Path: utzoo!censor!geac!jtsv16!brian
From: brian@jtsv16.UUCP (Brian A. Jarvis)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: What does it mean to be a Canadian?
Message-ID: <1042@jtsv16.UUCP>
Date: 3 Aug 89 14:42:33 GMT
References: <615662921.9256@myrias.uucp> <568@UALTAVM.BITNET> <609@philmtl.philips.ca> <1458@apss.apss.ab.ca> <1989Jul27.235845.24886@tmsoft.uucp> <1034@jtsv16.UUCP> <6713@cognos.UUCP>
Reply-To: brian@jtsv16.jts.com (Brian A. Jarvis)
Distribution: can
Organization: JTS Computer Systems Ltd., Toronto
Lines: 63

In article <6713@cognos.UUCP> rayt@cognos.UUCP (R.) writes:
>In article <1034@jtsv16.UUCP> Brian A. Jarvis writes regarding Elizabeth
>Doucette's challenge:
>
>>As for going to the U.S. to buy, damn right I will.  And it has *NOTHING*
>>to do with a [un]willingness to support Canadian industry; if we can't
>>compete, then pack up your bags and find an industry where we *can* compete.
>>I have no sympathy for textile industries or grape farmers; if we can't
>>do it well enough to keep our markets within the U.S. and Canada, then we
>>shouldn't be doing it.
>
>There are a couple of problems with this view as I perceive it. First, one
>must recognize the effect of scale: the American's with a ten-fold population
>advantage can reap a larger benefit from large-scale production, and while
>it might be contended that that market would also be available to any would-be
>Canadian producer, American's DO have (or are very seriously acquiring) a
>buy-American attitude as a response to the Asian economic strategy. Second,
>and this relates directly to the `free-trade' agreement, Americans have an
>interesting view with regards to subsidies: that they are primarily a Canadian
>phenomenon; US government contracts etc. being `something' else. Both of these
>imply that the market is NOT free, that there is a considerable American
>bias, and thus that Canadians, should they fall prey to such idealistic
>illusions as you advocate, will find themselves without primary industry.

I am NOT advocating 'idealistic illusions'.  I AM expounding the simple
reality that there are some industries we should not be trying to enter
or defend.  Do you propose we should subsidize farmers in Canada who
want to grow coffee?  Of course not:  coffee could only be grown here in
green-houses and would be much, much more costly to produce that it would
be to purchase from Columbia et al..  Reaching back into my high school
days, the terms 'comparative advantage' and 'absolute advantage' come
to mind.

If we are to maintain core industries, export markets, a decent balance
of trade/payment and a standard of living, we obviously don't want to
waste time, effort and money in some venture we have precious little
chance in success; let us instead concentrate on items in which we have
advantages.  To wit:  the vast size of our nation has forced upon us
certain problems in communications.  Solving them have given us a slight
edge in some respects of long range telemetry and telecommunication.
The harsher climate has forced development of better home insulation
and many cold-resistant products.  The list goes on. 

Editorial Time... ready with 'n'...

Something that has always bothered me about the critics who cry and
whine that the Big Bad Americans (TM) have such a massive advantage
over us that we are overwhelmed is their absolute belief that Canadians
can do absolutely NOTHING right.  What worries me more is that few
Canadians would question it.  

Personal Disclaimer:  Ray is NOT one of these people.  His article, if
fact, is one of the most rational and well considered items I've seen
in some time.

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   __                         __	Brian A. Jarvis,
  /  )  ...jtsv16!brian      /  )	J.T.S. Computer Systems Ltd.,
 /--<  __  o __.  ____      /--/	Downsview, Ontario
/___/_/ (_<_(_/|_/ / <_    /  ( o	My dog, Goof, still says "Hi!"

"Lord, defend me from my friends; I can account for my enemies." - D'Hericault
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