Are we really that different from Americans (culturally)?

[L Gilbert]

Taking care of our own citizens:

I believe they should have the right to treatment but have to pay it off as they can.
I believe a person shouldn't live under a bridge, but if they want welfare, they better start going to school, or work, and they should have yearly check-ups on the use of that welfare.

But Canada goes over the top and hides under the flag 'Human Rights'

Soon do you want to have caps on your $$, and huge taxes, and everyone being provided everything from the government?

Thats where its heading..

Edit to L Gilbert: America gives people enough so they have a chance at something, but not enough to give them a free ride.

Canada gives there citizens a free-ride, on high taxes.

Edit to me? Don't you mean a note to me?
A free ride? Try living in Vancouver on less than $600 per month. Hah! Try living anywhere on that.
Unemployment is based on what people have earned while working and has come out of their own paycheck. The States have a similar program.
About healthcare; say you make $50,000 a year, have a house with a mortgage of $50,000 on it, a vehicle you owe a few thousand on, etc. A relatively normal life. Perhaps you get cancer (not your fault), suffer a serious injury (also not your fault), or heart disease and end up in the hospital. Then you find out that your insurance only covers a few things then it is out of the picture, the hospital continues running up the bill. A couple months later they cut you loose from the hospital. You get home and find the bill the hospital sent. You open it and see the bottom line saying that you owe $348,000. You look at that bill, your mortgage (if the bank hasn't called it in), your car loan (which was called in), and recalculate your net earnings at about $35,000 per year (if you still have the job). Figuring you will spend 30% on housing, 18% on transportation, 15% on food, 10% on clothing and other incidentals, 5% on medical (such as dental, eyecare, insurance), and 5% on utilities without spending a dime on recreation and entertainment and whanot, you're left with about $7700 per year to pay off that $348,000 bill; and that's not taking into consideration that there is compound interest added to the capital on the bill. You find yourself basically f'ckd for the rest of your life. Pretty picture, huh? Now suppose you are disabled for life instead of just a short time. Hmmmmmmm doesn't the States have welfare?

 

[sanctus]

Taking care of our own citizens:

I believe they should have the right to treatment but have to pay it off as they can.
I believe a person shouldn't live under a bridge, but if they want welfare, they better start going to school, or work, and they should have yearly check-ups on the use of that welfare.

But Canada goes over the top and hides under the flag 'Human Rights'

Soon do you want to have caps on your $$, and huge taxes, and everyone being provided everything from the government?

Thats where its heading..

Edit to L Gilbert: America gives people enough so they have a chance at something, but not enough to give them a free ride.

Canada gives there citizens a free-ride, on high taxes.

Might I ask what world you live in exactly? I'm sorry, but people are struggling to survive in this country, and the last thing they are able to do is afford costs for health-care and other services. You might be interested to know that Employment Insurance and other such benefits comes directly from the same people who deserve to receive it when necessary.

 

[tracy]

The more time I spend down here, the more conflicted I am on this question. I think there are some definite differences (health care and the role of government are biggies IMO), but I strongly feel we are much more alike than we are different.

 

[tracy]

You know; there is welfare, healthcare, unemployment, etc in the USA, too, don't you?

This is something that people don't ever seem to see. Most of my patients are on medi-cal. That's tax payer based health care. ALL babies born in this state qualify for it if needed, even those born to illegal immigrants. I don't see how that's so different from Canada.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

This is probably a big factor of why I am wanting to move to the USA. I want myself and my future family to be in a nation that is more of a "go out and make something for yourself" place, and more free.

Actually you're likely to find yourself a good deal less free in some ways. The range of political opinions you'll be allowed to express is a good deal narrower, for instance. You won't be personally and directly suppressed by the authority of the state, but if you talk favourably of things like publicly funded universal health care, or suggest that medicine is a public good rather than a business--which is pretty much the Canadian view--you will be viewed with alarm and suspicion as probably a dangerous radical. The only political parties available for you to support (or not, as you choose) are, in global terms, right and far right. Judging by the opinions you've expressed here, none of these considerations are likely to be an issue for you, but they would be for most Canadians.

