Canada more democratic than the U.S.?

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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Alberta
With a more straightforward system, it's easier to pass laws, but also easier to remove them. Again, it all balances itself out either way.

ROTFLMSWAO!!! Politicians get rid of laws? How many laws has the Canadian Government gotten rid of in 130 years. For the most part they don't. They either stop enforcing them or they create new ones to overcome the old ones.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
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ROTFLMSWAO!!! Politicians get rid of laws? How many laws has the Canadian Government gotten rid of in 130 years. For the most part they don't. They either stop enforcing them or they create new ones to overcome the old ones.

They have reduced taxes on occasion, or amalgamated departments, etc. Decriminalization of certain things have occured too at times, along with legalization. It happens on occasion.
 

Francis2004

Subjective Poster
Nov 18, 2008
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Lower Mainland, BC
i think they call them French Fries again. Incidentally, does anybody know why they are called French Fries? It doesn't seem likely that the French would eat a cardboard tasting food like French Fries.

Using my French I did a bit of digging.. Here is what I came up with. I am not sure if this is the exact fact but here is what I found..

The straightforward explanation of the term is that it means potatoes fried in the French sense of the verb "to cook", which can mean either sautéing or deep-grease frying, while its French origin, frire, unambiguously means deep-frying: frites being its past participle used with a plural feminine substantive, as in pommes de terre frites ("deep-fried potatoes"). Thomas Jefferson, famous for serving French dishes, wrote exactly the latter French expression. In the early 20th century, the term "French fried" was being used for foods such as onion rings or chicken, apart from potatoes.

French fries - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

wulfie68

Council Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,014
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Calgary, AB
Has there ever been a US president that was not related to royalty?

According to Jon Stewart, Americans think the the French are all nuts. No president would admit to being French. They keep that part of their heritage locked in the closet (along with their homosexual tendencies).

The other thing to remember is the US was founded from English colonies. They purchased the French colony of Louisiana and annexed some Spanish ones (Florida, Texas, California, etc.) after some tussles with the Spanish and later Mexico. Thus, the "French culture" of the US IS a small part of the whole, whereas British and Spanish/Mexican cultures are more prevalent (as are some of the later immigrants like the Italians). Its not like Canada where our largest population base was at one time French and we transformed after our assimilation into the British Empire.
 

catherine_cca

New Member
Apr 9, 2009
5
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cca-acaf.ca
Problems of Charity Organizations

Hi,

Charities feel that they're competing against each other to try and attract attention and donations from consumers who are finding it increasingly hard to meet the rising cost of living.

While money is one factor deterring charities from setting up a website, another is time. Websites need to be maintained so that they retain their relevance and don't have outdated information or old news stories on them.

I have helped out to create a website Welcome to Canadian Caregivers Assocation!! for the Canada Caregiver organisation in which I joined as a member.

The charities which don't have websites are often the smallest ones with the least resources - the very organisations that might need your support the most. But these can't afford to create websites, so I feel some websites onwards should be kind enough to add names of few charity organisations in their locality to help them out.

Suggestions are welcome
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
8,583
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From: "Bow down Obama"
"You people never elected a black president before either, was that also a bad thing (well, I suppose it is, if one I s a conservative."

SirJosephPorter, My answer to you is more appropriate here.

What is this "You people" you speak about, We people are no different than you people, unless you think your better for some reason. Canada has never really had to face the growth and civil rights issues that came with a true multicultural society, never had old world issues to contend with. Guess what I'm trying to say is that aside from the your French culture and heritage your culture is new, much smaller and therefore easier to accept new ideas. (I left out the English because although they conquered the French in Canada, they never really introduced old world English culture.) The United States is made up from many old world culture's (Spanish, French, English, Dutch, African, native American, not to mention all the new immigrants who came here after we became a country) all that took time to get the ingredients mixed, but mixed we did. We now have a far more integrated democratic society than you or most countries could even hope to have. Wait until Canada has a diverse population similar to us with over 200 million, then you may be able to compare yourselves to us. Till then, just sit back, watch, and criticize if you must but most importantly learn. Unity, not diversity is the key to our survival.


