How is Canada Perceived From Where You sit?

[zanzibar]

If it's purpose is to redistribute wealth from the wealthy to the poor, and its effect is to redistribute wealth from the wealthy to the poor, then....

[neko kyouran]

In a place where money makes the world go round, the poor are the ones that need the help, so if its moving money from the rich, who don't need the help, to the poor that do need the help, then it's serving its purpose is it not?

[zanzibar]

The problem is waste, but waste exists in the United States just as much as it does in Canada.  More so, really.

[bilbous]

I guess  we are showing people that Canadians like to argue...

Oh and complain about the government and politicians.

[Akaye]

Can you explain what you mean by Welfare State? Do you mean Canada is a welfare state? If so why are you left with that impression?

It means that the Canadian government takes measures to ensure that all citizens are living at at least a certain basic standard of livin

Thanks for answering Zanzibar but  question wasn't for you and I wasn't asking for the definition of Welfare. I was asking for lordraleigh to explain his one lined statement so I could understand if I had it right before I answered him. I know the definition, otherwise I would have asked "What does welfare mean?" :/ if I didn't.

[zanzibar]

Can you explain what you mean by Welfare State? Do you mean Canada is a welfare state? If so why are you left with that impression?

It means that the Canadian government takes measures to ensure that all citizens are living at at least a certain basic standard of livin

Thanks for answering Zanzibar but  question wasn't for you and I wasn't asking for the definition of Welfare. I was asking for lordraleigh to explain his one lined statement so I could understand if I had it right before I answered him. I know the definition, otherwise I would have asked "What does welfare mean?" :/ if I didn't.

Welfare is different from welfare state.  Being a welfare state implies a lot more than just welfare.

[Idoru]

I guess  we are showing people that Canadians like to argue...

Oh and complain about the government and politicians.

and thats what makes  them more like the British than Americans are 

Do Canadians generally turn out to vote? or is that like in Britain aswell where apathy is rife?

[zanzibar]

Canadians like to argue.  Americans just like to say they're right and everyone else is wrong.

[LARAGORN]

Canadians like to argue.  Americans just like to say they're right and everyone else is wrong.

Sory Zan, but I had to laugh at that statment comming from you
no offence intended, just an observation.

[bilbous]

The last federal election had a 60% turnout. Not the worst in the would but lots of room for improvement. For more information you can peruse the Elections Canada site and the statistics from the last general election

[Idoru]

60% 

In the UK we are lucky to hit 40% for General elections and 30% for local elections......

....But we dont have much choice, Both major parties are pretty much indistinguishable from each other.

[Akaye]

Welfare is different from welfare state.  Being a welfare state implies a lot more than just welfare.

*sighs* Congrats on another useless one liner post that has no meaning to any of what I said. One more for the post count I suppose.

[bilbous]

There isn't much choice here either. There is the Liberal party and the 'anyone but Liberal party' which is usually some type of Conservative party. Typically whoever panders to Quebec the most (seemingly the Liberal parties raison d'etre) wins but from time to time the rest of the country gets represented. I believe that in the last fifty years there have been less than 10 in which the Prime Minister hasn't been from Quebec. Most of that 10 years would have been at the start of the 50. The socialist NDP party exist apparently for the sole purpose of coming up with ideas for the Liberal party to steal. The Bloc Quebequois is a party officially dedicated to Quebec independence but in practice is apparently about extorting concessions from the rest of the country. I don't think the majority of their supporters would enjoy the result if independence was achieved. that is my personal opinion and the topic is highly controversial here.

[zanzibar]

Welfare is different from welfare state.  Being a welfare state implies a lot more than just welfare.

*sighs* Congrats on another useless one liner post that has no meaning to any of what I said. One more for the post count I suppose.

It's very much connected and I don't understand why you don't understand.  From the tone of your post, it's obvious that you don't want to know, so I won't bother explaining it.

[Sharakaz]

Canada? Cold country populated by bears and salmon.
I don't know any people comming from Canada.
The only news about Canada running over here is the occasional shooting of Canadian soldiers by American planes in Afghanistan or when they try to claim danish territory (Hans Ø)
The sterotype of Canadians is tea-drinking, skiing people dressed in a parka

So all in all I don't know alot about this silent country