north american union
North American Union
Summary (posts follow):
"North American Union" refers to a plan - or just a desire - to join the U.S., Canada, and Mexico into one country or under one government of some kind.
Like immigration, a vast array of establishment hacks have tried to mislead about this topic, such as by playing word games. They've pretended that if there are no concrete plans to create such an entity then it's just a fantasy. That's despite the fact that steps that the establishment is taking are making such a union more likely and establishment sources have outright proposed such a union. For the first, see the posts below and note also that around 14% of Mexico's working-age population already lives in the U.S. For the second, see this, this, this, this, and many others.
And, it's despite the existence of George W Bush's secretive Security and Prosperity Partnership, which was designed to "harmonize" regulations between the three countries. Liberal-leaning establishment hacks who would never take the Bush administration's word for anything were more than willing to take the Bush administration's word that the SPP wasn't a precursor to a NAU.
See also this and, related to the NAU, the NAFTA Superhighway. The latter is something that the same hacks said didn't exist despite the fact that it already exists in Texas as the TransTexasCorridor; there are or were plans to extend it to other states, and a Canadian government map and province governor both referred to it by that name.
Note also that Barack Obama came out in support of the SPP and denied plans for a NAFTA Superhighway while confirming that something like it is being built.
Last modified Jun 11, 2011
Discussed in (click each link for the full post):
Bush admin was working on North American Union ("integrating" U.S., Canada and Mexico into one community) - 05/06/11
A few years ago, one of the biggest conspiracy theories concerned a North American Union, an attempt to join the U.S., Canada, and Mexico together in some sort of community similar to the EU. An endless series of establishment hacks claimed that there was no such plan and that it was all just a paranoid fantasy.
U.S. and Canada create a "Shared Vision for Perimeter Security". What's next? - 02/10/11
For years, the establishment has tried to tell us that concerns about a North American Union were just crazy talk. Yet, on Friday, the U.S. and Canada established a "Shared Vision for Perimeter Security", a common security perimeter designed among other things to "accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods, and services between our two countries". In the case of Canada we (at least currently) don't need to worry too much about millions of Canadians wanting to move to the U.S., but the same can't be said of similar efforts that might be planned with Mexico: around 39 million Mexicans...
Obama slams Arizona immigration law at press conference with Mexico's president - 05/19/10
Video of the first part of Barack Obama and Felipe Calderon of Mexico speaking earlier today at the White House is at peekURL.com/vogmji4 and the second part is at peekURL.com/vcwo6we
Maria Gavrilovic/CBS News: Barack Obama opposes the North American Union. Oh, really. - 10/19/08
Maria Gavrilovic of CBS News offers 'Obama Addresses N.C. Voter Who Called Him "Socialist"' (link) in which she allows Barack Obama to mislead and confuses what someone says with what they actually believe:
[At a campaign stop in Fayetteville, North Carolina, someone] asked the Democratic nominee about the North American Union, which he opposes.
"I know some people have been hearing rumors about it. But as far as I can tell that's just not something that's happening. We would never give up our sovereignty in that way. Any other questions?" Obama asked [her]...
The NAU is like immigration...
Are Amero coins being printed by the Denver Mint? - 10/18/08
Probably not. Extremist radio host Hal Turner - a not very credible source - has a video (link) and a post claiming otherwise:
Earlier in the week, I reported via this blog, the shipment of 800 Billion AMEROS from the USA to China. Many of you called "bullshit" on the posting, claiming it was a hoax.
Canada integrating their economy with European Union - 10/10/08
From the 3/10/08 Globe & Mail story "Provinces key to EU trade deal, Quebec Premier says" by Karen Howlett (subscriber-only here, excerpted here):
Canada's premiers will play a pivotal role in the country's e
Socialist VP candidate: common U.S.-Mexico currency, "North American Banking Authority" - 08/20/08
Various persons, including those on the left and far-left, have scoffed at the idea that there's a push for a North American Union and a common NA currency (called the Amero). Now, from the fringes of their movement comes one of their own to call for essentially the same thing (link):
During a decade when border issues between the U.S. and Mexico have intensified and the Democrats and Republicans have gone on the attack against immigrants, Vice Presidential Candidate Stewart A.
