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S/o Foreigners opinion of US politics
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amother
Copper


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 8:33 pm
amother wrote:
I actually thought the thread title was referring to what we think of the fact that Americans are so invested into politics. Because that is something I find interesting.

I guess it goes with the patriotism Wink

I remember American girls in seminary being so surprised that we didn't know all the exact ins and outs of British history. Sure, we learn these things and get all involved when something like Brexit comes along, but it's not such a focal point of interest like it seems to be in the US.


Interesting point. I am always surprised by how many Americans describe themselves as Republicans/ Democrats. Canadians say things like "I like the candidate of the Conservative party" or " I like the platform of the NDP" and often switch up who they vote for. This is probably the result of the American two party system. It is also likely the catalyst for the divisiveness we see today.
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Maya




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 8:41 pm
mommy3b2c wrote:
They lean towards more socialist. And I’m pretty happy with my quality of life.

"Lean toward more socialist" is very different from communist.

And with all due respect, based on your posts here, it seems you live a rather privileged life as compared to a majority of Americans, and women on this forum. Im glad it works for you, but that doesn't make it the greatest country on earth.
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 8:42 pm
mommy3b2c wrote:
They lean towards more socialist. And I’m pretty happy with my quality of life.


Different ideology than communism.

I guess then the indexes are inaccurate.
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 8:50 pm
amother wrote:
Interesting point. I am always surprised by how many Americans describe themselves as Republicans/ Democrats. Canadians say things like "I like the candidate of the Conservative party" or " I like the platform of the NDP" and often switch up who they vote for. This is probably the result of the American two party system. It is also likely the catalyst for the divisiveness we see today.


American's can be 'registered' democrats and 'registered' republicans. Its relevant to ability to vote in the primaries.

Canadian's can become members of a specific political party too.. and people are.. but there is definitely more apathy IMHO - especially around who is going to be the leader of a party (the business around Kevin O'leary was probably the most interested the general population has been in awhile). Members of the party have a vote towards electing the leader.
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mommy3b2c




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 9:31 pm
Maya wrote:
"Lean toward more socialist" is very different from communist.

And with all due respect, based on your posts here, it seems you live a rather privileged life as compared to a majority of Americans, and women on this forum. Im glad it works for you, but that doesn't make it the greatest country on earth.


You’re right. Communism and socialism are different. But thinking that the government can fix all your problems is an idea that both have in common. But anyway, I don’t lead a “privileged life”. I live an average American life. We work hard, follow the American dream, and try our best. We’re grateful to live in a country that protects our rights and has historically been the best country for Jews in the past few thousand years. I’m not sure what privileges the women on this forum are lacking that they would automatically get if they lived in a socialist country. Please give me an example of how socialism would help the underprivileged. As far as I understand, a free market economy is the most conducive to creating more job opportunities and more wealth for private citizens.
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:03 pm
mommy3b2c wrote:
You’re right. Communism and socialism are different. But thinking that the government can fix all your problems is an idea that both have in common. But anyway, I don’t lead a “privileged life”. I live an average American life. We work hard, follow the American dream, and try our best. We’re grateful to live in a country that protects our rights and has historically been the best country for Jews in the past few thousand years. I’m not sure what privileges the women on this forum are lacking that they would automatically get if they lived in a socialist country. Please give me an example of how socialism would help the underprivileged. As far as I understand, a free market economy is the most conducive to creating more job opportunities and more wealth for private citizens.


Socialism isn't 'thinking the government can fix all your problems'.

The countries with better standards of living then the US are capitalist countries - with social programs that are available universally.

Speaking as a Canadian (A capitalist country that has more universal social programs then the US) - laws that grant me one year of paid maternity/parental leave (18 months if I choose, but only 1 year paid) laws that guarantee me two weeks vacation at any job that I have, laws that prevent employers for firing me without cause, help create a better quality of life for me.

My heart breaks when I read stories (here) about the struggle of turning down a pay raise because it messes with healthcare benefits. My heart breaks that so many women need to go back to work when their babies are six weeks old.
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:22 pm
... continued...

In America the great - under 10 years ago - a pious man was thrown into jail for 27 years for paying his suppliers a few days late, and fudging his balance sheet.

It took 8 years of the best lawyers, influencers, political pressure to free him from jail.

