And you are so "civilized"
You just need to tell to the world that you do indeed know the city like Berlin.... Uhh, culture, civilization!What makes you a Canadian?
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And you are so "civilized"
You just need to tell to the world that you do indeed know the city like Berlin.... Uhh, culture, civilization!
And you are so "civilized"
Actually I know Toronto better than I do Berlin.
That explains it... You might want to go to Deutsche Opera (the one on the postcard you attach as a signature), or at least visit museums. The Egypt Museum must have a very good collection of ancient art, including the famous Nefertiti. There is more to culture than restaurants and bars on Kudamm Street...
What the heck ????
What could have been a terrific topic - "What makes you a Canadian"? drew my attention because I would love to have added my feelings for that nation.... but reading people's comments made me wonder what Canadians are up to these days.
I repeat: comparing yourselves with the U.S. becomes your identity - when defining your Canadian heritage you bash the U.S. It just doesn't make sense. What has the U.S. got to do with Canada and its nationality?
Then there are those who absolutely deny a love and avoid any desire to show patriotism. Go out of their way to write about not caring for Canada at all as if it isn't "done" these days. Puffery - sheer puffery...
And when another speaks disparagingly about Canada (as Canadians often do when writing about the U.S.) she is banned? It is ok to disparage the U.S. but not Canada?
So.... there is censorship again.... opinions must be accompanied by an on demand apology?
When did you guys become such softies?
I have always believed what makes a Canadian was a sense of fair play, honesty, sincerity, strength and
understanding - a nation who weighs their options and duties before making any rash moves. A great people with a wonderful sense of humor - especially when giving themselves a bash on occasion and above all meeting adversity chin first with a strong will and heart.
It can't be easy governing such a huge gift of land as Canada maintains with an "understaffed" population and to top that adversity off - you have a contiguous smaller land mass to the south who is "god's evil child" roiling away in perpetual motion. It ain't easy but many countries would have folded long ago under the competition - not Canada.
Yet it demeans all Canadians to constantly compare. There is no comparison. There should be none - the U.S. does not define Canada at all.
I just didn't see any of that here.... As I have often said before "Who stole my Canada?"
OK Kreskin - my apology as previously accepted by you for whatever you feel is remiss.
And Juan - over the years you preface many of your posts with .... my ancestors arrived on the Mayflower to the United States.... my parents were American. Now at this late point you are revising your tale to suit?
What could have been a terrific topic - "What makes you a Canadian"? drew my attention because I would love to have added my feelings for that nation.... but reading people's comments made me wonder what Canadians are up to these days.
I repeat: comparing yourselves with the U.S. becomes your identity - when defining your Canadian heritage you bash the U.S. It just doesn't make sense. What has the U.S. got to do with Canada and its nationality?
Then there are those who absolutely deny a love and avoid any desire to show patriotism. Go out of their way to write about not caring for Canada at all as if it isn't "done" these days. Puffery - sheer puffery...
And when another speaks disparagingly about Canada (as Canadians often do when writing about the U.S.) she is banned? It is ok to disparage the U.S. but not Canada?
So.... there is censorship again.... opinions must be accompanied by an on demand apology?
When did you guys become such softies?
I have always believed what makes a Canadian was a sense of fair play, honesty, sincerity, strength and
understanding - a nation who weighs their options and duties before making any rash moves. A great people with a wonderful sense of humor - especially when giving themselves a bash on occasion and above all meeting adversity chin first with a strong will and heart.
It can't be easy governing such a huge gift of land as Canada maintains with an "understaffed" population and to top that adversity off - you have a contiguous smaller land mass to the south who is "god's evil child" roiling away in perpetual motion. It ain't easy but many countries would have folded long ago under the competition - not Canada.
Yet it demeans all Canadians to constantly compare. There is no comparison. There should be none - the U.S. does not define Canada at all.
I just didn't see any of that here.... As I have often said before "Who stole my Canada?"
OK Kreskin - my apology as previously accepted by you for whatever you feel is remiss.
And Juan - over the years you preface many of your posts with .... my ancestors arrived on the Mayflower to the United States.... my parents were American. Now at this late point you are revising your tale to suit?
