gargle.org - rinse vigorously

I hear it said a lot by lots of people, including Carlos, and even my usually-cynical father who emmigrated from communist Czechoslovakia in 1965 - the US is the greatest country in the world. The arguments I usually hear involve the freedoms that the US provides - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to travel, etc. Other reasons include the governmental system of checks and balances which prevents tyrants from ever taking over, a very high average standard of living, and of course our massive military might. Few could argue against these last two points - we are certainly the richest and most powerful country in the world. But is the US really the greatest country in the world?

What aboot Canada, eh? They also offer freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to travel, a high standard of living, and a decent military. And they kick our ass in hockey, eh?

Granted, Canada's high standard of living and military might is largely due to extensive trade with the US. For example: I work with Canadian military and once asked a naval officer about their air force. He showed me a picture of an F-15. I asked whether Canada modifies the US jets like Israel does. He pointed out that there was a fake cockpit painted on the under-side of the plane and explained that this way the enemy won't know if you're right-side up or upside-down. I had to prevent myself from laughing and shouting "THAT's your enhancement?!"

But one could pose the argument that Canada offers even greater freedom than the US does, possibly due to the surprising lack of corruption. Based on my limited knowledge of how things work in Canada, the separation of church and state is more firm in Canada so people are more free to practice whatever religion they desire wihtout feeling any pressure. Religious groups do not carry nearly as much clout in the Canadian government. Travel is wide open and there is no danger of getting lynched or run out of town if you're a black man and end up in an all-white neighborhood. Big business policies do not influence laws in the same way that they do in the US, which is clearly evident in Canada's record of placing environmental concerns over that of industry, the low price of pharmaceuticals, and the decriminalization of relatively harmless substances such as marijuana, which could potentially damage sales of cigarettes (and paper & lumber in the case of hemp) - something that the industry political action groups in the US would never allow to happen.

If you've ever seen "Bowling for Columbine" (and god do I hate referencing that crackpot Michael Moore), you'll know that Canada is just as represented by minorities as the US is, firearms are readily available and most people take advantage of that, and yet the crime rate is absolutely miniscule compared to the US. Moore blames a "culture of violence and fear" in the US. I don't know what it is, but walking around in Toronto, it certainly did not look or feel like New York.

So are there any bad things about Canada? One bad thing I do know about is the dislike between the French Canadians and other Canadians in Montreal and other parts of Quebec. I never find articles about it, but I have heard some stories from my father's friend who lives near Montreal and it doesn't sound pretty. But I almost NEVER see any bad press about Canada. Except this article. But even this article makes the US, in my mind, seem like the bad guys. Unless you're a member of PETA, the worst most hypocritical animal-rights group in the world, you know that seals get overpopulated and that mankind, as part of the ecosystem, has hunted to provide food, warmth, and commerce since the beginning of civilization. What right does the US seafood industry have to try to take away Canada's livelihood because they kill seals? Don't these same people kill fish with wreckless abandon and completely wipe out crab populations in the Chesapeake Bay?

So in conclusion, while our Neighbors to the North owe a lot to the US, perhaps they are using those resources to build a better society. Or maybe it's the policies of our current government that are making me look to the North. The way big business and religious groups get what they want at the expense of the environment, the underpriveledged, and the non-christian...the never-ending violence at home and abroad...the way standards of living are beginning to slip as gas prices, home prices, and inflation rise...these things make me wish for something better. Does Canada hold the key?