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Old 11-14-2013, 11:09 PM   #141
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There's a certain arrogance about Canadians and Calgarians specifically that is really off-putting. As a Canadian it's always just a little embarrassing to read or hear about how much better our country is.

I have a sense that arrogance has caused a lot of the problems that are leading to the American empire's decline (basically what we are witnessing the beginning of). I could be wrong, but there's no other attitude or perspective like it in terms of social acceptance when in reality it's more like an excuse to be ignorant or refusal to understand.
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Old 11-15-2013, 09:59 AM   #142
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There's a certain arrogance about Canadians and Calgarians specifically that is really off-putting. As a Canadian it's always just a little embarrassing to read or hear about how much better our country is.

I have a sense that arrogance has caused a lot of the problems that are leading to the American empire's decline (basically what we are witnessing the beginning of). I could be wrong, but there's no other attitude or perspective like it in terms of social acceptance when in reality it's more like an excuse to be ignorant or refusal to understand.
Yeah..... I mean, there are some things that I really do think Canada does a little better than the U.S., but I wish we would be more humble about it. I get that in the past, we have had to put up with some of that from the U.S., but it's still annoying when we do it back. Having said that, there are some things that the U.S. does right that we can learn from. It shouldn't be so much about rivalry as it is about learning from each other and acknowledging that there are differences without it having to be a competition.

Canada is in this big influential sphere dominated by the U.S. though, and I think that is partly why it has become part of the national psyche to drive home points where we do things differently or excel in areas the U.S. doesn't.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:00 AM   #143
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Yeah..... I mean, there are some things that I really do think Canada does a little better than the U.S., but I wish we would be more humble about it. I get that in the past, we have had to put up with some of that from the U.S., but it's still annoying when we do it back. Having said that, there are some things that the U.S. does right that we can learn from. It shouldn't be so much about rivalry as it is about learning from each other and acknowledging that there are differences without it having to be a competition.

Canada is in this big influential sphere dominated by the U.S. though, and I think that is partly why it has become part of the national psyche to drive home points where we do things differently or excel in areas the U.S. doesn't.

Can you provide examples?
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:07 AM   #144
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Can you provide examples?
Just a personal opinion, but I do like republic structured governments as opposed to constitutional monarchy/parliamentary systems. I think our system is less efficient and creates too much bureaucratic red tape. There are other little things... like for example, the U.S. has a history of being a friendlier environment for entrpreneurs.

Also weather.... they are much better at weather!

Also, just to add....as much as we get tired of their national self-promotion globally, it has served them well as they have used it to lure some of the most creative and brilliant people from abroad to their nation.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:10 AM   #145
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There's a certain arrogance about Canadians and Calgarians specifically that is really off-putting. As a Canadian it's always just a little embarrassing to read or hear about how much better our country is.

I have a sense that arrogance has caused a lot of the problems that are leading to the American empire's decline (basically what we are witnessing the beginning of). I could be wrong, but there's no other attitude or perspective like it in terms of social acceptance when in reality it's more like an excuse to be ignorant or refusal to understand.
This I would agree with as well. I also think and this board is very guilty of it is the whole stereotyping Americans and making completely arrogant statements about America.

For the most part America is a incredibly generous nation thats pretty well intentioned with good people. Does it have flaws? Absolutely, does it have big flaws? Absolutely.

But some times I feel that Canadians are becoming the loudmouthed abrasive bunch with shortmans syndrome. In the past Canada offered solutions, now it just seems that Canadians offer criticism just so that we can feel better about how we do things.

America has done a lot of things wrong especially since the end of the cold war. I believe as a country they have lost their way and faltered. But it just seems that as a nation we would rather rub their faces in it and snicker while saying Murricans then actually debate the issue or be the least bit constructive.

Maybe its because the Yanks when they mess up do it all the way. Maybe its because their culture is far different then ours being born via revolution. But they are a nation that for the most part is generous and helpful, and I would rather live next to them then China or the Soviet Union or the other great powers.

Like it or hate it, the Yanks have treated us well, and have helped us when needed.

I think we take a very small group or backwards or misguided or just plane dumb American's and project it on everyone and then use that to project our own need to feel superior.

Just my 2 cents
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:24 AM   #146
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Mr. Coffee and Captain Crunch are singling out Canadians for doing the exact same thing every other nationality does.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:25 AM   #147
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Can you provide examples?
Really? Do you know absolutely nothing about the States? You should learn about the world around you a bit.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:34 AM   #148
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Really? Do you know absolutely nothing about the States? You should learn about the world around you a bit.


Really? Do I have the ability to read FlamesAddiction's mind? This is a messageboard, where people post thoughts/opinons and ideas.

He said he thought "the US did some things right", I asked what those things were.

It was a perfectly good question, a question that didn't seem to upset the answerer.

So keep your #### to yourself.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:43 AM   #149
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Mr. Coffee and Captain Crunch are singling out Canadians for doing the exact same thing every other nationality does.
Maybe its because of where I live. But it seems to be way more ingrained in Canada lately and the way that we confront the issues.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:46 AM   #150
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I believe in the US, mortgage interest is deductible, but the gain on the sale of your house is taxable.
This isn't entirely accurate. A gain on the sale of your house in the US may be tax-free, if certain conditions are met.

Very simply, an individual can exclude from taxation up to $250,000 (and married couples can exclude up to $500,000) in profit from the sale of their primary residence provided that they have lived in the home for a minimum of two years.