Fantastic place to live and do business.
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Chana Miriam S




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:27 pm
amother wrote:
Well. Justin Trudeau ain't something to be proud of either, is he.
And the Healthcare system in Canada sucks. So I'll choose America over Canada any day.


I agree about Trudeau, but your comments about health care are ignorant and clearly without experience. We are VERY blessed to have GREAT healthcare with a one payer system that WORKS!

And as an aside, I have lived in the US with excellent insurance and the waits were LONGER for specialists and it was harder to find primary care physicians. People who live in glass houses, should not throw stones.oh, and I forgot the HOURs I had to spend on the phone with insurance every time we saw a doctor or a hospital. EACH time. Know how many times I've spoken to the Ontario provincial health payer? NEVER!


Last edited by Chana Miriam S on Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:44 pm; edited 2 times in total
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amother
Beige


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:31 pm
I'm a proud canadian and I just want to say that our healthcare system is awesome.
I never have to think twice about taking my kids to the dr. I have access to any specialist I might need. If something is an emergency I have never had to wait longer than I could bear. Everything I need is covered. My child had minor cosmetic surgery and it was covered. My children medicine is free. Dental is free up to age 10. Vision is free till 18.

If anything came up that I couldn't wait for and medicare wasn't going to allow me to be seen quickly I always have the option to pay for private healthcare. Its never happened though.
I have access to the best doctors of my choosing. When I read about Americans being forced to see certain drs and not others because of insurance it makes me cringe. an insurance company getting to decide if you really need that surgery or medicine or medical consult is really horrible.

I love Canada. Truthfully everyone loves Canada you just don't hear about it as much as Americans.
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:35 pm
amother wrote:
I'm a proud canadian and I just want to say that our healthcare system is awesome.
I never have to think twice about taking my kids to the dr. I have access to any specialist I might need. If something is an emergency I have never had to wait longer than I could bear. Everything I need is covered. My child had minor cosmetic surgery and it was covered. My children medicine is free. Dental is free up to age 10. Vision is free till 18.

If anything came up that I couldn't wait for and medicare wasn't going to allow me to be seen quickly I always have the option to pay for private healthcare. Its never happened though.
I have access to the best doctors of my choosing. When I read about Americans being forced to see certain drs and not others because of insurance it makes me cringe. an insurance company getting to decide if you really need that surgery or medicine or medical consult is really horrible.

I love Canada. Truthfully everyone loves Canada you just don't hear about it as much as Americans.


Alas - the dental is a "Quebec" thing, not a "Canada" thing.
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Chana Miriam S




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:35 pm
amother wrote:
American's can be 'registered' democrats and 'registered' republicans. Its relevant to ability to vote in the primaries.

Canadian's can become members of a specific political party too.. and people are.. but there is definitely more apathy IMHO - especially around who is going to be the leader of a party (the business around Kevin O'leary was probably the most interested the general population has been in awhile). Members of the party have a vote towards electing the leader.


I belong to more than one party so that I can participate in leadership events if I so choose.
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mommy3b2c




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:36 pm
amother wrote:
I'm a proud canadian and I just want to say that our healthcare system is awesome.
I never have to think twice about taking my kids to the dr. I have access to any specialist I might need. If something is an emergency I have never had to wait longer than I could bear. Everything I need is covered. My child had minor cosmetic surgery and it was covered. My children medicine is free. Dental is free up to age 10. Vision is free till 18.

If anything came up that I couldn't wait for and medicare wasn't going to allow me to be seen quickly I always have the option to pay for private healthcare. Its never happened though.
I have access to the best doctors of my choosing. When I read about Americans being forced to see certain drs and not others because of insurance it makes me cringe. an insurance company getting to decide if you really need that surgery or medicine or medical consult is really horrible.

I love Canada. Truthfully everyone loves Canada you just don't hear about it as much as Americans.


Honestly, I think it’s great that you love Canada, and it’s great that I love America. Interestingly enough, I find that Americans are happy to be proud of their country but don’t
Really go around bashing other countries. It seems to be a thing to bash America, though. To all of those from other countries who bash America, it’s fine. Don’t move here. And to all Americans who bash America, they have the option to leave. I just don’t get what all this American bashing is all about.
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amother
Copper


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:41 pm
amother wrote:
Alas - the dental is a "Quebec" thing, not a "Canada" thing.