Obama campaign creatively edits Jerome Corsi quote; his supposed "widely discredited beliefs"; calls him "Truther" - 08/14/08
The Barack Obama campaign is promulgating to their followers and others a PDF about Jerome Corsi's latest book "Obama Nation"; you can download it here: my.barackobama.com/page/invite/corsi
Some of their debunking in parts of it may be accurate or not, etc. However, in one section they've "creatively edited" Corsi. From the section called "CONSIDER THE SOURCE: CORSI HOLDS WIDELY DISCREDITED BELIEFS":
CORSI IS A 9/11 TRUTH BELIEVER - THAT AIRPLANES WERE NOT TRULY TO BLAME FOR DESTRUCTION OF WORLD TRADE TOWERS
Corsi is a 9/11 Truther. In a radio interview, Corsi said, "I'm gonna come out with a...
Kenneth Vogel/Politico smears Jerome Corsi ("Obama Nation" book) - 08/13/08
Jerome Corsi has recently released a book highly critical of BHO called "Obama Nation". Needless to say, the usual suspects are up in arms. But, representing perhaps more the corrupt establishment in general than BHO fans in particular, Kenneth Vogel of The Politico offers the smear piece "Wild theories of 'Obama Nation' author" (politico .
City of Tucson partners with Guadalajara; "Regional Economic Integration" with Mexican state (Sonora) - 08/12/08
From this:
Tucson has signed an agreement to promote regional economic development with the Mexican city of Guadalajara.
Global Advantage, a University of Arizona Office of Economic Development program signed the agreement with a sister-agency in Guadalajara...
The venture's partners are Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc., Tucson Chamber of Commerce, The Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Tucson Airport Authority, MatchMex, Arizona Department of Commerce,
Judy Bachrach/Vanity Fair smears Lou Dobbs - 08/08/08
Freelance writer and Vanity Fair contributor Judy Bachrach offers a smear of Lou Dobbs in "Lou Doubts" (poder360.com/article_detail.php?id_article=549). It's yet another example of the illegal activity-supporting establishment trying to reduce his influence in order to profit from illegal activity in one way or another.
Far-lefties protest NAFTA Superhighway at Cato Institute, Washington Post - 07/31/08
From [1]:
On Monday, July 28, SDS, backed by [activists] from both Potomac Earth First and Roadblock Earth First, staged the "Funk I-69" protest, treating the CATO institute, an office of I-69's surveyor, and the dual target(I-69 and ICC) Washington Post they way SDS normally treats military recruiters.
The first target on the menu was the neoliberal Cato Institue, one of the thinktanks responsable for NAFTA.
Jim Hoagland/Washington Post: Obama should create North American Union - 06/03/08
Washington Post columnist Jim Hoagland offers "The Orthodoxy of Hope". After informing us that Fidel Castro thinks Barack Obama is "the most progressive candidate for the U.S. presidency,", Hoagland says:
Here's one example of new thinking [Obama] should pursue: The United States should apply to relations with hemispheric neighbors many of the lessons of the European Union and its half-century of economic and political integration. A functioning American Union that pools sovereignty is a goal worth introducing now. But that quest cannot start by tearing down the North American Free Trade...
Lindsey Graham denies NAU, smears Buddy Witherspoon (Beth Brotherton/WYFF; Robert Morris/Myrtle Beach Online) - 05/28/08
Buddy Witherspoon is a dentist from Columbia, South Carolina who's challenging Senator Lindsay Graham, and he's apparently basing his campaign around opposition to illegal immigration and also opposition to the North American Union.
Rather than asking for evidence of plans for a NAU and doing research, Beth Brotherton from WYFF News 4 turned to Graham:
"I think most Americans would find it hard to believe, it is hard to believe, a baseless Internet rumor...
"North American Model Parliament" meets (Canada, students, North American Forum on Integration) - 05/28/08
From this:
A simulation of a North American Parliament, designed to "develop the participants' sense of belonging to North America" and "and promote the creation of North American academia networks" is currently taking place in Montreal.
100 selected students from universities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico have been selected to take on the roles of Legislators, Journalists and Lobbyists, in the fourth annual Triumvirate of the North American Forum on Integration...
...The Triumv
SPP North American Leaders Summit April 21, 22 in New Orleans - 04/20/08
The fourth annual "North American Leaders Summit" - part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership started by George Bush - will be held Monday and Tuesday in New Orleans and will be attended by Bush, Felipe Calderon of Mexico, and Stephen Harper of Canada. Expect the news reports about the event to be credulous. Speaking of which, Norma Greenaway of the Canwest News Service/Ottawa Citizen offers this:
The annual leaders' gathering, popularly referred to as the Amigos Summit, is being held against the backdrop of a gripping race for the U.S. presidency where the North American Free Trade...
