I love America!

[Guest American Woman]

First off,you can not enter Canada if you are a criminal.The US has Canada beat there hands down!

It does? Perhaps you'd be so kind as to provide the statistics you are basing that on.

In my experience people whom have a higher level of education tend to leave their country more easily.

In your experience? And do pray tell why more Canadians would have a higher level of education than Americans . In other words, please provide the statistics you are basing that on.

[cybercoma]

I think these are the kinds of conversations Greg would rather see in the chatroom, but fill your boots guys.

[WWWTT]

Um. Yes, it is.

It sounds like we are starting to argue about preference now.

I have stated my preferences,and you have stated yours.

And I respect your position.

WWWTT

[Guest American Woman]

It sounds like we are starting to argue about preference now.

I have stated my preferences,and you have stated yours.

And I respect your position.

I don't recall stating a "preference," but thanks for your respect all the same.

[WWWTT]

It does? Perhaps you'd be so kind as to provide the statistics you are basing that on.

In your experience? And do pray tell why more Canadians would have a higher level of education than Americans . In other words, please provide the statistics you are basing that on.

You sound like a lot of work American Woman.

My spidy senses right now are telling me that if I get caught up in this debate with you I'm going to be late for a meeting I have tonight on the other side of town.

Lets just agree to disagree.

WWWTT

[Black Dog]

So: according to bc_2004, America is great because it's a good place to dump garbage and they need Canadians to do the jobs Americans can't.

[dre]

That again though, isn't completely accurate. Federal law in the US makes marijuana completely illegal, for medical use, or otherwise. It doesn't matter what the states say, because the federal law is above that.

Yes but the state controls its own police and courts, so stopping enforcement at that level is still a huge step. The FBI, and DEA can still prosecute in federal courts but you arent going to have anywhere near the level of enforcement you have when local police are involved.

They tried sending the feds into California to bust medical shops, but they gave up because of the logistics involved. Some counties in california now have more cannibis shops than liquor stores.

The DEA has about 10 thousand employees but from what I understand only about 500 real agents.

Edited November 7, 2012 by dre

[wyly]

now there's an interesting conundrum...is this the sort of thing that ends up in the supreme court?...are there going to be mj amnesties given out in wash. and col. ?

[cybercoma]

An interesting aside, the last statistics that I checked indicate that nearly 2/3 of youth 18-25 in Canada have smoked pot.

Edited November 7, 2012 by cybercoma

[wyly]

You sound like a lot of work American Woman.

My spidy senses right now are telling me that if I get caught up in this debate with you I'm going to be late for a meeting I have tonight on the other side of town.

Lets just agree to disagree.

WWWTT

OECD rates canada as the most educated country in the world per capita with 51% of the population having a tertiary education, Israel 2nd at 46%, japan 3rd with 45% and USA 4th at 42%...

wooo hooo we rock!...

[wyly]

An interesting aside, the last statistics that I checked indicate that nearly 2/3 of youth 18-25 in Canada have smoked pot.

in canada?

I haven't met many adults that haven't...we're a nation of druggies ...

I haven't done so regularly in 30 yrs...other than that wee bit in amsterdam a couple years back...

Edited November 7, 2012 by wyly

[bush_cheney2004]

An interesting aside, the last statistics that I checked indicate that nearly 2/3 of youth 18-25 in Canada have smoked pot.

Uh oh....somebody is off topic. Imagine that !

[guyser]

First off,you can not enter Canada if you are a criminal.

Uh not correct.

Ever heard of rap music? Rock music? Movie stars?

Plenty of them come and even work while here.

[Argus]

You might want to look into the backgrounds of some of the presidents. They aren't all born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

After being in politics for a while they all end that way, though. Same for senators.

[WWWTT]

Uh not correct.

Ever heard of rap music? Rock music? Movie stars?

Plenty of them come and even work while here.

Thank you for the correction.

WWWTT

[carepov]

Do you have statistics as to where Canadians move in the U.S. that would back up your 'better weather' claim? Because these Canadians have made NYC their home, and I doubt it was for the weather:

I don't have stats, I suggest that you look up "Canadian snowbirds in Florida, Texas and Arizona"

[carepov]

If you insist....Canada is not "freer than the USA" because of individual liberties first enumerated in the US Constitution long before Canada even existed as a sovereign state. Examples: Property rights, expression (speech), and firearms ownership are "freer" in the USA.

Indeed, the USA has a better climate, better baseball, football and basketball, more nobel laureates and has the best people in nearly any field. It also has freer firearms ownership and the best hot dog eating contests.

But what really matters?

Imagine that you died now and were re-incarnated as a baby being born today. You can choose to be born either in Canada or the USA - all the rest is up to chance. What country would you pick and why?

[bush_cheney2004]

....Imagine that you died now and were re-incarnated as a baby being born today. You can choose to be born either in Canada or the USA - all the rest is up to chance. What country would you pick and why?

No need for re-incarnated babies, as every year more people from around the world choose the USA over Canada, and always have. Mostly because of greater economic freedom and opportunity. Wiki say:

In 2006 the United States accepted more legal immigrants as permanent residents than all other countries in the world... combined

[Guest American Woman]

I don't have stats, I suggest that you look up "Canadian snowbirds in Florida, Texas and Arizona"

Snowbirds don't move here; they just winter here to escape the bad weather. In other words, it's an extended visit.

[Guest American Woman]

After being in politics for a while they all end that way, though. Same for senators.

They are still the Average Joe; anyone born in similar, average circumstances has the same opportunity to become POTUS.

[jacee]

Just for clarification, marijuana is still illegal in the entirety of the USA.

Hunh? What about Washington and Colorado?

And how come a thread about our mutual regard for neighbours deteriorates into quibbling about immigration numbers?

Oh right ... bushcheney's back!

I love America too ... at least the Democrats. The Republican family members, though, don't like Canada much. Something about us not jumping into Iraq on their whim. Oh well. You can't please all the Americans all the time, when they don't agree with each other either!

[WWWTT]

OECD rates canada as the most educated country in the world per capita with 51% of the population having a tertiary education, Israel 2nd at 46%, japan 3rd with 45% and USA 4th at 42%...

wooo hooo we rock!...

Thanks wyly

WWWTT

[Michael Hardner]

Hunh? What about Washington and Colorado?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20121108/DA2DHN7G3.html

Smallc - it's a state vs federal fight, you see. Ultimately, the feds have domain so pot is still illegal federally.

While the measures earned support from broad swaths of the electorate in both states Tuesday, they are likely to face resistance from federal drug warriors. As of Wednesday, authorities did not say whether they would challenge the new laws.

Pot advocates say a fight is exactly what they want.

[bush_cheney2004]

...And how come a thread about our mutual regard for neighbours deteriorates into quibbling about immigration numbers?

Oh right ... bushcheney's back!

Nothing spells love more than leaving "freer and better" Canada for the United States. Welcome back!

[eyeball]

While the measures earned support from broad swaths of the electorate in both states Tuesday, they are likely to face resistance from federal drug warriors. As of Wednesday, authorities did not say whether they would challenge the new laws. Pot advocates say a fight is exactly what they want.

The ability that citizens of a state have to force their local leaders to pick a fight with their federal government is definitely an admirable thing. I guess the best examples we have of a people doing that in Canada would be First Nations. Some might also suggest Quebec, and Nfld. but I think in these cases the initiative is actually being whipped up more by 'rebel' politicians looking for a cause.