A survey of our American friends and their politcal standing
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Legion again its a bad comparison to talk about income levels as we have more social supports AND markets have pretty much adjusted to our income levels for most products. Heck americans now flock here to do their groceries.
I pay 325$ can for a 5 1\2 apt. It costs about 100$ a month average to light and heat. 425$ can but thats about 300$ us for both.
I have a bud in rural virginia who pays 600$ US a month for rent only on a bachelor apt...
I pay 325$ can for a 5 1\2 apt. It costs about 100$ a month average to light and heat. 425$ can but thats about 300$ us for both.
I have a bud in rural virginia who pays 600$ US a month for rent only on a bachelor apt...
Willmeister
Newcomer
Where have you been? America has no friends, just people they bully less or brownnosing oppurtunists like Blair or Paul Martin...
http://www.who.int/whr2001/2001/archives/2000/en/pdf/Annex1-en.pdf
According to this, the U.S. healthcare system is ranked 37th overall in the world as opposed to 30th for Canada. I guess neither are shining beacons of hope for the developed world. That title appears to be left to, you guessed it, France. (Of course things can change over the course of 6 years. I doubt Italy is still #2 after a couple years of Berlusconni)
But hey, at least we aren't the Democratic Republic of Congo!
According to this, the U.S. healthcare system is ranked 37th overall in the world as opposed to 30th for Canada. I guess neither are shining beacons of hope for the developed world. That title appears to be left to, you guessed it, France. (Of course things can change over the course of 6 years. I doubt Italy is still #2 after a couple years of Berlusconni)
But hey, at least we aren't the Democratic Republic of Congo!
Willmeister said:
Bullshit, you must listen to CBC on a daily basis. I know a number of people whom live in the US I also know that there are plenty of people in Canada that quite like Americans and I am not just talking about politicians. I even have family in the states never had a problem speaking with them or anything of the sort. You guys egotistically exaggerate about Americans as if they are some sort of lesser life form even though you have no real grounds for it. All you do by stating your bias is confirm that elitism found in Universities and broadcasted on the CBC. Gots to go to work have fun. L8r.
Dr. Ffreeze
Regular
Sabastian and Willmeister,
Wow Willmeister. Let me first say that I am an America. I have heard that some Canadians thought ill of us and stubbed their noses at us but I didn't really believe it. Are most people in this world really that different? Don't most people want to be left alone from others interfering in their pursuit of happiness, work hard to provide for their families, be good parents/spouses, and just in general enjoy this thing called life? That is what I am about. Are you that much different? Are Canadians, Russians, or Chinese that much different? I always thought governments where the ones to muddy the waters.
Sabastian, I always looked favorably on Canada and Canadians as they were our fellow partners living on this rock called North America.
Interesting comment Willmeister. I myself despised the government and the governments actions of Iraq. (Something should be done when the Kurds were gassed) I do not look at an average Iraqis in the same way as the Iraq government. When my country's government (America) does something wrong/stupid (as all governments do, some more than others) do you lay that blame directly on my shoulders? Do you believe that governments do not do 100% of the things that the average citizen would wish them to do and therefore you are able to separate the governments actions from the citizens will? From your comments, I would guess not. It is an interesting thought. =)
If this country was run 100% like I wanted, we would have just laws, small government, let most everyone do what they wanted as long that they didn't infringe on others rights, and foster the belief that people should take responsibilities for their own actions. (yes, much harder said than done/sigh).
Dr. Ffreeze
Wow Willmeister. Let me first say that I am an America. I have heard that some Canadians thought ill of us and stubbed their noses at us but I didn't really believe it. Are most people in this world really that different? Don't most people want to be left alone from others interfering in their pursuit of happiness, work hard to provide for their families, be good parents/spouses, and just in general enjoy this thing called life? That is what I am about. Are you that much different? Are Canadians, Russians, or Chinese that much different? I always thought governments where the ones to muddy the waters.