Canada is heading to close to socialism, that it is already slowly spiralling into those nations in Europe like France and Holland.

Is there something particularly wrong with France and Holland (actually, it's The Netherlands)? I can't speak about France with personal authority, I haven't spent enough time there, but The Netherlands is certainly a sane and civilized little place that takes care of itself and its people, and private property and free enterprise are important institutions there. I suspect you might be one of those who thinks all you need do is label something "socialism" and your argument's won. That might work in the USA in some circles, but it doesn't have much impact here. Except maybe in Alberta.

Thats why I personally see USA as the last hope..

Last hope for what? You? The planet?

 

[selfactivated]

This is something that people don't ever seem to see. Most of my patients are on medi-cal. That's tax payer based health care. ALL babies born in this state qualify for it if needed, even those born to illegal immigrants. I don't see how that's so different from Canada.

Its not. People complain about our health care but if your poor your covered. Its the middle guy that get the raw end.

 

[Curiosity]

Dexter

I have no idea if what you just posted is anecdotal applying to you and your opinion only or factual that you can prove....It always seems to come down to healthcare and politics when that covers a small portion of a personal life to be lived here....

I have absolutely none of the restrictions of freedom in speech or conduct and the significant division of the nation into two major parties leaves people who do not live here confused as to what that actually means....and of which you speak with such authority.

There are local, county, state and federal representatives in government and one can vote all over the board on parties and issues.... nobody is bound by law to remain within one electoral voting block... that would be so far against the way of life down here where people pride themselves on their independence and rights of choice.

Those are my anecdotal opinions because I have lived them and am now working with them. I have yet to read about a Canadian being able to pick up a phone and talk personally with a government elected official which I have done personally, or conduct a series of e-mails with that person and the staffers over a number of years.

If Socialism is your style.... perhaps life is easier but I prefer making up my own directions and using my own initiative to get things done for myself on a personal basis. There is a great deal of satisfaction in the way things happen here..... people her are expected to be the "cause and effect" of their own life, certainly not based on what the "government does for them".

That is stifling... Lifestyles may not be "better" for some, but for me they certainly are.

Educationally speaking I had far more opportunity to attain a professional life than I could have been allowed or afforded in the Canadian University System, and have had many choices of both internships to select my preferred profession, or stay with one field of study.... the opportunities are endless and
I cannot imagine that I would have accomplished all I have while remaining in Canada. For one thing I could not have afforded the cost.

It's not what the government does for a person... it's what a person does for him or herself.

 

[L Gilbert]

Those are my anecdotal opinions because I have lived them and am now working with them. I have yet to read about a Canadian being able to pick up a phone and talk personally with a government elected official which I have done personally, or conduct a series of e-mails with that person and the staffers over a number of years.

I hate phones, but I am not shy about emailing anyone, including that jackass prez of yours or jackass PM of ours. I even get answers to some emails and periodically real live unadulterated action.

If Socialism is your style.... perhaps life is easier but I prefer making up my own directions and using my own initiative to get things done for myself on a personal basis. There is a great deal of satisfaction in the way things happen here..... people her are expected to be the "cause and effect" of their own life, certainly not based on what the "government does for them".

How about that, most people around here I know are like that, too.

That is stifling... Lifestyles may not be "better" for some, but for me they certainly are.

Educationally speaking I had far more opportunity to attain a professional life than I could have been allowed or afforded in the Canadian University System, and have had many choices of both internships to select my preferred profession, or stay with one field of study.... the opportunities are endless and
I cannot imagine that I would have accomplished all I have while remaining in Canada. For one thing I could not have afforded the cost.

It's not what the government does for a person... it's what a person does for him or herself.

