A National Shame?

[mentalfloss]

Does being free mean you get to do whatever you want?

There are many gradients of freedom, but they all relate to tolerance. The more tolerance of a particular act - whether it is lawful or not - the more free that person is. It requires the co-operation of the others, and not only the individual seeking freedom. Something I would call democracy, but that other guy would probably lambast as 'socialism'.

Not sure what you mean. There have been all kinds of laws protecting the rights of gay people for years.

I was referring to the 'don't ask, don't tell' nonsense. Most of the other 'civilized world' militaries have been openly gay for a long time now. Sorry, ehehe.. I mean, they've allowed for gays to be openly active.

Marijuana is legal in Canada? Prostitution is legal?

As a whole, the nation is more tolerant of marijuana use and prostitution. Granted you have to give California some credit for trying to stimulate these things in the States, but as a nation, from the perspective of the rest of civilized world, the U.S. really does appear far behind when it comes to civil rights.

 

[gerryh]

So you aren't 100% free. They put restrictions on it... right?

What happens if I spark up a big fat joint in front of a Canadian Mountie?



I'll ask you the same... I can just blaze up on the street or in public?

Hey dummy, it's not us Canadians saying we are "free", it's your new compatriot that is saying that the u.s. is completely free and Canada is not.

 

[petros]

That's why we have health insurance. We aren't expected to pay thousands of dollars for health care if we have insurance. One point I would like to make: America is not a socialist country. We aren't committed to the 'common good'. You might call it 'every man for himself' and 'selfishness' but we call it 'individualism' and 'freedom'.

Last Friday my Dr booked an MRI bone scan for me (two scans and uses isotopes). I just received a booking letter for Mar 7th. That is a pretty damn fast turn around time especially for a bone scan. I checked into Minnesota where they did my fusion and spinal angioplasty. They can't get me in until mid April and in Calgary they can't do bone scans at the private MRI clinic. I'm way better off to stay home for this one.

 

[EagleSmack]

Is Canada's economy in the toilet and the US's better?

Oh we are definately more in the toilet.

Does the fact that the US DOES have socialized medicine (even Eagle has pointed out the poor get treated), not factor in?

You can call it socialized medicine but it really isn't a true socialized medicine system like Canada. Poor people and people on welfare get 100% covereage. That cost is passed on to the Taxpayers and hospitals. Hospitals crank their prices up to offset what the government won't pay them.

Because if we had a true socialized medical system we wouldn't be having this.

And Obamacare isn't much better except it will MAKE those that can pay BUY insurance from existing insurance companies. There is no public option.

 

[lone wolf]

I'll ask you the same... I can just blaze up on the street or in public?

Nope. Possessing the joint could get you busted - if the cop was hard up for paperwork.

 

[EagleSmack]

Hey dummy, it's not us Canadians saying we are "free", it's your new compatriot that is saying that the u.s. is completely free and Canada is not.

Listen to the nerd.

You need to keep up with the posts Poindexter.

 

[karrie]

Oh we are definately more in the toilet.



You can call it socialized medicine but it really isn't a true socialized medicine system like Canada. Poor people and people on welfare get 100% covereage. That cost is passed on to the Taxpayers and hospitals. Hospitals crank their prices up to offset what the government won't pay them.

Because if we had a true socialized medical system we wouldn't be having this.

And Obamacare isn't much better except it will MAKE those that can pay BUY insurance from existing insurance companies. There is no public option.

What do you call it when the people who can afford it pay to cover the poor? It's not communism, but it sure smacks of socialism.

 

[EagleSmack]

Nope. Possessing the joint could get you busted - if the cop was hard up for paperwork.

Got you. Some Canadian was saying something about Canada being further along with regards to using marijuana. I know I can blaze up here in Boston and simply get a ticket. A ticket that is not enforceable as the new law that decriminalized weed is impossible to enforce. Weed smokers get tickets and only a few have been paid.

What do you call it when the people who can afford it pay to cover the poor? It's not communism, but it sure smacks of socialism.

I call it welfare.

But ok... if we have socialized medicine... what is the big deal? Why do folks get so up in arms if there is no difference?

 

[karrie]

But ok... if we have socialized medicine... what is the big deal? Why do folks get so up in arms if there is no difference?

I don't know... you'd have to ask the guy who came in here calling Canadians deluded and being ten kinds of rude.

The way I see it, we have a mixed system heavy on the social, and you guys have a mixed system heavy on the private. Neither one seems to work ideally. I certainly don't start posts telling you what idiots Americans are for putting up with their system or thinking it's 'perfect'. And when the socialized medicine debate came around, you never saw me saying 'Yeah, the US should be like us.' Neither one is functioning ideally.

 

[lone wolf]

My impression is someone just discovered the result when one goes head-to-head with a Canadian bureaucrat. No is a very big obstacle to some folks.....

 

[JLM]

I don't know... you'd have to ask the guy who came in here calling Canadians deluded and being ten kinds of rude.

The way I see it, we have a mixed system heavy on the social, and you guys have a mixed system heavy on the private. Neither one seems to work ideally. I certainly don't start posts telling you what idiots Americans are for putting up with their system or thinking it's 'perfect'. And when the socialized medicine debate came around, you never saw me saying 'Yeah, the US should be like us.' Neither one is functioning ideally.