Sabastian, I always looked favorably on Canada and Canadians as they were our fellow partners living on this rock called North America.
Interesting comment Willmeister. I myself despised the government and the governments actions of Iraq. (Something should be done when the Kurds were gassed) I do not look at an average Iraqis in the same way as the Iraq government. When my country's government (America) does something wrong/stupid (as all governments do, some more than others) do you lay that blame directly on my shoulders? Do you believe that governments do not do 100% of the things that the average citizen would wish them to do and therefore you are able to separate the governments actions from the citizens will? From your comments, I would guess not. It is an interesting thought. =)
If this country was run 100% like I wanted, we would have just laws, small government, let most everyone do what they wanted as long that they didn't infringe on others rights, and foster the belief that people should take responsibilities for their own actions. (yes, much harder said than done/sigh).
Dr. Ffreeze
Dr. Ffreeze
Regular
Willmeister,
Been thinkin more on this, just got me thinking. Don't read this as an attack but more of a thought proving exchange of ideals. I am an American. I am proud of being an American. From my understanding you feel you are different than me. How so? How are you so different than me, and average, middleclass, working, male American? I would love to hear some of the differences or maybe just perceived differences. =)
Dr. Ffreeze
Been thinkin more on this, just got me thinking. Don't read this as an attack but more of a thought proving exchange of ideals. I am an American. I am proud of being an American. From my understanding you feel you are different than me. How so? How are you so different than me, and average, middleclass, working, male American? I would love to hear some of the differences or maybe just perceived differences. =)
Dr. Ffreeze
Dr. Ffreeze said:
Well so far they have told me their health care plan is superior though it clearly will serve to bandrupt them in years to come if their rates keep increasing as they are. Paired with the over all nature of their welf fare society David Gratzer projects major impending problems in the future. Canada needs to allow for more privatization of their medical system.
Dr. Ffreeze
Regular
Legion,
But that is not what I am asking about. I don't care about our governments differences. I am more interested in examining that Sabastian said Canadians and Americans are much alike, and I think Willmeister thinks different. I contend that most average everyday people in much of the word are very similar (especially between western cultures). I would still love to hear from you Willmeister. =)
Dr. Ffreeze
But that is not what I am asking about. I don't care about our governments differences. I am more interested in examining that Sabastian said Canadians and Americans are much alike, and I think Willmeister thinks different. I contend that most average everyday people in much of the word are very similar (especially between western cultures). I would still love to hear from you Willmeister. =)
Dr. Ffreeze
Oh middle class were basically the same... But middle class life in Canada is a little better because we dont let the lower classes starve. Though we are catching up to you there. And our crime is booming consequently...
Me and Will both have american friends. I have lots of family down in the states too. Saying things like americans dont have friends is meant as the gov and elites...
Me and Will both have american friends. I have lots of family down in the states too. Saying things like americans dont have friends is meant as the gov and elites...
Willmeister
Newcomer
The first is the central role of religon. Religon is *huge* in the USA, especially the rather puritanical aspects of Christianity. From Bush's public statements to Holy Joe Lieberman. The closest we had to someone who was open about religion was Stockwell Day (he is from Alberta), and he went over REALLY well with the electorate. So much so, his party, CCRAP actually lost votes in the last election cycle and he was dumped soon after and replaced with yet another Albertan Steve Harper. Even in a place like Fredericton, where you can throw a rock in any direction and hit a church, religon hardly makes it into politics. Canadians shudder when the name of God is invoked; Americans just seem to shrug their shoulders and just say that's just the way things are.
Some have brought up the old CCF leader Tommy Douglas back in the '60s and '70s as a 'religious' person, but he never invoked God. Most of his statements were appeals to a sense of community.
A good example is just how CTV will *broadcast* the Sopranos uncut in primetime. Full nudity and all the foul language. This could *never* happen in the USA. Some religous group(s) would see red. It happens here in Canada, but all four picketers will usually give up after a few days.
