How Canada stole the American Dream
Chagrin @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:26 pm
Oh, okay then.
BartSimpson @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:26 pm
Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:
And this is CKA. The site for Canada's biggest patriots. Generally patriotic people don't like Anti's in their country.
Yet some of the most fervent anti-Canadians I've ever known have been on this very site. While I am very much an American, how many times have I found myself defending and advocating Canada while having Canadians argue against me?
See, for right now, I do agree that Canada is better in many, many ways...while America remains better in many, many ways. (Meaning I love them both).
Myself, I have a few benchmarks for Canada to get to in order to call itself 'better' than America:
1. Canadians have to stop measuring themselves against the USA. So long as you do this it is a Freudian admission of a self-acknowledged inferiority.
2. When Canadians have the same rights in Canada that they enjoy as foreigners in the USA. Meaning if you want to be a Holocaust denier you don't go to jail for it in the USA, but you do in Canada. Meaning that if you want to own a gun you, as a Canadian, can do so in the USA, but with great difficulty (if at all) in much of Canada. and etc.
3. When you have the right to own your property.
3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
4. When it is easier to start a business then it is to collect public assistance.
5. When Canadians have more rights in Canada than alien immigrants do.
6. When an average Canadian is free from discrimination for their choice of language, their love of their country, and for their being descendant from white Europeans who didn't speak French.
7. When the Canadian Forces doctrines do not include the US military in any way, shape, or form as being necessary to the security of Canada nor to the success of Canadian military actions worldwide.
8. When a Canadian PM orders Hans Island as off-limits to any non-Canadians.
9. When the PM has more say over Canada than does the GG.
10. When Canadian sailors go to sea in Canadian built ships and when Canadian airmen go aloft in Canadian built aircraft.
And kindly don't see these ten items as criticisms as they are dreams for what Canada might be.
hurley_108 @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:11 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
1. Canadians have to stop measuring themselves against the USA. So long as you do this it is a Freudian admission of a self-acknowledged inferiority.
I agree. People in Canada should stop bitching about how taxes are lower in the USA.
$1:
2. When Canadians have the same rights in Canada that they enjoy as foreigners in the USA. Meaning if you want to be a Holocaust denier you don't go to jail for it in the USA, but you do in Canada.
Ah, the USA, with 1 of every 4 of the WORLD'S incarcerated people, but at least none of them are there for denying the holocaust. Because THAT would be WRONG...
$1:
Meaning that if you want to own a gun you, as a Canadian, can do so in the USA, but with great difficulty (if at all) in much of Canada. and etc.
I just love walking around in public in the USA wondering how many people around me are packing. I feel so insecure here knowing that there's a vanishingly small chance anyone here is.
$1:
3. When you have the right to own your property.
3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
I know, I just hate the weekly raids on my house by the Government, stealing all my money and stuff.
$1:
4. When it is easier to start a business then it is to collect public assistance.
Damn straight. People looking to get on public assistance have absolutely nothing better to do with their time (looking for work, looking after their kids, etc) than to go down to some office somewhere filling out forms all day every day.
$1:
6. When an average Canadian is free from discrimination for their choice of language, their love of their country, and for their being descendant from white Europeans who didn't speak French.
I know, I just hate being forced to speak French just to order a coffee.
$1:
7. When the Canadian Forces doctrines do not include the US military in any way, shape, or form as being necessary to the security of Canada nor to the success of Canadian military actions worldwide.
Doesn't it just suck that the US has to back Canada up in all these Canadian-led wars all over the place?
$1:
8. When a Canadian PM orders Hans Island as off-limits to any non-Canadians.
Fucking Danes. GLASS PARKING LOT!
$1:
9. When the PM has more say over Canada than does the GG.
It just cheeses me off that Michaelle Jean's going around decreeing this and ordering that and running this country according to her own will without any consideration of the desires of the people.
$1:
10. When Canadian sailors go to sea in Canadian built ships and when Canadian airmen go aloft in Canadian built aircraft.
No kidding. Why buy something already available from another country when we can spend a decade or more waiting for our own to be developed. We need our own military industrial complex.
$1:
And kindly don't see these ten items as criticisms as they are dreams for what Canada might be.
I don't see them as criticisms. I see them either as attacks on some of our greatest features, or complete fabrications. Except #5, I just have no clue what you were going on about there.
Chagrin @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:29 pm
^ There it is again.
