Well, I'm not exactly wishing for the Amero. I'm Canadian and don't really feel like hitching my wagon to the US at the moment.

Canada's stock should be much higher than the US. While Bush was wracking up the debt in the last few years Canada was paying it down. Canada has resources. As a comparison, I see Canada as a mid tier producer with a good balance sheet and about to ramp up production while I see the US as more of a Goldman Sachs.

One of the things that the US could really learn from Canada is the need to open her doors to immigration. I can't say I've always loved the influx of other cultures that come into our country. However, North America isn't producing enough babies to fuel growth. As the Baby Boomers age, we need replacements and need them quick.

The easiest source is immigrants. I think that if the US opened it's doors to a massive influx of immigrants, with the stipulation that they must buy a house within 1 year, that they must have a secured deposit of $200,000 or higher (held in trust by the gov't until they buy a house), that this could end the housing downturn.

Consider that one of the reasons the US prospered so much after WW1 and 2 was the influx of European immigrants. Well now maybe it's Arabs and Asians. There are enough well off folks from those countries willing to come to America.

Of course there's another benefit of massive amounts of immigration... these people bring fresh ideas and innovation. I also happen to find some of those asian and arab women extremely sexy :)