Canuckistan is Amercica lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Oct 27th 2006, 2:07 am
#31
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by Lees147
To be fair though if I looked for a Canadian based store in America I would still probably be able to find one.
If you look in England there are Mcdonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, & many more.
I wouldn't refer to England as America lite but the main differance is the Geographical position of Canada to America.
Once again i cant comment on the political means of Canada but i thought it was more like England in that sense (with this you really need to live in an area to understand it better).
If you look in England there are Mcdonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, & many more.
I wouldn't refer to England as America lite but the main differance is the Geographical position of Canada to America.
Once again i cant comment on the political means of Canada but i thought it was more like England in that sense (with this you really need to live in an area to understand it better).
Oct 27th 2006, 3:02 am
#32
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Well, you really only get to the differences between the two countries if you happen to have conversations with Americans and Canadians on stuff that gets below the surface similarities - like views on gun control, gay marriage, marijuana, mulitculturalism, how to express patriotism, etc etc. Generally, you find that a large number of Americans and Canadians are poles apart on most if not all of these issues, but unfortunately they're not the kind of differences you ever pick up if your experience of one country is crossing over the border for a holiday...
Oct 27th 2006, 3:28 am
#33
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by pkc
Well, you really only get to the differences between the two countries if you happen to have conversations with Americans and Canadians on stuff that gets below the surface similarities - like views on gun control, gay marriage, marijuana, mulitculturalism, how to express patriotism, etc etc. Generally, you find that a large number of Americans and Canadians are poles apart on most if not all of these issues, but unfortunately they're not the kind of differences you ever pick up if your experience of one country is crossing over the border for a holiday...
I know of several hand guns in urban Canada, have met a couple united by civil union in Massachusetts (I met them in Brighton but the union was a US one), have mailed myself a brick of weed to Canada from California and smoked marijuana at the back door of bars in Miami and Texas just as one would smoke in the alley behind bars in Toronto. The US is actually more free in terms of smoking as there are still many places where one can smoke cigarettes inside bars.
There is a theoretical difference in the multiculturalism in that the US follows a melting pot model whereas Canada follows one of semi-detachment but the practical results are the same; Chinatown in San Francisco is like Chinatown in Toronto and the Malvern area of Scarborough is like Anacostia.
Canadians express patriotism by declaring that they're not Americans whereas Americans do so by declaring that they are; that's a difference but I dunno that a recursive difference counts.
It seems to me that the differences perceived are arrived at by taking Canadians and Americans who hold views at opposite ends of the spectrum and contrasting them. If one takes people at the same end of the spectrum say, Steven Harper and George W. Bush or Jean Chretien and Bill Clinton, there's not much to choose.
Oct 27th 2006, 3:50 am
#34
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Re: Canuckistan is Amercica lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
I've had discussions with middle-aged RVers in both Canada and the US, and I've found the differences to be quite stark - the Americans tended to steer the conversation towards politics, terrorism and how great their country was, and making some rather offensive remarks about the UK ("I thought we'd got rid of you people 200 years ago?") Some old guy made a very rude remark about Canada when he saw my licence plate, first time I've been insulted as a Canadian! Mind you, we have been spending time in the Southern bible belt...
The Canadians were more interested in talking about everything else (idle chit-chat as opposed to anything heavy), we only got onto politics after a few beers!
The Canadians were more interested in talking about everything else (idle chit-chat as opposed to anything heavy), we only got onto politics after a few beers!
Oct 27th 2006, 3:53 am
#35
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
The American immigrants all drive around with the stars and stripes stickered to their car.
The Canadian immigrants all drive around with *their* flag or their country code stickered to their car.
The Canadian immigrants all drive around with *their* flag or their country code stickered to their car.
Originally Posted by dbd33
I've been in Canada for more than a holiday and haven't noticed these differences.
