'JOINING THE U.S. IS WORSE THAN UNTHINKABLE'

Well, Bob Friedland has got one thing right in his column: joining the
United States is unthinkable.

Many of the "benefits" outlined by Friedland, such as abolishing our
parliamentary democracy in favour of a quasi-monarchical presidency,
are abhorrent.

Equally disturbing would be the importation of U.S. policies on health
care -- good for the rich, non-existent for the poor. Then there's the
environment -- use as much as possible -- and foreign relations --
bullying and wars based on false pretenses.

That's not to mention their rampant hysteria about social issues such
as gay marriage and marijuana.

Would we want to import their drug war?

Some in B.C. argue that we should, despite clear evidence that the
U.S.'s drug policy has resulted in a high level of street violence,
prohibition-related crime and the some of the highest incarceration
rates in the world.

Joining the U.S. is worse than unthinkable, it is abhorrent.

Kirk Tousaw

Vancouver