It's a difficult time for the discerning mind to live in. We are trapped in a torrent of information (pun not intended), where we are presented with so many "facts" and "figures" that it's difficult to determine what's accurate, what's real, and what's impartial. There are a lot of scary things I've heard that I'm not too concerned about yet because I don't think they're very credible.

But there's something that's no longer flying below the radar: the North American Union. That's right, the leaders of the big three North American nations have been sneaking around behind our backs tossing around ideas for a fundamental change in the shape of our respective sovereignties. The confirmation came when Mexican president Vicente Fox admitted in an interview that he and President Bush had come to an agreement about the formation of an "Amero", a North American united currency.

It all smacks of a sort of union arms race. The Europeans have one, the Africans are making one, the Middle East is talking about one. So North America needs one, and then perhaps Asia will want one? Sounds a lot like the world order of "1984" to me.

Orwellian analysis aside, this would mean Canada and Mexico would be paired up with the United States. To me, this is a frightening process. How could Canada ever distinguish itself while under a Union umbrella with a power as huge as the United States? Make no mistake, this would mean the end of a distinct Canadianess. A US-style central bank, US-style politics, and US-style foreign policy.

I will rescind my threshold of politeness to appeal directly to my Canadian readership. The United States is a sick nation. That is, a nation in need of civic healing. Their constitutionally-intended freedoms have been replaced with surveillance, arrests, and warrantless searches. Their love of peace has been replaced with warmongering. Their democracy and debate have been replaced by apathy and ignorance. The United States is a big, stupid, bully of a nation that does not deserve our friendship.

Would Canadianess survive under a Union? The Canadian dyad of English and Quebecois Canada? Our distinct culture? World view? Our unique brand of multiculturalism? Can you not, every day of your life, find the the latest dumb Americanism seeping into our culture? Ask yourself, honestly, would "Canada" survive?

Frankly, I'd rather see Canada as a member of European Union before we got into the wedding bed with the United States. This is definitely an issue I'll be keeping an eye on. It's coming, and I for one am going to fight it.