Is Canada a Capitalist or Socialist country?

[windyman]

Every so often, I ask myself this question. Sure, we have healthcare, but so does other capitalist countries like Japan and the UK (NHS), sure we provide lots of EI and social securty, even the USA does.

However, many Americans down in the USA continue to label Canada as a socialist republic like Cuba and North Korea (hell, I spend time on the Politics section of Yahoo Answers).

Now, the question is, is Canada more of a Capitalist country or socialist country?

[Moonbox]

Americans are even more ignorant than they are capitalist. It's completely laughable to even think that Canada is a SOCIALIST country.

Americans like to frame and label things that are different to what they understand and declare them evil. There's a reason my family calls down south Jesus Land instead of the USA, because their political beliefs are about as well-founded as Catholic dogma.

Sure, Canada may lean more towards socialism than the USA, but it's still one of the most capitalistic countries out there.

[Guest American Woman]

Every so often, I ask myself this question. Sure, we have healthcare, but so does other capitalist countries like Japan and the UK (NHS), sure we provide lots of EI and social securty, even the USA does.

However, many Americans down in the USA continue to label Canada as a socialist republic like Cuba and North Korea (hell, I spend time on the Politics section of Yahoo Answers).

Now, the question is, is Canada more of a Capitalist country or socialist country?

I don't think many Americans think "socialist" when they think of Cuba and North Korea; they would label them as communist nations, and as such, I can't imagine Americans comparing Canada with Cuba and North Korea. So I'm curious. Out of 300 million Americans, how many is "many Americans?"

[M.Dancer]

Every so often, I ask myself this question. Sure, we have healthcare, but so does other capitalist countries like Japan and the UK (NHS), sure we provide lots of EI and social securty, even the USA does.

However, many Americans down in the USA continue to label Canada as a socialist republic like Cuba and North Korea (hell, I spend time on the Politics section of Yahoo Answers).

Now, the question is, is Canada more of a Capitalist country or socialist country?

Next time you have that question float ..head down to the TSX and find out the answer.

[HisSelf]

Is that you, George?

[fellowtraveller]

The only meaningful choice is 'other'. The first two choices provide examples of countries that don't fit the choices, and every country has elements of socialism and capitalism. For example the 'capitalists' in Japan have much more govt involvement in businessthan Canada.

The most capitalist country would be somewhere like Switzerland or the Cayman Islands.

[Mr.Canada]

Canada is a socialist republik by far. Our large cities are filled with lazy people who don't want to work but want a hand out, it's disgusting.

[Moonlight Graham]

Canada is capitalist first and foremost, with socialist elements. So is the U.S. by the way, though Canada has more socialist aspects than the U.S.

This poll is putting capitalism and socialism on the extreme right and left of the political scale, as if there's no inbetween. You are basically makking people choose between whether Canada is laissez-faire capitalist or communist, when the obvious answer is "neither".

[Leafless]

Canada is a socialist republik by far. Our large cities are filled with lazy people who don't want to work but want a hand out, it's disgusting.

Canada does have socialist programs paid for by the tax payers of Canada.

Don't worry, capitalist rule in Canada just like they do in the U.S.

Here is a link to a chart showing the most entrepreneurial countries in the world in which Canada ranks THIRD after the U.S.

http://innovate.typepad.com/innovation/200...entreprene.html

[Oleg Bach]

Canada is a socialist nation for many and a captitalist one for a privledged few.

[guyser]

. Our large cities are filled with lazy people who don't want to work but want a hand out, it's disgusting.

Thats no way to talk about Unions. You should remember who pays your bills.

[craiger]

Canada has been moving from socialism towards Facsism more and more every day.

[guyser]

Canada has been moving from socialism towards Facsism more and more every day.

If were are not the first, how can we move towards the second?

[M.Dancer]

If were are not the first, how can we move towards the second?

Canada has been moving with the Laurentian Plate towards the colombian plate more and more every day.

You can blame a lot on plate tectonics and continental shift

[Borg]

I voted other:

I see Canada as a welfare state - so - to have a little fun:

A fire was reported in a three family house midmorning Wednesday last week in downtown Toronto.

Sadly, there were many fatalities.

On the first floor lived an african family - 6 fatalities.

On the second floor lived a muslim family - 13 fatalities.

On the third floor lived a white family of 2 - no fatalities.

