Canada/USA (living in, safe, wealthy)

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by Robynator

It sounds like you only lived in Vancouver, which is fair enough, but your portrayal is accurate for Vancouver, but doesn't represent what you'd expect across Canada as a whole.

The highway infrastructure in Vancouver, or lack thereof, for example, is a product of a city-wide vote in the 1970's in which the locals voted *against* having a freeway because it would mean the destruction of neighborhoods. To this day, freeways within city limits are seen as a bad thing among Vancouver city planners, and this trend is actually catching on in other cities across North America because they see how vibrant the city remains when freeways aren't dissecting it up. Vancouver has also implemented a plan to densify as opposed to sprawl out, and freeways are catalysts for urban sprawl. As they say, "build them, and they will come". It's a totally different mentality to think of freeways as a bad thing, but that's the way it is in Vancouver.

Toronto or Montreal, on the other hand, is freeway heaven.

And Vancouver's housing pricing is ridiculously off the charts, but fly one hour over to Edmonton and you've got yourself bargain housing. Or anywhere in Ontario outside of Toronto is peanuts compared to Vancouver's insane prices. I couldn't believe when I heard that you could still buy houses for under $200,000 in Windsor!!! (Compared to Vancouver's $800,000+ average). Calgary's even half of Vancouver's insane prices.

But they do say BC stands for "Bring Cash" for a reason.

Back to Rachel's original post...

As previously mentioned by mattncind, Canada and the USA are countries with a diversity of regions, kind of like how Europe has a diversity of regions. So unless you go down to a regional scale, you're going to have a patchwork of answers which are very likely to give you conflicting responses of "what Canada is like" and how it compares to what "the USA is like".

Canadian provinces (and territories) are like their own separate countries - they can be quite different in terms of scenery, climate, culture, history, economy, infrastructure, law, and living expenses. They would each give you a completely different taste of life in Canada. It's the same way with USA's states.

Thanks for filling me in on that. The BC Bring cash thing made me giggle. When I retire you can bet we will spend much time in Canada and seeing all the wonderful beauty.

Thanks

[rachel210389]

thank you for the answers..and concerning the people and the way of life are there big differences..on mentalities.?or canadian and american are the same?

well the culture is it the same?

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by rachel210389

thank you for the answers..and concerning the people and the way of life are there big differences..on mentalities.?or canadian and american are the same?

well the culture is it the same?

Yes and no.


Superficially they appear similar, but when you dig down underneath, they function very differently and have different values on certain fundamental topics.

When it comes down to it, the lifestyles are the same. The infrastructure of both countries revolves around the car and the lifestyles of the average person are consumerist. Our shopping malls and grocery stores are practically the same. Our houses and cities look the same. Our electrical sockets and TV shows and movies and cars and highways and school systems look and function the same way, etc. Our daily routines are the same. Coming from Europe, you'll notice these superficial similarities and the two countries will appear the same.

But the social values are different. It's like England and France to a North American. On the outside, you appear to live similar European lifestyles with great public transit, historical buildings, castles, small cars, ancient cities, people who are into the same kind of sports... people who go on vacation to the same places. But the French and the English look at life completely differently. Their histories are also quite different and have helped shape their mentality. The same goes for the USA and Canada.

Of course, it also depends on where you are in the country too. Some social values vary depending on whether you're in the countryside or in the city, or in one state or in one province. This is why it's so hard to just generalize. The USA and Canada are the size of continents, and so this is like trying to explain the mentality of "Europeans" all in one go.

The USA, for example, has a huge Bible Belt and an entire demographic of right wing evangelistic Christians that just doesn't exist in Canada. And I'm generalizing of course, because there are some strange religious groups in Canada, but it's just not a part of the majority *anywhere* in Canada that has any power. If you thanked Jesus in public and quoted the bible in Canada, for example, people would look at you funny or think, "religious nut!" Or perhaps they'd think nothing at all and just "let them believe whatever they want to believe".

Issues such as gay marriage, illegal drugs, abortion, etc - also differ between the USA and Canada, but in some instances, it varies at the state/provincial level.

The military plays a large , prominent role in the USA, whereas in Canada it doesn't.

Our demographics are also different, and highly varied depending on where in Canada or the USA you are. In the USA there's a larger black and Hispanic population in the average demographic. In Canada, there's a larger Asian population in the average demographic.

How the USA and Canada view global issues can also alter dramatically. I find that when I'm in the USA, there's a very US-centric perspective from the media. If it doesn't pertain to the USA, it doesn't matter (obvious generalization).. but there's a feeling that you're watching the USA all the time. In Canada, obviously there's a Canadian-centric spin to our stories as well, but we also get a lot of American media (most of our TV stations are from the USA), so we have this bizarre insight into American culture, because we have a direct window into their world and we can see what's going on, and they have no clue. We see them but they don't see us, and we've been seeing them for all our lives. We're like their Big Brother. By contrast, most Americans know absolutely nothing about Canada (aside from "it's cold"). And fair enough, why do they have to? They also don't get Canadian media and most never travel north of their border, or outside of their country, period. Many think of Canada as this strange, foreign land and don't even know about even the superficial similarities, which baffles Canadians. I liken it to a one-way mirrored box. It's a very bizarre situation. A lot of Canadians feel resent for this, unfortunately, which they carry as a chip on their shoulder - and that baffles Americans!

