Anti Americanism and what is Canada ?

[Craig Read]

Canada is not a large country. This is a myth. 50 % of Canada is covered by the Canadian Shield and another 1/3 by the Arctic. Neither is habitable nor prone to development.

Canada is like Chile - a narrow strip of land along the US border. It is a supply point for US industry as well as providing a fragemented internal market for its domestic producers - thanks to provincial trade barriers. For instance manufactured goods shipped out of Ont. into the rest of Canada carry a markup and surtax of around 20 %. Rather insane.

The Canada is big and sparsely populated myth dies hard. If you look at habitable land than Canada with the exception of the Prairies is fairly well populated. In any event it is dispersed which makes current Canadian policy such as regional subsidies, internal tariffs, over taxation and over regulation even harder to bear and support.

In other words the country's size mitigates against the illogicity of its social construction.

[SirRiff]

quote

Canada is not a large country. This is a myth.

you should teach school man.

this must have come from the same place where you get your quality of life survey that shows canada is the same as india.

SirRiff

[Craig Read]

The habitable part of Canada encompasses about 1/3 of the land mass. The Arctic which Canada cannot patrol, defend or develop is more of a wasteland than a viable living area. Most of the country is covered by rock - ie. The Canadian Shield and Rockies - and is not opportune for massive settlement. Why do you think most of the population is huddled like Chile's along a narrow strip of land.

The Canada is big myth dies hard. It is not big. It is already crowded. Unless you plough over the prairies there is no need to have a large population here of more than 40 millions. That is of course unless you advocate a lower standard of living and equal misery for all and the tax potential from non-Western immigrants which it is hopefully assumed will cover their costs plus help pay down our debts.

In order to ensure this Canadians feel they need to erect socialised economic control, regulatory boards, gross subsidies, Kyoto protocols, inefficient and burdensome political processes, lack of internal free trade, rationed health care, energy subsidies, political corruption, and illiberal provincial constructions, to realise their dream of equal misery for all.

All in the name of post modern nonsense in the breathless rush to become European, illiberal, anti-freedom, and anti-individualistic. Gee, the last time i checked France and Germany were bankrupt. Oh well.

[maplemama]

Craig, your arrogance just astounds me. Being someone who according to you does not actually live in Canada (the north) I have to reply.

To begin, you state that Canada is already "crowded" and yet call most of the country a wasteland. Make up your mind.

More importantly, just because the largest proportion of Canadians live along the U.S. border doesn't mean the rest of the country is uninhabitable. There are, in fact, many Canadians who live and work in the Arctic "wasteland" and in most areas beyond the border, although you seem quite willing to dismiss these areas out of hand. There is nothing preventing the building of larger urban areas in the vast majority of these places except time--in time there will no doubt be larger cities in more northerly climes--but believe it or not, urban areas are not the only habitable areas for human life--there are still many, many people who are SOMEHOW able to survive in the country and smaller urban centres.

In fact, I would really like to see Canada continue to run without the resources such areas contain. Northern Alberta, which is somehow not included in your mind-blowingly small "habitable" zone, contains a giant proportion of the oil and lumber used to keep the country going--and will continue to do so (not that there aren't drawbacks to this). It is home to a thriving (well, before the mad cow scare anyway) farming community and that's just in one province. Canada's more northern areas may not be densely inahabited, but they are not uninhabited by any stretch of the imagination either, whether you are in Inuvik or elsewhere. Wilderness still exists but human encroachment is inexorable. The arctic itself contains Canadian diamonds among other national treasures, mining and oil and gas reserves and exploration, all of which create jobs and communities, and that's not to mention the First Nations who have called that area home for long before Europeans colonized the country and created the Canada of today. To discount all these areas and their people and their contribution to Canada out of hand is stunning in its short-sightedness and small-mindedness.

And all that is not to mention the simple fact that the size of a country is measured by its borders, not some subjective sense of where the people live in it.

My god, Craig, have you ever been anywhere beyond a 50-Km radius of your own home (ie the centre of the universe according to Craig)???

As for the rest of your post, and indeed the rest of your posts, you seem to despise the country, its policies, its traditions, and its people. If ever there were an anti-Canadian, you are he. Here's my question--what do you LIKE about Canada? Anything at all?

