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You have been totally absorbed into the " American Way of Life "
The ALMIGHTY DOLLAR is the ONLY thing that is important. Other factors ( like the article I linked ) such as liveability in city planning are NOTHING.
Yes, I love living in the US and would never live in Canada. There are many reasons other than just money why I far prefer the US. BTW, I don't think there is anything attractive about a city like Vancouver that is nothing but ugly high rise apartments. The natural setting is very nice but that is all.
All of these Canadian threads are really pointless. I just participate for the entertainment value whenever I am bored.
Let's fave it, you, fushion2, etc. would never want to live in the US and that is your prerogative. You guys will always claim that Canada is better. Saturno and myself and maybe some others believe just the opposite and that is our prerogative. So we just end up going back and forth with nothing accomplished on either side. That is fine with me as I don't take any of this stuff seriously. Pure entertainment, no more no less.
Myself, my wife, children, and grandchildren are all very happy here and live very good lives and they have all been to Canada as well as many other countries. I can afford to live just about anywhere in the world but I would rather live right where I am. It is obvious that you and the others are quite content where you are so everybody should be happy. The only other place where we would consider living is Arizona. If we finally get fed up with the liberal politics in California, we probably will move to Arizona though I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future. Our son's family is moving from Monterey CA to Phoenix in a few months. I lived in Phoenix for 4 years.
As for obesity rates - they do impact life expectancy and also the burden on a health care system that a nations citizens pay and the last I looked, you guys pay 2 bucks for every dollar we spend on healthcare...
So I'm just trying to get you think beyond a narrow focus with this...
To me obesity is a matter of responsibility (unless there are some serious health reasons for it)....some people are not, as simple as that.
Healthcare in the US is far from perfect however, some of the extra expenditure that the US has to bear is related to more advanced and more robust R&D spending in the medical fields...not all of it but some of it.
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As for the video - we're talking about Canada and The U.S here. This has nothing to do with Africa. I've been to several countries in Africa and as fascinating those countries are, I have seen the poverty that exists and general conditions that people live and it is a real struggle.
That guy start talking about Africa (which he wrongly addresses it as some sort of unitary social/political entity where it is not obviously) but it touches a lot of subjects on black issues with a good dose of common sense.
Some think being able to buy more with loca wage is the most important thing, others value predictability of healthcare cost as appealing. Yes, we have been through this many times, it is not like we can change other people's priority or preference just by talking.
The question was about why retail is much weaker in Canada, not which countries is better to live in. From personal experience, it is a factual statement. Canada offers far fewer choices and often higher prices (especially online shopping). There is no point in denying that because it is quite obvious. I notices this three months after I moved to Toronto - there are limited places (for my standard) to shop, in stores or online! I consequently shopped less than before, which is a good thing but it can also be disappointing when you can't find the stuff you look for while it is everywhere for Americans (particularly online).
The reason is equally obvious, Canada's population is incredibly far from each other, and without the high concentration of population centres, retail is hard to prosper due to lack of economies of scale. It is the same reason why China's retail scene far exceeds that of the United States as well. I on the other hand, don't think it is because Canadians don't love to shop as much as Americans as some argue. They just don't have the same opportunities to.
Some think being able to buy more with loca wage is the most important thing, others value predictability of healthcare cost as appealing. Yes, we have been through this many times, it is not like we can change other people's priority or preference just by talking.
The question was about why retail is much weaker in Canada, not which countries is better to live in. From personal experience, it is a factual statement. Canada offers far fewer choices and often higher prices (especially online shopping). There is no point in denying that because it is quite obvious. I notices this three months after I moved to Toronto - there are limited places (for my standard) to shop, in stores or online! I consequently shopped less than before, which is a good thing but it can also be disappointing when you can't find the stuff you look for while it is everywhere for Americans (particularly online).