Barack Obama: no evidence of North American Union, confirms NAFTA Superhighway (?), says not CFR member - 04/02/08
In Lancaster, Pennsylvania on 3/31/08, an audience member asked Barack Obama whether he's a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and asks about the North American Union. He denied being a member of the CFR, and said he didn't see any evidence of the NAU. However, in his discussion of the NAU he described something sounding an awful lot like the NAFTA Superhighway. If you go to one of his appearances, read back his statements (below) and tell him that he came close to verifying something that we're told doesn't exist.
And, if Obama is truthful when he says he sees no evidence of the NAU...
Corporate global govenance? "Transatlantic Economic Union"? Open borders at the State Department - 03/13/08
Today's must read article:
A largely unreported meeting held at the State Department [under the auspices of the Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy, or ACIEP] discussed integration of the U.S., Mexico and Canada in concert with a move toward a transatlantic union, linking a North American community with the European Union.
...Several participants said the premise of the [Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America/SPP] is to create a North American business plat
The Laura Carlsen Farce (denies North American Union from slightly-honest Left) - 03/03/08
Laura Carlsen of the "Americas Program, Center for International Policy" (who also blogs at americasmexico.blogspot.com) offers "The North American Union Farce" (link). She raises issues with the Security and Prosperity Partnership, but she also disputes that it could be a precursor to a North American Union. This is the "slightly-honest Left" version of NAU denials, as opposed to those on the Left who are useful idiots or worse and who reflexively dismiss all concerns simply because of those who express those concerns (a recent example: Alex Pareene). She has her own issues to deal with:...
Alberta government removes NAFTA Superhighway map from their website - 03/03/08
The Alberta, Canada government's Infrastructure and Transportation Department's website used to include a map showing the NAFTA Superhighway on an image of North America, designated as such.
Why Alex Pareene is a tool - 02/22/08
Alex Pareene - formerly with Wonkette and now with Gawker - offers a fifth-graders attempt at North American Union/NAFTA Superhighway debunking here. The only problem is... there's nothing there, just snark and bad attempts at humor.
Barack Obama promises "security and prosperity in North America" (work with Mexico, immigration "reform") - 02/20/08
Yet another laundry list of promises is available in the article "I will repair our relationship with Mexico" (link), supposedly written by Barack Obama himself. It contains two phrases with "prosperity" and "security" together in relation to North America and even the use of "partnership" at the end.
Vicente Fox asked about North American Union (We Are Change group) - 02/17/08
The We Are Change group - aka "The Truthers" - asked Vicente Fox about the North American Union at a recent speech he gave, and even followed him down the escalator asking him more questions. Unfortunately, the questions were lame and generated meaningless replies. I also wonder exactly when this was made; I posted about a visit he made to L.A. in January of last year.
Felipe Calderon wants to "integrate the economies in the Western Hemisphere" (James McKinley) - 02/09/08
James C. McKinley Jr. of the New York Times interviewed Mexican president Felipe Calderon about his upcoming U.S. tour (link):
In the interview, Mr.
Will Wilkinson/Cato openly promotes North American Union - 01/09/08
A tactic used by those who seek to deny that powerful forces are pushing for a North American Union is first to deny that such a plan exists, and then to say something like, "but, if it did, would it be such a bad thing?"
One of those trying to retail the idea of a NAU is Will Wilkinson of the Cato Institute, who, speaking on the radio show Marketplace, says:
There are some who believe a grave threat
Matt Stearns/McClatchy smears Ron Paul, joins list of NAFTA Superhighway deniers - 12/09/07
Matt Stearns of McClatchy Newspapers offers "Out of bounds! Paul pushes NAFTA highway myth" (link):
In an anti-NAFTA radio ad that's airing in Iowa, Paul denounces "powerful elites" who "want to completely erase our borders with Canada and Mexico. These special interests threaten us with a total loss of sovereignty. The NAFTA superhighway, a part of this scheme, has threatened to force thousands off their land. Some believe the highway's path will go right through Iowa.
"NAFTA Superhighway" confirmed by Manitoba government - 12/03/07
On November 20, 2007, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Manitoba, Canada (John Harvard) opened the session with his Speech from the Throne (gov.mb.ca/throne.html, cached), and in it he confirmed the existence of what he called a "Mid-Continent Trade Corridor". The only difference between that and the "NAFTA Superhighway" appears to be the name:
...In addition, Manitoba has been working with the Canadian government and state governments in the U.S. to protect and enhance our access to key trade markets.
Vicente Fox wants "open work force" in Americans (flat, open spaces) - 11/07/07
I'll bet George Bush wishes he'd just keep his mouth shut.
