Canada: The land of mediocrity

[Argus]

There is an old joke about an American seeing a big house on a hill and vowing that he will work hard so that he too will someday have a house like that. Then a Canadian sees it, and shakes his fist up towards it, while demanding the government tax the guy more so he can't build a better house than he has.

Canada is a land of mediocrity. It is a country whose federal government is led by a man of no accomplishment, vision or particular talent, a government whose most important duty seems to be taking money from the successful in order to reward the unsuccessful. Ask a Canadian what they think is important about the federal government and they'll bring up one form of government subsidy or other, be it pogey, child care or pensions. And the last time any sizable number of Canadians decided to protest was when a bunch of welfare farmers came to Ottawa to protest a threat to their big dairy subsidies and protections.

We have a collection of even more mediocre provincial governments, which mostly can't balance a budget, some of which seem headed inexorably towards bankruptcy. They build roads which crack and break up within a year or two, and bridges which sometimes collapse before they're used, and support one of the most expensive public health care system in the world – which has some of the longest wait times in the world. They spit out red tape by the mile to enshroud anyone in the private sector who tries to build a business or create jobs. They have the most expensive teachers in the world, whose mediocrity has to be protected by tenure lest the incompetents lose their jobs for the poor results of their efforts. Don't pay any attention to those continually backsliding test results. Just watch the CBC, another incredibly mediocre Canadian institution, and be content.

Our municipal governments are incredibly expensive, but often have a lot of problems with basic tasks like garbage collection, snow clearing and sewage. They have the world's most expensive police, with much longer response times than in most western jurisdictions, and the world's most expensive firefighters, with longer response times than in most western jurisdictions. Their idiot councils usually care far more about bicycle paths and arts courts than roads and bridges.

And in the private sector we mostly have branch plants of world corporations, and some Canadian companies which only survive because of government subsidies and protection from outside competition. Where would the telcos and cable companies be if there were unrestricted competition? Where would Bombardier or the banks be? Not around any more, most likely. And who would miss them?

So how did Canada become so mediocre, and led by such mediocre people and institutions, and how can we possibly change it short of Donald Trump taking up residence at 24 Sussex?

[Bryan]

There is an old joke about an American seeing a big house on a hill and vowing that he will work hard so that he too will someday have a house like that. Then a Canadian sees it, and shakes his fist up towards it, while demanding the government tax the guy more so he can't build a better house than he has.

That's more of a left vs right split than a Canada vs USA one. Conservatives tend to lean towards the former reaction, Socialists tend to lean towards the latter.

[Bryan]

So how did Canada become so mediocre, and led by such mediocre people and institutions, and how can we possibly change it short of Donald Trump taking up residence at 24 Sussex?

How did it happen? Too many people voting Liberal and NDP. How to change it? Stop voting for those parties.

[Big Guy]

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

Please.

[bush_cheney2004]

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

Many Canadians already have...going to the USA and other nations...taking their education, experience, capital, and creativity with them.

Must be the weather, right ?

[herples]

Many Canadians already have...going to the USA and other nations...taking their education, experience, capital, and creativity with them.

Must be the weather, right ?

What is your point?

[Argus]

What is your point?

To taunt Canadians, but even so, there is more than a grain of salt in his words. A lot of Canadians have found they had to go somewhere else to succeed, primarily but not exclusively the U.S.

[Argus]

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

Please.

So speaks the voice of mediocrity, not even realizing he's using a quote which originated in the U.S.

Ironically, among very conservative Republican types.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Argus

[Shady]

You're exactly right Argus. The left in Canada has no policy to lift people up, only to spread class warfare and resentment. And to see some sort of equality be tearing those people down who have risen farther than they're "suppose to".

[bush_cheney2004]

So speaks the voice of mediocrity, not even realizing he's using a quote which originated in the U.S.

Thanks for pointing this out....saved me the trouble. Great topic !

[ironstone]

Argus,you are correct on every point you made.I wish it weren't so and that more Canadians would wake up and see that this path is unsustainable.

[WestCoastRunner]

There is an old joke about an American seeing a big house on a hill and vowing that he will work hard so that he too will someday have a house like that. Then a Canadian sees it, and shakes his fist up towards it, while demanding the government tax the guy more so he can't build a better house than he has.

Canada is a land of mediocrity. It is a country whose federal government is led by a man of no accomplishment, vision or particular talent, a government whose most important duty seems to be taking money from the successful in order to reward the unsuccessful. Ask a Canadian what they think is important about the federal government and they'll bring up one form of government subsidy or other, be it pogey, child care or pensions. And the last time any sizable number of Canadians decided to protest was when a bunch of welfare farmers came to Ottawa to protest a threat to their big dairy subsidies and protections.

We have a collection of even more mediocre provincial governments, which mostly can't balance a budget, some of which seem headed inexorably towards bankruptcy. They build roads which crack and break up within a year or two, and bridges which sometimes collapse before they're used, and support one of the most expensive public health care system in the world which has some of the longest wait times in the world. They spit out red tape by the mile to enshroud anyone in the private sector who tries to build a business or create jobs. They have the most expensive teachers in the world, whose mediocrity has to be protected by tenure lest the incompetents lose their jobs for the poor results of their efforts. Don't pay any attention to those continually backsliding test results. Just watch the CBC, another incredibly mediocre Canadian institution, and be content.

Our municipal governments are incredibly expensive, but often have a lot of problems with basic tasks like garbage collection, snow clearing and sewage. They have the world's most expensive police, with much longer response times than in most western jurisdictions, and the world's most expensive firefighters, with longer response times than in most western jurisdictions. Their idiot councils usually care far more about bicycle paths and arts courts than roads and bridges.