Public_Domain @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:07 pm
EyeBrock @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:40 pm
Blue_Nose Blue_Nose:
EyeBrock EyeBrock:
Well, I agree with the general sentiment, I’m not sure if you can realistically say that life is better up here.
An unscientific approach I’ve taken is just my observations on my annual trips to the in-laws place in St Pete’s Fla.
Everything, I mean everything is cheaper there.
Houses, food, gas, cars, booze, going out, clothes, and in my particular case, camera gear. I bought $2800 US worth of gear which would have cost me $5200 at Henry’s. Same stuff made in Japan, just way more expensive in Canada.
You guys ever go clothes shopping in the US? Dirt cheap compared to here.
Vehicles are still 25-30% cheaper in the US.
Same vehicles but “Canadian” prices. As in way more expensive.
Easy enough to check out on the web as we pat each other on the back…..
I’ll go along with this article when Canadian stores are at least as competitive as US stores and when I notice an influx ( more than a point percentage) of Yanks moving north for the Canadian dream I might give this article some credibilty.
MacLeans is hardly unbiased on US-Canada stuff.
I had no idea inexpensive merchandise constituted the American Dream.An unscientific approach I’ve taken is just my observations on my annual trips to the in-laws place in St Pete’s Fla.
Everything, I mean everything is cheaper there.
Houses, food, gas, cars, booze, going out, clothes, and in my particular case, camera gear. I bought $2800 US worth of gear which would have cost me $5200 at Henry’s. Same stuff made in Japan, just way more expensive in Canada.
You guys ever go clothes shopping in the US? Dirt cheap compared to here.
Vehicles are still 25-30% cheaper in the US.
Same vehicles but “Canadian” prices. As in way more expensive.
Easy enough to check out on the web as we pat each other on the back…..
I’ll go along with this article when Canadian stores are at least as competitive as US stores and when I notice an influx ( more than a point percentage) of Yanks moving north for the Canadian dream I might give this article some credibilty.
MacLeans is hardly unbiased on US-Canada stuff.
I'd no idea paying more than you should for stuff was in the Charter.
BartSimpson @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:12 am
Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:
And this is CKA. The site for Canada's biggest patriots. Generally patriotic people don't like Anti's in their country.
Yet some of the most fervent anti-Canadians I've ever known have been on this very site. While I am very much an American, how many times have I found myself defending and advocating Canada while having Canadians argue against me?
That is generally when I side with you.$1:
See, for right now, I do agree that Canada is better in many, many ways...while America remains better in many, many ways. (Meaning I love them both).
Mhm, Of course.$1:
Myself, I have a few benchmarks for Canada to get to in order to call itself 'better' than America:
1. Canadians have to stop measuring themselves against the USA. So long as you do this it is a Freudian admission of a self-acknowledged inferiority.
Agreed. But I don't see it happening. SImply, we are influenced so much by the USA that we can't ignore you, and being 9 times smaller in population on a continent with the world's biggest power right now... Makes it hard for anything "Canadian" to prevail over anything "American". And we aren't the only ones. It makes it hard for ANYTHING to get over "American". America gives the whole world an inferiority complex. Canada just has much more because... We are connecting to you more then any other nation on the planet.1. Canadians have to stop measuring themselves against the USA. So long as you do this it is a Freudian admission of a self-acknowledged inferiority.
It's like... We are Bill Gates' little brother.
$1:
2. When Canadians have the same rights in Canada that they enjoy as foreigners in the USA. Meaning if you want to be a Holocaust denier you don't go to jail for it in the USA, but you do in Canada. Meaning that if you want to own a gun you, as a Canadian, can do so in the USA, but with great difficulty (if at all) in much of Canada. and etc.
I don't fully understand what you mean by this... You want Canadian/American laws and rights to be exactly the same, or you want Canadian Rights and Freedoms to not change no matter where they are in the world? Or something completely different?$1:
3. When you have the right to own your property.
3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
I don't pay much attention to this and don't usually hear about any totalitarian abuse of this. But even so it would be good to have that freedom/right reinforced by paper. So yes, I agree.3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
$1:
4. When it is easier to start a business then it is to collect public assistance.
No comment, don't follow the business sector much, can't argue, can't agree.$1:
5. When Canadians have more rights in Canada than alien immigrants do.
Agreed.$1:
6. When an average Canadian is free from discrimination for their choice of language, their love of their country, and for their being descendant from white Europeans who didn't speak French.
