Ehran, you don't know how sneaky and devious our plans truly are.  We support global warming because with the rising temperatures, the bitter cold will no longer cloud Canadians' minds.  Then, we can absorb you, knowing you will vote Republican.  
 
We know you guys really love us, despite all the mean things you say.  Why else, given such a huge country, would almost all of you choose to live huddled up as close as you can get to the US border?  If you cross into Canada from the US, and drive just another hour or two north, poof, there goes civilization, nothing but trees and moose until you hit the tundra.

 

I know all about Canada.  I watched the Red Green show.

 

SGTObvious

 

 

One thing I do find very interesting is the attitude of the average Canadian soldier is very similar to that of the average American soldier. Both want less restricted ROE's, both are generally pro war in both Afghanistan and even Iraq, and both are usually right of the political spectrum. We may have closer ties to other militaries, but I don't think you could find a more similar mindset between soldiers of two nations.

 

The average British soldier, for example, is a professional bitcher. I really do like the guys. They have a great sense of humor. But god damn do they complain. I've always been amazed that the brits can be right wing and left wing at the same time. Having conversations with British squaddies, he can advocate kicking every Muslim "freeloader" off the island while at the same time critisize Americans for being heavy handed in Iraq. Arrse is a perfect example of this cynisism and pessimism. Sometimes there's enough despair to go around that you wish you had a cyanide capsule to bite on. I've always chalked it up to their weather.

 

The Aussies, for the most part, generally have more moderate views. They can be just as critical of others, but unlike their British cousins they tend not to proclaim Armageddon to be around the corner.

 

Canadian soldiers do seem to have much more in common with American soldiers. I don't know why our military ties are not closer.

I love reading Arrse. I think you observations a nearly dead on! Though, i tend too agree with you pretty much in your observation of the British, judging from everything i have read, except perhaps them being professional b!tchers. I always thoughts of the comments as more of the typical British ability to understate current events, much more so then to really overstate things emotionally then anything else! In other words, just sarcastic humor, with no reall ill will behind it?

 

It's always been my first impression (Or assumption), that the Canadian/US military ties have not been as close of late, is the primary fault of the previous liberal government, and not it's military? I mean, what were we really supposed to do, how were our guy's supposed too train with their northern counterparts, when they had sadly let their military rot for several decades, from such a fine outfit that it was back in the early eighties? Their spirit was always strong, but their equipment was becoming quickly outdated as the 90's progressed, from what i have always understood the issue to be! All we could have done and did do... was sit back, shake our heads and feel pity for the plight of their military and the neglect it had went through. I've always held out hope for better days, for our northern neigbors in uniform; And now it sounds as if the current government has rediscovered the many needs of it's military!

Are you sure about that? I mean the conservatives are the party in power right now, am I correct? Besides, any influx of democrats would wither away after a decade or two, if they were to become ingrained in US politics. I think many of them would realise that republicans are not that crazy after all.

link

ht*tp://www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/4wing/training/mapleflag/about_e.asp

 

cold lake is one of the best air training facilities in the world.  the euros make fairly heavy use of the range because there simply isn't anything even vaguely comparable in their neck of the woods.

 

 ht*tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_Training_Unit_Suffield

 

cut a deal with the brits to let them use this as long as they want

 

ht*tp://www.dnd.ca/site/Newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=836

 

some information on how we are intertwined.  you might find it interesting to watch a canadian forces recruiting ad and compare it to the american ones.

 

ht*tp://www.forces.ca/v3/engraph/home/home.aspx?bhcp=1         fight fear is the ad.  rather different way to appeal isn't it.

you sure you want to add that many more democrats to your electoral process ispose?  i'd figure 80-90% of canadians would wind up voting democrat and that would considerably change the scene in washington for many years to come.

Ha!  You just called Republican supporters drunks.
 

Ehran, I disagree. I believe Canadians would soon tire of the hypocritical democratic party, and come to the realisation that not every republican is an active member of the KKK. And remember before you go on,  it was Republican gospel that preserved our union and freed the slaves.

You honestly see the arrse croud understating anything? The British stiff lip culture can better be described as pessimism. Any kind of political, financial, or social matter, the brits believe that matters have never been worse and that the end of the world is nigh. If you ever meet British squaddies, avoid talking about any of the above. They have an uncanny ability to depress the hell out of people sometimes. All I have to say is thank God for their sense of humor.

it's more like we're assimilating america than the other way round ispose.  taking your example canada has all of 2 baseball teams and they barely survive while hockey has how many american franchises now?  or were you under the impression that hockey was an american sport?  actually you can make a good argument for the british inventing baseball though it died off in britain by the time abner formalized the rules.

high taxes on booze is a perfectly reasonable idea btw as a bit of social engineering.

dk you realize i was a conservative party supporter until the party got hijacked by the radical right.  by canadian standards i am moderately right of centre and i find there are no shortage of democrats further right than i am.  there simply is no way canadians are going to support the gop for at least a generation after this hypothetical merger and that puts 40 plus new democrat congressmen in and 16-17 new democrat senators in play.

who knows this nucleus might be enough to reform the usa into the 21st century.

I have to tread carefully here, but just what the hell is the middle of the political spectrum in Canada? Hell, you go to Toronto or Montreal and there are nice family restraunts right next to strip clubs. I just get the impression that many Canadians think a lot of us are right wing extremists because we find that arrangement very odd. When I am taking my wife and kids out to eat, my kids don't need to stare at "The House of Pleasure" when they are coloring on their childrens menus. When I speak to Canadians about this, and I bring up the concept of a red light district, they look at me like I'm crazy. I don't understand how people can consider that the center of the political spectrum.