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" - JFK roflmao
People developed societies to be beneficial to people. Now it's that societies demand that people serve societies. I'm with you; to hell with society; I do for me and society takes second place.

 

[Curiosity]

Gilbert

Your modus of posting seems to be hit behind the knees as often as you can against posters you deem to be worthy of your barbed one-liners...when much of the time you are fast gaining a personae of a bully. But that is my meager opinion I am certain many adore your heavy handed stomping around on people.

You wrote:

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" - JFK roflmao
People developed societies to be beneficial to people. Now it's that societies demand that people serve societies. I'm with you; to hell with society; I do for me and society takes second place.

Of course this is foreign to you and I forgot the JFK connotation but what he said applies as well. We do not sit back and wait for the government to take care of us....we get our act together as soon as we can and get busy doing what we can....helping others is also part of it..... and your poor attempt to drown what I wrote in your own feeble "take" on my intent demonstrates your bully-manship....There is much room in my life for helping others and I owe nobody an explanation especially you who would mock anything I wrote ....

Are you here to whip everyone into shape which will satisfy you...your cruelty slings around on many topics - many topics with which you seem poorly acquainted with while you slam those who know their subject....

So .... try and cheer up ... or not if you wish... I could care less as you say: roflmao

 

[darkbeaver]

Mr L Gilbert is not a Bully Curiosity, I think you overreacted to his post which I thought was considerate and informative,as I find most of what he has to say quite pleasant and a valuable contribution to Canadian Content Communistity, as well I find your material topical and insightful in a contemporary American way.:wave:

 

[L Gilbert]

Gilbert

Your modus of posting seems to be hit behind the knees as often as you can against posters you deem to be worthy of your barbed one-liners...when much of the time you are fast gaining a personae of a bully. But that is my meager opinion I am certain many adore your heavy handed stomping around on people.

lol I stomp on people with my heavy hands, huh? Funny, O've never seemed to manage to walk on my hands let alone stomp with them.
Well, I can't help you perception of me but I'm not about to keep clam about what I think because of it. I say what I think. If I can think of something funny to say, I'll say that, too. Don't like it, don't read it.

Of course this is foreign to you and I forgot the JFK connotation but what he said applies as well. We do not sit back and wait for the government to take care of us....we get our act together as soon as we can and get busy doing what we can....helping others is also part of it..... and your poor attempt to drown what I wrote in your own feeble "take" on my intent demonstrates your bully-manship....There is much room in my life for helping others and I owe nobody an explanation especially you who would mock anything I wrote ....

Bullymanship? lol

Are you here to whip everyone into shape which will satisfy you...your cruelty slings around on many topics - many topics with which you seem poorly acquainted with while you slam those who know their subject....

Nope. I am here to have fun and I'm having it.
Um, many topics I'm poorly acquainted with? Like ...............?

So .... try and cheer up ... or not if you wish... I could care less as you say: roflmao

I doubbt if I could cheer up more, but thanks for the thought.
Anything else, judgybaby?

 

[Tonington]

Educationally speaking I had far more opportunity to attain a professional life than I could have been allowed or afforded in the Canadian University System, and have had many choices of both internships to select my preferred profession, or stay with one field of study.... the opportunities are endless and
I cannot imagine that I would have accomplished all I have while remaining in Canada. For one thing I could not have afforded the cost.

Could you perhaps explain this one Curio. My understanding is that the institutions down south cost more, much more. Just to compare the costs at my school compared to the reasearch intensive school in the States, well the results are always staggering. Though my school is small, probably the smallest or at most second smallest in Atlantic Canada, we rank #1 in research intensity, and our intensity is climbing all the time. Across Canada we rank 21 out of 90 institutions, including those with medical schools, which we do not have. Our classes have an excellent student : professor ratio. At this university my professors know me by name, without even talking to them. Wasn't the case when I was at STU, which only has about 3000 students. My tuition costs $5100 for a full schedule, when I compare that to similar schools in the states, some topping $30,000 for tuition, I would never be able to afford that. Is it that there are more scholarships? The earnings can't be that different from what I've heard from students on another forum I visit.

