Canada is not a 3rd world nation.

I think that it’s partly due to sharing a common language (mostly) and we look alike. Another reason, I feel, is that Canadians are on the same economic level we are so people don’t look down their noses at them as much.

Nah. It has nothing to do with skin color.
The Canucks are employed, have health care, have similar incomes and education, are not desperate, fit well into our school system, pay taxes, and in general bring income to the US.
I’d say a pretty good deal, eh?

The only problem I have had with Canadian is a guy I worked with at the office. His lawn was always perfect. Made mine look bad.

Canada is not as poor as Mexico. It is the same reason why Americans don’t migrate to Mexico, our living conditions are better here.

“why Americans don’t migrate to Mexico”

Some do. Cheep living for the (comfortable) retired.

Well, I think Mexico is in the shape it’s in because of their own mismanagement. Much like how we are in the shape we are in for the same reason. So, what made Mexico mismanage their affairs so badly compared to US, and Canada…

It is not mismanagement. Think of it as an ecosystem.

The world “evolved” faster then their culture could handle/keep up with .And are now caught between two worlds.

The feeling I get from this situation is the same as when a friend or family member is in dire need for something all of a sudden that they can’t get for themselves, even though they have all the capabilities they need to have gotten that thing. So before help is given, they must undergo some questioning. Why don’t you have the money for your rent? Because you drank it away….ok…well…maybe I can help you but first you are going to have to join AA.

Same thing for Mexico. Why is it so bad in your country that you are leaving? I know that with a country the reasons are created exponentially, but still…don’t we have some right to confront our neighbor. We see you need help, now if you want it, you are going to jump through our hoops.

This isn’t limited to the USA-Canada-Mexico axis. Look at Europe. Immigration (legal or not) from developed countries (i.e. Spain to France) is controlled and fairly limited (much like movement between Canada and the USA). However, immigration from impoverished African, Middle Eastern or Eastern European countries IS less well controlled, and the populations of immigrants are growing rapidly in many developed European countries (just like the Mexican population in the US). It’s all about economics. The poor try to go where they think they will be less poor. Go figure.

Most Canadians already have a job and Gov health care what do we have that they don’t??

Mexico is poor not only because the soil is poor and stuff like that.
Their government has been notably corrupt for a very long time. That only changed, and it didn’t change that much, when Vicente Fox was elected about ten years ago. It’s very difficult to dislodge a corrupt system, and he didn’t try; he tried to reform it. Give it another 100 years.
Just a side note.
Oh and – with regard to Mexico being attractive to retirees – that is quite true. But there’s a trickle of working-age people moving there permanently as well, for the quality of life on an emotional level. Less desperation, more sociability. Funny, huh?

Water flows downhill, not uphill. People who immigrate are looking for an easier life, not one that is the same or offers less. They only tend to migrate to a better place, so why would Canadians want to illegally migrate to the US when there is no real difference in living standards etc? The US doesn’t offer an easier or better lifestyle – just a different one.

Everything everyone has said it true but there’s quite of few undocumented Canadian in the US and they are the ones who are taking jobs from American !!
I doubt there is many Americans who would be willing to do backbreaking work in the blistering heat for less than minimum wage !

And YES to a certain degree it is a race thing !!

@Pretty_Lilly I’m having some trouble understanding how it could be about race, maybe you can elaborate a little? I would just assume that any race in such a position would seek to migrate to a better place?

@Pretty_Lilly And YES to a certain degree it is a race thing !!

Race? Canadians? They are primarily not racially different. Did you mean nationality?

Because living in Canada doesn’t suck rank ass.
Life in Mexico isn’t very good.

I’m guessing you haven’t ever been to Mexico or Canada. Let’s just say the differences are stark.

@Captain_Fantasy I dunno, the weather in Toronto kinda sucks.

Just like it does in upstate NY. Sigh.

@Captain_Fantasy: see my earlier post. What you’re saying may be what most Americans believe, but not all of Mexico is beseiged by drug wars. And many Mexicans enjoy prosperity. This is a sidetrack, but – had to say it.
@Pretty-Lilly: Yes, could you explain about race? Curious, not sure I get… Also, aren’t you kinda contradicting yourself? You say Canadians are taking jobs from Americans, but Americans aren’t willing to do “backbreaking work in the blistering heat”. Are you saying Canadians are taking those jobs? Or not? Who should be doing them? This is good food for thought.

Well, do why don’t we get to say, “Hey, Mexico, clean up your act, or we’re coming to clean it up for you.”

@Blackberry & @DarkScribe !
What I meant most American are hypocrites,,,specialist conservatives !! They don’t have the “NADS” to admit they don’t like the “BROWN” people coming to this country !! They don’t have a problem with “CAUCASIANS” coming to this country undocumented !!
I have engaged in this argument in the past !!
Most Americans have ancestors who migrated to the US illegally ! Ellis Island would get them from Europe by the hundred of thousands !!!
The White Man is the original illegal alien !!

