The concept of creating a colossal, continental Walmart using the scrap of the Founders sovereign nation as a foundation is alive and well.

Opining in an editorial on what should be done to deal with what he describes as "the global mess", Washington Post op-ed columnist Jim Hoagland last year advised the then as yet un-elected President Obama on change: "Here's one example of new thinking he should pursue: The United States should apply to relations with hemispheric neighbors many of the lessons of the European Union and its half-century of economic and political integration. A functioning American Union that pools sovereignty is a goal worth introducing now" wrote Hoagland.

Remember that one: "pooling sovereignty." It is likely to come up again.