And the Canadians rejoice!

[Archangel]

There are a number of US online stores that give Canadian prices, taxes, sometimes duty and generally make life easy.
Cabelas, just ordered my new duster, they already worked out tax, duty and broker.
Tigerdirect.ca for computer stuff.
Barnes and Nobles will do most of the Canadian taxes, too.

Don't gloat too much, though, we live in an export based economy. Manufacturing is taking a kicking with the dollar rise. Most companies want to see at least an $8 dollar wage differential and that's going fast, and taking jobs with it.

And no, without ruffling feathers, I don't want a continental monetary unit. We don't have a strong enough recognized national identity unlike the countries of the EEC. We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offense, I don't want that. (and please don't go on a tear with that comment.)

[The Supreme Canuck]

And no, without ruffling feathers, I don't want a continental monetary unit. We don't have a strong enough recognized national identity unlike the countries of the EEC. We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offense, I don't want that. (and please don't go on a tear with that comment.)

Not just that. The US is basically an import economy. We're an export (esp. oil and mineral resources) economy. It would do some funny things to create a common currency.

Besides, I wouldn't like the precedent.

[Casper]

I celebrated by buying a SWK standard, sporran, strap, and belt... ;)

Tigerdirect.ca for computer stuff.

Don't gloat too much, though, we live in an export based economy.

And no, without ruffling feathers, I don't want a continental monetary unit. We don't have a strong enough recognized national identity unlike the countries of the EEC. We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offense, I don't want that. (and please don't go on a tear with that comment.)

- I buy lots of stuff from Tiger as well
- Here in BC, the forestry industry is taking a kicking
- I agree with the dislike of the NAD concept. Our economy is closely linked to the US' enough as it is...

So I repeat once again: what the hell ever happened to NAFTA?

The only way an average person will see a benefit is by doing their cross-border shopping, and purchasing something made in NA to not have to pay duty... only taxes.

[davedove]

We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offense, I don't want that.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

[slohairt]

We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offense, I don't want that.

You mean "We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offence, I don't want that."

The Borg is already on the move, it seems!

[Archangel]

You mean "We will be absorbed into the US Borg and, no offence, I don't want that."

The Borg is already on the move, it seems!

...and the weasels are using Firefox spellcheck to do it.

Caught me.

[slohairt]

That's okay. It is annoying when we (the non-American world) spell things correctly only to be told it's not!

[Coemgen]

When I grew up, near Detroit, some of the larger stores kept Canadian money under the drawer. Lots of Canadians would come over for cheap cigarettes, and other items which were taxes more heavily in Windsor. I don't know if any still do though, even then it varied place to place.

Personally, I'd welcome just about anything over the USD right now. Its really tanked in the past few years, and now with "Helicopter Ben" at the Fed....... I'm a bit worried the only kilts I'll be able to afford in the future will be sold in pesos or something.

NAFTA did little more than send a lot of jobs south. I live in an area where factories, textile mills, etc are shutting down all the time. What was once a highly prosperous industry is now dead.

This is why I'm in favour of some sort of standard for the USD (like the gold standard). I'd prefer my money's value to not be dependant on the government's say-so. I seem to recall something like that happening in Germany in the 1920's…

That's okay. It is annoying when we (the non-American world) spell things correctly only to be told it's not!

In fact, I prefer the non-American way of spelling (favour, apologise, etc.)

[Thebes]

This is why I'm in favour of some sort of standard for the USD (like the gold standard). I'd prefer my money's value to not be dependant on the government's say-so. I seem to recall something like that happening in Germany in the 1920's…

I completely agree. It causes me a great deal of concern that, basically, the only thing holding up the US Dollar is debt. And now, with the discontinuation of the M3 monetary index, subsequent "injections" of fait money, and the so-called "credit crunch", it seems to me money is being too rapidly created. This devalues the already existing dollars, as we see in the USD vs Loony or Euro.

Oh, and I trust the IMF even less than the Federal Reserve. Nor do I trust "paper gold", from what I've read a large number of gold leases are not backed by actual metal in a vault, but rather the oweing of such metal.

Sometimes I think the whole house of cards is on the way down.

[Coemgen]

I completely agree. It causes me a great deal of concern that, basically, the only thing holding up the US Dollar is debt. And now, with the discontinuation of the M3 monetary index, subsequent "injections" of fait money, and the so-called "credit crunch", it seems to me money is being too rapidly created. This devalues the already existing dollars, as we see in the USD vs Loony or Euro.

Oh, and I trust the IMF even less than the Federal Reserve. Nor do I trust "paper gold", from what I've read a large number of gold leases are not backed by actual metal in a vault, but rather the oweing of such metal.

Sometimes I think the whole house of cards is on the way down.

Indeed. Curse you, John Maynard Keynes!