 

[snfu73]

Going back to the original post....in reality, are we all that different from ANY other culture in the world? The basics are the same...need for food, water, shelter, companionship, etc. We all, basically, express feelings and emotions in the same way. We all share the basic, same physical structure. Culturally, we all like the same things...good stories, dancing, music, art, sport....whether it's a group of kids playing soccer in Egypt or a bunch of canuck kids playing a game of hockey on a pond in Canada....same thing really.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Dexter

I have no idea if what you just posted is anecdotal applying to you and your opinion only or factual that you can prove.....

You need only have some knowledge of the history and politics of western Europe and North America, and pay some attention to the people Americans elect as leaders at various levels, to know that the political spectrum in the United States is much narrower and much more to the right than that of any other western nation. Canada's not really very far behind. The group Canadians call the New Democratic Party, for instance, is the Canadian political left, or at least represents itself as such. It's the only organized party of any real significance that calls itself leftist, though the next federal election might produce some interesting changes with the increasing concern over environmental issues and a new, noisy, and articulate leader of the Green Party, which is also avowedly leftist. Interesting times we live in. In most of western Europe Canada's New Democratic Party would be viewed as fairly centrist, and in the United States it would be viewed as edging over toward communism. That's just an observation, not a criticism; I find there's a lot of crap and nonsense at all points on the left-right scale. In European terms, the two major American political parties are right and far right, the three major Canadian parties are centre, right, and far right. Canada and the United States seem to be missing about half the political spectrum that can be found in western Europe. I'd really like to see a good explanation of why that's so. I suspect it has something to do with the kinds of people who left Europe to found Canada and the United States.

 

[s_lone]

Whether you agree with it or not, the fact that Quebec is a nation within the Canadian nation speaks a great deal about some of the fundamental differences between the US and Canada. Even if you don't view Quebec as a nation, a strong majority of Quebecers view themselves as having a distinct national identity that is relatively distinct from the country which it is part of. There is a serious seperatist movement in Canada coming from the Quebec Francophones. Serious enough that it almost triggered a real crisis in 1995. I seriously wonder if that threat would have been allowed to survive under the US system and to me, that speaks of a significant cultural difference.

Now I'm not trying to boost my ''Quebec ego'' by saying Quebec is what makes Canada different. The Quebec factor is one element among many. I'm rather saying that Canada, by its great tolerance to the Quebec factor, has shown itself to be considerably different in its ''self-contruction''.

(I believe Canada is still under construction)

 

[L Gilbert]

Going back to the original post....in reality, are we all that different from ANY other culture in the world? The basics are the same...need for food, water, shelter, companionship, etc. We all, basically, express feelings and emotions in the same way. We all share the basic, same physical structure. Culturally, we all like the same things...good stories, dancing, music, art, sport....whether it's a group of kids playing soccer in Egypt or a bunch of canuck kids playing a game of hockey on a pond in Canada....same thing really.

Good point SNFU in general terms, but people have different genetic makeups and experiences in different parts of the world, Those two things gives them different ways of thinking. Look at Christian religious dedication as opposed to Muslim religious dedication. We're waaaaaaaaaaay more lax about religion here than folks in the ME are. Even differences in diet can cause differences in cultures. Some people live with nature and some live in spite of nature. Culture is basically the personality of a group.

 

[L Gilbert]

Whether you agree with it or not, the fact that Quebec is a nation within the Canadian nation speaks a great deal about some of the fundamental differences between the US and Canada. Even if you don't view Quebec as a nation, a strong majority of Quebecers view themselves as having a distinct national identity that is relatively distinct from the country which it is part of. There is a serious seperatist movement in Canada coming from the Quebec Francophones. Serious enough that it almost triggered a real crisis in 1995. I seriously wonder if that threat would have been allowed to survive under the US system and to me, that speaks of a significant cultural difference.