And in the private sector we mostly have branch plants of world corporations, and some Canadian companies which only survive because of government subsidies and protection from outside competition. Where would the telcos and cable companies be if there were unrestricted competition? Where would Bombardier or the banks be? Not around any more, most likely. And who would miss them?

So how did Canada become so mediocre, and led by such mediocre people and institutions, and how can we possibly change it short of Donald Trump taking up residence at 24 Sussex?

Whatever happened to the rule of providing links to back up an OP especially one that is again all over the map and quite simply just an opinion piece. Where does one begin to debate this OP when no facts have been presented?

[Hal 9000]

Whatever happened to the rule of providing links to back up an OP especially one that is again all over the map and quite simply just an opinion piece. Where does one begin to debate this OP when no facts have been presented?

Well, I guess you'd have to use your mind and give an opinion based on...you know, your thoughts.

I think that although he spoke in opinion, the ideas that he shared can't really be argued. What can be argued is whether one likes or dislikes the country we've created.

[WestCoastRunner]

Well, I guess you'd have to use your mind and give an opinion based on...you know, your thoughts.

I think that although he spoke in opinion, the ideas that he shared can't really be argued. What can be argued is whether one likes or dislikes the country we've created.

No facts have been presented to back up his opinions of how the country is according to him. So why would anyone bother to dispute opinions. That's all they are is opinions.

[WestCoastRunner]

Well, I guess you'd have to use your mind and give an opinion based on...you know, your thoughts.

I think that although he spoke in opinion, the ideas that he shared can't really be argued. What can be argued is whether one likes or dislikes the country we've created.

No facts have been presented to back up his opinions of how the country is according to him. So why would anyone bother to dispute opinions. That's all they are is opinions.

This OP presents no facts to support the country we've created.

[Hal 9000]

No facts have been presented to back up his opinions of how the country is according to him. So why would anyone bother to dispute opinions. That's all they are is opinions.

This OP presents no facts to support the country we've created.

Exactly, then get to it and argue his points. Unless, you can't argue his points and instead are looking to rip on the source of any cite you believe he shoulda posted.

[WestCoastRunner]

Exactly, then get to it and argue his points. Unless, you can't argue his points and instead are looking to rip on the source of any cite you believe he shoulda posted.

I didn't think that was how it worked here. An OP should provide facts to back up their claims. The mods can clarify how opinion OPs work perhaps.

[bush_cheney2004]

OK...let me help if a "link" is dearly desired:

Canada's failure to innovate is spilling over into the economy, environmental protection, health care, education, and poverty eradication - turning the country into a land of stifling mediocrity, according to a harsh new report card from the Conference Board of Canada.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canada-a-land-of-mediocrity/article22624810/

Or how about this....

There are a lot of benefits to living in Canada. It’s clean, it’s safe and we have relatively good health care. It’s also a good place to watch hockey, if you’re into that sort of thing. But there is one thing about our home and native land that really, really sucks: our unending, soul-sucking mediocrity.

http://alphabeatic.com/the-secret-to-canadas-mediocrity/

Sorry if these "links" are mediocre too !

[Argus]

No facts have been presented to back up his opinions of how the country is according to him. So why would anyone bother to dispute opinions. That's all they are is opinions.

That's all anything is on this web site. Nor does every opinion need to be backed up by a cite from somewhere else. Facts have to be backed up, not opinion.

Edited June 5, 2016 by Argus

[eyeball]

That's all anything is on this web site. Nor does every opinion need to be backed up by a cite from somewhere else. Facts have to be backed up, not opinion.

Opinions need to be based in reality.

[Guest]

Opinions need to be based in reality.

Not really. I'm of the opinion that England are going to win the upcoming European Championship.

Edited June 5, 2016 by bcsapper

[Bryan]

Opinions need to be based in reality.

Good thing he made some very realistic observations then.

[waldo]

Many Canadians already have...going to the USA and other nations...taking their education, experience, capital, and creativity with them.

Must be the weather, right ?

Great topic !

most certainly, given your shtick here... your obsession with Canada and your want/intent to ridicule and demean Canada/Canadians at any opportunity, this is clearly, in your stated opinion - a "great topic"!

to your other comment, apparently, some Canadians are willing to sell out for warmWeather... cause it sure ain't the U.S. gun culture, U.S. crime rates/level, U.S. last-place health care, U.S. health care related bankruptcies, poor U.S. education system, U.S. racism, dysfunctional U.S. political system, U.S. war-mongering, militarized U.S. police forces, U.S. drug abuse/epidemic, U.S. 20 trillion debt, etc., etc., etc.. Talk about the land of mediocrity - the U.S. wins that one - hands down!

.

[Peter F]

lordy. Whats to discuss? Mediocrity? Its not all that difficult to pick anyplace in the world and point out the mediocrity of that place. Makes me wonder if there is some place that is not mediocre according to Argus. If so, would there not also be mediocre aspects to that non-mediocre place?

The whole things a pointless waste of space. May as well discuss the best sports team ever - endlessly - and convince no one of anything.

[waldo]

So speaks the voice of mediocrity, not even realizing he's using a quote which originated in the U.S.

Ironically, among very conservative Republican types.

the origin appears unclear; it exists, or has like derivative, in many countries. But yes, there are the like/similar sayings, "This is America: Like it or leave it"... "America: Love it or leave it"... the prior appears to originate during the U.S. Vietnam war; the latter has many attachments in the more recent U.S. history. Apparently, there must be some degree of Americans evaluating their continued presence in their country - go figure!

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