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I wouldn't go so far to say Canada is a puppet but we are significantly influenced by the US at many levels. To believe we are fully independent on a practical, not theortical level, is ignorant of reality. We are tied to the US at the hip economically, geographically, culturally, and geopolitically in many respects. Even historically, our ancestors are basically derived from the same people so our ties with the US run very deep and always will. Despite squabbles from time to time, we get over them, and move on and co-exist in a mutually beneficial relationship, which is economically integrated. We more or less outsource our military/security via NATO and the country is too small to have any foreign policy clout. The trade off is that we have to support the Americans if they require it or sit on sidelines and provide support behind the scenes if we disagree with their actions. We have a system of co-existing with the US in a manner in which, for the most part, and arguably, both countries get what they want so it works and we serve as an ideal partner for them in their world order of things. To say the US controls Canada may be going too far IMO but it is reality that Canada is too integrated with the US to to have full autonomy over geopolitical and many economic issues. One can point to news headline examples of differences which assert Canadian autonomy but the cost-benefit of crossing the Americans always needs to be considered and their influence keeps Canada, on a practical level, within certain boundaries. We are 34 million people out of 7 billion so what do you expect, many countries would kill to be in our shoes.
A reasoned and considered assessment that I find a lot of content to agree with.
There can be no argument with the consideration that must go to "opposing" the U.S. to any great degree as this can often come back to bite us much later. They, on the whole, are prone to overlooking present transgressions from past enemies, even throwing money at them, while villifying and exacting vengeance upon allies who might have a contrary opinion.
You really have a problem with differentiating between moaning and griping and actually performing a useful function of change as it applies to passion or interest. Looking at your neighbor and castigating him as a Democrat because he fits two descriptors being a person of a minority racial demographic or a single parent does not show passion or interest. Looking at your neighbour who attends church regularly and owns his own business, while castigating them as a Republican, does not show interest or passion.
Those types of interest or behaviours show a small mindedness that will be the ultimate downfall of a supposedly "enlightened" society. Bigotry, to use another word. It could actually be the very epitome example of describing why the U.S. is currently frozen, dysfunctional and impotent in the face of so many challenges presently facing it's very survival. All that polar opposed "passion" has them looking askance at each other from across a huge chasm of nothing more than perceived differences.
Hatfield; meet mister McCoy.
Canada's corporate taxation rates are anywhere from 25 to 30% being among the lowest in the western developed world while the U.S.'s are on average, over 40% The burgeoning red tape required by the government in the U.S. to operate as a business entity if WAY more constraining than Canada's so that one is a fail.
Purchasing a car that is built here and paying more for it is a price we pay for all things associated with duties and surcharges levied to support our lifestyle in other areas. Those things you mention are in fact being talked about daily by many organizations that do not protest in the streets or burn flags to express their "passion".
Our Universal medical coverage system has weaknesses associated with some things such as costs and governmental support but it does not have anywhere near the failures of scope that the U.S. is tolerating with, once again, bigotry being at the root of that.
Oil we have lots of but not the stuff primarily used to make fuel. Nor do we have the refining capacity to supply it; hence, we pay more.
You may have recently returned to Canada for whatever reasons, but while you highlight the unemplyment issue, you seem not to have had a problem making that decision as to which country you wish to be employed within.
OK thank you. I stand corrected on some of those points.
But as for why Canadian-made cars cost more in Canada than the U.S. I don't see how it can be due to duties. If you mean duties on imported parts, that cost is part of he cost of manufacturing the car and should not lead to higher Canadian list prices.
Even the government is investigating this---something called the Competition Bureau.
As for the idea that I am just criticizing and not doing anything, at least I take an active interest in things and try to raise issues to raise awareness, for example with the following thread to which no one responded:
Now maybe that thread is poorly worded or too abstract or just plain boring for most people---but my point there is that Canadian corporations are amongst the worst in the world for not revealing hiding important activity from the public and that that makes it all the easier for things like our telecommunications monopolies, or higher Canadian pricing to exist. (Even though I know that some of the higher Canadian prices are due to suppliers charging Canadian wholesalers more for goods. ) Maybe no one cares about stuff like that, but I do.
And I have taken action. I have written to companies and asked them directly why something costs double in Canada what I paid in the U.S. and invariably the answer is that the retailers set the price.