Do you realize that not one of those countries in the Wikipedia Democracy index (1 thru 17) have a real multicultural society compared to the United States, look at their populations all relatively small.

No insult intended.


 

SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
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What is this "You people" you speak about, We people are no different than you people

No insult intended.

Ironsides, none taken.

And when I said ‘you people’ I meant you Americans. When I said you people elected Obama, I was speaking the truth. You people (Americans) elected him, we didn’t.

We people are no different than you people, unless you think your better for some reason.

Sure, but what has that got to do with anything? You may be no different form us, but you people elected him, we didn’t. So what is your beef with ‘you people’?

After all, doesn't your constitution say 'we the people'?
 
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RanchHand

Electoral Member
Feb 22, 2009
209
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USA
From: "Bow down Obama"
"You people never elected a black president before either, was that also a bad thing (well, I suppose it is, if one I s a conservative."

SirJosephPorter, My answer to you is more appropriate here.

What is this "You people" you speak about, We people are no different than you people, unless you think your better for some reason. Canada has never really had to face the growth and civil rights issues that came with a true multicultural society, never had old world issues to contend with. Guess what I'm trying to say is that aside from the your French culture and heritage your culture is new, much smaller and therefore easier to accept new ideas. (I left out the English because although they conquered the French in Canada, they never really introduced old world English culture.) The United States is made up from many old world culture's (Spanish, French, English, Dutch, African, native American, not to mention all the new immigrants who came here after we became a country) all that took time to get the ingredients mixed, but mixed we did. We now have a far more integrated democratic society than you or most countries could even hope to have. Wait until Canada has a diverse population similar to us with over 200 million, then you may be able to compare yourselves to us. Till then, just sit back, watch, and criticize if you must but most importantly learn. Unity, not diversity is the key to our survival.


Do you realize that not one of those countries in the Wikipedia Democracy index (1 thru 17) have a real multicultural society compared to the United States, look at their populations all relatively small.

No insult intended.



Very well put. And this diversity makes a national consensus on any number of issues that much more difficult to attain requiring more effort and compromise than might otherwise be needed.
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
8,583
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What is this "You people" you speak about, We people are no different than you people

No insult intended.

Ironsides, none taken.

And when I said ‘you people’ I meant you Americans. When I said you people elected Obama, I was speaking the truth. You people (Americans) elected him, we didn’t.

We people are no different than you people, unless you think your better for some reason.

Sure, but what has that got to do with anything? You may be no different form us, but you people elected him, we didn’t. So what is your beef with ‘you people’?

After all, doesn't your constitution say 'we the people'?

Not you the people. :lol: Yes we elected him, he is all ours.
 

wulfie68

Council Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,014
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Calgary, AB
What is this "You people" you speak about, We people are no different than you people, unless you think your better for some reason.
A sad fact is a lot of Canadians do tend to look down their noses at those who live south of the 49th. I've never really seen a logical basis for this but it exists, even among people who are not aware or don't want to admit to it.

Canada has never really had to face the growth and civil rights issues that came with a true multicultural society, never had old world issues to contend with. Guess what I'm trying to say is that aside from the your French culture and heritage your culture is new, much smaller and therefore easier to accept new ideas. (I left out the English because although they conquered the French in Canada, they never really introduced old world English culture.) The United States is made up from many old world culture's (Spanish, French, English, Dutch, African, native American, not to mention all the new immigrants who came here after we became a country) all that took time to get the ingredients mixed, but mixed we did.

Actually thats false in a number of respects. We never had the civil rights struggles that the US did, in part because importing slavery to Canada didn't make economic sense, as it did in some parts of the US and other areas around the globe. But we have had to deal with diverse and divergent cultures just as the US has. The net population isn't the same and the sources aren't (the British tended to target northern Europe in advertising for settlers which is why we have high populations of Germans, Poles, Scandinavians, Ukrainians, etc. particularly in the West). And the British DID institute their law and culture everywhere except Quebec. This was reinforced by the loyalists who fled the US following the American Revolution and settled in Atlantic Canada and Upper Canada (present day Ontario). IMO its a large part of why official bilingualism has always fallen flat in most places outside Quebec and New Brunswick (the only truly bilingual province in the country): we have no real reason to want to promote/preserve a culture and language that isn't ours.

