I like most of them too. I have also enjoyed travels to Toronto and BC very much. Great cities, pleasant atmospheres and engaging people.
I don't know or understand the source of the angst and irritation with America that some Canadians exhibit and which the Liberal Party has exploited so well over the last decade or so.
Foxfyre wrote: One things that I wonder about though is why A2K Canadians are so much more fascinated with American politics than they are their own, especially when they seem to universally hold the current U.S. administration in extremely low regard?
That is because the actions of the American government will have an impact on Canada one way or anther, and they have very little say in what those actions will be. The reverse is not the case on most issues.
But some Canadian policy decisions do inevitably affect the U.S. Lax Canadian enforcement of laws against marijuana ultivation and distribution; their unwillingness to cooperate in some potential aspects of missile defense of North America; the effect of Canadian immigration policies on the open border we have maintained for over a century; and numerous trade issues all affect this country. Canadians are certainly free to make their own decisions on all these matters, but they do affect us down here. We don't have any control over the actions of Canadian govewrnments either, however we don't complain as much about it.
My strong impression is that the chief difference ihere s that Canadians complain about these effects much more than do we.
It's a great place to visit, everythings cheap, but I wouldn't want to live there.
Montana and Cav,
I was just wondering...
... have most Canadians seen the movie "Canadian Bacon"?
this bit always cracks me up
georgeob1 wrote:But some Canadian policy decisions do inevitably affect the U.S. Lax Canadian enforcement of laws against marijuana ultivation and distribution;
there are several U.S. states with MUCH more relaxed drug laws than Canada. I'm not allowed to mention them anymore - Setanta doesn't want any of you horning in on his action :wink:
i recall when president bush (senior) declared, that once panamanian president noriega would be in custody, there would be no more drugs coming into the united states (remember when ?). well, are all the drugs in the united states now coming from canada ? (i know that many u.s. seniors are getting their prescription drugs from canada, and they seem to be quite happy to get them here - - -interestingly, even some u.s. state governments are now in the process of arranging to have the prescription drugs for members of state sponsored health plans supplied from canadian sources. is it permissible for canadian pharmacies to sell to these u.s. customers ???). hbg
georgeob1 wrote:But some Canadian policy decisions do inevitably affect the U.S. Lax Canadian enforcement of laws against marijuana ultivation and distribution; their unwillingness to cooperate in some potential aspects of missile defense of North America; the effect of Canadian immigration policies on the open border we have maintained for over a century; and numerous trade issues all affect this country. Canadians are certainly free to make their own decisions on all these matters, but they do affect us down here. We don't have any control over the actions of Canadian govewrnments either, however we don't complain as much about it.
My strong impression is that the chief difference ihere s that Canadians complain about these effects much more than do we.
This is all more nonsense. Maybe you see Canadians complaining more because we are not kept in dark about what's going on down there. I can't count the American channels we have on tv, yet you guys have no Canadian channels at all and the papers only mention Canada when there's something negative to report. Most Americans have no clue as to what's going on here in Canada. About the missile issue, well, what can we say, Canada is about peace, not war.
ehBeth covered my thoughts on the marijuana issue.
What you say is true Montana. Most Americans don't know a whole lot about Canada I think, and as what we do get is usually presented negatively, we almost certainly get a distorted view. But then those of you in Canada who do not get Fox News or any of our relatively conservative newspapers or American talk radio are getting mostly negative information, and therefore sometimes distorted information, about the United States, the current adminsitration, etc. too.
I was just curious why Canadians don't talk about Canada stuff more. I for one would like to know more other than what is available in history books.
Foxfyre wrote:What you say is true Montana. Most Americans don't know a whole lot about Canada I think, and as what we do get is usually presented negatively, we almost certainly get a distorted view. But then those of you in Canada who do not get Fox News or any of our relatively conservative newspapers or American talk radio are getting mostly negative information, and therefore sometimes distorted information, about the United States, the current adminsitration, etc. too.
I was just curious why Canadians don't talk about Canada stuff more. I for one would like to know more other than what is available in history books.
As someone who was born American and spent 34 out of my 40 years of life in the US, I have been exposed to all the news.
As for talking about Canada, not many Americans seem to be interested in hearing about our country.
ebrown_p wrote:Montana and Cav,
I was just wondering...
... have most Canadians seen the movie "Canadian Bacon"?
I don't know about most Canadians, but I know I've seen it, and for the life of me, I can't remember what it was about.
This may sound as a stupid question, Montana, but you lived 34 years of your life in the US, though you seem to be much more enthusiastic about Canada than about the US. Does this mean you also feel Canadian, or do still feel American? And how do your neighbors view you - still as an American?
My roots have always been in Canada and I never considered myself an American. My parents were born in Canada, their parents were born in Canada and so on. Most of my family is here and we spent all our vacations here when we were in the states. I always felt Canada was my home.
Some Americans have been quite offended when I told them I didn't consider myself an American and for what reasons I don't know. I didn't spend my time complaining about the US until the last 8 years I lived there, when I fell victim to the system. It's a very long story and I've gotten into it several times here and on other forums, so I won't get into the long dreadful details again, but I will say that I moved back to Canada because I couldn't take the abuse from my own government any longer.
Coming back home was the smartest choice I've ever made and there have never been any regrets..
I have nothing against Americans, in fact, I left all my wonderful friends behind and I miss them terribly. It's the government that I have a huge problem with.
When people start with their Anti-American nonsense, it's just the governments way of lying to their people, so they won't smell so bad, when in reality, it's the American government and not the people that so many are fumed about.
Thanks Cav. Now I remember ;-)
Thanks for answering my question Montana!
You're very welcome Rick.
Fox, that's a load of rubbish
"But then those of you in Canada who do not get Fox News or any of our relatively conservative newspapers or American talk radio are getting mostly negative information, and therefore sometimes distorted information, about the United States, the current adminsitration, etc. too."
I'm in Vancouver months at a time and know Canadians pretty well. They watch their own quality news shows and don't pay much attention to American spin. Canadians generally admire American culture but can do without the corporate greed and national self-absorption which we represent.