A reporter at the scene made headlines with this story. The fire chief and his department were immediately attacked by the NDP, readers on Maple Leaf Forum, the islamic society of Canada and several black right's groups as well as the governor general of Canada as being racist in their handling of the fire and loss of life issues.

There was some unsettling discomfort - when questioned further the fire chief explained why the family on the third floor survived the fire and the others did not.

His response was,

"They were at work."

Have a good one

Borg

Edited November 30, 2008 by Borg

[Oleg Bach]

BOTH...all socialist nations are ruled by a small quiet dictatorship of managers who are capitalists...they are the house - and we are the field hands.

[Moonbox]

Canada is a hard core capitalist country. There are only a few in the world more capitalistic than Canada.

I laugh every time people say we're a socialist country.

I vomit every time I hear Trudeau's name.

[Guest Ann]

Canada is a socialist republik by far. Our large cities are filled with lazy people who don't want to work but want a hand out, it's disgusting.

Oh my god, how radical. But don't forget that ALSO industrious people with 2 jobs and small income benefit from social plans. But obviously the concept of solidarity is totally and completely foreign to you!

[Alta4ever]

Oh my god, how radical. But don't forget that ALSO industrious people with 2 jobs and small income benefit from social plans. But obviously the concept of solidarity is totally and completely foreign to you!

the concept of people taking advange of the system must b e foriegn to you.

[punked]

We have a mixed economy with both elements. It is designed really if you look at the game theory of it all. Pure capitalist systems, and pure social system favour the monopolization of all where as in Canada projects that are too big for anything else are taken on by the government (Rail road, Power, Health care) and this improves the situation for the people and bisuness as well. It is a great system and I wouldn't change no matter how many people tell me it is too Left or too Right.

[g_bambino]

[M]any Americans down in the USA continue to label Canada as a socialist republic like Cuba and North Korea

Anyone who thinks Canada is a socialist republic is a dolt right off the bat for thinking Canada is a republic.

That aside, aren't all countries that have taxes socialist? The community pays money into a communal fund that then supplies programmes for the common good of all: governance, justice, education, transportation, sanitation, etc. In other words, anyone who isn't an anarchist must be a socialist on some level.

_{[ed to add.]}

Edited August 20, 2009 by g_bambino

[Bonam]

Every so often, I ask myself this question. Sure, we have healthcare, but so does other capitalist countries like Japan and the UK (NHS), sure we provide lots of EI and social securty, even the USA does.

However, many Americans down in the USA continue to label Canada as a socialist republic like Cuba and North Korea (hell, I spend time on the Politics section of Yahoo Answers).

Now, the question is, is Canada more of a Capitalist country or socialist country?

This is a simplistic question. There is a wide spectrum between socialism and capitalism. No country in the world is "purely" capitalist. Also, the examples of socialism that you mention, Cuba and North Korea, are in fact not socialist at all, but rather communist, a clearly different economic/political system. Cuba and North Korea are also not republics, but dictatorships, and Canada is not a republic either.

That being said, Canada is more socialist than the USA, and less socialist than some European nations like for example Sweden.

[Bryan]

Some things about Canada may be a bit more socialist than the US, but in some other respects we're more capitalist than they are too. Example: Tim Horton's came back home because of lower taxes and a better business climate.

[tango]

I voted other:

I see Canada as a welfare state - so - to have a little fun:

A fire was reported in a three family house midmorning Wednesday last week in downtown Toronto.

Sadly, there were many fatalities.

On the first floor lived an african family - 6 fatalities.

Out of how many family members in total?

On the second floor lived a muslim family - 13 fatalities.

Out of how many family members in total?

On the third floor lived a white family of 2 - no fatalities.

Please clarify ... were the entire families on the first two floors wiped out, or were some of them also not there?

Edited August 20, 2009 by tango

[Machjo]

Every so often, I ask myself this question. Sure, we have healthcare, but so does other capitalist countries like Japan and the UK (NHS), sure we provide lots of EI and social securty, even the USA does.

However, many Americans down in the USA continue to label Canada as a socialist republic like Cuba and North Korea (hell, I spend time on the Politics section of Yahoo Answers).

Now, the question is, is Canada more of a Capitalist country or socialist country?

There's not a single country in the world that is purely capitalist (even Hong Kong has some government intervention in its economy), just as there's not a single purely socialist country (even at the height of communism, China had at least some private sector).

Most developed countries have a mixed economy, or the so-called welfare state or third way economy. A purely capitalist system or purely socialist one would not last long.