Is Canada a real country?

Is Canada a real country, or just a de facto 51st state? They depend on the United States to protect them as they are unable to really defend themselves.

They don't have to spend large amounts of money on their military, so they can afford to have socialised medicine. The only problem is, many Canadians come to the U.S.A. to receive treatment because of the inferior quality of care they receive in their own country.

Would Canada be able to have a stable economy without the U.S.A.?

Do Canadians pull their own weight as a country?

If the United States ever failed economically, would Canada survive on their own?

Reverend Rick said:

They don't have to spend large amounts of money on their military, so they can afford to have socialised medicine. The only problem is, many Canadians come to the U.S.A. to receive treatment because of the inferior quality of care they receive in their own country.

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Then why do so many Americans go to Canada for cancer treatments?

Reverend Rick said:

Is Canada a real country, or just a de facto 51st state? They depend on the United States to protect them as they are unable to really defend themselves.

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Do they? Or are they just a really nice country that no one is mad at?

Reverend Rick said:

They don't have to spend large amounts of money on their military, so they can afford to have socialised medicine.

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So rather than spending money on killing people in other countries, they spend it on healing people in their own?

Brilliant!

WHAT?????

LOL.... Well, first of all, I'm not Canadian; and all my information comes from two sources: 1) a former Canadian boyfriend and 2) my friend and mentor.

This is what I've been told:

• Canada has proposed closing its' borders to the U.S.
• Western Canada, especially, is completely self-sufficient. Some of the Western Provinces have even talked about breaking off from the country and forming their own borders. Alberta supplies a lot of the world's oil; and within a short while (after a pipeline is built), may supply more oil to the US than Iraq!
• Canada grows their own fruits and even tobacco. They have achieved amazing things in such a cold climate--by simply using huge greenhouses.
• Canada also supplies a lot of the timber to the US, along with other minerals.

AND... FIRSTHAND INFO HERE: When I went to Canada, I saw for myself that a lot of their products and services are from trade with China.

ALSO...Canadian citizens have a great health care plan, especially in comparison to millions of Americans who cannot get any health care and are refused federal aid.

Here's something you may not have known: There are some Canadian citizens, especially in the Western Provinces, who are quite fed up with American politics, because the US has continually screwed Canada in the Free Trade Agreement, which is why Canada has opted to do more business with China instead. At any rate, there are Canadian citizens who have formed militias waiting for the opportunity to fight the Americans again, if need be.

yuvgotmel said:

There are some Canadian citizens, especially in the Western Provinces, who are quite fed up with American politics,

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Why do they care about our politics?

because the US has continually screwed Canada in the Free Trade Agreement, which is why Canada has opted to do more business with China instead.

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If they did not like the agreement why did they sign it?

At any rate, there are Canadian citizens who have formed militias waiting for the opportunity to fight the Americans again, if need be.

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And what need would that be? Do they believe we are going to attack them?

I wrote: There are some Canadian citizens, especially in the Western Provinces, who are quite fed up with American politics, I wrote: because the US has continually screwed Canada in the Free Trade Agreement, which is why Canada has opted to do more business with China instead. I wrote: At any rate, there are Canadian citizens who have formed militias waiting for the opportunity to fight the Americans again, if need be.Suggestion: You really should get acquainted with Canada, Canadians and Canadian politics.

I work with a lot of our associates[co-workers] in Canada. Every Canadian I've run into seems to be so nice and level headed. Canada indeed does not have a powerful military, but a country is not defined [at least not alone] by it's military.

Canada does not need to depend on the US for military protection because they are not under any military threat. No-one's going to invade them and what little threat they fear from terrorist actions is entirely a result of their co-operation with the States. Without the US Canada would be safer.

It does not take a large military to defend a country. It takes a large military to carve out and maintain a World Empire. (Iraq seems to be defending itself against what started out as the most powerful military force in the world with no military at all). Other countries get on fine with little more than a National Guard, and feel perfectly secure.

Canada does not have socialized medicine. England has socialized medicine. Canada has a single-payer system.
The US has all three systems: The Veteran's Administration is a socialized system, Medicare a single-payer system and then there is the private system we all know and love.

Military spending does not seem to be a factor in either the US' or Canada's health care expenditures. Socialized and single-payer systems are cheap -- much cheaper that the private system the US has. Almost all expenditures go directly to health care, not to middle-men with their hands in the pot.

The US spends more, per capita, on its "private" healthcare system than any other country in the world, despite the 50% of discretionary income it spends on the military. I'm not talking about private payments, I'm talking about direct government expenditure and subsidies. Despite this, public health indices are embarrassingly poor compared to countries where, like police and fire protection, healthcare is managed by the government.

Gentoo said:

Then why do so many Americans go to Canada for cancer treatments?

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dont forget medicine and other medical treatent, illegal things, and occasionally fireworks. oh and the seafood is quite good near the oceans as well.

They don't have to spend large amounts of money on their military, so they can afford to have socialised medicine. The only problem is, many Canadians come to the U.S.A. to receive treatment because of the inferior quality of care they receive in their own country.

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Then why is it so common for Americans to turn to Canada for treatment, especially medication? So common in fact, laws have been on the senate floor to criminalize such acts.

They don't have to spend large amounts of money on their military, so they can afford to have socialised medicine.