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A Loving Comparison
Of all the comparisons between the western democracies, it is interesting
to notice that many of them have the same income disparities.
Whatever else the comparisons between Canada and the US are, it
is surprising how similar both countries are in income disparity.
For all the socialist and capitalist comparisons between the two nations,
they are still very similar except that the poorer in Canada pay a greater
share in income taxes than the American poor, but not by too much.
CANADA STATS:
Income group % of federal personalincome taxes paid
............................................1990.. ........2002
50% with lowest incomes..............6.7%..........4.4%
40% with intermediate incomes.....47.3%........43.0%
10% with highest incomes............46.0%........52.6%
Americans in the 50 percent lowest incomes pay less than 3 percent of the total income tax
collected by the federal government.
Notice US-onian stats:
For Tax Year 2003
Percent Ranked by Adusted Gross Income -------column 1
AGI Threshold on Percentiles ---------------------column 2
Percent of all Federal Income Tax recieved------column 3
Top 1% ..........$295,495...............34.27
Top 5%...........$130,080...............54.36
Top 10%..........$94,891................65.84
Top 25%..........$57,343................83.88
Top 50%..........$29,019................96.54
Bottom 50%...... $29,019............... 3.46
Of all the comparisons between the western democracies, it is interesting
to notice that many of them have the same income disparities.
Whatever else the comparisons between Canada and the US are, it
is surprising how similar both countries are in income disparity.
For all the socialist and capitalist comparisons between the two nations,
they are still very similar except that the poorer in Canada pay a greater
share in income taxes than the American poor, but not by too much.
CANADA STATS:
Income group % of federal personalincome taxes paid
............................................1990.. ........2002
50% with lowest incomes..............6.7%..........4.4%
40% with intermediate incomes.....47.3%........43.0%
10% with highest incomes............46.0%........52.6%
Americans in the 50 percent lowest incomes pay less than 3 percent of the total income tax
collected by the federal government.
Notice US-onian stats:
For Tax Year 2003
Percent Ranked by Adusted Gross Income -------column 1
AGI Threshold on Percentiles ---------------------column 2
Percent of all Federal Income Tax recieved------column 3
Top 1% ..........$295,495...............34.27
Top 5%...........$130,080...............54.36
Top 10%..........$94,891................65.84
Top 25%..........$57,343................83.88
Top 50%..........$29,019................96.54
Bottom 50%...... $29,019............... 3.46
Well there was only two references to USA before Katrina injected the highly polarizing remarks. I'll grant that one was a blatant slam pointed at the politics down south, compared to D.S. who had the choice to be either, and he weighed the pros and cons before he made his decision.
As to Katrina being banned, I don't think it was censorship as much as it was the lack of respect she showed, at least that is my opinion of her contribution here.
I'll tell you all what makes me Canadian. The access to free health care, without which I would be dead by now. Funny now how I'd like to see more privatized services! I am very active outdoors, and spent lots of time recouperating in the hospitol as a result. I still play hard, that's just my way.
As to Katrina being banned, I don't think it was censorship as much as it was the lack of respect she showed, at least that is my opinion of her contribution here.
I'll tell you all what makes me Canadian. The access to free health care, without which I would be dead by now. Funny now how I'd like to see more privatized services! I am very active outdoors, and spent lots of time recouperating in the hospitol as a result. I still play hard, that's just my way.
Tonington
There were more and I won't belabor the point - it is an old argument noticed by me alone. If you think banning is ok - I have no argument with your opinion. Anyway it is Andem's call - it is his place. I read lots of lack of respect here - but Katrina perhaps posted one too many.
I have also made the choice as you point out DS did - and I chose to stay in the U.S. for many reasons. I weighed the pros and cons for me personally - took me 16 years to decide to remain. The primary reason was not that I loved Canada any less than the U.S. Any more than a mother can love only one child. Impossible.
The medical care argument is old hat: I have had two events which required more than the usual medical care annual checks.
I inhaled a toxic pesticide during one of my internships. I have damaged lungs - I was hospitalized more than at home for two years - and I never saw a bill for services.
