be imposed by the Supreme Court and a handful of Ottawa mandarins.
We could establish our own laws to deal with crime and punishment, and our own separate relationship with the Americans.
If we don't do these things now, he says, we'll sink with the Canadian ship.
The professor dismisses the idea of "refederating" Canada along its original lines of strong provinces and a small central government.
He thinks the rest of the country is too far gone to change back to what it was.
He even gives short shrift to the "West."
Any attempt to create a new federalism, even in the West, he believes will fail. If other western provinces, or parts of provinces, want to join Alberta, by becoming part of it, they should be welcomed.
All that binds Albertans to Canada, he concludes, is sentiment -- an attachment to Canada's once-illustrious military and pioneer past, and to our own provincial part in it.
We must now face the fact that the old Canada is gone forever and the new Canada is disgusting.
So what are we to make of all this?
It's hard to argue against his analysis of the problem.
The Trudeau delusion that you can build a credible nation with "national social programs" is so shallow it's absurd.
And given the stern rejection of the Reform party by eastern Canadians, it's impossible to refute that the only forceful thing Albertans can do is to separate.
Where I disagree with my friend is whether we owe any allegiance to other Canadians.
What is driving more and more Albertans towards separatism is the fact that our original constitutional arrangement -- the political bargain on which Canada was built -- has long since been obliterated by the national government.
Had that not happened, Canada would not be in its present ugly mess.
Alberta is the only province with both the means and the motive to force a restoration of those original terms. Not by asking. By telling.
But we owe it to our nine federal partners -- the other provinces -- to state the terms on which we would be willing to stay. This is something we have never done.
Only if those terms are refused should we decide on independence.
Cause Britannia ia a socialist pit as is Kanuckistan..
Cascadia works..
It's time we left.
Hey, you or any of the other Albertan Freepers know of a credible separation movement in Alberta? I'd love to get involved.
Cheers
Jim
That was tried once, about 140 years ago.
Nope. Check out the results for the three main parties for Alberta in the 2004 Canadian Federal Election:
2004 Canadian Election Results
Scroll down a bit to "Alberta" and you'll see this:
Party | Elected | Vote Count | Vote Share |
Conservatives | 26 | 783929 | 61.64% |
Liberals | 2 | 279562 | 21.98% |
NDP | 0 | 279562 | 9.54% |
It would appear that Alberta is solidly conservative.
I would!
Texas can also split into five states. So how about 8 more senators?
Go Alberta GO!
http://www.unitednorthamerica.org
I wish they would just save themselves.
It would be nice if they joined the USA but I expect a Free Alberta would be a better neighbor than present day Canaduh.
I am sorry you think I was making personal attacks on you my friend. I was merely pointing out that people from Quebec and Ontario have been running this country for years and have pillaged and plundered to their hearts content.
At the last General election about 37% of voters voted Liberal, at the moment they are running a pathetic minority government staying in power by any political tricks they can hang their grimy fingers on and supported by the NDP who are calling all the shots.
It always amazes the West, that no matter how dirty the Liberals are..no matter how disgusting their actions, no matter how much money they steal from the taxpayers to put into their own coffers. Ontarians kiss their butts and vote them back in again.
Ontario has brought the word masochist to it's full fruition.
"PS last time I was in downtown Calgary there were just as many dirty hippies and liberal yuppy scum walking around as I see in Toronto."
Most of them are Toronto exports!!!!
Has anyone found the keys to the tank yet?
We supply California with a large amount of it's water, energy and oil..the hand that turns the taps on holds the power. ;-)
From: Syncrude
According to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Alberta's oil sand deposits contain approximately 1.6 trillion barrels of bitumen, of which over 315 billion are recoverable with current technology. The Athasbasca Oil Sands Deposit is, by itself, the largest petroleum resource in the world.
Filler up!
Does sound sort of familiar...one has to wonder how the Canadian federal government would react to secession...?
It wouldn't be easy, as someone has said when push comes to shove most people just stick with the status quo. I for one would welcome them all to the USA, or wish them the best as an independent nation.
I can hardly imagine even Prime Minister Martin being so stupid as that...No military man stationed in Alberta would fire on us..we are his neighbours and friends, his kids go to school with ours, his wife shops and chats with ours. It would never happen!! Anyway, in spite of the ridiculous Gun Registry we are all armed and would make a good fist of fighting anybody.
How long do you think the Americans would tolerate something like that on their own borders? About two minutes I would say...
I think the Canadian federal government would do everything it could think of to keep the country together. If Alberta or anyone left, I think Canada would rapidly fall apart, into the respective provinces.
The other question I've heard raised is would America intervene. As watching Canada disintegrate would plant the seed in American's minds about seperation from an overgrown federal government.
Its my belief that Alaska and Hawaii are already drifting away from America. They aren't following a lot of the dictates from Washington. And of course the geographic seperation makes it easier.
But beyond that even some areas like Washington state and Oregon are increasingly part of an Asia-pacific economy. Now I think there is an easy solution to all of this, is simply to dramatically limit the power of the federal government except in areas where it is actually needed like defense. The question is will the federal government relinquish power, in either Canada or America? But Canada is definately the first test.
While I totally agree with you that there would be no military response, I wouldn't put any limits on Martin's...intellect.
The problem with the military response option is that Canadian military units tend to be far more regional then in America. Odds are 80% of more of a regiment in Canada are basically locals.
If a military option were considered (which I agree isn't likely) I think it would result in a situation much like in the U.S. during the Civil War...military units in the south (of this case Alberta) remaining loyal to their region.
It all comes down to money mate!!! For Alberta it is the freedom to have our elected leaders governing our Province.
For the Canadian Liberal government.. hanging on to one of the only two Provinces which sends them millions of dollars every month is paramount.
When the scandal broke about the Libs syphoning off taxpayers money into their campaign war chest broke. The Prime Minister was landing at Calgary International before the ink was dry on the news..desperate to mend fences. He knew very well that one spark could send the whole of Canada into turmoil.
You will never limit the power of the Feds in either country...at least not without a god almighty struggle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.