Yeah. But on the other hand, Quebec isn't the only really distinctive bunch in Canada.Look at Newfies, Cape Bretoners all by themselves, N. Scotians, Albertans, etc. I can usually even tell between a Yukoner and a northern BCer.

Now I'm not trying to boost my ''Quebec ego'' by saying Quebec is what makes Canada different. The Quebec factor is one element among many. I'm rather saying that Canada, by its great tolerance to the Quebec factor, has shown itself to be considerably different in its ''self-contruction''.

(I believe Canada is still under construction)

Holy crap, I sure hope it's still under construction. If not I don't much like the finished product.

 

[L Gilbert]

Mr L Gilbert is not a Bully Curiosity, I think you overreacted to his post which I thought was considerate and informative,as I find most of what he has to say quite pleasant and a valuable contribution to Canadian Content Communistity, as well I find your material topical and insightful in a contemporary American way.:wave:

Um, thanx, Beav. Always thought of myself more funny than gunny (gunnery sergeant).

 

[marygaspe]

Canada is heading to close to socialism, that it is already slowly spiralling into those nations in Europe like France and Holland.

Thats why I personally see USA as the last hope.. and I hope Liberals never take control of it.

The last hope for what? Do you wish to live in a country with the highest crime rate in the world? Are you new to Canada? We are not "heading close to socialism", we have been a socialist-democracy for decades. most of the programmes you complain about were put into place to help people in distress, and are paid for out of our tax dollars.

 

[Curiosity]

Could you perhaps explain this one Curio. My understanding is that the institutions down south cost more, much more. Just to compare the costs at my school compared to the reasearch intensive school in the States, well the results are always staggering. Though my school is small, probably the smallest or at most second smallest in Atlantic Canada, we rank #1 in research intensity, and our intensity is climbing all the time. Across Canada we rank 21 out of 90 institutions, including those with medical schools, which we do not have. Our classes have an excellent student : professor ratio. At this university my professors know me by name, without even talking to them. Wasn't the case when I was at STU, which only has about 3000 students. My tuition costs $5100 for a full schedule, when I compare that to similar schools in the states, some topping $30,000 for tuition, I would never be able to afford that. Is it that there are more scholarships? The earnings can't be that different from what I've heard from students on another forum I visit.

Tonington

You are basing your opinion on outright costs of tuition.... not of the side benefits available in so many forms. The costs published are for the rich kids.....of course they are going to advertise to the highest contributors.... if one hasn't the money one can go into debt too ... an option I didn't favor at all. Scholarships are also available....I didn't qualify for any.

I worked through the whole time I was in school.

My first two years were difficult but I found work to supplement my tuition costs - the school supplied lists of sponsorship companies who would work around a student's schedule.... once I attained Junior and Senior level status and then post graduate I had internships which assisted. I never had a scholarship because my academic work wasn't up there with the brilliant students and the competition was huge... but the internships taught me more about the field in which I preferred to work than a scholarship would have so it worked out for me. I was prepared to spend a ton fees as you have outlined.... but the opportunities are there for students and the communities (college towns are great regarding housing and jobs)....and for the first four years I stayed in that kind of community...

You are probably situated well according to your academic level - and to attend a highly ranked school in your field is also a bonus... as I had no idea what my choice was going to be for a number of years I tended to overdo coursework which was a waste of my time and money too.

I think the difference might be the number of schools down here compared with obviously fewer in Canada - based on need of course.... it's tough to compare student enrollment with the numbers are
so far apart.

LOL many professors knew my name too... but probably not for the same reasons they know yours...
I was not what you would call an illustrious student....but the schools hung in there with me and "we both got through it".

I think any school would be lucky to have you as a student Tonington....