Yes. That and the subsidized daycare.
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:42 pm
andrea levy wrote:
I belong to more than one party so that I can participate in leadership events if I so choose.


Would you agree you are a minority at that? (You must get sooooo much mail).
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:43 pm
amother wrote:
Yes. That and the subsidized daycare.


Yah.. and all that money for having children..
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amother
Silver


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:45 pm
mommy3b2c wrote:
Honestly, I think it’s great that you love Canada, and it’s great that I love America. Interestingly enough, I find that Americans are happy to be proud of their country but don’t
Really go around bashing other countries. It seems to be a thing to bash America, though. To all of those from other countries who bash America, it’s fine. Don’t move here. And to all Americans who bash America, they have the option to leave. I just don’t get what all this American bashing is all about.


Maybe help us understand to the average American what makes America "the greatest country in the world".
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Chana Miriam S




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:50 pm
amother wrote:
Would you agree you are a minority at that? (You must get sooooo much mail).


No. I know a lot of people who are, actually. I am really very conservative (although conservative in Canada includes universal social programmes) and I know a number of people who belong to more than one party. Locally, there were people who were obviously supporting other parties who showed up to vote for our next conservative candidate who is a 26 year old jewish guy. Because you can try to choose your opposition, or at least try to vote in someone who will least damage your riding if they are chosen to represent it. That is democracy to me. Also, it is a thing that we tend to vote for the candidate in our riding or for a platform, rather than just by party affiliation. My parents used to vote for an NDP Candidate because he was the best candidate in their riding for years. In my first house, I voted liberal because I felt the candidate was the best representative of our riding. Its an actual thing.

I listen to what parties and candidates are saying and vote with the party most aligned with what I consider reality, though I would be hard pressed to vote NDP ever. Cause one time, I did, and so did lots of other people and it was a disaster. Now I make sure that I don't vote strategically, but for the candidate and or party that best suits my political philosophy.
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amother
Copper


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 10:58 pm
andrea levy wrote:
No. I know a lot of people who are, actually. I am really very conservative (although conservative in Canada includes universal social programmes) and I know a number of people who belong to more than one party. Locally, there were people who were obviously supporting other parties who showed up to vote for our next conservative candidate who is a 26 year old jewish guy. Because you can try to choose your opposition, or at least try to vote in someone who will least damage your riding if they are chosen to represent it. That is democracy to me. Also, it is a thing that we tend to vote for the candidate in our riding or for a platform, rather than just by party affiliation. My parents used to vote for an NDP Candidate because he was the best candidate in their riding for years. In my first house, I voted liberal because I felt the candidate was the best representative of our riding. Its an actual thing.

I listen to what parties and candidates are saying and vote with the party most aligned with what I consider reality, though I would be hard pressed to vote NDP ever. Cause one time, I did, and so did lots of other people and it was a disaster. Now I make sure that I don't vote strategically, but for the candidate and or party that best suits my political philosophy.


I do not belong to any parties but have voted for members of all the major parties (well, except for the Green Party). I too chose to give my vote to the representative who is most aligned with my interests. I voted for Tom Mulcair when he was the leader of the NDP. Now you know where I live:)...
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amother
Coffee


 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 11:07 pm
mommy3b2c wrote:
Honestly, I think it’s great that you love Canada, and it’s great that I love America. Interestingly enough, I find that Americans are happy to be proud of their country but don’t
Really go around bashing other countries. It seems to be a thing to bash America, though. To all of those from other countries who bash America, it’s fine. Don’t move here. And to all Americans who bash America, they have the option to leave. I just don’t get what all this American bashing is all about.


To you, anyone who disagrees with the statement that "America is the greatest country on earth" is bashing America.
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Chana Miriam S




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Jan 09 2018, 11:08 pm
amother wrote:
I do not belong to any parties but have voted for members of all the major parties (well, except for the Green Party). I too chose to give my vote to the representative who is most aligned with my interests. I voted for Tom Mulcair when he was the leader of the NDP. Now you know where I live:)...


Lol! I’d have voted for jack Layton if he’d been in my riding! Also, Olivia Chow- I’ll never forget in the early nineties, I used to park on her street and her little old Chinese mom used to encourage me every day (she was running for school trustee at that point) “you vote Olivia! You vote olivia’

Too bad I only worked on the Danforth and lived in don mills!
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