"Mexico's Fox openly calls for North American Union" - 10/15/07
Calling all North American Union apologists. Please see this:
In a promotional tour for his new book, "Revolution of Hope," Fox told NPR's "Talk of the Nation" audience: "That's part of my Americas dream, that we can build our future together. We are partners with United States and Canada through NAFTA.
Vicente Fox: FTAA common currency (Amero), Hillary for president, Bill Richardson, driver's licenses, lies about heathcare... - 10/11/07
On Monday's Larry King show, former Mexican president Vicente Fox:
* Said that the Free Trade Agreement of the Americans (FTAA; called in Spanish ACLA) on which he worked with president Bush was to, long-term, include a common "Latin American" currency. Since that agreement would apply to the U.S., the currency would apply here as well...
* Promoted immigration from Mexico, "guest" workers, and NAFTA...
* Lied about U.S. citizens not paying the healthcare costs for illegal aliens...
* Agreed with Felipe Calderon's claim that "Mexico does not stop at its border"...
* Promoted driver'...
Vicente Fox promotes North American Union (Jon Stewart) - 10/10/07
Continuing his book tour, former Mexican president Vicente Fox appeared on the Jon Stewart show (youtube.com/watch?v=vyq4gzvAeRc 5/22/10 note: video no longer available).
Like good, trained "liberals", the audience applauded this remark:
"It's my impression that fear is guiding public opinion here"
He also conflated legal cross-border trade with the border fence; the latter is, of course, designed to block illegal traffic and "trade".
Then, Fox discussed how we need more "solidarity", describing how the European Union has increased incomes in Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and Greece.
Then,...
Sen. Byron Dorgan moves to block Mexican trucks (NAFTA) - 09/10/07
From this:
Democratic Sen.
"Mexican trucks approved for long-haul trips in U.S." - 09/08/07
From this:
Federal officials have confirmed that the first Mexican truckers have been given authorization to run their long-haul rigs throughout the United States under the Department of Transportation's Mexican trucking demonstration project.
The word came during a late-night surprise teleconference held by John Hill, the administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
"North American hologram" on North Carolina drivers licenses - 09/06/07
The beginning of "North American Union driver's license created/Logo intended to standardize documentation across continent" (link) certainly seems a bit tinfoilish. A map of North America appears on the back of the new type of North Carolina driver's licenses and the map looks somewhat like the map to be found on spp.gov. OK, so? After all, wouldn't concerns about things like that be in line with supposed masonic symbols on the U.S. dollar?
"U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency" - 09/05/07
From this:
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America summit in Canada released a plan that establishes U.N. law along with regulations by the World Trade Organization and World Health Organization as supreme over U.S. law during a pandemic and sets the stage for militarizing the management of continental health emergencies.
...Under the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, Bush agreed the U.S. would work through the U.N.
Rudy Giuliani tied to Trans Texas Corridor, "NAFTA Superhighway" (CNN/Youtube debate) - 09/04/07
Rudy Giuliani claimed that he'd never heard of the "NAFTA Superhighway" but his law firm is deeply involved in the Texas leg of the project.
Here's a relatively mild question I put together for the upcoming CNN/Youtube debate about that discrepancy; please go to his campaign appearances and try to ask him this question:
Canada: Quebec police admit to infiltrating SPP protest - 08/24/07
The Surete du Quebec has admitted that the three "black bloc"-style protesters at the recent Security and Prosperity Partnership meeting in Montebello were in fact police officers as a union leader has previously claimed. However, the Quebec police claim that they weren't there as "agents provocateurs" but were in fact there to prevent violence. For the backstory, see Les agents provocateurs at SPP protest in Canada?
Les agents provocateurs at SPP protest in Canada? - 08/22/07
At the recent Security and Prosperity Partnership meeting in Canada, Canadian police may have used agent provocateurs in an attempt to discredit the crowd. We have received this communique:
Video footage of the arrest of police officers posing as demonstrators at Montebello, August 20, will be shown today at a news conference at the offices of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.
Bush doesn't deny North American Union - 08/22/07
From this:
President Bush today sidestepped a direct question about whether he'd be willing to categorically deny there is a plan to create the North American Union.
Instead, he ridiculed those who believe that is taking place as conspiracy theorists.
Here's that portion of Bush's thoughts:
"We represent three great nations. We each respect each other's sovereignty.
Not much reporting at SPP meeting (Montebello, Canada) - 08/20/07
The leaders of the U.S. (George Bush), Canada (Stephen Harper), and Mexico (Felipe Calderon) are meeting in Montebello, Canada to discuss the SPP ("Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America", spp.gov).