I know of several hand guns in urban Canada, have met a couple united by civil union in Massachusetts (I met them in Brighton but the union was a US one), have mailed myself a brick of weed to Canada from California and smoked marijuana at the back door of bars in Miami and Texas just as one would smoke in the alley behind bars in Toronto. The US is actually more free in terms of smoking as there are still many places where one can smoke cigarettes inside bars.
There is a theoretical difference in the multiculturalism in that the US follows a melting pot model whereas Canada follows one of semi-detachment but the practical results are the same; Chinatown in San Francisco is like Chinatown in Toronto and the Malvern area of Scarborough is like Anacostia.
Canadians express patriotism by declaring that they're not Americans whereas Americans do so by declaring that they are; that's a difference but I dunno that a recursive difference counts.
It seems to me that the differences perceived are arrived at by taking Canadians and Americans who hold views at opposite ends of the spectrum and contrasting them. If one takes people at the same end of the spectrum say, Steven Harper and George W. Bush or Jean Chretien and Bill Clinton, there's not much to choose.
I know of several hand guns in urban Canada, have met a couple united by civil union in Massachusetts (I met them in Brighton but the union was a US one), have mailed myself a brick of weed to Canada from California and smoked marijuana at the back door of bars in Miami and Texas just as one would smoke in the alley behind bars in Toronto. The US is actually more free in terms of smoking as there are still many places where one can smoke cigarettes inside bars.
There is a theoretical difference in the multiculturalism in that the US follows a melting pot model whereas Canada follows one of semi-detachment but the practical results are the same; Chinatown in San Francisco is like Chinatown in Toronto and the Malvern area of Scarborough is like Anacostia.
Canadians express patriotism by declaring that they're not Americans whereas Americans do so by declaring that they are; that's a difference but I dunno that a recursive difference counts.
It seems to me that the differences perceived are arrived at by taking Canadians and Americans who hold views at opposite ends of the spectrum and contrasting them. If one takes people at the same end of the spectrum say, Steven Harper and George W. Bush or Jean Chretien and Bill Clinton, there's not much to choose.
Oct 27th 2006, 3:53 am
#36
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Re: Canuckistan is Amercica lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by Tidge
I've had discussions with middle-aged RVers in both Canada and the US, and I've found the differences to be quite stark - the Americans tended to steer the conversation towards politics, terrorism and how great their country was, and making some rather offensive remarks about the UK ("I thought we'd got rid of you people 200 years ago?") Some old guy made a very rude remark about Canada when he saw my licence plate, first time I've been insulted as a Canadian! Mind you, we have been spending time in the Southern bible belt...
The Canadians were more interested in talking about everything else (idle chit-chat as opposed to anything heavy), we only got onto politics after a few beers!
The Canadians were more interested in talking about everything else (idle chit-chat as opposed to anything heavy), we only got onto politics after a few beers!
Oct 27th 2006, 3:56 am
#37
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by dbd33
I've been in Canada for more than a holiday and haven't noticed these differences.
It seems to me that the differences perceived are arrived at by taking Canadians and Americans who hold views at opposite ends of the spectrum and contrasting them. If one takes people at the same end of the spectrum say, Steven Harper and George W. Bush or Jean Chretien and Bill Clinton, there's not much to choose.
It seems to me that the differences perceived are arrived at by taking Canadians and Americans who hold views at opposite ends of the spectrum and contrasting them. If one takes people at the same end of the spectrum say, Steven Harper and George W. Bush or Jean Chretien and Bill Clinton, there's not much to choose.
Oct 27th 2006, 4:13 am
#38
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by pkc
I don't think anyone would argue that all Americans feel one way and all Canadians feel the other, anymore than you'd argue that Brits never view any issue in the same way as the French! I suppose I'm speaking from 5 1/2 years of living in the States and getting into random conversations with co-workers or friend on some of these issues - it was almost 100% that we were diametrically opposed on issues (and hilariously sometimes - a sniffy "well your system is socialist" when discussing health care. WHAT? And you're crazy-gluing your child's head wound shut?? Or the ever pervasive: "the constitution guarantees the right to bear arms" SIGH) I just think that there are in many cases, some fairly major differences in points of view which are not always evident when you're focusing on similar accents, big cars and the same shops around you in both countries...
