North American Union

[Pura Vida]

Naw, I was changing tires then...

[hellosailor]

There already is an NAU. In fact, there already is a global currency. Despite what you may have heard, US Greenbacks are still taken and honored pretty much all over the globe, even if some folks disagree about the exchange rate from time to time.

Joking? To quote Miss Piggy, "Moi?" I think anyone who is worried about NAU's and anything else endorsed (or forewarned) by the JBS must be left to figure that out for themselves.

Last time I was offered an exchange rate that was substantially off from the bank rate, I paid with American Express instead. I got par (they charged bank rate, at that day's rate) and the greedy merchant got to pay them a 3% premium, instead of overcharging me by ten percent.

Yeah, I know, banks charge for converting currency. Filthy stuff, isn't it? [g]

[blove8]

I'm sorry you decline to explain your rationale behind your comment on the JBS 'viewpoint'. It might have served as a valuable lesson for us. I'm now of the thought that you were just flaming the thread. Ah well, is the way boards go sometimes.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Last time I was offered an exchange rate that was substantially off from the bank rate, I paid with American Express instead. I got par (they charged bank rate, at that day's rate) and the greedy merchant got to pay them a 3% premium, instead of overcharging me by ten percent.


Filthy stuff
[g]

Is AE better to have when cruising than Visa or MC?

Bahamas/Caribbean

[hellosailor]

Therapy, on last count Amex now offers some 50 "products" including "charge cards" and "Credit cards". They used to offer only charge cards--no credit, and very different terms. Amex and Visa also offer very different terms from bank to bank and account to account. Some charge 3% over bank rate, some convert currencies daily, others convert only at the end of the billing cycle (which can make a big difference if currency values are changing).
The only way to find out, is to ask your card company what their terms and policies are--and get it in writing.
An Amex "Charge Card" account member can have letters and parcels held for them and receive other services at AmEx offices around the world. "Junior card" members don't get the same perks. These days..."Excuse me sir, which way is up?" seems to apply.

[S/V Antares]

Lets start a floating "Country" (Waterworld?) and issue "Boat Bucks" Seems every tin pot dictator with a gun can invent a new coumtry and get a seat at the UN.

I am with Pur Vida. The concept of less border hassel is a good one. I travel in Europe and find it to be painless. We would have to profile like they do though.

[hellosailor]

Will, the EU is a marvel but let's see if it lasts.

In the US the problem would be rather difficult: Canada lets in anyone, so that border has to be closed unless Canada decides to rethink the term "refugee". Mexico lets in anyone--and lets out anyone, they don't care who moves through, so THAT border also has to be closed.

Or (slap, slap, Americentric thinking again) we in the US simply just need to join the boat, let anyone in and out anytime they want, and watch the place turn into a pile of rubble.

Nah, sorry, not on my watch. I know people who got here the hard way. Good people who got here the hard way. I'd still rather put up moats and gun towers than throw everything else away in favor of "Well gee, they want to come here, isn't that good enough?" The difference is, one groupo intends to become Americans, the other group intends to turn American into their "old country" and then go back home to retire.

Not on my watch, not in my contract.

[S/V Antares]

Hellosailor, Can't argue with your logic. It is a tough issue on the norte and sur border. With our rate of procreation we will have less and less impact in the future. I have not thrown in the towel but we seem to be heading to a socialist state while all the Socialist are embracing some form of Democracy. Nothing in the rule book that says an economic union cannot have borders

We will all watch the Euros and see what happens. They are not being very inclusive. (Turkey? etc.) But the currency is doing well.

[Steve Rust]

What I remember of the John Birch Society could best be summed up by this Bob Dylan tune. Granted this was 40 years ago and they have not entered my mind since then so lets hope they have evolved a little over the years.

Talkin John Birch Paraniod Blues
by Bob Dylan

Well, I was feelin' sad and feelin' blue,
I didn't know what in the world I was going to do,
Them communists was comin' round,
They wus in the air,
They was on the ground.
They wouldn't gimmie me no peace...

So I run down most hurriedly
And joined up with the John Birch Society,
I got me a secret membership card
And started off a-walkin' down the road.
Yee-hoo , I 'm a real John Bircher now!
Look out you commies!

Now we all agree with Hitler's views,
Although he killed six million Jews.
It don't matter to much that he was a facist,
At least you can't say he was a communist.
That's to say like if you get a cold you take
a shot of malaria.

Well I was lookin, everywhere for them
Gol-darned Reds.
I got up in the mornin' 'n' and looked under my bed.
Looked in the sink, behind the door,
Looked in the glove compartment of my car.
Couldn't find 'em...

I wus lookin' high an' low for them Reds everywhere,
I wus lookin' in the sink 'n underneath the chair.
I looked way up my chimmney hole,
I even looked deep inside my toilet bowl.
They got away...

Well, I wus sittin' home alone an' started to sweat,
Figured they wus in my TV set.
Peeked behind the picture frame,
Got a shock from my feet, hittin' right up in the brain.
Them Reds caused it!
I know they did.. them hard core ones.

Well, I quit my job so I could work alone,
Then I changed my name to Sherlock Holmes.
Followed some clues from my detective bag
And discovered there wus red stripes on the American flag!
That ol' Betsy Ross...

Well, I investigated all the books in the library,
Ninety percent of 'em gotta be burned away.
I investigated all the people that I knowed,
Ninety eight percent of them have to go.
The other two percent are fellow Birchers
Like me...

Now Eisenhower, He's a Russian spy,
Lincoln, Jefferson, and that Roosevelt guy.
To my knowlegde there's just one man
That's really a true American: George Lincoln Rockwell.
I know for a fact that he hates commies cus he
Picketed the movie Exodus.

Well, I finally started thinkin' straight
When I run out of things to investigate.
Couldn't imagine doin' anythig else,
So now I'm sittin' home investigatin' myself!
Hope I don't find out anything ...hmm, great God!

[Auspicious]

I've been in nearly a dozen countries in the last five years (maybe not many compared to a lot of people here), mostly on business. Everywhere I have been able to use my credit card for just about everything. ATMs take my bank card to draw funds from my accounts in the local currency. I really don't care what color the bills are or who prints them. The biggest issue I have is avoiding a pocketful of paper that doesn't work in other places.

The global economy is here.

[rsn48]

Hellosailor, I'm sure the American Natives shared your point of view with the coming of the white man.

Canada is always getting side swiped by Americans.

Anyways I offer you this song sung by Robin Williams at past Academy Awards ceremony.

YouTube - Blame canada

[hellosailor]

rsn-
The native Americans couldn't exactly share the view about border crossers...after all, they had no border controls. Or compunction about just putting a couple of arrows in the back of folks who snuck in. And then again...they actually were a bit more like the Canadians are today "Oh sure, just come on in, we believe your story." Add in a little biowarfare and religious genocide to the mix...Sounds like that ole Karma just keeps coming back again.

[delmarrey]

Let's get back on the money talk and off the politics, if that's possible.

We don't need a mini border war here. I know! It's hard

Site Admin

[Pblais]

Let's get back on the money talk and off the politics, if that's possible.

Politics is exactly the only problem with this thread. It barely qualifies as Off Topic.

[hellosailor]

Right. Money talk.

A "North American Euro" doesn't qualify as money talk, it qualifies as "Damn it all, didn't we tell you folks not to take the brown acid, it was causing some real bummers?"