[SirRiff]

the stupidity of saying that Canada is somehow limited in land is beyond description. especially when you see the wide variety of climates that people thrive in around the world. just because something doesnt look like toronto doesnt mean a high quality of life cannot be achieved.

astonishing this wasnt taught in school

"There is nothing so absurd that it cannot be believed as truth if repeated often enough." -William James

SirRiff

[Guest]

Hey Craig:

I haven't been to this site in a couple of months but it hasn't changed one bit. You, in particular, are still throwing out the same old rants ad nauseum, and I do mean NAUSEUM! Get a life old buddy. This site is soaking up way too much of your time. Under Candian Politics there are 40 topics, you created 5 of them. International Politics - 16 topics, 8 of'em yours, Craig. Religion & Politics, only 5 topics but, without you Craig, there'd be only one. U.S. Politics - you score 7 out of 9. Cdn/Us Relations - a weak showing - only two out of five but Fast Ned made up for another two so that's nearly unanimous. If you had something, anything, new to say then your contributions would be commendable but - you don't. It's just the same old tired bile about how rotten your country is and how wonderful you find the U.S. Get your TV fixed or go to a movie, maybe just a walk but for God's sake get out of your forlorn rut!

[RB]

hello Spider

well glad that you have made the come back with some proposition that you so correctly defended, such that you have correctly tally up all the stats, and made some precautious discoveries and connections of the write ups and have indeed become bias on a different level.

I have not done much contribution as I would like, but do admit whenever I have the time I do log on and find the dicussions very interesting, the topics/discussions are mostly on recent or current events, and while being preocupied with spinning activities, in defence of your not being here to start a topic someone will.

All I am saying is that you can’t say people shouldn’t write or whatever you are protesting, you admit that you have not really been around here for more than a while so it didn’t help with you non-participation, its tu quoque, its just like saying “You say I shouldn't drink, but you haven't been sober for more than a year”

just don’t deter others from constructive arguing, I have drawn a conculsion from these discussions that in politics there are LOTS and LOTS OF TALK about the same things with differing perspective, and its up to you to be swayed, the weaker you are the more paralyse the imagination

rita

[Craig Read]

Maple, maybe if you read carefully you could follow an argument. The post was on Population not land mass. This has socio-economic implications. Canada is constrained geographically. 40 % of Canada is rock ie the Shield. 30 % is ice. 30 % is left. Of that maybe half is habitable for obvious reasons. You do the math. There is a clear reason why Canada has 30 million people vs. 270 million in the US. Its population is smaller than Spain's and the same as the tiny Benelux area. Canada is large but largely uninhabitable for 2 reasons; 1. Economic -- try building business in northern Manitoba, Ont or Quebec outside of some natural resource industries. Won't happen. 2. Access to Markets. Basic economics and costs dictate that suppliers prefer to be closer to the market. This is why southern ontario is so crowded. I don't see many people in Toronto pining to living in Sudbury.

So yes Canada in effect is quite small. This has an enormous impact on social and economic structures.

In any event the thread is about anti-americanism so what is your point Maple ? Or do you have one other than to now state that because Canada has a lot of rock and ice it is superior to the States ? BTW the most resource rich country in the world happens to be the US.

[Guest]

If the U.S. is, as you contend, themost resoursce rich country in th wworld, why do they rely so heavily on imported resources (ie. oil, gas, timber, coal, etc.)?

No it's not the land mass that makes Canada superior to the States. It's the superior quality of life, the character of its people and a million other things that makes Canada great. We're no tperfect, sure. But we try.

Basically, Read, if you think Canada is sucha backwater: why do you live here? As you say, there's plenty of room for you down south.

[SirRiff]

Arguing that Canada lacks habitable area, population, or resources is a sure sign of mental illness. We need to commit some posters on this thread.

This is just another example of Canada bashing in a desperate bid to garner attention and promote a bizarre and often extreme point of view.

some absolute truths;

I. Canada is huge

II. Canadass habitable land area is massive and generally speaking popultion expansion is dictated by necessity- we dont need to expand currently.

III. Canada is rich in natural resources

IV. Canada has 31.5M citizens

Blackdog you going to register or what? join and help fight the dark side.

SirRiff

[Guest]

I would register, but I find this board too cumbersome to use. You should swing by rabble.ca/babble, SirRiff. It's a damn sight easier to use than this one. Less hysterical as well.

[Craig Read]

Sir Raff,

You truly are a clown.

You do have a map one supposes ?

Where is the population of Canada clustered ?

What is the spread of population in the North vs. the South ?

What is the industrial strength of the North vs. the South ?

90 % of Canadians live within 200 miles of the US border.

Duh.

Canada is covered mostly by ice, rock and areas that will never support large populations or industry.

If you think Canada is empty travel in South Ont. the St. Lawrence Valley and Calgary-Edmonton and Vcr. where 80 % of the population lives.

If you can't actually read a map Raff, go play in another sandbox. Your stupidity amazes.

Clown.