I agree. (I'm of French descent, btw)$1:
7. When the Canadian Forces doctrines do not include the US military in any way, shape, or form as being necessary to the security of Canada nor to the success of Canadian military actions worldwide.
I pray for that day. *salute*$1:
8. When a Canadian PM orders Hans Island as off-limits to any non-Canadians.
Agreed.$1:
9. When the PM has more say over Canada than does the GG.
AGREED.$1:
10. When Canadian sailors go to sea in Canadian built ships and when Canadian airmen go aloft in Canadian built aircraft.
*chuckles* I wish for the day when we won't be flying Dutch aircraft and using American ships... Or fighting with British camouflage... So agreed.$1:
And kindly don't see these ten items as criticisms as they are dreams for what Canada might be.
You'd be a Red Tory if you were Canadian, you know.I know you and I do not always see eye to eye, so thank you very much for seeing that my comments were not a criticism. Much appreciated.
![[B-o]](./images/smilies/drinkup.gif "Drink up")
bootlegga @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:18 am
hurley_108 hurley_108:
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
1. Canadians have to stop measuring themselves against the USA. So long as you do this it is a Freudian admission of a self-acknowledged inferiority.
I agree. People in Canada should stop bitching about how taxes are lower in the USA.
$1:
2. When Canadians have the same rights in Canada that they enjoy as foreigners in the USA. Meaning if you want to be a Holocaust denier you don't go to jail for it in the USA, but you do in Canada.
Ah, the USA, with 1 of every 4 of the WORLD'S incarcerated people, but at least none of them are there for denying the holocaust. Because THAT would be WRONG...
$1:
Meaning that if you want to own a gun you, as a Canadian, can do so in the USA, but with great difficulty (if at all) in much of Canada. and etc.
I just love walking around in public in the USA wondering how many people around me are packing. I feel so insecure here knowing that there's a vanishingly small chance anyone here is.
$1:
3. When you have the right to own your property.
3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
3a. When you have more right to your legally recorded property than homeless people, thugs from the First Nations, and arrogant bureacrats from any myriad of agencies.
3b. When your property cannot simply be seized by any number of fiat actions by public agencies.
I know, I just hate the weekly raids on my house by the Government, stealing all my money and stuff.
$1:
4. When it is easier to start a business then it is to collect public assistance.
Damn straight. People looking to get on public assistance have absolutely nothing better to do with their time (looking for work, looking after their kids, etc) than to go down to some office somewhere filling out forms all day every day.
$1:
6. When an average Canadian is free from discrimination for their choice of language, their love of their country, and for their being descendant from white Europeans who didn't speak French.
I know, I just hate being forced to speak French just to order a coffee.
$1:
7. When the Canadian Forces doctrines do not include the US military in any way, shape, or form as being necessary to the security of Canada nor to the success of Canadian military actions worldwide.
Doesn't it just suck that the US has to back Canada up in all these Canadian-led wars all over the place?
$1:
8. When a Canadian PM orders Hans Island as off-limits to any non-Canadians.
Fucking Danes. GLASS PARKING LOT!
$1:
9. When the PM has more say over Canada than does the GG.
It just cheeses me off that Michaelle Jean's going around decreeing this and ordering that and running this country according to her own will without any consideration of the desires of the people.
$1:
10. When Canadian sailors go to sea in Canadian built ships and when Canadian airmen go aloft in Canadian built aircraft.
No kidding. Why buy something already available from another country when we can spend a decade or more waiting for our own to be developed. We need our own military industrial complex.
$1:
And kindly don't see these ten items as criticisms as they are dreams for what Canada might be.
I don't see them as criticisms. I see them either as attacks on some of our greatest features, or complete fabrications. Except #5, I just have no clue what you were going on about there.
Blue_Nose @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:04 pm
EyeBrock EyeBrock:
I'd no idea paying more than you should for stuff was in the Charter.
What does the Charter have to do with anything being discussed here?Since you obviously missed the boat entirely, the discussion is concerning the American Dream and you brought up cheaper prices - since when does that constitute in any way the American Dream?
CanAm1 @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:27 pm
EyeBrock EyeBrock:
Blue_Nose Blue_Nose:
EyeBrock EyeBrock:
Well, I agree with the general sentiment, I’m not sure if you can realistically say that life is better up here.
An unscientific approach I’ve taken is just my observations on my annual trips to the in-laws place in St Pete’s Fla.
Everything, I mean everything is cheaper there.