To generalize some more, American culture revolves around the gain of the individual at the expense of others. In Canada, that also is true, but there's a larger social safety net... and a general acceptance among Canadians of making sure we have that social safety net. We don't mind paying higher taxes in Canada if it means our health care is taken care for, etc. That doesn't mean we don't like to complain about paying higher taxes, mind you! But we're not complaining about where the taxes are going as much. In the USA, there's the mentality that "why should I have to pay higher taxes if I'm not using it personally? Why does my money have to support somebody else?" and having the government taking care of things like health care is... well... a can of worms.

So if you're looking to get extremely wealthy and you're caught up in the capitalist "how can I get richer" mindset, the USA's the better place to be.

The USA also has about 300 million people vs Canada's 30 million, so there are hundreds of more opportunities in terms of business, education, etc, in the USA. Because of the larger market, many things are cheaper in the USA. Canada's population also exists along a narrow strip 200 km along the southern border of Canada, and since it's very expensive to fly domestically, most Canadians only ever know their own region and rarely visit the other parts of Canada. And although Canada only has a handful of large cities, that's where the majority of the population lives - Canada's population is very urban. By contrast, the USA is heavily populated across their entire country, whereas in Canada has more empty spaces and there are larger distances between large cities. We often find that we have more in common with our regional American neighbours than with our fellow Canadians across the country.

Politics in both countries are completely different. There's a liberal-conservative dichotomy in politics in the USA, whereas in Canada there are multiple parties. The average Canadian is, I'd argue, more liberal than the average American. And Canada's politics are similar to the UK's with its parliamentary system.

We can go on and on... but it's just too complicated.

[AusTraveller]

You forgot to mention that the women are much better in Canada

[macmeal]

I've been following your posts on this thread, Robynator---GOOD READING!....I'm a sort of "amateur sociologist" myself, and your writings are worth re-reading. Enjoyed every one of your observations..

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by macmeal

I've been following your posts on this thread, Robynator---GOOD READING!....I'm a sort of "amateur sociologist" myself, and your writings are worth re-reading. Enjoyed every one of your observations..

Hey macmeal, thanks for the feedback! And that's a good way of putting it - amateur sociology. Or perhaps it's just my new outlet now that I'm out of university.

[mishigas73]

Originally Posted by ian6479

"Canada is like a loft apartment over a really cool party".

Robin Williams

Oh, man, I just had to make sure that was said again here. Thanks for the larf.

Now, with that said (ha ha), I'll answer the question posed.

What's the difference between the countries?

Not too much, as far as I've seen personally. Yes, of course, politically, socially, economically...there are differences. But, at the heart of it all, there really isn't anything, IMO, that makes a true "US vs Canada" dichotomy.

There are, without a doubt, good and bad with both. The people? Again, good and bad with both. My experiences in both countries have again....been good and bad.

My first time up in Vancouver, I was in a position where I was the only Yank in the midst of about a dozen Canucks. It literally amazed me how I was attacked at that time, because to this day, I've always felt this "yeah, you all are SO patriotic" vibe from them. Pot? Meet kettle. It just makes me chuckle.

Where I live in the US now is really no different in "vibe" from my neighbors directly to the north. Just like when I was living back east. The mentality was pretty much the same when I visited the eastern parts of Canada.

There's no real "distinction" that I've seen.

Of course, I love chuckling at the jokes like Robin Williams made. Because, at the end of the day, when I go up to Canada every week, unless the border guards give me a hassle, I literally have to remind myself that I'm in a different country. And, yeah, that's a GOOD thing.

[mishigas73]

Originally Posted by Robynator

How the USA and Canada view global issues can also alter dramatically. I find that when I'm in the USA, there's a very US-centric perspective from the media. If it doesn't pertain to the USA, it doesn't matter (obvious generalization).. but there's a feeling that you're watching the USA all the time. In Canada, obviously there's a Canadian-centric spin to our stories as well, but we also get a lot of American media (most of our TV stations are from the USA), so we have this bizarre insight into American culture, because we have a direct window into their world and we can see what's going on, and they have no clue. We see them but they don't see us, and we've been seeing them for all our lives. We're like their Big Brother.

Can I respond to this as a Yank who is forced to watch Canadian news when she's up there?

I don't see that "spin" that you do. As a matter of fact, I find it quite amusing that you see it as a "Big Brother" thing. I have seen the same exact sound bytes up there (CTV and Global) that I've seen down here, with the same comments. You all have some sort of "insight"? Nah. I've heard that one before by some of your fellow citizens, but have yet to see it myself.

"News" is the same there as it is here. There's no "reporting". There's no more "insight" there than there is here.

This just IS. Not good or bad, but just IS. It's been about two years that I've been seeing your newscasts regularly, and I sure haven't seen anything that makes me say, "WOW, they certainly see it better than we do".

But, of course, that's because I'm an American. I have also come to accept that answer and laugh to myself about it. Can't have the leopard change its spots, can we?