[quote=ellemint;26308329]All the "negativity" the one poster said I post are problems Canada has:
-- things cost too much and no one seems to mind !
--- we pay more than Americans do for Canadian cars
--- we have a bloated complacent batch of civil servants and buraucrats whose huge pensions we will all be stuck paying for over the next millenium --- we have high unemployment --- we have a shortage of doctors and unacceptably long waiting times for essential medical services
--- condos in Toronto average over $600,000 (obscene)
--- we have a province that won't post signs in English when the whole world does that
--- we have a huge supply of oil yet we pay about 30 % more for gas than the U.S.
--- our taxes are sky-high, global corporations don't want to come here because the government makes this a non-business friendly environment.
--- Canadians have one of the highest personal debt/income ratios in the developed world
At least the four things I italicized and boldfaced are things Americans have in common with Canadians!
To be fair, the United States has a shortage of doctors who are general practioners. Specialty medicine is where the big money is.
All the "negativity" the one poster said I post are problems Canada has:
-- things cost too much and no one seems to mind !
--- we pay more than Americans do for Canadian cars
--- we have a bloated complacent batch of civil servants and buraucrats whose huge pensions we will all be stuck paying for over the next millenium --- we have high unemployment --- we have a shortage of doctors and unacceptably long waiting times for essential medical services
--- condos in Toronto average over $600,000 (obscene)
--- we have a province that won't post signs in English when the whole world does that
--- we have a huge supply of oil yet we pay about 30 % more for gas than the U.S.
--- our taxes are sky-high, global corporations don't want to come here because the government makes this a non-business friendly environment.
--- Canadians have one of the highest personal debt/income ratios in the developed world
At least the four things I italicized and boldfaced are things Americans have in common with Canadians!
To be fair, the United States has a shortage of doctors who are general practioners. Specialty medicine is where the big money is.
It's the same here, the shortage is more for GPs then specialists. And I don't think it's just about the money, although that is part of it. I think quite a lot of it is that the type of high achiever who gets through the extremely difficult challenges one must overcome to get a place in a med school is also the type of person who won't be satisfied with "just" being a GP. They want to get the shiniest brass ring with the most prestige because they're people who love the challenge and love the science you can learn and be involved with when you're a high level specialist. Since there's so much demand to become a specialist and they find it so intrinsically rewarding, I think it makes more sense to shift the salary incentives a bit so that we get a more ideal distribution of med students going into the various fields of practice. But that's something that the medical field really has to address, and it's interesting to note that it's the same situation in both the US and Canada, so the fee structure of the healthcare system and the universities doesn't really seem to have changed this dynamic. It's quite interesting to note and think about!
OK thank you. I stand corrected on some of those points.
But as for why Canadian-made cars cost more in Canada than the U.S. I don't see how it can be due to duties. If you mean duties on imported parts, that cost is part of he cost of manufacturing the car and should not lead to higher Canadian list prices.
Even the government is investigating this---something called the Competition Bureau.
As for the idea that I am just criticizing and not doing anything, at least I take an active interest in things and try to raise issues to raise awareness, for example with the following thread to which no one responded:
Now maybe that thread is poorly worded or too abstract or just plain boring for most people---but my point there is that Canadian corporations are amongst the worst in the world for not revealing hiding important activity from the public and that that makes it all the easier for things like our telecommunications monopolies, or higher Canadian pricing to exist. (Even though I know that some of the higher Canadian prices are due to suppliers charging Canadian wholesalers more for goods. ) Maybe no one cares about stuff like that, but I do.
And I have taken action. I have written to companies and asked them directly why something costs double in Canada what I paid in the U.S. and invariably the answer is that the retailers set the price.
Some months ago consumer organizations were making weekly statements about the cost of cars and the result is; as you mention, the government is looking into this. System worked as it should.
Telecommunications, or more focused on the point, the dysfunctional CRTC that "services" or panders to the big conglomerates like Bell and Rogers to the detriment of the consumer under the guise of ensuring Canadian Content is maintained will come to the same bump in the road.
