I love America!

[bush_cheney2004]

Evidently - as we have a black president by any measure of the word 'black'.

No, "we" have a non-white president. Or to translate in Canadaspeak, a "visible minority".

So, socialized medicine - when do you think it will arrive in the US ? Ten thousand years in the future ? Sooner ?

The U.S. has had "socialized medicine" since at least 1965.

[Michael Hardner]

The U.S. has had "socialized medicine" since at least 1965.

Great - "never" arrived sooner than expected then ! I'm happy for the future nation of Americanada.

[Guest American Woman]

I doubt that. Americans tend to think that they are the centre of the world.

Noooo. "Americans" don't tend to think that. I believe that's more likely what the rest of the world believes Americans think. But really, when the whole world is focusing on our election, what is one to make of that? Personally, I find it bizarre. In a word - weird.

Americans? I admire their independence.

Thank you.

[wyly]

if a country can be described as mentally disturbed that would be the USA, singly responsible for much of the worlds ills...

I've been there and have no intention of ever returning...,I've turned down/refused down free vacations on the Jersey shore, Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego and Hawaii nothing could tempt me to return....

[Guest American Woman]

if a country can be described as mentally disturbed that would be the USA, singly responsible for much of the worlds ills...

That you think so makes me believe even more strongly that we are doing something right.

I've been there and have no intention of ever returning...

On behalf of myself and all Americans who don't post here - thank you.

,

I've turned down/refused down free vacations on the Jersey shore, Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego and Hawaii nothing could tempt me to return....

You da man!

[bush_cheney2004]

I've been there and have no intention of ever returning

This is refreshing, because so many other Canadians freak out at the thought of not returning....for cross border shopping discounts, family visits, cheaper travel options, professional seminars, education, employment, etc. This is why they freaked out when passports and fees were required at U.S. border crossings, like buying an expensive ticket just to get into Disney World.

[Black Dog]

I enjoy anytime we get to see b_c2004 show he's just a creation of Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

[bush_cheney2004]

I enjoy anytime we get to see b_c2004 show he's just a creation of Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Another reason to love America, and things created in America, by Americans....for Americans.

[WWWTT]

This is refreshing, because so many other Canadians freak out at the thought of not returning....for cross border shopping discounts, family visits, cheaper travel options, professional seminars, education, employment, etc. This is why they freaked out when passports and fees were required at U.S. border crossings, like buying an expensive ticket just to get into Disney World.

Ya actually its like how Americans love to buy things made in China!

WWWTT

[bush_cheney2004]

Ya actually its like how Americans love to buy things made in China!

Nothing wrong with that...I helped moved some manufacturing to China in the late 1990's. China...Mexico...Canada...makes no difference to me.

[Argus]

I wonder. I think many of us forget how many other nations there are in the world and have little idea what the people are like because they're not on our border and they don't speak English. There are many admirable qualities among Americans, but there are similarly many admirable qualities among the British and French and Germans and Fins and Swedes. We're just not always immersed in them. A lot of Americans are just like us, but a lot are, as I've said earlier, batshit crazy in terms of their religious and social beliefs. It's a great country, but it could be a lot greater were it not so guided by its myths. There are places there I could easily live, especially for the weather. There are other places where people seem quite foreign to me (notably parts of the midwest and south). I would get along far better with most Europeans than with most Texans, save for the language. I think, though, that America's importance to the world in both financial and military terms can't be underestimated, so its election is of interest to many.

Edited November 6, 2012 by Argus

[Bryan]

I think I have something of a love-hate relationship with the U.S.

I have family, and good friends who are Americans, and a I know a lot of other people I care about who are just great human being who live down there. More than 90% of my business comes from the US too, and I take vacation time in the U.S. several times a year.

BUT....

I hate their political system and their foreign policy.

And the TSA. I'll drive to the US, but I won't fly there anymore.

Edited November 7, 2012 by Bryan

[WWWTT]

Nothing wrong with that...I helped moved some manufacturing to China in the late 1990's. China...Mexico...Canada...makes no difference to me.

Nothing wrong with the US becoming a weaker country either.

Keep shopping made in China!

WWWTT

[bush_cheney2004]

Nothing wrong with the US becoming a weaker country either.

Selling more U.S. cars in China than in Canada is anything but weaker. Rich Chinese consumers want American goods. They really like Buicks!

[WWWTT]

Selling more U.S. cars in China than in Canada is anything but weaker.

May the real bush_cheney2004 please stand up!

I see your back to your classical form of switch and bait debating,or is that bait and switch?

Either way,the US's days of being the #1 economy in the world are in its twilight years.And from what you have written,you sound proud to help facilitate/expediate the road to 2nd place!

WWWTT

[Black Dog]

Another reason to love America, and things created in America, by Americans....for Americans.

Certainly leads the world in manufacturing trolls.

[carepov]

"So America is basically a bigger, richer but crappier Canada?"

Well it's bigger, richer and freer. Some do consider that to be crappy, but I'll never be in that camp.

I love America too, but I must disagree.

