Canada is a very different country than the U.S., something Canadians haven’t come to appreciate until relatively recent years. It is more secure in its identity, not subjecting its students to daily pledges of allegiance, raised eyebrows or worse in questioning a U.S. military intervention (rallying around the flag is a Canadian virtue, certainly, when we’re agreed the cause is just, although even then there will be vocal objections widely seen to be legitimate and worthy of a hearing).
Fundamentally, though, the difference between these two countries sharing the northern portion of North America are these. Americans cling to a quite false belief in the power of individualism, with the right to be left alone that accompanies that libertarian spirit, though every significant advance in the American Experience, from the Revolution to the Internet, has been sponsored by the state. Canadians, with no such illusions about the necessity of collective action, chose for their guiding national principal not the defiantly self-interested “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” but “peace, order and good government.” In essence, to be American, according to that country’s founding spirit, is to have the right to do as one pleases. To be Canadian is to consider the implications for others of the things one does. And so civility is our guiding principle.
That is not an argument for the superiority of one culture over others….
My maternal grandparents, mother and uncle immigrated to the USA from Canada and never looked back except to visit with relatives still living in Canada.
Anecdotal information gained by me over the years indicates that many Canadians are not happy with a whole lot of things that have gone on and are going on in Canada.
The notion that Pittsburgh is one of the most livable cities in the United States mystifies me. It is one of the most heavily taxed cities in one of the most heavily taxed states. It has practically destroyed its public transportation system while allowing all sorts of tax breaks for the city’s gambling casino and sports franchises. Its school system has nothing to point to with pride. The city and the country support multiple and overlapping law enforcement agencies: police, county police, county sheriffs, town police forces, to say nothing of that unique PA institution, the “constabulary” which serves as a plum for political parties in charge. Pittsburgh is part of a state which enables politicians of both parties to loot the treasury for their own benefit. A recently-elected “conservative” governor slashed funding for medical care for the indigent and children, state aid to school systems, and aid to the elderly, but managed to pay his political appointees more than the previous governor. None of the representatives, senators, and political hacks who populate Harrisburg have not had to bear any of the sacrifices that the electorate has. The governor in true conservative fashion, has spared school football programs, and has signaled a complete surrender to the Marcellus Shale gas drilling corporations who won’t even have to worry about state environmental protections. Yup, a livable state and the Tea Party dream.
Dan, I don’t think Governor Corbett has had a direct say in the “sparing” of any high school football programs. Look to your own district school board for that. I agree that the political culture is profoundly broken.
But on the whole, anyway, I think it’s a great place to live. Pittsburgh. Affordable housing in gracious, old-fashioned neighborhoods, half-way decent public schools in the city, excellent public schools in the suburbs, fun ethnic traditions, arts, theater, music, a grounded, old-fashioned, family-centered, church-going culture. Pirates, Steelers, Pens. World-class universities and health care resources. Beautiful parks. The public sector is rough everywhere, as you indicate. Taxes are high, indeed, but unemployment remains a tick or three under the national average. The main political problem in the city is the introversion of prolonged one-party rule, no question about it. But nonetheless, again, I think quite “liveable.”
Bruce Robison
AnglicanFirst, when you say, “anecdotal information gained by me over the years indicates that many Canadians are not happy with a whole lot of things that have gone on and are going on in Canada”, you may be right. If you think this means that many Canadians would prefer to become American citizens and live in the US, I would suggest you are severely mistaken.
I see Canadians are still trying to define themselves, as they have been doing for the past 199 years. I wonder if today’s generation actually believes life on Earth began after Trudeau…
Regarding American conservatism, what has changed since the mid-20th Century is the homogenization of what it means to be conservative with fewer nuances. Madison Avenue conservatism, perhaps.
Reply to WarrenS (#4.).
“If you think this means that many Canadians would prefer to become American citizens and live in the US, I would suggest you are severely mistaken.”
I didn’t say what you inferred.
But, for example, many Canadians travel to the USA for medical treatments/services that are not available in Canada in a timely manner. That is one example of Canadian unhappiness with Canadian national healthcare. Eh?
[blockquote] every significant advance in the American Experience, from the Revolution to the Internet, has been sponsored by the state.[/blockquote]
Um, seriously? I had forgotten those government grants that helped the Wright brothers build their aeroplane. Ditto for Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park lab and all its inventions (phonograph, viable light bulbs, etc). And of course the California Gold Rush was niftily planned and executed by the government to populate the west coast. And those civil rights marches in the south in the 1960s? Clearly orchestrated by the government.
With that whopper as one of the premises to the article, I have a hard time giving much credence to the remainder of this author’s observations.
AnglicanFirst, I suspect that, since 99.999% of Canadians can’t afford health care in the US, “many” is a significant exaggeration. My circumstances enabled my wife to have the benefit of having full knee replacement surgery – on both knees – in the past four months in the US (all expenses were paid for by Canadian tax payers), so I have had some recent insight into American health care costs. Interestingly, my health care plan allows for costs in the US at three times the rate for the equivalent procedure in Canada. The quality of health care was excellent by the way. Nevertheless, I will gladly accept the sometimes excessive waits rather than move away from the Canadian health care model. I think most Canadians feel likewise.
BlueOntario, if you’re suggesting that Canadians often define themselves as being other than American, you’re probably right. And your point is? I’m not sure what you mean by “today’s generation”, but I think that most of “today’s generation” have little idea who Trudeau was. The town I grew up in is where Trudeau gave his famous one finger salute. I have a carefully preserved T-shirt commemorating the “event”.