Most people assumed President Trump was joking when he first brought up the idea of Canada joining the United States as a 51st state. But now the idea is becoming a serious part of the trade war that has been launched against our northern neighbor, and administration officials are regularly touting the supposed benefits of the union. 

Before we start taking this too seriously, can we just stop for a moment to acknowledge that apart from everything else, the idea of Canadian statehood would be an absolute disaster for American conservatism and confine the Republican Party to the ash heap of history.

Canada has a fully-government run health care system that covers gender transitions. It has higher taxes than average for a developed country. It has no tradition of gun ownership or free speech. Canadians never fought for their independence and their national character is inferior to that of Americans. 

Adding Canada as a 51st state would mean importing a country with a population slightly larger than California, only even more socialist, and without the wealth. In fact, Canada would instantly become the poorest country in the U.S and a net taker of welfare from taxpayers in other states.

Politically speaking, incorporating Canada would mean adding a solid blue state with more electoral votes than any other, and dozens of socialist Congressional districts that would elect members who make AOC seem moderate. It would effectively give Democrats a lock on the presidency and House of Representatives in perpetuity, and an extra two senate seats. A survey of Canadians taken last October found that if they could vote in the U.S. election, 64 percent would have gone for Kamala Harris, compared to just 21 percent for Trump – which would be worse for Trump than any other state (not including the District of Columbia).

When it comes to some of Trump’s is-he-joking-or-is-he-serious proposals that will never be realized (for instance, buying Greenland), it could at least be argued that it would be good were they to somehow happen. But if Canada were ever incorporated into the United States, it would make America poorer, weaker, and less free — and Trump’s own voters would be the hardest hit.