Bigger? yes and no

Richer? yes and no

Freer? I would say that Canada is freer - and always has been historically. What makes you think that the USA is freer than Canada?

[sharkman]

I love America too, but I must disagree.

Bigger? yes and no

Richer? yes and no

Freer? I would say that Canada is freer - and always has been historically. What makes you think that the USA is freer than Canada?

Their system of government is more democratic than ours, hence free. Our PM, if he has a majority, has more power to dictate his will on the nation. The American president has to work with 2 houses of politicians which weakens his power. We have more red tape, taxes and regulations which clutter up our lives.

As for bigger, their population is 10x ours, how is that not bigger? Ditto with wealth, mixed with less taxes and regulation gives them the ability to generate more wealth. I read somewhere how they have more millionaires per capita than us.

[bush_cheney2004]

Either way,the US's days of being the #1 economy in the world are in its twilight years.And from what you have written,you sound proud to help facilitate/expediate the road to 2nd place!

That's OK, 'tis better to have been #1 and lost than never to have been #1 at all...ever...as in...ummmm....Canada ! Another reason why Canada loves America...it is a place to send raw materials where someone knows how to use them, and will pay for them.

[Smallc]

Their system of government is more democratic than ours, hence free.

That is extremely debatable, on both accounts.

Our PM, if he has a majority, has more power to dictate his will on the nation. The American president has to work with 2 houses of politicians which weakens his power.

And yet, he also has less power at the same time. It's a different system, and our's arguably works better.

We have more red tape, taxes and regulations which clutter up our lives.

More red tape...maybe, but I'm not so sure about that. More tax, yes, in some areas, but then, Canadians have decided on that (and corporate taxes are lower in Canada) and have decided that government is not the enemy. Taxes are also not like for like, as in the US, you have to look at things like insurance premiums that you don't have to in Canada before you can consider disposable income.

As for bigger, their population is 10x ours, how is that not bigger? Ditto with wealth, mixed with less taxes and regulation gives them the ability to generate more wealth. I read somewhere how they have more millionaires per capita than us.

But Canada's nominal per capita GDP is now higher than that of America. It's not quite so simple. Also, the average American may be wealthier (I don't think that's true anymore) but is the median American? Probably not.

[bush_cheney2004]

...But Canada's nominal per capita GDP is now higher than that of America. It's not quite so simple. Also, the average American may be wealthier (I don't think that's true anymore) but is the median American? Probably not.

True, but Canadians have fewer choices for goods and services on which to spend disposable income, and the choices Canadians do have often cost more than similar items or services in the U.S. Canadian consumer debt has now surpassed average American consumer debt.

As an American with no reason to ever venture into Canada despite being only a two hours drive away, it is a dichotomy to see and read about Canadians dashing across the border for goods and services if things are so much better at home. Ditto consumption of media content, dependence on American subsidiary corporations, etc.

Perhaps one can reconcile these things with a better and more free Canada, but it is not clear to me.

[Smallc]

As an American with no reason to ever venture into Canada

By that logic, no one would ever have a reason to leave the USA.

Perhaps one can reconcile these things with a better and more free Canada, but it is not clear to me.

I said it's debatable, because it is.

[carepov]

Their system of government is more democratic than ours, hence free. Our PM, if he has a majority, has more power to dictate his will on the nation. The American president has to work with 2 houses of politicians which weakens his power. We have more red tape, taxes and regulations which clutter up our lives.

These are good points, and I mostly agree with you – although I could debate either side.

Here are some points that support the idea that Canada is freer than the USA:

-730 of 100,000 people in the US are incarcerated, vs. 114 in Canada

-On average Canadians are safer than Americans (freedom from fear)

-There is a higher poverty rate in the US than in Canada (freedom from want)

-The average legal drinking age in the US is higher than in Canada

-I would guess that there is more freedom to smoke marijuana in Canada than in the US

-There is more tolerance of homosexuals in Canada

-You are freer to get an abortion in Canada

Also, historically, Americans fled to Canada due to slavery and the Draft.

As for bigger, their population is 10x ours, how is that not bigger? Ditto with wealth, mixed with less taxes and regulation gives them the ability to generate more wealth. I read somewhere how they have more millionaires per capita than us.

Canada is bigger in land area.

Canada is wealthier than the USA on many per capita metrics. The USA has a much larger debt than Canada. Canada is wealthier in terms of natural resources.

[jacee]

Do you love America ? Do you want it to change ? If so, then you want it to change into something that it is not. If not, then you will be voting, or have voted, for Obama.

And what a beautiful Americanada it would be... oops... maybe I have tipped my card on what I really want -> a confederated US/Canada nation with a generous social welfare system, socialized medicine and open borders.

Afraid yet ?

How bout Canada and the northern states?

[bush_cheney2004]

Still, it remains a puzzle as to why more Canadians emigrate to the United States than do Americans to Canada, and the U.S. has TEN TIMES the population. Freer....better....but not able to keep the best and the brightest at home. Explain this please.....

Edited November 7, 2012 by bush_cheney2004