While Trump seems determined to make Canada the 51st state — a prospect that has zero chance of happening — there is an angle to this annexation talk that is a real possibility: the annexation of the Pacific Coast states by Canada. There are numerous advantages for Washington, Oregon and California to do so.
First, they would get a new Supreme Court that seems to understand the dangers of handing unfettered power to a megalomaniac. Second, they would be able to get into the Canadian health care system where rape victims have access to abortion. Third, they wouldn’t need to lie about their country of origin while visiting Europe, where Americans will need to be careful about ordering anything in a restaurant that can be spit on, and last, they could charge tariffs up the wazoo for anything entering the continent from Asia that would need to transit across the new Canadian states to reach the heartland.
If Canada is interested, I think a plebiscite in these three states to leave the union might be in order. It just might pass.
George K. Watt, Elko, Nevada
![(Photo courtesy of Valerie Hamaker via Religion News Service) Nathan and Valerie Hamaker, co-hosts of the popular “Latter Day Struggles” podcast, have resigned their membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a livestream Wednesday, Valerie explained that "as paradoxical as it may seem, it's because we care about this [faith] tradition that we are opening our mouths.”](https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/v2/7O7343CT2BDQDHODE2UJCSGVYI.jpg?auth=f79527b0639685af42e3f3ba6105184c4784821d8f85033e9be34ea500cbd3b9&width=111&quality=88)