Oct 27th 2006, 4:22 am
#39
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by neill
The Canadian immigrants all drive around with *their* flag or their country code stickered to their car.
I may be atypical.
Rich.
Oct 27th 2006, 4:23 am
#40
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by Rich_007
I may be atypical.
Oct 27th 2006, 4:35 am
#41
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Re: Canuckistan is Amercica lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Just to show that I know the US and Canada are not one and the same, here are some points of political difference lifted from an old thread which touched on this issue. I believe the users were ronhelf, ScottW and hoib though that's a bit academic. It's a little dated (the CRAP is now called the Conservative Party) but was in response to request to explain Canadian politics in terms of the US.
[deleted user] - 01:46pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#12 of 2059)
The Liberals (or Grits) are the party of the centre left. It is the party of Trudeau amongst others.
The NDP is the socialist party (and is made up of the CCF--the radical farmer movement--and parts of the labour movement). Like Labour in Britain, the NDP is a member of Socialist International.
The Progressive Conservative Party (or Tories) is the old centre slightly right party (a party which strongly supports socialised medical care for instance).
The Bloc Quebecois is the party of Quebec nationalism (it too is socialist).
The Canadian Alliance (originally called CRAP until they recognised the sneers and sniggers this acronym caused) is made up of the Reform Party and some Conservatives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 01:54pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#13 of 2059)
Some examples of US-Canadian variance:
1. Canada has a parliamentary system in which proportional representation is built into the system.
2. Because of this Canada has a history of a broader range of ideological and political representation in Parliament. The CCF and NDP have long played important roles in Parliament and have had an effect on legislation brought before Parliament and passed.
3. The Reform Party benefited from this. It is a party which came out of nowhere and become the second major party in the nation.
4. Because Canada has a parliamentary system it does not have a system like the US in which there is an executive branch.
5. The power of the Supreme Court rose after the enactment of Trudeau's pet legislation, the Constitution. The enactment of the Constitution freed Canada once and for all from the Brits, the Queen, and her representative, the Governor-General (though the G-C remains of great symbolic importance). This makes Canada different from Australia.
6. Canada's Parliament is more a mirror of the country than their US counterparts. There have been a greater number of women MP's that in the US House and Senate. There have been Sikhs, Mennonites, Quebec Nationalists, etc., in the Canadian Parliament.
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[deleted user] - 03:06pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#14 of 2059)
ron: Could you explain what you mean by (1) above? I'm not aware of proportional representation in the Canadian parliamentary system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:04pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#15 of 2059)
scott: you are correct i should not have used proportional there (what was I thinking of, Israel???). Whoever polls the majority of votes in a riding wins that riding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:09pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#16 of 2059)
7. Canadian debates generally include the party leaders of the major parties.
8. There is not as strong a duopoly or monopoly in Canada as there is in the US where the two major parties essentially control who can gain ballot access, who can be represented at the debates, and who can obtain monies earmarked for the election.
From: http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@[email protected]/0
[deleted user] - 01:46pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#12 of 2059)
The Liberals (or Grits) are the party of the centre left. It is the party of Trudeau amongst others.
The NDP is the socialist party (and is made up of the CCF--the radical farmer movement--and parts of the labour movement). Like Labour in Britain, the NDP is a member of Socialist International.
The Progressive Conservative Party (or Tories) is the old centre slightly right party (a party which strongly supports socialised medical care for instance).
The Bloc Quebecois is the party of Quebec nationalism (it too is socialist).
