Being Canadian

I haven't posted in awhile for whatever reason, nothing to say I guess. I came across a very well written article by Mike Thorburn who writes some stuff for TheSoko.com, a Canadian lifestyle website. Mike Thorburn is a graduate of Queen's University who know resides in Taipei, Taiwan, so he has done lots of traveling.

The article that caught my attention talks about Canadian misconceptions about ourselves. Briefly Mike makes the case that Canadian society and culture is really not that much different from that of the United States, our closest neighbour. He points out that if you've ever traveled around Canada or the US you will find there is tremendous variance between the people, traditions and views. Take someone from St. John's Newfoundland and put them beside someone from Vancouver B.C. and you'll see what he means. The same would appear to hold true in the U.S. Talk to someone Louisiana and then someone from Boston and you'll see. Mike argues that there is a "shared North American culture".

While some of this resonates with me, I believe there some essential differences that sets our two countries apart. I think one of the biggest differences in my mind is the social safety nets we have in place in Canada. The fact that a serious health problem or emergency could bankrupt a family and cause them to lose their home because they couldn't afford health insurance or the employer doesn't provide it is terrible and unjustifiable.

Generally speaking Canadians are quite willing to pay taxes to support those in our society that need help. In Canada we have Universal Health Care, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, and numerous other social programs to help all ages and situations. We grumble sometimes but in the end we believe everyone deserves a decent life. If circumstances prevent a person from making this life for themselves, the general consensus is that we should help them. I don't see this attitude in the United States.

Canada spends about 10% of our GDP on health care and 41% for total government expenditures which include our safety nets. The U.S. on the other hand spends 15% of its GDP on health and 37% of its GDP on government. So why does the US spend more on health but have such huge gaps in covering its people? Because of system inefficiencies, complex matrix health organizations, duplication of services and numerous other reasons.

Most recent figures from the United States Census Bureau indicate that a record number of 45 million people are uninsured. The percentage of uninsured children in 2003 rose to 11.4 percent.The number of working uninsured stands about 20 precent of all workers. These nimbers are not encouraging. Things seem to be getting worse not better. I ask myself, how can the richest country in the world let this continue? Why don't the people demand something better. Go figure.

Let's think about some other differences. How about the disparity between the rich and the poor, the poorly educated and the well educated? Let's think about the "over the top" media who make everything larger and scarier than it really is all in the name of making news. Then there's the patriotism. That's good, right? Well unless you give self-serving politicians and their corporate "sponsors" unquestioning support to take the country in a direction that's not in the best interest of the country.

Canadians are not real patriotic, well in the sense of wearing it on our sleeve. Although we think Canada is probably the best place to live on the face of the planet, we are pretty blase about it. We are generally a polite and low key people and frown on people jumping up and down and making a big noise about things, including the country.

We are proud of Canada and our non-violent heritage. We don't believe we need to carry guns around to feel safe. Protection is the domain of our police forces. Even when the country was being settled, we had a police force, not the "wild west" as experienced by our American cousins. The North West Mounted Police, forerunners of today's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), was created in 1873 by Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. This caused Canada to have a much different history with respect to law and order compared to the U.S.

So what am I saying, that the US sucks and that Canada is perfect? Nope far from it. We have our issues and challenges like everyone else. I admire the "can do" attitude and pioneering spirit of the United States. I admire the way American embrace new arrivals and welcome them into the great melting pot. We have many similarities sharing this North American land mass as neighbours.

But you know what? The US can learn a thing or two from Canada about treating their citizens right and adjusting their fiscal priorities to give every citizen a decent life. My 2 cents worth.