The reason is equally obvious, Canada's population is incredibly far from each other, and without the high concentration of population centres, retail is hard to prosper due to lack of economies of scale. It is the same reason why China's retail scene far exceeds that of the United States as well. I on the other hand, don't think it is because Canadians don't love to shop as much as Americans as some argue. They just don't have the same opportunities to.
I agree with your up to a point but I wouldn't say "much" weaker....weaker for sure but not
drastically weaker.
I have tons of stuff....you name it...probably would take two moving vans to haul it all...
like a lot of people in North America ...too much stuff.
So are you saying I would much more stuff if I lived in the USA?
Cuz I don't think so, I'd probably have similar furniture, appliances, electronics, etc...
Would have been purchased a bit cheaper? ...probably, yes...but not more stuff.
And if there items that I can only get in the USA ...I either buy it on line (shocker)
or drive 60 km to the USA and buy it there, which is pretty rare for me, as Canadian stores/outlets
usually have what I need. For example a Lowes or Home Depot near me stocks what I need,
I don't have drive to a Buffalo, NY Lowes or Home Depot
I agree with your up to a point but I wouldn't say "much" weaker....weaker for sure but not
drastically weaker.
I have tons of stuff....you name it...probably would take two moving vans to haul it all...
like a lot of people in North America ...too much stuff.
So are you saying I would much more stuff if I lived in the USA?
Cuz I don't think so, I'd probably have similar furniture, appliances, electronics, etc...
Would have been purchased a bit cheaper? ...probably, yes...but not more stuff.
And if there items that I can only get in the USA ...I either buy it on line (shocker)
or drive 60 km to the USA and buy it there, which is pretty rare for me, as Canadian stores/outlets
usually have what I need. For example a Lowes or Home Depot near me stocks what I need,
I don't have drive to a Buffalo, NY Lowes or Home Depot
nobody is saying Canadians are not able to get tons of stuff. The point is the US offers a lot (yes, a LOOOOOT) more choices. Whether the more choices matter depends on whom, but it will be silly to deny the American market is futher segmented.
And if you get the items in the USA - that is still available in the US, not Canada. So it is not contradictory to the argument that the US has more. A friend of mine actually brought a vaccuum cleaner from the US (ok, that was because it was a price difference between $399 and $699 for exactly the same model, which is pretty shocking).
Small incidents aside, I have encountered two times of major items not so available in Canada. One is a kind of sofa. i spent a lot of searching and only one Toronto store has what I want, I went there nearby eglinton/bathurst and it starts at like 2500$, and of course i thought it is not worth it. Then you go to the US website, and they have it in all the price range from the low quality $300 ones to $3000. I didn't buy it either because the shipping cost is like $400.
A second time is a specific type of space heater. I found it based on online review yet it is not available in Canada. I ended up ordering one from the US as shipping was not exorbitant.
Let alone many specific brands. For example Canada had Muji only a few years ago. Uniqlo JUST entered last year. I am sure there are plenty international brands available in the US but not CANADA, rarely the other way.
DO we necessarily need those items not available? Of course not. Do they really impact my enjoyment of life, not really, at least not in any meaningful way. But it is hard to dispute that American customers have access to a much wider range to products than their Canadian counterparts.
As we're handing over our Canadian money, he says "You know, I can take American money too, no problem!" and this happened several times...hmmm. It's nice to think it was meant just as a favor, but under the circumstances I really doubt it. At that time the US dollar was worth $1.38 Canadian.
Overall it is a favour. Not all businesses take USD. It's more bookwork for them. When confronted with a customer who seems to only want to purchase in USD, some will take it rather than losing a sale.
Your encounter is not indicative of every business in Canada. You met a B&B owner who may have seen an opportunity or he may of been joking.
Nat that is so tired.....always the highly questionable "livability" factor you always mention as your sole argument (and in your small world livability is only urban planning)...like in the US you cannot get the same of quality of life of Canada...nonsense.
Overall for the average person, yes.
Can a person have a great life in the US. Of course, I know some that do, but I am speaking about the countries as a whole.