Canadians are actually more pragmatic than Americans largely because of how the environment shaped the Canadian mindset and priorities. History has also shaped how Canada unfolded. Won't get into these as important as they are.
Americans are dominated by fear. Because fear probably sells more product than does sex.
Americans also, or the perception generated by the media, very much agree with Bush's us vs. them view of the world. It's inheriently adversarial, which is not common up here in Canada. Again, environment instilled a sense of community.
Now for the things I don't like about Canada.
Regionalization is a huge problem up here, and no group is more maligned than 'Newfies'. We've have a leader of the official opposition who called Atlantic Canadians lazy and on welfare, which is funny, since Alberta was at one time poorer than us and much more reliant on government handouts. Personally, I'll only listen to Steve's advice, when, and only when, our province is discovered to be floating on a sea of oil and even more reliant on energy extraction as Alberta is becoming.
Toronto bashing is a national sport that is only rivaled by the Canadian pastime of bashing our chartered banks. Everyone hates the bloodsucking banks. I lived in the USA and never heard once complaints from friends about 'the banks'.
Dr. Ffreeze
Regular
pax,
Ok, so the middle classes of Canada and America are basically the same? That is what I would think, except then I don't quite understand why Canadians would look down on Americans. The Elite are... well elite and I think they are missing the whole boat as to what life is all about, but each to his own. /shrug
I kinda chuckle about the "let lower classes starve" comment. I have been below the poverty level, I always had food to eat. I did not blame anyone for my current class level, so it was no ones responsibility but my own. If you starve in America, you CHOSE to starve. If you are too good to get a job at McDonald's and work for your own money for food, then how is it my responsibility to give you some of my hard earned money to eat? I just don't understand.......
As I read over this, the more I think that the "don't let the lower classes starve" comment was just an insult. Just to make sure, you don't really think people are starving in America do you? I mean like in Ethiopia starving where people die because of lack of food?
Crime rate. Well, some of the big city's are very nasty. Where I live, I don't always lock my car doors. I forget to shut the back garage door. I have been known to leave my radio out on my back patio for days with no fence around to hide it. My neighbor left his garage door open by accident for over 14 hours, everything was fine. I am trying to understand what the crime rate has to do with me, an average American. I guess it could be argued that on average, there are more criminals in America (if our crime rate is higher, as I would guess). How much of that has to do with population density I wonder? /ponder
Dr. Ffreeze
Ok, so the middle classes of Canada and America are basically the same? That is what I would think, except then I don't quite understand why Canadians would look down on Americans. The Elite are... well elite and I think they are missing the whole boat as to what life is all about, but each to his own. /shrug
I kinda chuckle about the "let lower classes starve" comment. I have been below the poverty level, I always had food to eat. I did not blame anyone for my current class level, so it was no ones responsibility but my own. If you starve in America, you CHOSE to starve. If you are too good to get a job at McDonald's and work for your own money for food, then how is it my responsibility to give you some of my hard earned money to eat? I just don't understand.......
As I read over this, the more I think that the "don't let the lower classes starve" comment was just an insult. Just to make sure, you don't really think people are starving in America do you? I mean like in Ethiopia starving where people die because of lack of food?
Crime rate. Well, some of the big city's are very nasty. Where I live, I don't always lock my car doors. I forget to shut the back garage door. I have been known to leave my radio out on my back patio for days with no fence around to hide it. My neighbor left his garage door open by accident for over 14 hours, everything was fine. I am trying to understand what the crime rate has to do with me, an average American. I guess it could be argued that on average, there are more criminals in America (if our crime rate is higher, as I would guess). How much of that has to do with population density I wonder? /ponder
Dr. Ffreeze
We have different amounts of people sharing dissimilar ethics.
I see you as less pragmatic and more dependent on each other for economic survival do the welffare programs.
Your government's spendings, especially in the area of medicine and government subsidies are anything but pragmatic (ahem CBC).
I live in the US and i do not share this opinion at all. I would see the media surely sells fear. I wouldn't say we are more fearful than many other countries.