Houses, food, gas, cars, booze, going out, clothes, and in my particular case, camera gear. I bought $2800 US worth of gear which would have cost me $5200 at Henry’s. Same stuff made in Japan, just way more expensive in Canada.
You guys ever go clothes shopping in the US? Dirt cheap compared to here.
Vehicles are still 25-30% cheaper in the US.
Same vehicles but “Canadian” prices. As in way more expensive.
Easy enough to check out on the web as we pat each other on the back…..
I’ll go along with this article when Canadian stores are at least as competitive as US stores and when I notice an influx ( more than a point percentage) of Yanks moving north for the Canadian dream I might give this article some credibilty.
MacLeans is hardly unbiased on US-Canada stuff.
I had no idea inexpensive merchandise constituted the American Dream.An unscientific approach I’ve taken is just my observations on my annual trips to the in-laws place in St Pete’s Fla.
Everything, I mean everything is cheaper there.
Houses, food, gas, cars, booze, going out, clothes, and in my particular case, camera gear. I bought $2800 US worth of gear which would have cost me $5200 at Henry’s. Same stuff made in Japan, just way more expensive in Canada.
You guys ever go clothes shopping in the US? Dirt cheap compared to here.
Vehicles are still 25-30% cheaper in the US.
Same vehicles but “Canadian” prices. As in way more expensive.
Easy enough to check out on the web as we pat each other on the back…..
I’ll go along with this article when Canadian stores are at least as competitive as US stores and when I notice an influx ( more than a point percentage) of Yanks moving north for the Canadian dream I might give this article some credibilty.
MacLeans is hardly unbiased on US-Canada stuff.
I'd no idea paying more than you should for stuff was in the Charter.
SNAP!
herbie @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:28 pm
What do you mean easier to collect EI than start a business. You have to work for someone else for what 37 weeks to get EI?
Took a day and a couple hundred bucks to start a business. I don't see how much "easier" it can be.
And careful with the property issue too, I haven't heard of any Canadians who have had their real estate expropriated to build a WalMart or subdivision. Maybe for a road or hospital or airport. but they make devlopers buy all the land around you so your property gets rezoned first, and then you just can't afford the taxes and have to sell.
ridenrain @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:51 pm
Hundreds of thousands of legitimate, tax paying handgun owners in Canada could have had their property seized or confiscated without fair compensation if Paul martin won the last election. To a far smaller scale, the same thing happened before under a number of governments. This is one of the major reasons why registration is so unpopular.
It’s not just about the price of things but the freedom of the marketplace. We simply don’t have effective competition here. As an example, look back at the car market. When the dollar reached parity, cars were still much more expensive, even though many were made here. Dealerships and the government worked together to discourage Canadians from buying the same car cheaper in the states. That’s collusion.
Canada needs a Boston tea party.
herbie @ Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:15 am
$1:
As an example, look back at the car market. When the dollar reached parity, cars were still much more expensive, even though many were made here.
Part of that's our own fault as consumers. We were still buying the damn things at those prices.
All businesses charge what the market will bear.
My personal gripe is at book sellers, a year after the nationwide gripe that the Canadian price was 25-30% higher than the US price, even when our dollar was a much as 10% more, it's still unsettled.
The sellers simply removed the US price, trying to fool you into believing Americans paid $12.99 - $13.99 for a pocketbook. Others dropped the margin to only $2-$3 extra for Canadians. A year after all the row, many of those 25-30% off marked prices signs are no longer on the book racks. That's disgusting.
bootlegga @ Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:21 am
Chagrin Chagrin:
bootlegga bootlegga:
Translation: America is better because it is more right leaning, which is also his own political bias.
He's entitled to his opinion. Canada was built on the group, not the individual. Personally, I'm surprised he can stand living in Toronto. Based on his article, he must consider it akin to life in hell...
If he doesn't like the rest of us Commies, then he can feel free to join his 'free' brethren south of the border.
People are free to say what they want, but Canadians have spent far too long shaping Canada for us to let a few wannabe Yanks change it into another US state.
Plenty of others have been frustrated that we're not the US, with its low taxes and high infant mortality and that's fine. Instead of changing what we have, they can do something far less painful and move to where it exists already. I'm honestly of the opinion that those who move to the US/UK/wherever make Canada a better place, as we have fewer people bitching and moaning.
Pseudonym @ Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:32 am
I don't like articles that set Canada and the USA up as rivals. I mean, its nice to have a degree of competitiveness, but often it seems as though such comparisons become mean-spirited. Can't we all just get along and save bragging right for the Olympics or something? 