[Lost in Manitoba]

All it is is lack of economic or political will to populate other parts of the country.

Not to say there aren't communities there. I've never been anywhere in Canada where there wasn't at least a small community within an hours drive.

[Craig Read]

Canada is a small country. Ice, rock, trees and scrub do not mean it is habitable. Only a few areas are economically viable. This is the reality.

I prefer to live in the real world, where real problems are met by practical solutions. You can wax poetic about native indian populations, rewrite history so that white men are criminals and the rest saints, and make up myths perpetuating your feeling of greatness and grandeur. Yes trees, lakes and such are nice and quaint. Most nations have such. But the current political and economic makeup of the country makes no sense. It does not conform to reality, the economic-political makeup which actually exists nor on the problems faced by a small, strung out population [like Chile's] in which income re-distribution has corrupted the proper functioning of both economics and politics.

This is the problem that underpins the adolescent nature of Canadian politics.

[SirRiff]

its not my fault you think Canada is small man.

take it out on your school or something.

because we all know north of toronto is covered by glaciers right?

SirRiff

[jbg]

Wow! I'm an American and I don't believe what I'm reading.

Do you really believe that Canada is anti-American? That is just not possible.

Some of you have taken what a few people have said and blown it out of proportion. I have met many Canadians and they are not anti-American. Sure there a few yahoos out there and there are some that disagree with the current admin over here, but then again something like 57% of Americans ar not following whole heartedly along the current admin right now either.

I think America and Canada have a love-hate relationship. Most people recognize the common interests and similarities in history, language and culture. Both are independent countries, but the similarities create rivalries. As one person I went to high school said describing one of his friends, he said "he's so much like you that the two of you would clash."

[Argus]

I think America and Canada have a love-hate relationship. Most people recognize the common interests and similarities in history, language and culture. Both are independent countries, but the similarities create rivalries. As one person I went to high school said describing one of his friends, he said "he's so much like you that the two of you would clash."

why would you ressurect an eleven year old topic for that? How do you even find eleven year old topics!?

For the record, I don't love or hate America. I respect America, though I think some of your cultural ideas are dopy. But hey, they mostly just hurt you, not anyone else.

[bush_cheney2004]

I think it is a great topic, as its essence can be found directly and indirectly in many other threads. There are entire books written just on this topic....mostly by Canadians !

[jbg]

I think it is a great topic, as its essence can be found directly and indirectly in many other threads. There are entire books written just on this topic....mostly by Canadians !

Actually the one I read was Continental Divide by Seymour Lipset (of blessed memory). He was American. Link to review.

Edited October 30, 2014 by jbg

[bush_cheney2004]

Actually the one I read was Continental Divide by Seymour Lipset (of blessed memory). He was American. Link to review.

I have focused more on the Canadian authors so as not get the much hated 'Merkin bias and "sell outs"...like these:

Maude Barlow (several titles), Michael Adams (of Environics fame, Fire and Ice), Bruce Muirhead (Dancing Around The Elephant), Mel Hertig, and my current favorite....

J.L. Granatstein's Yankee Go Home: Canadians and Anti-Americanism...for nuggets like this:

...This is how much of Yankee goes. Canada is forced, by circumstances beyond its control, to look south for protection or cash. Then Canadians bitch about it until the situation becomes the stuff of myth: someone or another was always “selling us out.” We just plain had no choice.

[On Guard for Thee]

why would you ressurect an eleven year old topic for that? How do you even find eleven year old topics!?

For the record, I don't love or hate America. I respect America, though I think some of your cultural ideas are dopy. But hey, they mostly just hurt you, not anyone else.

Some people just have thin skins and can't get over "it" and move on. Is it really 11 years old now?

[jbg]

Some people just have thin skins and can't get over "it" and move on. Is it really 11 years old now?

I came upon the thread by accident when searching for something else. I myself didn't join MLW until Spring 2006 when it became obvious I was getting banned from FreeDominion.

[bush_cheney2004]

I think this belongs here....read the comments to understand why:

Canada accused of 'boasting' with doctored photos of Canadarm2

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/canada-accused-of-boasting-with-doctored-photos-of-canadarm2-1.2820042

Edited November 1, 2014 by bush_cheney2004

[BubberMiley]

I came upon the thread by accident when searching for something else. I myself didn't join MLW until Spring 2006 when it became obvious I was getting banned from FreeDominion.

Now would be a good time to talk about how you single-handedly shut down the CBC forum.

[jbg]

Now would be a good time to talk about how you single-handedly shut down the CBC forum.

Go here (link) if you're really curious. Unless you believe that's the cause of the anti-Americanism of some Canadians this is not the right thread.