Bob of Calgary

A Canadian responded to the Paul Krugman article The Angry Rich posted below and obviously struck a chord with his comparison between Canadian and American life. He managed to garner one the highest amount of comment recommendations I've ever seen. Having lived in Canada for over 30 years and missing it daily here in central Florida, I can attest to the veracity of his comments.

From the American reader reaction it is apparent that we are yearning to be equally free. I know I am. Canada has problems to be sure, but it's a helluva lot closer to a realization of the American dream than the US is right now.

21. Bob
Calgary, Canada
September 20th, 2010
10:20 am

My household makes just over $250,000 here in Canada. One of the best bargains I get for my money is living in a place where I and everyone I know sends their kids to public schools because they are really good. We end up with few criminals, because students learn how to be productive good citizens in schools.

A second bargin I get is universal health care. Great care (rated well above the American system in most measures) whenever you need it without worry about not being approved. It all comes at a bargain price of about 50% of the cost of the US health system.

A third bargain is the modernizing infrastructure. Cities in Canada are building new commuter train systems, rebuilding old overpasses and other roadways, building new schools, new recreation centres, etc. We are not quite like a new city in China, but we are not the decrepit cities of the USA where governments are shutting the lights out at night because they have no money. In Canada, we realize that we can't live off of the work of our grandfathers forever.

A forth bargin is the right of Canadian mothers (or fathers) to spend a decent period of time with their children when they are born. With one year maternity leave, we can ensure that parents and kids bond and families have some time to look after one another. I personally think it preserves a lot of marriages. (the pay is about 60% your full pay for the year so it is still a financial sacrifice).

Speaking of marriage, I am glad that my tax dollars don't go to perverse things like trying to stop gay people from getting married or raising children together - what a waste.

The next bargin is public universities - a place where my children and the children from all types of households can go to and graduate with a big debt, but not a devistating one.

Lastly (there are more, but I have to get back to my work), we get governance. This includes a banking system that is there to support the economy, not end run it to make a few $$.

With all of that said, I have to say that along with this, I enjoy one of the free-est countries on earth. Our business freedoms are as extensive as the USA. We are free to hunt and own guns (aside from assault weapons and who needs those anyways). IN fact, I have lived in the USA and I have to say, I can't see any freedoms there that we don't have here.

Oh yeah, and my total tax bill is about 2% higher than it would be in the USA. To me, its a bargain!

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