Nothing new, Karrie, bet he's under 25, read a couple of books and now figures he's "seen the elephant". :lol:

 

[EagleSmack]

I don't know... you'd have to ask the guy who came in here calling Canadians deluded and being ten kinds of rude.

I think I read somewhere the HE is a Canadian living in New York.

The way I see it, we have a mixed system heavy on the social, and you guys have a mixed system heavy on the private. Neither one seems to work ideally. I certainly don't start posts telling you what idiots Americans are for putting up with their system or thinking it's 'perfect'. And when the socialized medicine debate came around, you never saw me saying 'Yeah, the US should be like us.' Neither one is functioning ideally.

Nope, because you have always shown class in any debate that I can remember. However there have always been some dingbats that like to bully in here.

 

[petros]

It's not communism, but it sure smacks of socialism.

Both the communists and capitalists have spent the past 100 years demonizing socialism.

As it stands we have a capitalist system that relies on socialism. We'll never have one without the other ever again.

 

[EagleSmack]

There are many gradients of freedom, but they all relate to tolerance. The more tolerance of a particular act - whether it is lawful or not - the more free that person is. It requires the co-operation of the others, and not only the individual seeking freedom. Something I would call democracy, but that other guy would probably lambast as 'socialism'.

In my opinion that is skewed. For example our gun laws are more liberal than Canada's... are we more free? Ann Coulture can say whatever she wants here but was warned by Canadians that she better watch what she says.

So you picked some examples of how you are more tolerant and I matched you.

Plus...if you spark up on a sidewalk in Boston... you aren't getting arrested. You'll get a ticket which will make a good souvenir when you get back to Canada.

I was referring to the 'don't ask, don't tell' nonsense. Most of the other 'civilized world' militaries have been openly gay for a long time now. Sorry, ehehe.. I mean, they've allowed for gays to be openly active.

And many Americans agree with you. However we are not Canadian and we do things differently.

As a whole, the nation is more tolerant of marijuana use and prostitution. Granted you have to give California some credit for trying to stimulate these things in the States, but as a nation, from the perspective of the rest of civilized world, the U.S. really does appear far behind when it comes to civil rights.

Well, you won't see us telling a Canadian to watch what he/she says or they'll get arrested.

On the side... how can you be a champion for prostitution?

 

[petros]

I can get just as baked in Montana as I can in Saskachewan. It might take an extra MT joint to do the same but in both state and province a cop is only going to say...GO SMOKE THAT AT HOME meaning out of public not prov or state.

 

[EagleSmack]

I can get just as baked in Montana as I can in Saskachewan. It might take an extra MT joint to do the same but in both state and province a cop is only going to say...GO SMOKE THAT AT HOME meaning out of public not prov or state.

Well there you go!

You see Mentalfloss.

 

[mentalfloss]

In my opinion that is skewed. For example our gun laws are more liberal than Canada's... are we more free? Ann Coulture can say whatever she wants here but was warned by Canadians that she better watch what she says.

So you picked some examples of how you are more tolerant and I matched you.

Plus...if you spark up on a sidewalk in Boston... you aren't getting arrested. You'll get a ticket which will make a good souvenir when you get back to Canada.




And many Americans agree with you. However we are not Canadian and we do things differently.




Well, you won't see us telling a Canadian to watch what he/she says or they'll get arrested.

On the side... how can you be a champion for prostitution?

I'm not. We have our government going back and forth with the Supreme Court on this issue, and that's because of a lot of trade workers' activism. It's just another freedom that at least appears to be given more serious federal consideration.

Anyway, the main point was just to show that America isn't the 'freedom leader' in any way - which is what the OP was implying. In many other states, France, Germany, England, Canada, etc.. there are freedoms that exist that don't exist in America. They have these freedoms, not just because of fighting the powers that be (which is good and fine), but also because of social democracy.

 

[petros]

BTW Montana is by far the best state I've had the pleasure visiting. TX and NM are fantastic too but MT even beats out AK.

 

[EagleSmack]

I'm not. We have our government going back and forth with the Supreme Court on this issue, and that's because of a lot of trade workers' activism. It's just another freedom that at least appears to be given more serious federal consideration.

Anyway, the main point was just to show that America isn't the 'freedom leader' in any way - which is what the OP was implying. In many other states, France, Germany, England, Canada, etc.. there are freedoms that exist that don't exist in America. They have these freedoms, not just because of fighting the powers that be (which is good and fine), but also because of social democracy.

Well we are a freedom leader whether you want to admit it or not. I am not saying other western countries are not... but we are.

There are freedoms here that do not exist there. Is that not correct?

BTW Montana is by far the best state I've had the pleasure visiting. TX and NM are fantastic too but MT even beats out AK.

You have to try AZ. I just did a road trip from Pheonix to Tombstone and back to Pheonix. I hit all the major stuff in between.

I'm not. We have our government going back and forth with the Supreme Court on this issue, and that's because of a lot of trade workers' activism. It's just another freedom that at least appears to be given more serious federal consideration.

On what grounds are they going back and forth?

BTW. It seems like your govt. is allowing one group to carry knives and banning the carrying of knives to another group. How is that free? That is discrimination. Hardly an example for the rest of the world to follow.

 

[lone wolf]

Our government condemns bullying in the schoolyard and does it in caucus and policy. What do they know?