The Canadian Alliance (originally called CRAP until they recognised the sneers and sniggers this acronym caused) is made up of the Reform Party and some Conservatives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 01:54pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#13 of 2059)
Some examples of US-Canadian variance:
1. Canada has a parliamentary system in which proportional representation is built into the system.
2. Because of this Canada has a history of a broader range of ideological and political representation in Parliament. The CCF and NDP have long played important roles in Parliament and have had an effect on legislation brought before Parliament and passed.
3. The Reform Party benefited from this. It is a party which came out of nowhere and become the second major party in the nation.
4. Because Canada has a parliamentary system it does not have a system like the US in which there is an executive branch.
5. The power of the Supreme Court rose after the enactment of Trudeau's pet legislation, the Constitution. The enactment of the Constitution freed Canada once and for all from the Brits, the Queen, and her representative, the Governor-General (though the G-C remains of great symbolic importance). This makes Canada different from Australia.
6. Canada's Parliament is more a mirror of the country than their US counterparts. There have been a greater number of women MP's that in the US House and Senate. There have been Sikhs, Mennonites, Quebec Nationalists, etc., in the Canadian Parliament.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 03:06pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#14 of 2059)
ron: Could you explain what you mean by (1) above? I'm not aware of proportional representation in the Canadian parliamentary system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:04pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#15 of 2059)
scott: you are correct i should not have used proportional there (what was I thinking of, Israel???). Whoever polls the majority of votes in a riding wins that riding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:09pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#16 of 2059)
7. Canadian debates generally include the party leaders of the major parties.
8. There is not as strong a duopoly or monopoly in Canada as there is in the US where the two major parties essentially control who can gain ballot access, who can be represented at the debates, and who can obtain monies earmarked for the election.
From: http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@[email protected]/0
Oct 27th 2006, 4:36 am
#42
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Maybe it's a quebec thing.... if you put the Maple leaf flag you're a unionist; the provincial flag you're a separatist.
I've been tempted to put a union jack across the Je me souviens; however i might get a poppy sticker and put it next to the text. It changes the whole meaning ;-)
I've been tempted to put a union jack across the Je me souviens; however i might get a poppy sticker and put it next to the text. It changes the whole meaning ;-)
Originally Posted by Rich_007
Yes, my flag of choice/preference/convenience being the Maple Leaf.
I may be atypical.
Rich.
I may be atypical.
Rich.
Oct 27th 2006, 4:47 am
#43
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by dbd33
You are. I don't think they even had a team in the World Cup.
They disappointed hugely.
Rich.
Oct 27th 2006, 4:59 am
#44
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Re: Canuckistan is Amercica lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by dbd33
Just to show that I know the US and Canada are not one and the same, here are some points of political difference lifted from an old thread which touched on this issue. I believe the users were ronhelf, ScottW and hoib though that's a bit academic. It's a little dated (the CRAP is now called the Conservative Party) but was in response to request to explain Canadian politics in terms of the US.
[deleted user] - 01:46pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#12 of 2059)
The Liberals (or Grits) are the party of the centre left. It is the party of Trudeau amongst others.
The NDP is the socialist party (and is made up of the CCF--the radical farmer movement--and parts of the labour movement). Like Labour in Britain, the NDP is a member of Socialist International.
The Progressive Conservative Party (or Tories) is the old centre slightly right party (a party which strongly supports socialised medical care for instance).
The Bloc Quebecois is the party of Quebec nationalism (it too is socialist).
The Canadian Alliance (originally called CRAP until they recognised the sneers and sniggers this acronym caused) is made up of the Reform Party and some Conservatives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 01:54pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#13 of 2059)
Some examples of US-Canadian variance:
1. Canada has a parliamentary system in which proportional representation is built into the system.
2. Because of this Canada has a history of a broader range of ideological and political representation in Parliament. The CCF and NDP have long played important roles in Parliament and have had an effect on legislation brought before Parliament and passed.
3. The Reform Party benefited from this. It is a party which came out of nowhere and become the second major party in the nation.
