John Hinderaker:
This puts me in mind of the Alberta independence movement. In the linked post, I described Alberta as one of the most desirable pieces of real estate on Earth. It is oil- and natural resources-rich, and home to some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Its population is mostly conservative, and chafes at rule by the bizarro libs in Ottawa.
Is Alberta independence a serious possibility? It may be. Independence polled at 35% and rising in the most recent survey I have seen. Canada’s constitution provides for secession if there is a clear vote in favor.
A second question is whether secession could lead to Alberta becoming a state. Obviously, Democrats would block it in the current power alignment. When Alaska and Hawaii became states, they were paired, one leaning Republican and one Democrat, to secure bipartisan support. I wouldn’t favor doing that here. But as a long-term goal, conservatives should be thinking about Alberta and maybe one or two other provinces as future states. And if the United States splits into two countries, which seems increasingly possible, Alberta would be a natural choice to join Red America.
# posted by Ranger @ 5:36 PM
