KnifeMissile

I've heard that there is growing unhappiness with Canada from the US (or, perhaps, just the US government), much like with France. Can any Americans shed some light on this issue? If any of this is true, can you list some of the issues? Was it Iraq? The "moron" incident? Marijuana decriminization? Gay marriage? Something else?

Just genuinely curious, thanks!

rgr22j

I don't know if I would label it any more than a small fringe phenomenon; I find it hard to believe that anyone would hold Canada and France in the same contempt. I do think that Canadians in general politically follow a more European than American mode of thinking, and maybe that irks some people. Most Americans I know (wrongly) think of Canada as their benevolent but harmless neighbor up north with the weird accent. If anything, I would bet money that most Americans are ignorant of the Canadian health care and education system, drug policies, or gay marriage laws.

If anything, Canada ought to be more angry with the US. After all, we bomb your troops (accidentally, of course) in foreign countries and steal your best hockey players. All you Canadians get in return is underage college students hoping to get drunk clogging up the bars on the border.

I just thought of something, maybe those home-grown good ol' Americans get a bit unhappy with Canadians because everyone they don't like threatens to move there!

-- Alvin

EDIT: I mean "wrongly" in that most Americans brush aside Canada as some insignificant country when in fact the reality is completely opposite.

Bill O'Rights

I haven't heard anything decisively anti-Canadian, except perhaps in good natured jest. Nothing to be taken seriously.


Not that I am aware of.

No, actually a lot of us found that rather funny ourselves.

You're kidding...right?

Why? Because Canada does something that we should've done...a long time ago? Maybe with radical right-wingers.

I honestly do not know.

Glad I could help...you non war supportin', Bush bashin', dooby smokin', homo lovin', 51st state livin' in,...well...you get the idea.

You DO realize that I'm just joking...eh?

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Food Eater Lad

Isnt Canada a suburb of the United States?

splck

Sadly, a few idiots down your way believe this.

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hobo

Canada is supplying the US with loads of natural resources, including like 60% of the oil used by Americans. Recent recategorizing of oil sands as an oil reserve makes Canada the 2nd biggest oil well in the world. They can't hate us as much as they hate France or else they wouldn't have fuel.

MrSmashy

Yeah...we really need to repatriate the control of the oil sands to Albertan control and use the money to arm ourselves to keep the money from going east.

Then we'll be doing well. Oh, and if anyone brings up how oil will end some day...that's an excellent point...except remaining in Canada won't result in us getting more than a pittance that will keep us in perpetual depression and force us to vote Liberal to keep what little bribe money that will still exist in the sans-Alberta-economy future going our way.

Ustwo

I'm pretty far right wing buy liberal standards (aka I don't think gun laws are good, and taxation is theft), but its Canada, I don't think anyone really cares.

Canada has allowed itself to become powerless on the world stage. Its not like they can help or hinder the US in a substantial way. If Canada were run by some Canadian G.W.B. all it would mean is we would get words of support from Canada, instead of the confused seeming drivel we get now. Either way its just words.

The Canadian economy relies on the US more then the US relies on Canada, so its not like we will see economic sanctions of any kind.

No we don't hate Canada, and its not something even us evil, baby killing republicans think about.

Hell a few months ago Canada was trying to get American tourism and the following is a quote from the add.

I found that very funny.

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hobo

I don't think the gun registry was a good idea but the other gun laws are ok. The gun registry cost $1billion when it was only supposed to cost $1million. Sad waste of money.

Ya, Canada couldn't have helped with Iraq anyways (due to lack of an army) so the gov't thought it would be smart to support the UN (to appease other countries) while not affecting the situation in any way.

This is probably true, but Canada is very deeply rooted into the US economy. Canada provides pretty much every resource the US uses because Canada has it all, and for cheaper prices. Canada would never throw economic sanctions against the US though because that would be stupid.

Canada is like the US' conjoined twin where there are two torsos but only 2 legs and they are under US control. Should Canada ever be separated, it would hurt like a bitch and the effects would last for a long time, but the US would probably survive. Canada probably wouldn't survive unless it could find a new foreign market.

Zeld2.0

Canada is like the biggest (percentage wise) of the trade partners with the U.S. anyways - and honestly, i think most people who say anti-Canadian statements are really doing it more as a way of making fun / joking around - there are few who really hate Canada from what i've seen, just a fun jest here and there. And if they really do, they probably are clueless ignorant idiots anyways

Food Eater Lad

I see Canada as our brother, one that we kid with, and they kid back. I dont think Americans hate Canadians, I mean why would they? They are so clean. Something I wish more Americans would copy.

opentocomments

ive been lurking waiting for a resounding

BLAME CANADA

no seriously i like canada for the fishing man compared to down here they jump in the boat

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hobo

The clean thing I know first hand. I've been to downtown Toronto (our largest city) and I've been to several large US cities. Toronto is so clean in comparison that I wonder sometimes if the US is really a first world country. The lack of good social programs also separates the US from most other 1st world nations.

Neato

Canadia is awesome man. I give Canadia crap but we're cool. It's all in good fun.

Anyone know the stats on murder rate in Canada?

"Welcome to Canada, it's the maple leaf state."
"The people there are nice there, they speak French too, if you don't like it you sniff glue."
- Five Iron Frenzy - Oh, Canada

KnifeMissile

Well, for the record, there is some animosity towards the US from Canada (softwood lumber, anyone?). I just heard that there was some of this coming back, which I found surprising, but it appears to not be true (at least, that any of us are aware of).

As to _why_ the US would feel this way, I thought it would be more emotional than political. For instance, some homosexual couples have actually been refused entrance to the US from Canada as long as they claimed that they were married (or so I've heard). What's it to you if we allow gay couples to get married? Don't you respect our laws?