I broke my arm a summer ago - had ER film - then Ortho care for six sessions to determine healing and knitting and then Rehab Therapy for two months. Never saw a bill for services.
I pay medical insurance at $40 per month - and $10 each for prescriptions required for breathing assistance which generally cover three months of use. I have never waited to see any doctor for any reason longer than a half hour except to have my broken arm X-ray'd. The techs were at lunch.
Why is it that each and every discussion on what it is to be Canadian turns into a "what's wrong with America"?? I like the U.S. but if I did or not..what does there way of life have to do with how we think of ourselves? Why are we all so insecure? Canada is no great because its better than the U.S. and more then it is great because Albania is horrible...
Canada could be better, but all in all it's a good country to live in..period... You really don't need to compare with our neighbors...do you???
Canada could be better, but all in all it's a good country to live in..period... You really don't need to compare with our neighbors...do you???
Hahah, I wasn't really serious about the medicare making me Canadian. I would have survived in any other democracy in the western world, though perhaps with less money in my pocket.
I have no reason to say anything about the US when talking about what makes this nation great, or what this nation has instilled in me. I can see where others who have had to make choices can include that. The whole America is the greatest nation on earth, or Canada is, or whatever nation you're from reminds me of those childish arguments about whose Dad could beat who up.
To me Canada is the greatest nation on Earth, you won't catch me arguing that against someone who believes otherwise. I'll never know, because I have no reason to leave this country. It provides me everything I need. What trully makes me Canadian is my love for my country, my love for our ways, my love for every single Canadian out there, regardless of what they think of me.
I have no reason to say anything about the US when talking about what makes this nation great, or what this nation has instilled in me. I can see where others who have had to make choices can include that. The whole America is the greatest nation on earth, or Canada is, or whatever nation you're from reminds me of those childish arguments about whose Dad could beat who up.
To me Canada is the greatest nation on Earth, you won't catch me arguing that against someone who believes otherwise. I'll never know, because I have no reason to leave this country. It provides me everything I need. What trully makes me Canadian is my love for my country, my love for our ways, my love for every single Canadian out there, regardless of what they think of me.
QUITE AGREED!!! but there are many Canadians who jump on the "being Canadian is not being American" bandwagon. It's so pathetic... I am a proud Canadian because of my country period!!! Have a go-day eh
Juan
Don't know where you got your figures for the "average California family" but the amount fits the stats for a 4-famiy membership I expect. No doubt you think that is expensive. I do not. It is well within my budget as I probably have a higher annual income than a comparative person in Canada. I have no "employer" paying my way - I am my own employer and responsible for my expenses.
So a family of "one" as am I: my premiums and services cost me $730 per year....the breakdown is....
My premiums are $40 a month or = $480 per year paid to a Group Medical Plan I belong to.
My scrip co-pays are $10 x 3 scrips for approximately 5 refills each med per year = $150.00
My co-pays for doctor visits are $20 for approximately 5 visits per year = $100.00 [These include necessary preventive medical routine exams as well as an occasional visit to a Pulmonologist - which would cost $20 copay....but not every year. The prices fluctuate and are subject to increase.]
The broken arm had no meds, just aspirin, rehab was $20.00 per torture and I withstood ten = $200.00 *
Ortho visit was an additional $20 each for six sessions and radiography = $120*
* this was a specific incident over and above my regular medical expenses. The filmwork was free.
On a regular year I total up $480 premiums + $150 meds + $100 doctor visit/exam copay = $730/year
At that rate a family of four (4 x 730) would pay approx. $2,920 per year on average which is higher than your stated amount but as you provide no link I don't know where those figures were reported.
Each part of the country differs and of course anyone with a chronic disease would probably pay higher premiums. I pay more than the average person for one med I take, but fortunately it works and is worth every cent full price.
If I have made math errors - I can't find my little calculator and am too lazy to dig it out of the desk....
Ahhh, walmart. There is a place I refuse to set foot into (for a variety of reasons).