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Different spending plans, and the tend to keep to themeselves. America would be able to afford a national health plan if military spending was cut back, which would be a safe move if our government didn't try to tell other nations how to run themeselves.

Would Canada be able to have a stable economy without the U.S.A.?

Do Canadians pull their own weight as a country?

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They can afford a national health plan, so it is a safe assumption there economy is doing well. They also have alot of tourism to help there economy. From people under 21 to drink and gamble legally, to people who want to camp, hike and fish, Canada does have it's fair share of tourism to float it's economy.

And what need would that be? Do they believe we are going to attack them?

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Well, Bush has planted the seeds of a government of his visions in Iraq, and is trying to do so in Iran. Why not the neighboring nation? Also, political relations between America and Canada are not exactly the best. In a state of mutual agreement is how I would describe it.

Why spend big bucks on military when they have a warlike tribe to their south that will protect them? Canadians served in WWII and other wars so it's not as if they don't have any, plus you can buy Canadian Army surplus AR-15 mags on the cheap, and since it's military approved they work pretty flawlessly (I've got a few). If I was to disappear, it would probably be up in one of their forests, tan myself out grow my hair long and pass myself off as a Native American, I've been mistaken for one before.

Blindinglight said:

Different spending plans, and the tend to keep to themeselves. America would be able to afford a national health plan if military spending was cut back, which would be a safe move if our government didn't try to tell other nations how to run themeselves.

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Hello! Is anybody listening?

America is able to afford a National Health plan. The government is already doling out more for healthcare than even the most extravagant single-payer plan could possibly cost. No other country in the world, despite their National health coverage, even approaches what the US government now spends on our "private" system.
If we adopted a single-payer system we could quarter our current healthcare expenditures.

In my Hospital alone we have hundreds of uninsured people and undocumented aliens coming through our ER every day. Who picks up the tab? -- The government, plus surcharges on insured patients bills. We have undocumented aliens coming in thrice weekly for expensive kidney dialysis, then walking out, against medical advice, as soon as the tubes are unhooked. Who pays? Government and surcharges on payed treatments. We have well-insured, middle class families financially wiped out by a single medical catastrophe, throwing them into poverty -- with their future medical bills picked up by (government) Medicaid.

Why is this such a difficult concept? National health does not cost money. It saves money.

Hello! Is anybody listening?

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I'm not, because I don't depend on this government or anyone else to pay my bills or keep me healthy. I'm a sap in a lot of ways because I pay taxes (only because I don't want to go to prison for some garbage like that), I was born into this system, I have a number on my A$$ and so do you if you live in the U.S. they will take you as soon as you are born, you are a product.

I'd rather die at forty on my own terms than live to a hundred on theirs.

Reverend Rick said:

Is Canada a real country, or just a de facto 51st state? They depend on the United States to protect them as they are unable to really defend themselves.

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Canada is also a senior member of the Commonwealth.

It answered Britain's call to arms; Long before America chose to come in on the side of the free world, in both world wars.
Nor did it profit from arms supplies in the same way. Only in The last few years has The UK managed to pay off the war debt to America.

America charged for every thing, through lease lend and other loans.
Unlike The Sherman plan For rebuilding Germany. The UK who had supported the cost of the war alone for over two years, Got no help in recovery.

In the very unlikely event Canada was attacked, Britain and the commonwealth would stand by their side at once. Whoever the attacker was. This would take precedence even over any treaties commonwealth countries may have with The USA.

Reverend Rick said:

Is Canada a real country, or just a de facto 51st state? They depend on the United States to protect them as they are unable to really defend themselves.

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If the USofA attacked Canada (who else would?), I hope (and think!) that the rest of the world would unite to fight the aggressor.

America is able to afford a National Health plan. The government is already doling out more for healthcare than even the most extravagant single-payer plan could possibly cost. No other country in the world, despite their National health coverage, even approaches what the US government now spends on our "private" system.

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Not too challenge this, as given your medical background I will assume you do know what your are talking about, but where do go to sign up for this insurance, since I do not have any?

Is Canada a real country?

Well I sure hope so, or I have been seriously duped... :sad4:

So far I have asked 8 questions and made a couple of generalized statements.

So far only half of my questions have been addressed and many of you are assuming what my position is.

Reverend Rick said:

Is Canada a real country, or just a de facto 51st state? They depend on the United States to protect them as they are unable to really defend themselves.

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Answered. Canada doesn't buy into the US paranoia and obsession with defense against imaginary threats. America, if anything, is more threat than savior.

They don't have to spend large amounts of money on their military, so they can afford to have socialised medicine. The only problem is, many Canadians come to the U.S.A. to receive treatment because of the inferior quality of care they receive in their own country.

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Answered, and those coming to the US do so more because of waiting lists for Dx & Tx than quality of care.

Would Canada be able to have a stable economy without the U.S.A.?

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I'm not an economist but I can't see why not. Canada's huge and resource rich, with a single, stable "foreign" border.

Do Canadians pull their own weight as a country?

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I don't understand what you mean, here.

If the United States ever failed economically, would Canada survive on their own?

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Again, I'm not an economist, but I don't see why not. Do you really think every other country's economy would collapse if the US went into recession?
Perhaps we'll find out shortly. If the US were a business it would already be in bankruptcy. It's we ("Americans") who are in deep financial doo-doo. If China alone were to call in our debts it would be 1932 redux.