There are other differences too.
The U.S. deficit is about 4% of GDP while Canada's is about 1%. Sales tax in Canada is significantly higher because of the national 5% sales tax. Income taxes for the bottom 50% of earner in both countries are about the same but higher earners pay significantly more taxes in Canada. So middle class and higher income Canadians both pay higher taxes when sales taxes are included.
Canadian healthcare is 70% government funded while the U.S. system is 50% government funded (Medicare and Medicaid). Canadians live longer and have a lower infant mortality rate.
The unemployment rate is significantly higher in Canada. Canadians are just 82% as productive as U.S. counterparts.
U.S. citizens have a higher standard of living.
Why the differences? I sure don't know but I can make some guesses.
1) Canada remained part of the U.K for much much longer than the U.S. and the parting in Canada's case was peaceful. As the U.K tended towards socialism, so too did Canada.
2) Canada has a parliamentary system of government and the U.S. does not. Parliamentary systems focus power in a winning party or coalition in a way that the U.S. system of legislative versus executive does not.
3) The U.S. has many more really large urban centers.
4) The U.S. has played the role of super-power for about 70 years now. That is a privilege/curse Canada has never had.
5) Canada does not boarder South America.
6) The U.S. has a much larger population.
7) Canada is officially bilingual and really has two cultures.
The U.S. deficit is about 4% of GDP while Canada's is about 1%. Sales tax in Canada is significantly higher because of the national 5% sales tax. Income taxes for the bottom 50% of earner in both countries are about the same but higher earners pay significantly more taxes in Canada. So middle class and higher income Canadians both pay higher taxes when sales taxes are included.
Canadian healthcare is 70% government funded while the U.S. system is 50% government funded (Medicare and Medicaid). Canadians live longer and have a lower infant mortality rate.
The unemployment rate is significantly higher in Canada. Canadians are just 82% as productive as U.S. counterparts.
U.S. citizens have a higher standard of living.
Why the differences? I sure don't know but I can make some guesses.
1) Canada remained part of the U.K for much much longer than the U.S. and the parting in Canada's case was peaceful. As the U.K tended towards socialism, so too did Canada.
2) Canada has a parliamentary system of government and the U.S. does not. Parliamentary systems focus power in a winning party or coalition in a way that the U.S. system of legislative versus executive does not.
3) The U.S. has many more really large urban centers.
4) The U.S. has played the role of super-power for about 70 years now. That is a privilege/curse Canada has never had.
5) Canada does not boarder South America.
6) The U.S. has a much larger population.
7) Canada is officially bilingual and really has two cultures.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