Canadians are traveling more and more frequently and when they are in foreign countries and get better cel-phone and internet plans at a fraction of the cost, they come home to talk with their local MP. I myself have had this experience time and time again to return and get on the horn to my MP. I'm not laying down or out in the street but making sure he is not going to ignore the fact we are getting ripped off with mediocre service and paying WAY too much for the privilege.
We are also becoming more aware of the costs of items here in Canada being higher for everything from your basic retaurant meal to items in Walmart but we temper our chagrin at this to first worrying about the stuff that is important then attack the small stuff.
The thing that is frustrating you I believe, is the illusion we are too complacent when it is just our nature NOT to be sharing our disgruntlement on a frequent basis with others.
Keep your eyes and ears on anything to do with the F-35 JSF program as an indicator of how the Canadian citizenry can boil up quickly when they finally tire of lies and obfuscation. That one ought to be fun to watch.
It's the same here, the shortage is more for GPs then specialists. And I don't think it's just about the money, although that is part of it. I think quite a lot of it is that the type of high achiever who gets through the extremely difficult challenges one must overcome to get a place in a med school is also the type of person who won't be satisfied with "just" being a GP. They want to get the shiniest brass ring with the most prestige because they're people who love the challenge and love the science you can learn and be involved with when you're a high level specialist. Since there's so much demand to become a specialist and they find it so intrinsically rewarding, I think it makes more sense to shift the salary incentives a bit so that we get a more ideal distribution of med students going into the various fields of practice. But that's something that the medical field really has to address, and it's interesting to note that it's the same situation in both the US and Canada, so the fee structure of the healthcare system and the universities doesn't really seem to have changed this dynamic. It's quite interesting to note and think about!
The Economist had a recent article on the physician shortage worldwide. Apparently Physician's Assistants can handle 85 % of the work a general practitioner does. And midwives can do a lot of what obstetricians do when it comes to birthing. And already LPNs (Licensed practical nurses) are doing a lot of what RNs used to do. The article said that even community-trained laypeople could do a lot of things in their communities like give flu shots etc. Saving the doctors for things that only doctors have the expertise to do. That makes sense to me.
The reason people pay more intention to American politics is because they are interesting, maybe over-the-top farcical and ludicrous but still interesting. At least Americans get passionate about things.
The average Canadian doesn't seem to mind paying more for everything including cars made here in Canada, or dealing with telecommunications monopolies, or paying government fat-cat buraucrats. To me they just take everything lying down. Their politics are boring because nobody gets fired up about anything --- they just accept everything.
ellemint...I understand your point of view regarding Canadian complacency. As a Canadian living in the US, this is a cultural difference that I notice. Americans idealize the louder, aggressive, slick talking, work-the-room, dominating personality. Canadians seem to embody more genuine, easy going, congenial, polite, passive-aggressive characteristics. It may have something to do with Canada being a small country so we know we are not alone on planet earth, whereas Americans are used to having the world revolve around them and hence have an attitude or confidence or whatever you want to call it. American soceity is also a more competitive culture in terms of becoming a winner or a loser from a socio-economic perspective thus aggressiveness is encouraged in general from a young age. And even the origins of both countries speak volumes of the personality traits of the people (US - all out bloody rebellion against Britain, Canada - relatively peaceful transition from Britain time over time). I don't exactly know the psychology behind it but there is a difference and even people from abroad can tell, not every time, but more times than not.
I am also very frustrated with the monopolistic business environment in Canada. The banks, telecomm, ISPs, Insurance companies, retailers, LCBO, etc. are essentially printing presses as opposed to competitive businesses and this is not optimal. I feel this a problem no one talks about because it is all the population has ever known and the government continues to protect so many industries from competition. I think Canada can give the US a good run for its money in terms of its ability to promote or sweep issues under the rug from the general population. For better or worse, Canada values stability for the greater good as opposed to the volatility that competition will bring. The US may have gone to far with their laissez faire rules (esp. in banking) and I know we are a small country with limited scale but I believe if there was the will, it could be better than it is. There has to be room to unlock at least some of the grip that corporate Canada has over its citizens. Not only for the sake of the everyday Canadian but to help build a more productive and innovative businesses environment that can successfully compete on a global stage, as opposed to just a Canadian stage. But I don't think there is a will because the people are happy with our living standards and with peace, order and stability. Perhaps this just ties back into our easy going personalities.
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