[quote]Yes, several times.

Differences are a matter of degree. The economic and legal structure of Mexico has no relation to the US.

There is no reason whatsoever to assume this. However, we can be assured that Ted Kennedy and other leftist utopians with big ideas and small brains will decide this is a wonderful idea and start to promote it - while he remains entrenched in his Hyannisport compound.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

Allow me to clarify, Tim. I don't think that the border should be eliminated right now. In fact, the opposite, I think NAFTA should be undone. However, when, in the long term future, there is relative economic parity between neighboring states (like western Europe), the border, for all intents and purposes, ceases to exist. Europe has chosen to embrace this. I imagine the US and Canada will too, at some point. Similarly, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a South American Union of some sort arise in the next couple of decades.

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

Well, I take your point - and I can see that happening between the US and Canada, but the discrepancy with Mexico is enormous. The EU fosters unity between European nations but they are very careful to exclude the nations of northern Africa which lie just across the Mediterranean.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

Hemispheric unions are inevitable. NAFTA is a mere hint of what's to come as global redistribution of labor and resources create economic interdependencies.

And how will this global redistribution come about?

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

But those unions can't work without some semblence of economic parity between the states.

Once that is achieved they can no doubt be mutually beneficial, but without that parity, as seen with NAFTA, it won't be good for either country.

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

It's already in process. Use the US circumstances of labor outsourcing and domestic Mexican/S. American labor requirements with Mexico and oil/natural gas dependency on Canada/Mexico/Venezuela as an example.

You hadn't noticed?

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

What's best for commerce often has no bearing on worker circumstances in any country.

This is not redistribution. It involves closer labor and trade ties. The borders are intact. Unfortunately foolish and short-sighted politicians will probably weaken those borders.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

The borders are intact?

Tell that to the black market.

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

Intact borders? The only intactness I'm able to determine is that the respective military forces aren't crossing them. Commerce flows unhindered.

Free trade is not the same as the removal of borders and the destruction of national soverignty in favor of a utopian union.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

It can make them pretty irrelevant though.

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

There is no 'free' trade. Sovereignty always sounds good to the masses by using patriotism as a societal adhesive but it serves no real purpose other than providing a convenient framework for power/money to rule them and keep others from doing so. One would think they'd catch on to the game but keeping their bellies full, providing mindless entertainment in the form of religion or such and some empty promises normally keeps them well pacified.