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There's a certain arrogance about Canadians and Calgarians specifically that is really off-putting.
Agreed, and what is most annoying about it--from my perspective--is that the assertion of Canadian greatness appears to be done with little to no admission that Canada is what it is today precisely because of its relationship* with the US. Canada benefits greatly by being connected with the US, just as the US benefits greatly by being connected with Canada.

I don't think that either country is "better" than the other, but I do tend to believe that, over time, Canada will become more like the US and that the US will become more like Canada.

* Geographic, historical, economic, etc.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:52 AM   #151
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Really? Do I have the ability to read FlamesAddiction's mind? This is a messageboard, where people post thoughts/opinons and ideas.

He said he thought "the US did some things right", I asked what those things were.

It was a perfectly good question, a question that didn't seem to upset the answerer.

So keep your #### to yourself.
Sure bud

He also said Canada did some things right, but you never asked for examples of those. Your message came across as ignorant about the world around you. I suggest you learn more about it.
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Old 11-15-2013, 10:59 AM   #152
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Sure bud

He also said Canada did some things right, but you never asked for examples of those. .

Sure pal

Perhaps, just perhaps, I was interested in the portion of his post about what he felt the US did right.

Did you have an extra helping of chocolate covered ####### for breakfast?

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Your message came across as ignorant about the world around you. I suggest you learn more about it
Oh there is somebody coming across as ignorant in this exchange.......
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Old 11-15-2013, 12:43 PM   #153
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Just a personal opinion, but I do like republic structured governments as opposed to constitutional monarchy/parliamentary systems. I think our system is less efficient and creates too much bureaucratic red tape. There are other little things... like for example, the U.S. has a history of being a friendlier environment for entrpreneurs.

Also weather.... they are much better at weather!

Also, just to add....as much as we get tired of their national self-promotion globally, it has served them well as they have used it to lure some of the most creative and brilliant people from abroad to their nation.
I would disagree with your assertion that a republic system of government is less efficient than our Westminster form of government. In our system, with the integration of the executive and legislative branches of government, legislation is passed easily, at least under a majority government. Under the US system, bills have to pass through congress, then the senate before receiving final approval from the president. When either of the parties does not possess a majority in each body, we can witness legislative deadlock, as we did with the debt ceiling/budget debates recently. I think bureaucratic red tape exists in similar amounts in each country.

I had a poli sci prof who put the difference between the two systems best. The Westminster model is designed to enhance government action, whereas the republic model is designed to limit government action.
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Old 11-16-2013, 06:27 AM   #154
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Maybe its because of where I live. But it seems to be way more ingrained in Canada lately and the way that we confront the issues.
I just think that being Canadian is "not being American".

Its that simple we try so hard not to be them, we carry it too far at times, I get embarrassed about it now.

Can't we just be Canadians instead of being those people trying hard not to be Americans.
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Old 11-16-2013, 09:51 AM   #155
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I just think that being Canadian is "not being American".

Its that simple we try so hard not to be them, we carry it too far at times, I get embarrassed about it now.

Can't we just be Canadians instead of being those people trying hard not to be Americans.
I think some form/level of National pride is admirable. Some people on both sides of our border define themselves by it though. Those are the folks that bug me.

Honestly, if I'm making a list of what defines me, 'American' would be several spots down the list....and it would be behind 'Montanan'. I don't even root for all the American participants in the Olympics...I tend to root for people over Nation. I'm sure I'm in a distinct minority.

I'm not saying I'm not proud to be American. I just don't buy that I'm better than everyone else that isn't American because I am.
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Old 11-16-2013, 09:56 AM   #156
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Uh, because if no one had guns, there probably wouldn't be any gun crimes, not sure how that is confusing. But then if no one had guns, the tyrannical govt will take over right? Like the nazis and pol pot and Stalin etc.
How would you propose to ensure that no one has guns? Simply pass a law?

It's not that it is confusing Duff. It's that it is unrealistic. You don't simply ban guns and be rid of them.
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Old 11-16-2013, 11:37 AM   #157
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Just a personal opinion, but I do like republic structured governments as opposed to constitutional monarchy/parliamentary systems. I think our system is less efficient and creates too much bureaucratic red tape. There are other little things... like for example, the U.S. has a history of being a friendlier environment for entrpreneurs.
When you say that it is more functional you mean like almost sending the planet into another global economic depression, multiple times in the past six years? Or more functional in that special interests and corporations have more power than an actual person? Or more functional in actually being able to govern, rather than fight and struggle for more power associated with the office?

The decline of the American empire is a direct result of the failure of their system of government. Abuses within the system caused Communism to fail, much to the glee of Americans, but corruption in the republican form of government is causing it fail at all levels. The lack of diversity in ideas and opinions has ground the system to a halt.

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Also weather.... they are much better at weather!
Them Americans sure do know how to build and manage them some good weather.

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Also, just to add....as much as we get tired of their national self-promotion globally, it has served them well as they have used it to lure some of the most creative and brilliant people from abroad to their nation.
Sadly, that self-promotion has also hurt them. When you make promises of the American dream, and people come to to pursue it, they had better be able to achieve it or you look like another snake oil salesman. The American dream is dead. It went on life support in the 70's and died in the 90's. Student come to take advantage of the education system and then return to their homelands. The decline in the United States is substantial, and it is a result of their own twisted beliefs that the rights of the individual supersede those of society. The selfishness is leading them to their demise. I hope and pray Canada, who follows the United States at every cultural turn, doesn't end up the same way.
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