We now have a far more integrated democratic society than you or most countries could even hope to have. Wait until Canada has a diverse population similar to us with over 200 million, then you may be able to compare yourselves to us. Till then, just sit back, watch, and criticize if you must but most importantly learn. Unity, not diversity is the key to our survival.
Do you realize that not one of those countries in the Wikipedia Democracy index (1 thru 17) have a real multicultural society compared to the United States, look at their populations all relatively small.

No insult intended.

No insult taken but what does total population have to do with it? Its a case of proportionality. You don't need 200 or 300 million people to have a functioning democracy. You can have one with 2 or 3 dozen. To be honest, I see a lot of things the US has done right (see my earlier posts in this thread or Colpy's posts that I agree with. I also see some things that strike me as wrong: for example, I don't agree with the current Canadian laws that allow prison inmates to vote as they are under sentence for violating the rights of other citizens. To me a suspension of their right to be involved in the democratic process is just. However, I feel that once their sentence is fully served (i.e. prison time served, fines paid, community service/probation/parole is finished), they should have that right reinstated, whereas in the US once you have a criminal record you are not eligible to vote, and I see that as an injustice. I realize some won't agree with my stance on both ends but thats where I'm at.
 

GreenFish66

House Member
Apr 16, 2008
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Democracy ...Oh.Oh not that word again...Short answer ..No We are not as democratic as the U.S....but then again who is?.....With Obama as leader..Maybe...:)...With such a small population we are too controlled...However if Leaders and Canadians were to gain more consensus using new technologies.We could be a better democracy.

..Instead security companies,grey politicians and Big resource stripping Businesses seem to speak for all the people, with little benefit to the locals....Whether the people agree or not.."The people" will agree eventually , when their heads finally stop spinning around from all the payed advertising and brainwash ,dished out by grey leaders...It's all mostly Hogwash...But what do expect with a minority government trying to lead as if it were the majority...Liberals seem to be no better..Canada needs a good strong leader who will Truly listen to the people , before making a decison on their behalf..

Green/Cleantechnology is the key to a balanced and sustainable future...Vote Green :)

In the U.S the sign says " Jump at own risk"

In Canada it says.." Do not jump"

Our health care is good though...

Having said that ..We are better off than most..Be thankful

:alien::wav:
 
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ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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United States
proportionality: It is like rules in a club. It is much easier to set rules for a club made up of 5 with 2 different ethnicities members, than it is for a club with 100 members of 20 different ethnicities. For example if you need a 20% vote to do something, in the little club that requires 1 member, while in the bigger club you need 20 members. When I mentioned different cultures, I was referring to cultures involving founding fathers thru 1865.

I agree with you that convicted criminals should not vote while they are incinerated. When they get out they should be able to vote again. But with this stipulation, after you live without committing any crimes for 5 years you get your right to vote again. In the U.S. it is pretty much up to the State how that is handled. Some States base it on what type of crime you committed, others ban voting altogether and some just let you vote again.
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
8,583
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United States
"Democracy ...Oh.Oh not that word again...Short answer ..No We are not as democratic as the U.S....but then again who is?.....With Obama as leader..Maybe...:icon_smile:...With such a small population we are too controlled...However if Leaders and Canadians were to gain more consensus using new technologies.We could be a better democracy."

That pretty much sums it up.
 

Trex

Electoral Member
Apr 4, 2007
917
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Hither and yon
Canada more democratic than the U.S.?


^ Why split hairs.

Canada, the US of A, Europe, Israel, Japan, Australia and NZ all have stable and effective democracies.
Their collective rate of corruption is very low.
As much as we all like to complain about various governments if you happen to hold a passport from one of the above listed countries you are very lucky indeed.
There are close to 200 countries in the world and only 20 or so are considered truly democratic and corruption free ( or minimally corruptable I suppose).

Trex
 

wulfie68

Council Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,014
24
38
Calgary, AB
Come on guys, we all struggle for the right words at times and we all knew "incarcerated" was the word meant to be used. I hate it when I do it.

But yeah I chuckled too. ;-)