[rachel210389]

Originally Posted by Robynator

Yes and no.


Superficially they appear similar, but when you dig down underneath, they function very differently and have different values on certain fundamental topics.

When it comes down to it, the lifestyles are the same. The infrastructure of both countries revolves around the car and the lifestyles of the average person are consumerist. Our shopping malls and grocery stores are practically the same. Our houses and cities look the same. Our electrical sockets and TV shows and movies and cars and highways and school systems look and function the same way, etc. Our daily routines are the same. Coming from Europe, you'll notice these superficial similarities and the two countries will appear the same.

But the social values are different. It's like England and France to a North American. On the outside, you appear to live similar European lifestyles with great public transit, historical buildings, castles, small cars, ancient cities, people who are into the same kind of sports... people who go on vacation to the same places. But the French and the English look at life completely differently. Their histories are also quite different and have helped shape their mentality. The same goes for the USA and Canada.

Of course, it also depends on where you are in the country too. Some social values vary depending on whether you're in the countryside or in the city, or in one state or in one province. This is why it's so hard to just generalize. The USA and Canada are the size of continents, and so this is like trying to explain the mentality of "Europeans" all in one go.

The USA, for example, has a huge Bible Belt and an entire demographic of right wing evangelistic Christians that just doesn't exist in Canada. And I'm generalizing of course, because there are some strange religious groups in Canada, but it's just not a part of the majority *anywhere* in Canada that has any power. If you thanked Jesus in public and quoted the bible in Canada, for example, people would look at you funny or think, "religious nut!" Or perhaps they'd think nothing at all and just "let them believe whatever they want to believe".

Issues such as gay marriage, illegal drugs, abortion, etc - also differ between the USA and Canada, but in some instances, it varies at the state/provincial level.

The military plays a large , prominent role in the USA, whereas in Canada it doesn't.

Our demographics are also different, and highly varied depending on where in Canada or the USA you are. In the USA there's a larger black and Hispanic population in the average demographic. In Canada, there's a larger Asian population in the average demographic.

How the USA and Canada view global issues can also alter dramatically. I find that when I'm in the USA, there's a very US-centric perspective from the media. If it doesn't pertain to the USA, it doesn't matter (obvious generalization).. but there's a feeling that you're watching the USA all the time. In Canada, obviously there's a Canadian-centric spin to our stories as well, but we also get a lot of American media (most of our TV stations are from the USA), so we have this bizarre insight into American culture, because we have a direct window into their world and we can see what's going on, and they have no clue. We see them but they don't see us, and we've been seeing them for all our lives. We're like their Big Brother. By contrast, most Americans know absolutely nothing about Canada (aside from "it's cold"). And fair enough, why do they have to? They also don't get Canadian media and most never travel north of their border, or outside of their country, period. Many think of Canada as this strange, foreign land and don't even know about even the superficial similarities, which baffles Canadians. I liken it to a one-way mirrored box. It's a very bizarre situation. A lot of Canadians feel resent for this, unfortunately, which they carry as a chip on their shoulder - and that baffles Americans!

To generalize some more, American culture revolves around the gain of the individual at the expense of others. In Canada, that also is true, but there's a larger social safety net... and a general acceptance among Canadians of making sure we have that social safety net. We don't mind paying higher taxes in Canada if it means our health care is taken care for, etc. That doesn't mean we don't like to complain about paying higher taxes, mind you! But we're not complaining about where the taxes are going as much. In the USA, there's the mentality that "why should I have to pay higher taxes if I'm not using it personally? Why does my money have to support somebody else?" and having the government taking care of things like health care is... well... a can of worms.

So if you're looking to get extremely wealthy and you're caught up in the capitalist "how can I get richer" mindset, the USA's the better place to be.

The USA also has about 300 million people vs Canada's 30 million, so there are hundreds of more opportunities in terms of business, education, etc, in the USA. Because of the larger market, many things are cheaper in the USA. Canada's population also exists along a narrow strip 200 km along the southern border of Canada, and since it's very expensive to fly domestically, most Canadians only ever know their own region and rarely visit the other parts of Canada. And although Canada only has a handful of large cities, that's where the majority of the population lives - Canada's population is very urban. By contrast, the USA is heavily populated across their entire country, whereas in Canada has more empty spaces and there are larger distances between large cities. We often find that we have more in common with our regional American neighbours than with our fellow Canadians across the country.

Politics in both countries are completely different. There's a liberal-conservative dichotomy in politics in the USA, whereas in Canada there are multiple parties. The average Canadian is, I'd argue, more liberal than the average American. And Canada's politics are similar to the UK's with its parliamentary system.

We can go on and on... but it's just too complicated.

thank you so much,this is exactly the answer I was looking for.You explained the situation very well!
I understand well the differences now,because every time I go to visit my family at toronto,I just feel like if I was in a american tv show,like my cousin and her friend speaks the same with the omg,and awesome,...,then the cars , houses and everything are similar,and people are very material,so I was really wondering what were the differences,so thanks..you answered great!

[desibear]

thanks Robynator. The above analysis ofyours should be a 'sticky' on this site. Enjoyed it a lot