Differences between the US and Canada

Tigasin321
By Tigasin321

I guess there are a lot of differences and a lot of similarities. The main difference as I see it is that Canada is a democracy whereas the US is a republic. This has a profound impact on the style of how the two countries are run. As a republic, the US is both bound and limited as well as liberated by the constitution whereas as a democracy, Canada is free to go with the opinions of the majority, hence a socialized medical system and a social safety net which the US does not have.

What do you Canucks think? Am I right or am I way off base?

By britexpat• 28 Aug 2008 21:35
britexpat

How can we see differences between them ? They are both Britain's children. America is like the prodigal son, but it will come round..

By JMT• 28 Aug 2008 21:18
JMT

That's the only real difference. But I come from a laid back part of the US so maybe I don't notice the rat race in the US.

I don't know if things vary from Providence to Providence in Canada as widely as they do from State to State in the US. Most people only think of the major cities on the coasts of the US (LA, NYC, DC) when they think of the US and they miss the real "heart" of the country.

By princess habibah• 28 Aug 2008 21:12
princess habibah

The majority of americans on a low salary pay 33% in taxes Vegas.

the refund is a small difference based on what they claim for such as young children, education, interest based mortgages.

The difference being that for 48% taxes for anyone over 35k- 100k pounds will have streets repaired, areas and parks kept up, a brilliant free health service for all members of the family working or not working. And often council tax helps fix up the outside of houses and regenerate cities!

In america we have houses falling apart! No help from the goverment. Mental cases walking the streets with no where to live. Children sleeping in cars or extremely rough areas with lots of roaches. Only a few druggies can actually get the methodone they need. People with disabilities suffer from access to proper housing. And if we see any regeneration it is always in the more affluent areas where the people living there can afford not to use our tax dollars.

I vote for the UK/canada/social system anyday over the american dream!

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi

By Vegas• 28 Aug 2008 21:11
Vegas

You can't teach experience...

By Vegas• 28 Aug 2008 21:11
Vegas

You can't teach experience...

By Vegas• 28 Aug 2008 21:10
Vegas

You can't teach experience...

By Vegas• 28 Aug 2008 21:09
Vegas

You can't teach experience...

By heero_yuy2• 28 Aug 2008 21:07
heero_yuy2

Should've helped us out with this racist threads. LOL

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By Vegas• 28 Aug 2008 21:04
Rating: 2/5
Vegas

are mixing socialism and democracy...

Germany is a social system...

As is GB and Canada I guess...

Anyway...50 Percent plus in tax...

Or 33 depending on your bracket

Poor don't pay tax in US...

In fact they get refund...

Even they didn't pay in...

YAY

You can't teach experience...

By britexpat• 28 Aug 2008 20:19
britexpat

In the UK, doctors actually prescribe "stout" (Guiness) for pregnant women to enhance their iron levels..

Anyway, this thread was about USA/Canadian differences.. It got sidetracked.

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 20:16
anonymous

yeah, that's what they give pregnant women, too. It's good for the kidney functions. I hope they don't serve that at the "Orion". Will go there now.

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:59
anonymous

Amen, nomad. Continue.

By nomad_08• 28 Aug 2008 19:58
nomad_08

amen to that MD. but im not drunk yet hic! okhey?

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:54
anonymous

nomad, there is a saying: A drunk never lies. Lol.

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:53
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

Right, that, is. Alexa. I visited both cities and the breweries long ago. (Budva)

By nomad_08• 28 Aug 2008 19:52
nomad_08

i'd be honest with you MD...i'm now on my third can of heineken.

...please don't shoot me!

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:45
anonymous

Now here we have an expert, Alex. I was not brave enough to state that in my view the best beer of all would be Pilsner Urquell from Plzen in former Chechoslovakia!! You got it, Nomad.

By princess habibah• 28 Aug 2008 19:43
Rating: 4/5
princess habibah

I have to agree that america is definately a rat race! their is little in the way of support for its people here and the attitude is very much that we have to pave our own way and who cares if you discover obstacles. You probably were not trying hard enough!

Canadians on the other hand seem to have the best of both worlds. Not only culturally but as others have said in terms of medical benefits and an overall better system.

Personally I find canadians more refined and polite then loud americans. And definately less superficial then the hollywood wannabes.