In case it needs to be said, all use of pronouns refer to your government and not the members of this forum, of course...

Ustwo

Well Knifemissle, I don't think to many Americans know about some softwood lumber issue (and I'm to lazy to do a google to find out about it).

Most Americans could care less if you send married homosexuals over the border or not, and most could care less if they are turned away, this is another issue not burning in America.

I'd hate to see bad blood between Canada and the US, I love the fishing to much

France, we hate, but no one really liked them to start with

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Neato

A friend of a friend saw a billboard that read "Boycot France"... I can't spell boycotte... anyway, assuming it's still up, it now reads "Boycot Bush, (heart) France."
I don't know what that has to do with the initial topic, but you talking about France made me think of it... and a big hoorah to it.

Ustwo

Reguardless if you like Bush or not, I can't see how ANY honnest liberal could like France. France had the WORST possible reasons for opposing war with Iraq, and didn't care how many mass graves ELF had to drill through to get to the oil.

Its one thing to oppose war.
Its another thing to support and enable someone like Saddam.

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kandayin

In fact, if you assume that the French government opposed the war for these reasons, you'll have to assume that the US government supported the war for oil reasons.

If you give the benefit of the doubt to your government about their reasons,you'd have to give the same benefit to the french government.

archer2371

I jest about Canada, but nothing more, as I do with France (although, I think the genuine problem in France is Paris and the career politicians who don't give a rat's arse about the people anymore, much like here). Anyways, nah, other than the occasional good buddy ribbing, I haven't heard anything.

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james t kirk

It's like anything else, if you are American and you are visiting Toronto and you are cool and don't give off attitude, you will be treated fine.

Likewise, if you are from Canada and you are visiting the states and you are cool and don't give off attitude, you will be treated just fine.

It's a two way street.

james t kirk

That's a good one.

Please tell me how the money is going east??

While I agree that money is flowing out of Alberta, it is also flowing out of Ontario. Therefore, no alberta money is flowing into Ontario.

In fact, you may be interested to know that every year, something like 37 billion dollars flows OUT of the city of Toronto alone. That's Toronto, not Ontario as a whole, but Toronto as a city.

So don't cry too hard there my western alienated cousin, your tears are falling on deaf ears.

Jam

hmm the states gets stuff from canada...

energy...

beef... haha your beef costs alot now.. that will teach your dumb government...

our lumber is being taxed now which it shouldnt be

yeah the USA lieks to screw Canada

were your little Fuck Buddies to the north.. yay

seretogis

Do a search on the board for this -- I believe the issue turned out to be one guy who decided to block their entrance into the US, not a nationwide policy to do so. So, don't get your feathers ruffled about it.

As for Canada, as long as their keep their socialism on their side of the border, I have no problems with them. After all, they gave us Alanis!

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almostaugust

We live in a democracy, last time i looked anyway. Having a brain and exercising such a process does not make you a freaking socialist.

ObieX

I would also have to agree with a lot of posters here. I think the vast majority of americans get along just fine with canadians, and have no reason not to. Sure, we'll throw the occasional jokes back and forth at/about eachother, but it's all in good fun, and i dont think anyone means to hurt any feelings.

We work together very well and make an excelent team. I dont think either of our countries would want to damage the relationship that we've grown to enjoy.

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musaicmon

Socialized medicare is one canadian policy i wouldn't want to change, i mean people are dying in the US because they can't afford health insurance... wasn't rampant disease in the lower class the downfall in part, of the roman empire?

*shrug*

yellowgowild

Yeah, just because we are currently the most powerful doesn't mean we are the best in all regards.

seretogis

That statement is a greatly exagerrated version of the truth.

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james t kirk

LOL,

That's a great quote.

I have met a lot of American who are very sceptacle of universal health care. "I hears y'all dying in the streets up there with your socialized health care"

It seems to be a common thread amoung the Americans i work with.

But I think you would hard pressed to find too many Canadians who would want to scrap our "socialized" health care system.

I am not saying it's perfect, it's not, but i would not want to lose it ever.

Sun Tzu

I'm not aware of any ill fated views toward Canada. I wish more would see people as individuals anyway; as there are saints and assholes in every country.

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MSD

The anger over marijuana decriminalization is coming almost entirely from a few conservatives in our government who still think that it's evil, and probably don't realize why it was banned in the first place.

I have nothing against Canada, and I don't think that most people do. The issues you mentioned are a few of the ways that I feel you guys up there are way ahead of us.

Phaenx

People make fun of Canada all the time around here, but we always did that.

What about in Canada, you pissed off at us? (we don't care)

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Phaenx

Check again, The United States is a Republic, always has been.

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Mojo_PeiPei

Wouldn't the fact that there is a Federal government makes us both? I mean seriously aren't we a democractic republic?

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seretogis

We're probably closer to an oligarchy now than anything. I think that technically the US is a "Represenative Republic", though.

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seretogis - sieg heil
perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

Jesus Pimp

I'm moving there if Bush gets re-elected.

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seretogis

Let me know if you need any help moving.

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perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
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ARTelevision

In my experience there is really very little Anti-Canadian sentiment here in the US. There is virtually none at all in my daily life.

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Charlatan

Canada is a Constituional Monarchy... The Queen is still, in essense our head of state. A figure head in the truest sense but still the head of state.

All laws enacted by the Parliament must be signed by the Govenor General (essentially a rubber stamp). The Govenor General is appointed by the Prime Minister and is the Queen's representative on our soil.

As for Socialism... Yes, as a nation we tend to lean left of the US on most social policies. We believe in looking after our citizens by way of a social saftey net. No, it isn't always effecient but we (as a nation) feel it is important so we continue to do it.

However, on the whole we are way more right leaning than say Cuba, Sweden or many communes in the lower 48...

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