4. Because Canada has a parliamentary system it does not have a system like the US in which there is an executive branch.
5. The power of the Supreme Court rose after the enactment of Trudeau's pet legislation, the Constitution. The enactment of the Constitution freed Canada once and for all from the Brits, the Queen, and her representative, the Governor-General (though the G-C remains of great symbolic importance). This makes Canada different from Australia.
6. Canada's Parliament is more a mirror of the country than their US counterparts. There have been a greater number of women MP's that in the US House and Senate. There have been Sikhs, Mennonites, Quebec Nationalists, etc., in the Canadian Parliament.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 03:06pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#14 of 2059)
ron: Could you explain what you mean by (1) above? I'm not aware of proportional representation in the Canadian parliamentary system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:04pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#15 of 2059)
scott: you are correct i should not have used proportional there (what was I thinking of, Israel???). Whoever polls the majority of votes in a riding wins that riding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:09pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#16 of 2059)
7. Canadian debates generally include the party leaders of the major parties.
8. There is not as strong a duopoly or monopoly in Canada as there is in the US where the two major parties essentially control who can gain ballot access, who can be represented at the debates, and who can obtain monies earmarked for the election.
From: http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@[email protected]/0
[deleted user] - 01:46pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#12 of 2059)
The Liberals (or Grits) are the party of the centre left. It is the party of Trudeau amongst others.
The NDP is the socialist party (and is made up of the CCF--the radical farmer movement--and parts of the labour movement). Like Labour in Britain, the NDP is a member of Socialist International.
The Progressive Conservative Party (or Tories) is the old centre slightly right party (a party which strongly supports socialised medical care for instance).
The Bloc Quebecois is the party of Quebec nationalism (it too is socialist).
The Canadian Alliance (originally called CRAP until they recognised the sneers and sniggers this acronym caused) is made up of the Reform Party and some Conservatives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 01:54pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#13 of 2059)
Some examples of US-Canadian variance:
1. Canada has a parliamentary system in which proportional representation is built into the system.
2. Because of this Canada has a history of a broader range of ideological and political representation in Parliament. The CCF and NDP have long played important roles in Parliament and have had an effect on legislation brought before Parliament and passed.
3. The Reform Party benefited from this. It is a party which came out of nowhere and become the second major party in the nation.
4. Because Canada has a parliamentary system it does not have a system like the US in which there is an executive branch.
5. The power of the Supreme Court rose after the enactment of Trudeau's pet legislation, the Constitution. The enactment of the Constitution freed Canada once and for all from the Brits, the Queen, and her representative, the Governor-General (though the G-C remains of great symbolic importance). This makes Canada different from Australia.
6. Canada's Parliament is more a mirror of the country than their US counterparts. There have been a greater number of women MP's that in the US House and Senate. There have been Sikhs, Mennonites, Quebec Nationalists, etc., in the Canadian Parliament.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 03:06pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#14 of 2059)
ron: Could you explain what you mean by (1) above? I'm not aware of proportional representation in the Canadian parliamentary system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:04pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#15 of 2059)
scott: you are correct i should not have used proportional there (what was I thinking of, Israel???). Whoever polls the majority of votes in a riding wins that riding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[deleted user] - 05:09pm Oct 24, 2000 GMT (#16 of 2059)
7. Canadian debates generally include the party leaders of the major parties.
8. There is not as strong a duopoly or monopoly in Canada as there is in the US where the two major parties essentially control who can gain ballot access, who can be represented at the debates, and who can obtain monies earmarked for the election.
From: http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@[email protected]/0
Wow...I'm having a flashback. Good old hoib and ronhelf. I would say good old ScottW49 too but that would be immodest.
Oct 27th 2006, 5:00 am
#45
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Re: Canuckistan is America lite: The Reality Checck(tm): Pt IV
Originally Posted by neill
I've been tempted to put a union jack across the Je me souviens;
K.
