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Focusing on the American election Its hard to talk differences with staunch rightwingers as they have this simplistic view that
all government programs are a waste of money and should be eliminated,
that all people can become very successful if they only worked hard enough,
Affordable health care is some how not good for the country
Give money to the rich and surely they'll make more jobs with that money.
Republicans are the true American patriots,every one else just welfare bums and entitlement class.
Canada is a Communist Nanny state.
Etc.
In terms of social issues, I never found people in Canada to be any different from Americans in large US cities. Both all seem pretty open, liberal and progressive. Maybe I've only lived in Liberal-minded cities: Toronto, NYC, and Boston. But there are strong conservative factions within the Republican party, that's reality. But it is also reality that they are on the decline relative to the whole country. Minorities and urban centers, which tend to be Liberal, are growing faster. Even though the country does have a large degree of polarization, Obama's re-election is proof that US is tilted more Liberal than Conservative overall. The Republicans have not adjusted to this reality and will have to find a way to resonate with all Americans, not just middle-aged white men, if they are going to win.
My impression is that even the liberals in America are to the right of Canadians.
Most Americans, indeed most sane people, would never approve of the huge bloated government bureaucracy that exists in Canada, the thousands of over-paid public servants, liquor stores controlled and run by the government, the monopolies in telecommunications that rip consumers off, the non-service Canadian banks seem to offer, having their employees forced to communicate in French in Quebec, and a 13 % sales tax.
They would be rioting in the streets about the sales tax alone.
My impression is that even the liberals in America are to the right of Canadians.
Most Americans, indeed most sane people, would never approve of the huge bloated government bureaucracy that exists in Canada, the thousands of over-paid public servants, liquor stores controlled and run by the government, the monopolies in telecommunications that rip consumers off, the non-service Canadian banks seem to offer, having their employees forced to communicate in French in Quebec, and a 13 % sales tax.
They would be rioting in the streets about the sales tax alone.
I mostly agree. The thing I hate most about Canada is the monopoly and obscene consumer ripping off. It is like the country doesn't want competition but just want to keep big corporations profitable without having to make much efforts.
Not the sales tax part though. It is 9/10% in many cities such as Chicago, Seattle, LA and NYC anyway. Getting more affordable healthcare coverage and better public schools for a mere 3-4% sales tax might be a good deal.
I mostly agree. The thing I hate most about Canada is the monopoly and obscene consumer ripping off. It is like the country doesn't want competition but just want to keep big corporations profitable without having to make much efforts.
Not the sales tax part though. It is 9/10% in many cities such as Chicago, Seattle, LA and NYC anyway. Getting more affordable healthcare coverage and better public schools for a mere 3-4% sales tax might be a good deal.
I have yet to see a good explanation or breakdown of why so many goods cost more in Canada than in the U.S. --- including of course, cars made in Canada.
"The Fraser Institute study has concluded that the average Canadian family spent 41 per cent of its annual income on taxes in 2010. This percentage was higher than what families spend on food, clothing and shelter combined.
Taxes have grown over the past 49 years to the point that government is now the largest expenditure facing a family.
The average Canadian family has seen its total tax bill increase by an astounding 1,686 per cent over the past 49 years."
With ~72,000 public servants in Ontario alone making six-figure salaries---including two thirds of the 12,500 staff at Ontario Power Generation---there is something wrong with this picture.
I have yet to see a good explanation or breakdown of why so many goods cost more in Canada than in the U.S. --- including of course, cars made in Canada.
I disagree on the taxes. They are too high.
"The Fraser Institute study has concluded that the average Canadian family spent 41 per cent of its annual income on taxes in 2010. This percentage was higher than what families spend on food, clothing and shelter combined.
Taxes have grown over the past 49 years to the point that government is now the largest expenditure facing a family.
The average Canadian family has seen its total tax bill increase by an astounding 1,686 per cent over the past 49 years."
With ~72,000 public servants in Ontario alone making six-figure salaries---including two thirds of the 12,500 staff at Ontario Power Generation---there is something wrong with this picture.
Yeah taxes are too high but i'm still happy being a Canadian and the high taxes havent gotten in the way of me leading a happy and satisfying life where i've bought everything i've ever wanted from bikes to boats to sportscars traveled around the world,brought up a family and i'm debt free and now retired on a lucrative pension and manage 2 vacations every year..so would i want to do what they are doing in the USA and go insane over higher taxes? do the teabagger hate thing on my government and fellow Canadians? i prefer inner contentment over endless whining over situations i have no control over.
As for the highly paid public servants? good for them,sounds like easy work high pay and great benefits,perhaps something the younger generation can aspire to.Power to the people eh!
Tax bills rising? in 49 yrs i cant think of much that isnt more expensive today than it was back in the 60's..
My impression is that even the liberals in America are to the right of Canadians.
Most Americans, indeed most sane people, would never approve of the huge bloated government bureaucracy that exists in Canada, the thousands of over-paid public servants, liquor stores controlled and run by the government, the monopolies in telecommunications that rip consumers off, the non-service Canadian banks seem to offer, having their employees forced to communicate in French in Quebec, and a 13 % sales tax.
They would be rioting in the streets about the sales tax alone.
I was referring to social issues, not the intracacies of how both countries are run. Of course there are differences there. And I agree with many of the issues you identify and would like to see Canada become more aggressive in terms of dealing with them but some differences are what they are, and will not go away because Canada and the US are structurally different. Over-paid public servants, the LCBO, and cracking down on monopolistic behaviour can be improved if there was the pressure and will to do it. But reducing the size of government and taxes are not that easy to do because that is way our system is designed. You will be changing the fundamental philosophy of how this country is run in that case.
My impression is that even the liberals in America are to the right of Canadians.
Most Americans, indeed most sane people, would never approve of the huge bloated government bureaucracy that exists in Canada, the thousands of over-paid public servants, liquor stores controlled and run by the government, the monopolies in telecommunications that rip consumers off, the non-service Canadian banks seem to offer, having their employees forced to communicate in French in Quebec, and a 13 % sales tax.
They would be rioting in the streets about the sales tax alone.
Ellemint its Canada not America and most Canadians really like Canada, to come here and complain that everything isnt just like it is in the USA is rather insulting and disrespectful to Canada, Canada is never going to be an exact copy of the USA,
If you think the USA is so great instead of making a futile effort to change Canada into the USA i got an easier solution........
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