Exaltation where exlatation is do

I'd like to say, I'm a huge admirer of the European Union and the entire concept of an international bloc of culturally and geographically linked nation-states working together in a world too often dominated by poorly run superpowers (basically the United States, but I do believe more shall join the ranks soon enough i.e. China and India). Furthermore, they're way ahead of all others on establishing legislation is ensure sustainability for themselves. For example, the bloc is on top of encouraging the development of alternative energy sources, for which they have set themselves benchmark goals to achieve implementing. To this end they've held true, with the proposal to pass legislation making sure that bio-fuels that are imported to the EU are created in an ecologically beneficial fashion only. This is in advance of even minimal exploration of this by the American government or the new rising economic players. Seeing a potentially helpful technology in their fight against climate change; they've taken steps to see that it isn't misused or misrepresented as it all too often is by proponents of bio-fuels like BP or farming groups, that are looking for profits over results. This is a laudable objective of governments to take. Even though it still has a way to go, just the mere fact that is considered in the open discourse of the union is fantastically beyond most everywhere else. I truly hope that the laws come to be enforced to their proper ends.
Another awesome feature that has been applied in the EU that I think could be learned from is the Schengen Agreement. This is basically a treaty that allows for citizens of member nations to travel about all member nations more easily, without the need for border checking (though this isn't one hundred percent true, but way more so than other places). This eased the restrictions of trade and economic co-operation of the members, as well as surely reducing the cost of having to maintain border stations. The opposite trend is happening in the United States however, with the move towards requiring passports for even Canadian border stops for American and Canadian citizens. Personally, being born and raised extremely close to the US-Canada border, this is a hassle that many citizens that don't need to cross the border will just not see as necessary, only hurting the mutually beneficial trade of the countries. Not to say many won't get passports that did not own them, but there will be a sizable amount that consider the extra cost a luxury they aren't lining up to spend their money and time on. In addition, this rule as been delay many times, perhaps due to the governments sluggish pace to ready themselves to the conversion or fears of the economic repercussions. Maybe it is the Bush administration's rhetoric to secure the nation that drives this; seeing that they certainly aren't holding to this very well with other ideas (namely Iraq). Yet this can't be the best answer, an alternative plan might be found in strengthening relations with the Canadian government on this issue. Naturally, if the Canadians have a secure border and the US does as well, then it will be a homogeneous unit that shall not necessitate increasingly restrictive policies for traveling between the two. Being the United States' largest trade partner, damaging commercial links with Canada seems generally unhelpful for the declining economy in America. What is most paradoxical to me is the way both presidents of recent times have so strongly supported free trade agreements, yet this seems in staunch opposition to such ideals. I'm no fan of free trade treaties, but this just doesn't add up in my mind.