You and me, both. I still prefer your literal take on the city. I have photos to support your theory, as well.
Or bad. Just depends on your perspective, really. Canada's so good that I had to leave for a couple of days. Sadly, no chicks here.
Toronto Area: Weather: Sucks 60-80% of the time. Cold and wet and snowy. But no worse than upstate New York, Michigan, The Dakotas, etc. Taxes: Very, very high. Income tax, province tax, sales tax, etc., etc., etc. Cost of living: Very high-houses are unreasonably high for size and location. Gas is very high (compared to states-low compared to Europe). Basic foodstuffs is really stupidly high. Basically cost of living is similar or more than California or metro New York, without any of the benefits. Social environment: People are generally pretty nice, but not as friendly in general as US, more so than Europe. (Just cultural differences-not saying good vs bad here.) A reasonable amount of anti-americanism is prevalent though. Political leanings: Socialist and left leaning. Not fun if you are a conservative. I have lived (sporadically) in Canada for a couple of years now, in England for 2-3 years, California for many years, New England/New York and now in the US south (Atlanta.) and I find Canada okay but not a place I would want to live in for he rest of my life. Too cold, too expensive and too socialistic for me. Having said that, many people (non-Canadian) like it up here so as always it is down to personal preferences.
yes you are correct--I believe Calgary and the western provinces are more conservative than that in Ontario. And Harper is a "conservative"-but overall Canada has been known as a very socialist country. (For better or worse-I am not saying that such a thing is necessarily bad-but the way it is.)
It's actually for better: At least here EVERYBODY (even the poor) gets free health care. In your "less socialist" US this is still only a promise by presidential candidates... I also recall seeing parts of the US (in person around Charleston, SC, and on TV in just about every large US city) that remind me of Bangladesh....extreme poverty and neglect. I've never seen places like that in Canada.
For better would be a personal viewpoint-to which you are entitled to have.-But it doesn't make it correct. I have seen more poverty in Inuit villages than any where in the USA. So who is right? I said Canada is a country that tends towards socialism. One may have more social services in Canada than the US, but you pay for it thru taxes and a lack of freedom. (And by that I mean the true concept of individual liberties.) It's a choice made by Canadians-I am not trying to change it-but at least I acknowledge it. You should do the same.
The difference is that I do not see health care as a "right" that people have. It is a responsibility that each need to assume. It is called personal responsibility. I do not believe the government exists to fulfill every social need or desire of the populace. I find it funny that people say they cannot afford to pay their own health care, but have cell phones, flat screen tv's, vacations, air conditioning, cars, I-Pods and who knows what else. People have a very warped sense of "entitlement"- which gets worse every day. Sooner or later it becomes unaffordable for a society to pay for every desire (not need) of the populace. But we have only ourselves to blame.
This is a perfect example of jealousy, and ignorance towards Canadian free Health-care. How can you compare adequate health-care to the cost of a cell-phone, or flat screen TV ?? My father in-law has Cancer, and over the course of the next year, he will need approx $45,000 worth of CAT scans, medication, specialist treatment, and meetings with the top doctors in Toronto. This will all be free, thanks to our government. I have an example of a family who have been stricken with Cancer, heart problems and stomach problems, (it is genetic). This family would have to pay in order of hundreds of thousands $$ of dollars just to stay alive and well. However, each of their treatments is free, and they don't need to mortgage their house, and live like poor people just to pay their medical bills. What happens if a family without free healthcare is in this position? They owe thousands of dollars in medical bills, where will they get the money? Where will they get the money to buy a house, car, schooling, etc? Which is more important? The people without health care will be forced to live in poverty. You (an American) on the other hand, if not properly employed, will need to sell your TV, car, and I-Pod in order to pay your bills.
Free? This is such a typically ignorant answer by those who do not understand economics. Try to understand-It is not free--It costs money from somebody somewhere. I am not arguing that their should be no support from the government, what I am saying is that as an individual you are responsible for your own life and health, not me or the government. How about each person investing in their own health care, via a health rsp or IRA or insurance policy? Then, when you get ill, you pay for your illness. If the money is not adequate or you are poor, then bring in some assistance from the gov., but how about looking after yourself? And, by the way, no one in the USA is ever turned down for medical attention (It is against US federal law.) But what happens is that after the service, an expectation is that you will pay what you can. And in that I am talking about people who do not want to pay for their medical service, but have money for other things. How about having a sense of responsiblity and paying your share, even if it means giving up all of your "toys" to do so. Free health care? Clearly you truly do not understand how things work-and are one of those people who assume that the governmnent owes you whatever you think you are entitled too-and seem to think it all comes free. You and I can disagree abut the role gov has versus the individual in staying healthy but your belief that it is free indicates you have no clue and represent all that is wrong with the "give me" society that is becoming more prevalent in many many countries.
Sure I'll give you this point, but that being said public healthcare is NOT free, nor is it for profit like the US system is. As Canadians we all pay a healthcare premium once we turn 18 which is based on the program created in the province we live in. This premium is then used to fund EVERYONE'S healthcare. The system is designed to break even profit wise based on a combination of federal taxes paid and and healthcare premiums. Contrast this with the US for profit system. Sorry, gotta call Bull on this one....sure, they won't turn you away if you're clearly homeless and hemorrhaging blood, but once your life is saved then you're on your own buddy. I've heard hundreds of horror stories about people who have been turned down by their health insurance for reasons that are unfathomable. I don't belive that any middle income family can handle a $45,000 hit to their wallet over the course of 6 months. Not without going into severe debt.... One more question for you: Why if the US for profit system is SOOOOOOO superior is it that the US is the only country in the world that does not have public healthcare for all it's citizens?
Never said US system was or is superior. Discussing the US system is irrelevant to discussing any other system. Each system stands or falls on it's own merits. Yes the US system has many, many faults but then so does the Canadian system. The US system needs to be changed-but so does the Canadian system-both are failing their customers-just in different ways. But more importantly I am not really discussing health care systems per se, but my point has to do with the concept of personal responsibility for your life versus letting the government assume that responsibility and understanding that no government service is free and that people who assume that it is represents a dangerous situation for any society-it ultimately leads to that societies downfall.
Dear Brian: You are wasting your breath. Your posts are self-explanatory. Anyone who thinks governments provide anything for free is delusional. We pay taxes and the government spends money. If they dont have enough money they raise our taxes. Come election time they bribe you with your own money. We elect the governments we deserve.
No, its not free. An average Canadian citizen will pay $4000 yearly taxes going towards health care. In return, they can recieve an unlimited amount of health care and coverage. Sounds like a good deal to me. If I get sick, or someone in my family gets sick, the financial burden is not on me anymore. Very simple. Now stop arguing this fact, and just admit that our system is superior. With all you fat, overweight, over-eating citizens of the USA, your country would go "belly-up" (pardon the pun) if it had free health-care. If you don't abuse the system, it will work for you.
I believe I remember mentioning that some of the issues I have seen in Canada are a lack of friendliness and anti-americanism. I want to thank starboy444 for confirming this!
And why shouldn't the financial burden be on you? Why should I or anyone pay for your problems? Again-you show no personal responsibility for your own life! What a loser!
