Okay all you fire eaters lets here about NAFTA. I see 101,000 unemployed last year , NAFTA raising the standard of living in foreign countries ( Clinton stopping illegal Immagration ) . Goofy old Perot saying something about some sound . Raising the standard of living in foreign countries , lowering the standards here because we need to be a world community where all are equal. How insecure or secure are you with your career?
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I think it was a bad thing for workers in the US, it seems like industry here is collapsing in slow motion. Don't want cheaper clothes for my kids...want them to have a stronger country.
Jen
My Mercruiser sterndrive boat engine water pump failed in a year - made in Mexico. Wonder why they did not stay with the last / previous vendor.
?? HELLO ! Maybe you personally say you don't want cheaper clothes for your kids; but, it's the Walmarts, or more precisely, the flood of consumers who shop there, that have driven your jobs off-shore. Americans are more than willing to give up domestic jobs for lower prices.
Sure, corporations are more than happy to shed some of those unions and bureaucrats; but, in the end, the move is consumer driven..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
We are all in the same boat. The Wal-mart store where I live has set records for highest gross sales for any of their stores in canada. Some people, my self included try to shop at small locally owned businesses, but sometimes you go for the bargains. Wal-mart does sell a lot of offshore products, but they also carry alot of Canadian products. Canadian Tire sells more imported products than they do.
smile and wave
Phill....I was thinking about you when I read an article in the local newspaper on the op-ed page being a Canadian I was interested in your comment. From a column by Richard Reeves.."Not to be an alamist, but I'd say the U.S. is begining to regard Canada the way Australia regards Indonesia. Yes, It"s geographically close,an important trading partner, a cheap vacation destination and a nominal ally, but it has to be pushed and chivvied into taking even the most perfunctory action against obivious enemies , and everyone knows that all kinds of dodgy charachters have the run of the joint ....Washington knows that now. The big story since September is that they finally see us for what we are: foreigners." It's the last statement that bothers me , I allways look a Canadians as family that lives down the street . What is your take on all of this ?
No change, the US has been trying to skrew Canada for >200 years..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Phill's pithy reply didn't entirely express this Canuck's viewpoint, so I hope you won't mind a more wordy response.
Since 9/11, I think that, in general, Canadians feel closer to the U.S. Paradoxically, this makes Canadians uncomfortable. We are a mouse that is sleeping with an elephant, and we know all too well that getting closer to the elephant means that we feel every twitch the elephant makes, and a twitching elephant does not make for a happy mouse.
I think that Canadians and Americans share the world's closest relationship, notwithstanding it's short historical duration. We would, without hesitation, defend each other to the death.
I have close family in the U.S. I have worked with Americans on a regular basis. I have visited the U.S. perhaps 40 times. We are brothers, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, brothers sometimes fight each other, as the U.S. civil war demonstrated.
Many Canadians are concerned about a growing ideological rift between our countries, as your quoted columnist unintentionally proved. He makes many statements that are arrogant while also being ignorant. My belief is that we see this rift as being created by President Bush and trickling down through the press to the masses.
Regards,
Tim Ruttan