Time For Alberta To Exit, Stage Right?

The Calgary Sun ^ | 7-9-05 | Link Byfield

[hosepipe]

[ How about "Free Britainnia"? ]

Cause Britannia ia a socialist pit as is Kanuckistan..
Cascadia works..

[decal]

"If I correctly recall my sixth grade Texas History class, Texas is the only state that is 'legally' allowed to secede..."

You may very well recall that correctly (I seem to remember hearing the same thing myself), but it just ain't so - see:

http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/380/

[gymbeau]

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

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

That was tried once, about 140 years ago.

---

At least one ultra-liberal columnist is inviting the South to "depart in peace". Perhaps when the bumperstickers begin to sprout: [IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SECEDE, TRY, TRY AGAIN!] he will have second thoughts. On the other hand, he's a fairly thoughtless fellow.

http://www.thebulletin.com/archives/2005/june/perspective0617.htm

Nobody Wants Unity

Donald Kaul

The movement to forge the countries of Europe into a single economic and political entity, now more than 50 years old, got a pie in the face last month. The voters of La Belle France, one of the founding members of the European community, voted to reject the European Union constitution that had been presented to them for ratification.

The stated purpose of the constitution was to make rational the rules that govern the 25-nation bloc and to lay the groundwork for further growth and unity; in other words, take another step toward the United States of Europe. On the surface that would seem like a pretty good thing for Europe, seeing as how the United States is the Big Cheese right now and China is coming up fast on the outside. Why, then, were the French against it?

· Well, for one thing, they’re French. Give a Frenchman half a chance to vote no on something and he’ll take it. It’s part of the national character.

· There was some suspicion among the laboring classes that the constitution was but a Trojan Horse that would bring in foreign laborers to take their jobs and introduce American business concepts, like mere two-week annual vacations, a mandatory 40-hour workweek and health care only for those who can afford it. This might have been the case, actually; it’s called globalization.

· Hardly anybody understood the document they were voting on. The thing is 450 pages long. That’s not a constitution, that’s a Russian novel.

· Generally speaking, people would rather be among their own kind and exclude all others, whether the distinction be race, color, religion, class or accent. Western Kansas wants to break away from eastern Kansas, for crying out loud. This is why we have so many civil wars.

The French don’t want to be Europeans, they want to be French and it’s the same with Italians, Germans, English and almost every other country. Their histories are stories of warring tribes and they are reluctant to give up their animosities.

How have they come so far in unifying the place then? They haven’t let the people vote much on the issue. The E.U. is the child of the political elites of Europe and ratified by their parliaments, bypassing actual voters. In France, they decided to put it up to a vote. Big mistake. The real question is what happens now?

The short answer to that question is nobody knows. The proponents of the constitution were full of dire predictions if the French voted it down, but people who want your vote always try and scare you. My guess is that, for the time being, Europe Union will go galumphing along, making do with the patchwork of treaties that it now operates under.

Viva la France.

Not that I’m totally against disunity for Europe, or for the United States for that matter. For example, I have long advocated the allowing or even encouraging the states of former Confederacy to secede from the Union, thereby rectifying Lincoln’s error.

I propose that without hostility. It’s just that the American South and North have become vastly different places and I see no reason for them to put up with each other any longer.

Think of the advantages for the former Confederacy:
· It could have a constitution that would do away with the separation of church and state---with the separation of church and practically everything, for that matter. This would undoubtedly lead to:
· A school system in which the primary science text is the Bible.
· Stem cell research being made a sin.
· The restoration of stoning as a punishment for adultery, but only for women. Men would get probation with community service.

In addition:
· NASCAR could become the official national pastime.
· Country the official music.
· Southern the official language.
· Tom DeLay could be president.

I’m telling you folks down South, it would be bliss, a win-win proposition. Think about it. In the meantime, y’all have a good day.

[brightstar]

Unfortunately, if you examine the poll numbers more Albertans voted for the NDP and Liberals combined in the last election than voted for the Conservative party

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.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

So far it's not working.

Stop paying taxes.

[txnativegop]

I would!

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Texas can also split into five states. So how about 8 more senators?

[longtermmemmory]

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.

[longtermmemmory]

see

http://www.unitednorthamerica.org

[Brit]

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!!!!

[CWOJackson]

What would the Canadian government do to stop Alberta? Send their military in?

Has anyone found the keys to the tank yet?

[Brit]

We supply California with a large amount of it's water, energy and oil..the hand that turns the taps on holds the power. ;-)

[Conservative Firster]

Alberta for #51!

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!

[norton]

"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."

Does sound sort of familiar...one has to wonder how the Canadian federal government would react to secession...?

[HitmanLV]

I think Alberta will be a member of the United States, likely with Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia following, in the next 10-15 years, if Canada keeps spiralling into socialist oblivion...

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.

[Brit]

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...

[ran15]

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.

[CWOJackson]

"I can hardly imagine even Prime Minister Martin being so stupid as that..."

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.

[Brit]

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.