“3. The US is a nation of tremendous extremes (more financial success, but also extreme poverty, more greatness but more mediocrity, more inventiveness but more cookie cutter sameness, more ambition but more laziness). Canada is more a country of moderation or averageness”

True, US has it all, while Canada is in average better and more stable. Don’t forget that extreme conditions give birth to extraordinary people, thoughts and achievements.

1. Canada is the better country, but the US is the greater nation. The physical beauty and cleanliness of Canada is hard to beat, but I have always thought that Canada is a nation without an identity, one that is defined far too often by what it is not, ie “not American” instead of postive virtues. Canada is also more a bunch of provinces sharing the same land mass, than it is a unified nation, with a common goal.

2. Canadian television is a joke, can this country even write a decent drama or sit-com. Perhaps any Canadian with genuine talent has left this country in favor of greener pastures, ie Hollywood, afterall we do have a habit of driving away our best and brightest, while attracting too few like minded people in the opposite direction.
Also, does every 2nd show (or commercial) on Canadian television have to try so damm hard, and be so obvious, in espousing Canadian values and culture. We get, we are different, now shut up and entertain or inform.

3. The US is a nation of tremendous extremes (more financial success, but also extreme poverty, more greatness but more mediocrity, more inventiveness but more cookie cutter sameness, more ambition but more laziness). Canada is more a country of moderation or averageness, seldom is anything jaw dropping great in Canada, but we also have less abject terrible.

4. The US more emabraces innovation and risk taking (and rewards it), Canada is more about caution and status quo. For many years, Canadians (per capita) had more money in savings accounts than citizens of any other country, and typically look to the government to lead the charge. Most of the innovation in Canada is institutional, ie from large business / government, verus personal initiative ala the US.

IMO, IF IT WERE NOT FOR ITS NATURAL RESOURCES, CANADA WOULD BE A THIRLD WORLD NATION, BASICALLY MEXICO NORTH (MINUS THE GOOD WEATHER BUT WITH BETTER DRINKING WATER)

5. Canadians have more tolerence, but it can be stretched too far. A good Canadian should not forget to smile while being screwed up the ass by a bank. Americans are less tolerent, more likely to show their disaproval, escpecially with their wallets.

6. Canadians are more worldly and Americans are more insular. Many Americans do not look beyond their own border unless it has some benefit (or effect) on the USA. Canadian media definitely does a better job of showing news with a global perspective.

7. Canadians are more apathetic, while Americans can be overly bombastic or nationlistic. Pick your poison. In Canada, only a hockey gold medal, or NHL strike,would create coast to coast national unity, and allow for outward displays of patriotic passion or condemnation. Americans on the other hand, do tend to lean the other way, and openly and fiercely show patriotic pride.

Example of Canadian apathy:

Two weeks before the 1995 Quebec referendum, the polls were showing the vote could either way, ie 50% for and 50% against. Keep in mind this was one of the most pivotal moments in this countries short uneventful history. If Quebec had voted yes, they would have had the legal right to seperate from Canada, changing the landscape of this nation for ever. About one week before the vote, a “show Quebec some love” rally was organized in downtown Ottawa to send a positive message to Quebec, and help sway the vote in favor of a unified Canada. The media made a huge deal about the wonderful rally turnout from all these loyal Canadians, and announced with great national pride that 50,000 people attended. My first reaction though was ONLY 50,000 people, how pathetic. A defining moment in Canada’s history, and in the capital city no less, and only a paltry 50,000 people show up. Given that it was a weekday afternoon, I would wager that many in the crowd were government workers, told to “show up” (or given an extended lunch break).