I see the "love of country", the old "I love canada because it is my country" ideology a symptom of how slow mankind is evolving. It is no better than those that curiosity seems to be sensitive to (the ones that love a country because it isn't another country).
My avatar is a caracal.
.... shows what I know.
Ha, my knowledge of the feline family is somewhat less than stellar. I need to talk more to my sister the biological studies major.
Cheers!
Ha, my knowledge of the feline family is somewhat less than stellar. I need to talk more to my sister the biological studies major.
Cheers!
Guys, why do you think that health care is free in Canada? In Ontario we pay $600 of health tax, in addition to other tax fees. It comes to $50/month. You can buy an insurance for this kind of monthly payment. Health care is not free!! Plus what can you get for free in terms of medical services? Visit to your family physician, stay at a hospital. You pay for all drugs, and it's your own achievement if you have a job which supplies you with paying for some percentage of prescription drugs.
well, I have read all the posts, and the title of thread, and I haven't got a clue how to answer the
question
I can prove I am a canadian by showing all my documentation, but of course you want to know something
more than that.
I was born here in B.C. many years ago, and if I was dropped anywhere in the world, and couldn't talk,
someone would look at my papers, and immediately send me back to Canada.
If I tried to move to the U.S., in no time at all, their government would tell me to go home to Canada.
When I am away for more than a few weeks, I get a very strong homesick feeling for, "you guessed it"
Canada, my home and birthplace.
I don't feel guilty because we have such a nice, peaceful, prosperous, happy life. I would wish for
everyone in the world to have what we have, I don't want to suffer and strive, just to know that I
am doing what many other countries have to do. They have to come up to our level of life. Their
governments are usually responsible for their problems, and don't give them the freedoms we have.
Of course, we have to help others as much as possible, but we can only do so much, as Canadians.
We are a very broadminded lot, and that's great, as there are so many different cultures in our
country, that we have found a way to tolerate, and enjoy everyone.
I love hockey, and have since I was about 10 yrs old, have never played, but can't live without it, so,
what could be more Canadian than that.
I say "aye", as much as I try not to. I hate saying that. Only in Canada, aye?
But I just realized that, if someone asked me to sing Oh Canada, I wouldn't remember exactly how it
goes, so I will sign off now, and review our anthem, so I can get it right.
I love being Canadian, my parents were born in Dublin,Ireland and London, England, and I thank them
and their parents for coming to Canada, they met here in B.C.
question
I can prove I am a canadian by showing all my documentation, but of course you want to know something
more than that.
I was born here in B.C. many years ago, and if I was dropped anywhere in the world, and couldn't talk,
someone would look at my papers, and immediately send me back to Canada.
If I tried to move to the U.S., in no time at all, their government would tell me to go home to Canada.
When I am away for more than a few weeks, I get a very strong homesick feeling for, "you guessed it"
Canada, my home and birthplace.
I don't feel guilty because we have such a nice, peaceful, prosperous, happy life. I would wish for
everyone in the world to have what we have, I don't want to suffer and strive, just to know that I
am doing what many other countries have to do. They have to come up to our level of life. Their
governments are usually responsible for their problems, and don't give them the freedoms we have.
Of course, we have to help others as much as possible, but we can only do so much, as Canadians.
We are a very broadminded lot, and that's great, as there are so many different cultures in our
country, that we have found a way to tolerate, and enjoy everyone.
I love hockey, and have since I was about 10 yrs old, have never played, but can't live without it, so,
what could be more Canadian than that.
I say "aye", as much as I try not to. I hate saying that. Only in Canada, aye?
But I just realized that, if someone asked me to sing Oh Canada, I wouldn't remember exactly how it
goes, so I will sign off now, and review our anthem, so I can get it right.
I love being Canadian, my parents were born in Dublin,Ireland and London, England, and I thank them
and their parents for coming to Canada, they met here in B.C.
Hah, you think that Toronto has less crime? Go to Scarborogh...
Where do you go in the States if you visit such dumps with cheap cars and rude people? Treat yourself to a nice place
If the U.S. and Canada changed populations, and we ended up with 300 million people, we would
have many of the problems they have, and they would have all the cleanliness, and room,that we
have.