pg 3 makes a very key comment

But by geographic imperative, the relationship will far outlast the few years of an economic downturn. "We're not floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean," says Manley. "We're joined at the hip with the United States."

The bottom line remains the US can float or sink us and there is nothing we can do about it!

For those like myself who foresee a USA breakdown and are concerned about the potential of significant civil unrest you must ask youself the question (no not ... did I fire five bullets or six) ... will this unrest result in a greater level of protectionism? If so what are the implications? Is Canada viable today without relatively open doors from the USA? How much assimilation to their rules and regulations must we endure to re-open the doors likely to further close as a greater level of desperation sets in to the everyday people.

These thoughts which are infecting the twilight of my life are so pervasive that emigration from the comfortable and idyllic paradise my wife and I have built in Canada to Australia is increasingly likely. "We're not floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean". speaks volumes about the ability of an economically resourced based country not joined at the hip to diversify the risk of trade with a giant customer. Strategically located between China and India which in the early 1800's were the world's largest economies, they seem poised to support the renaisance of these nations.

How close are we? ... negotiations are underway to uproot ourselves, divest ourselves of our assets and go.

I hope for the sake of both Canadians and our neighbours to the south we are simply over reacting, but I have yet to be convinced by a group of fellow posters whom I repsect that such a move is more likely to be prudent than an over reaction.

GLTA

orgy