This is just one of many rankings that puts Canada near the top.
I know you want to dismiss all these studies and rankings because Seattle NEVER gets mentioned, and the US does't always do well in most...even in freedom of press it ranks below Canada...but other who study these things say otherwise.
you can achieve life/work balance in the us as much as canada (and cheaper airfares and hotels definitely help for a vacation lol), it is your choice. I do not feel sorry for the up and coming manager working himself/herself to death 70 hours a week....it is his/her choice. You think that living in the us automatically means you are forced to work to death...real world to you, ain't that way, you have lots of choices, as a matter of fact more choices than canada.
easier to do in canada, since even the lowly clerk will get their 3 weeks holiday after 5 years, 2 after the first. No need to worry which business will offer it or not. As for managers working 70 hours per week, it really isn't their choice. Some do it to get ahead...most to keep their jobs.
on average the quality and level of service is better here...pretty much undisputed....more expensive yes....nat, you tend to forget that i know canada very well, i lived there and i have friends living in there...my friends is still waiting to see a specialist after almost a year because his problem is "not urgent".....in vancouver, your home city.
undisputed? The quality of service varies greatly across both countries. I have had great service in the us, and horrible service. Same in canada, same in the uk, etc.
we agree on this, mandated maternity leave should be implemented....however my point is that women seem to manage just fine and actually the us has among the highest birth rate in the developed world....
a high birth rate doesn't mean that those women wouldn't jump at the chance of having paid leave. People will have babies regardless. This is about women not having to worry so much about having to struggle more than men just because they are the ones that carry the child.
you completely misssread the issue which does not surprise me since you do not live here...there is not "us and them", in particularly in the healthcare debate...the major issue, from the public point of view, is rationing of health care under a public scheme and level of service....obviously the private industry, for their own interest, try to stoke these fears in any way they can...i'm telling you that from the average american point of view, he/she understand that public healthcare may be cheaper on his/her pocket but he/she is terrified at the potential worsening level of service and limit on choices...it has nothing to do with someone "getting stuff for free".....in current america a lot of people get "stuff for free"...
it's not all of it, but it is a part of it. Read even some of the threads here on cd. Also google some of the reason americans don't want uhc. Some of those against, ignorantly i admit, don't want to pay for someone else poor health choices. Even though they already do.
it has nothing to do with doing your homework, people are not that stupid with their pockets.....you may save money and take a little weekend trip....happened with my friends when they got their windshied, brakes and tires replaced for their cars......they came here for a weekend of fun with the added benefit of saving (significant) money on vehicle repairs
some people are stupid when it comes to money. I knew someone who would spend 50 to save 10.
Good for you friends. I'm pretty certain a lot of that savings comes from staying free with you or other. For most it might not be worth it.
judging the whole cheese scene in vancouver by italian cheese is pretty lame. I still find the selection of cheese in grocery stores here to be far superior in choice than grocery stores in seattle etc. Specialty stores, are different of course and it has improved over the years. As for mozzarella, what's brand are you looking for?
yes, i know vancouver very well....i never found decent italian cheese there....mozzarella there is just too rubbery....however i admit that i found only once original artisan sheep milk ricotta....was an old italian man that owned a small farm, occasionally he was making small batches of it and supplied a small store in commercial drive....never found that again.....i'm pretty sure you can find it on the east coast but not around here all the way to california.
...definitely not a hassle at 1.38......I bet that when the exchange rate is almost on par way less businesses would do this "favor" to customers....
It's definitely more alluring, but it is still a hassle, especially for larger businesses. Mum and pop shops, not so much. That said, the corner store near me doesn't accept USD.
I had 6 weeks vacation per year at my last perm job in San Diego. We were able to accumulate it so when I left the company I received a pretty hefty vacation pay check. I left to start my own business.
Many companies here are now adding PTO to vacation allowing even more time that you can take off however you want.
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