Canada (or at least Ontario) was effectively created by people fleeing the US. The United Empire Loyalists were driven out of the States after the American Revolution.

. . .

Canada has always been where Americans come to avoid repression.

To be fair, what became English Canada diverged from the British Colonists in what became America in part because of people fleeing the US, like the Loyalists, and more recently the Vietnam draft dodgers. I would also that continually have to deal and compromise with Quebec also played a large role, not the least of which is the willingness to tolerate a multicultural society.

But don't forget that the Canadian colonies chose not to join the revolution; it's that that ultimately created Canada.

the "forest primeval" of northern vancouver (i hope they still have some of the fir trees) and its haida indians with their totally strange language. and the beautiful north shore of lake superior (hope it's not all been developed). and winnipeg with its seemingly good life for all. and the french who were always amused embarrassing a shy anglo. it's a beautiful country and if you get sick or injured you can walk into any clinic or hospital and be treated politely and for free. if you have to take a little "attitude" along with this, i think it's earned. if you are sitting in the subway next to some huge bully guy who, with spread legs, takes up three seats - it's understandable you aren't going to be in the best mood. Paulus "Claiming that you are tired of killing isn't a good enough reason to be a refugee." - i think it's the *only* reason, the *best* reason. it would be the end of war(as we know it). Barnardsstar "It's that they've twice elected a deeply unintelligent, incompetent, and contemptuous, hard right President." - MANY americans are also dumbfounded(truly, it was INCONCEIVABLE - yet it happened)

THE CANADIAN BIT (well, really the Torontonian bit)

Toronto is Canada's largest city, and it is surrounded by Canada's largest sprawl. The city proper falls within the area code 416. The suburbs are 905. There is not a single Conservative MP in the 416...

That's not relevant to the argument above... I just want to point out that I didn't vote for Harper or any of his cronies!

The biggest shame in Canadian politcs at the moment (aside from our endemic inability to deal with our First Nations and the issue of Quebec separation) is the Ontarian rejection of the Conservative Party of Canada. There's this perception of the Conservatives as this evil right-wing party full of lunatics, but if they were only co-opted by Ontario then they'd (probably) be brought further to the left, and more importantly we'd actually have a second national party again.

I personally would like the Green Party to take off, but I worry that the next election will bring back the Liberal Party solely on the power of the Ontario vote.

is just the 51st state of the U.S. and always has been. Americans who think they are making some statement by moving there are really just saying that they want to live on the fringe.

I'm ok with that unless they desert their duty to the military that they swore too.

I'm not going to do a point by point rebuttal, as a lot of your post comes off as flame-bait, but...

1.)Canada hasn't historically treated its aboriginals any better than the U.S. has treated its minorities.

Well... we didn't enslave them. But I'm willing to bet our reservation system and all the free money coming from the federal government has contributed to the situation we have today, which is hella worse than you guys treat your minorities now. Not that the Indians aren't in part complicit in the matter. For something scary, Google "Davis Inlet". How the fuck did that happen in Canada?

Now this is the part that actually bugs me:

Furthermore, a great deal of your economic prosperity you owe to trade with the U.S., your best students all study here, far more of your citizens move here than the reverse, you import huge quantities of consumer goods and raw materials from the U.S., the reason you haven't historically needed a large military to defend the world's second largest amount of territory is that you always had the luxury of knowing that no one would dare f**k with you for fear of pissing off your rather formidable ally to the south, CAN-CON regulations aside much of your culture is derivative of American culture, etc. Canada wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is without the U.S., and you know it.

We're each other's largest trading partners. Even now. More stuff (money and goods) comes from to the US from Canada than China, and still by a big margin. And sure, a lot of our brightest people do go to the States, and our musicians and movie stars go down there to make big names for themselves. Can you blame them? But either country wouldn't be nearly successful without the other.

And by the way, I apologize for any Canadians with that "smug, self-righteous attitude". It is a huge problem in Canada. I suspect it's a side-effect from being a small power (only 30 million people, after all) next to the world's only superpower, and perhaps a little subconscious worrying that we really are Americans. We're not, but I don't think "Canadians know how to make love in a canoe" really helps out the country anymore.

"Canada...is just the 51st state of the U.S. and always has been."

It's this type of arrogance and blatant disregard for the most basic of world histories that infuriates not only Canadians but the world at large. You wonder why people all over the world despise you? The sentiment expressed by this post is your proof.

Open up your eyes a little bit, and you'll see there's a whole world out there...it's not that hard you know. C'mon...give it a try sometime!