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi

By heero_yuy2• 28 Aug 2008 19:43
heero_yuy2

If I remember history, beer was intended for horses' drinks until somebody stumbled tasting it and now a worldwide human conduct...

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:43
anonymous

I must support this, Alex, my grandfather was the director of a brewery in Bonn.

By nomad_08• 28 Aug 2008 19:41
nomad_08

smb pale pilsen or smb light for ladies...the best!

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:38
anonymous

Sorry, "Reinheitsgebot", that's how it's called.

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:37
anonymous

I think it is "worldwide" reputation, Alex, otherwise they would not all refer to the "German Beer Law" of 17.. .

By Weasel• 28 Aug 2008 19:37
Rating: 4/5
Weasel

Alexa - and the best German beer is Schofferhofer.

heero_yuy2 - San Miguel is mediocre at best. I'll take a Kingfisher any day :-P

By someonenew• 28 Aug 2008 19:35
someonenew

Canadians are more laid back. Americans are more ambitious... a canadian friend of mine told this to me. Personally I dont think there's a lot of difference. Maybe Canadians are more broad minded as a society.

I dream of a better tomorrow where Chickens can cross the Road without having their motives questioned - Unknown

By heero_yuy2• 28 Aug 2008 19:33
heero_yuy2

Maybe you should try this...San Miguel from the Philippines...

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:30
anonymous

Alexa, how are they to know??

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:25
anonymous

Well, yeah, Weasel, Germany is a Federal Republic with a Parliamentary Democracy which is representative.

By adey• 28 Aug 2008 19:21
Rating: 4/5
adey

mind you, that's not difficult!

Nuff said.

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

By Weasel• 28 Aug 2008 19:21
Weasel

MagicDragon - That would make it Representative Democracy (USA) vs Parliamentary Democracy (Canada) NOT Republic vs Democracy.

By heero_yuy2• 28 Aug 2008 19:17
heero_yuy2

Differences? Flag design

Similarities? They stay in one similar north American soil

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By Weasel• 28 Aug 2008 19:09
Weasel

Tigasin - I don't get it. Isn't the US a "democratically" elected "republic". Is it not the same with Canada? What's this democracy vs republic?

Can't one state be both Democratic and Republic? Eg: India is a Sovereign Democratic Republic.

Republic, as per my understanding refers to a government that is not led by a hereditary monarch.

By anonymous• 28 Aug 2008 19:06
anonymous

I think, Weasel, he means, that in the USA the power lies in the hands of the president whereas in Canada it's in the hands of parliament. ?

By Ragnarock Raider• 28 Aug 2008 15:04
Ragnarock Raider

Only the most astute (north American) might spot the differences...and like I said most non- North Americans cannot tell the differences between our cities and yours (with the possible exception of cities in Quebec like Montreal....and that's mostly because of the European and French influence)....I would suspect most Americans would feel right at home in the great North....just as most Canucks would settle nicely further south.

Our politics on the other hand....and mostly foreign policy objectives....THAT's a whole other can of worms lol

Stay safe.

Perfection does not exist. The question therefore, is: what level of imperfection are we willing to settle for?

By Ragnarock Raider• 28 Aug 2008 15:02
Rating: 4/5
Ragnarock Raider

plus I also think some of the diff is cultural, as Canada's immigration seems more recent...ie larger part of the population is 1st generation immigrants.....hence more a melting pot that the US....

The one diff I DO notice is drive and ambition when it comes to accumulating wealth....this is not to say that Canadians aren't interested....but the rat race is less prominent in our minds...the US economy is a juggernaut and staunchly capitalist....whereas we are more socialist and happy to have less millionaires if it also means less homeless/starving people...but that's just my take and maybe some other Canucks may disagree.

Other than that they are very similar, and foreigners (non North Americans) are often hard pressed to tell the difference =p

Stay safe bud.

Perfection does not exist. The question therefore, is: what level of imperfection are we willing to settle for?

By Tigasin321• 28 Aug 2008 14:54
Rating: 2/5
Tigasin321

but if you are ruthless and real ambitious you will prefer the states. It is interesting that so many Hollywood movies are filmed in Canada (for tax reasons) and international audiences never notice the difference.

Just call me Tigasin. That's what I'm talking about

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