@Pretty_Lilly Just for your information, Ellis Island was a legitimate way to enter the country when it was open. While rules for immigration certainly were more lenient, there were still rules and eventually, quotas. For example, many Jewish refugees from WW2 were turned away owing to xenophobia and limits on immigration.

@shilolo OH, really and all this time, I thought it was just like Coney Island !
Yes it was but it would get quite a few immigrants without documents !!
From all over Europe,,,,Irish,Italians etc,,,etc !!

@Pretty_Lilly – no, they’d be turned away at Ellis Island if they were considered “undesirable” – like if they were ill or weakened by age. There wasn’t a border they could walk across. It was different. But you do make me laugh.
So I wanted to repeat this (below) because I wrote your name wrong and it didn’t get your attention:
Yes, could you explain about race? Also, aren’t you kinda contradicting yourself? You say Canadians are taking jobs from Americans, but Americans aren’t willing to do “backbreaking work in the blistering heat”. Are you saying Canadians are taking those jobs? Or not? Who should be doing them?

@Pretty_Lilly You said “Most Americans have ancestors who migrated to the US illegally ! Ellis Island would get them from Europe by the hundred of thousands !!!” Not having documents ≠ illegal. Since they came through Ellis Island, and were vetted by immigration authorities, their entry can be considered legal.

@susanc No, I am not contradicting myself ! The undocumented Canadians are the ones taking the jobs,most belly-aching Americans are always whining about ! One thing I can say about Hispanics they are very hard working and they are the ones doing the backbreaking work in the blistering heat !
“PLUS” Do Hispanics cross the border illegally and put a gun to all American business owners to hire them ??
They wouldn’t be willing to come here if “AMERICAN” business owners were not willing to hire them and work them like mules for sub-pay !

Why would any self-respecting Canadian want to become a citizen of a country that doesn’t have health care, is prejudiced, owned by international corporations, and lies and cheats its citizens? Since I was born here I feel a bond to this country and a duty to help fix it. There is no reason for anyone fortunate enough to be born in a free prosperous country to take on this kind of commitment.

@Pretty_Lilly Please provide evidence of undocumented Canadians “taking the jobs” short of just saying it.

There is no problem because both countries speak the same language. Pure and simple.

Then there is the economic partnership; that is the most productive border in the world.

Then there is a fact; americans will not —at least for now— flee into Canada in amazing numbers.

Then there is another thing; the colombians will not get their products in Canada to, later on, smuggle it to the US.

Then security; Canada don’t give up visas to anyone who wants to go there to, later on come here.

Among many other points.

@Pretty_Lilly Sometimes you get so excited!!!!!!!
(which is part of why I like what you write!!!!!) that sometimes I don’t get the bits between the bits. Now that I get the whole story, I think you’re exactly right.

The government has a lot to do with it, not skin color…
There’s a lot of poverty down here & they believe they’ll get better chances at making some money over there, which in the end is completely false; they do not get a better life because they live under horrible conditions and don’t even make that much money.
I’ve heard stories of poeple who crossed the border & they ended up working harder than they did here and earning the same amount of money or just a few more bucks, but still not enough for the works they do.

Our government is very, very corrupt, it always has been… To me, not even Fox did a good job about it.
‘ve seen enough to strongly believe that the government prefers to keep people ignorant so they won’t notice what an awful job they do and how much they suck.
On the other hand, local culture is very much about “Father Government gives me everything”. That is also why few people in here are succesfull,they want someone else to do things for them. It is better to ask for money than to work for it. Most want the easy way out; which they believe they’ll find crossing the border or are very very naive.

Canadians don’t need to cross the border to search for a better life, they already have one. Our cultures are way too different.

The Canadians who are in power, the majority of the population, are descendants of the European invaders, and therefor mostly equal to the US citizens. Many inhabitants of Mexico are descendants of the original indigenous (defeated) people, and have more of an ax to grind.

some Canadian’s and Americans sneak over the border… very few and for different reasons…(usualy when being chased by the cops…or drug smuggling)

@Pretty_Lilly It sounds to me like you’re itching to find a way to call us eeeeeevil conservatives racists with some kind of legitimacy.

I’ll tell you now: it’s not gonna work.

By and large, conservatives do not care about your melanin levels. They just want everyone to play by the rules. We’re big on rules, you know.

@Nullo Let’s not start with the rose colored views of the Republican party’s activities with respect to fostering diversity. No less an expert than than Michael Steele, chairman of the GOP, recently acknowledged the Southern strategy of the GOP. Moreover, actions speak louder than words. How many current Republican senators and representatives are black? This is a tough one. Ok…the number is zero. That doesn’t constitute an organized plan?~ Really?

Canadians are like Americans, but with culture and class. Why should they want to have problems with us?

@shilolo I have said it before, and I dare say that I’ll say it again at a future date: Conservatives are not necessarily going to be Republicans, and Republicans are not necessarily going to be conservative (Adam Sandler is a Republican). @Pretty_Lilly is talking about and maligning conservatives here.

The black Republican congressman count is low, I suspect, because the overwhelming majority of blacks are Democrats and, when aspiring to public office, will run on the Democratic ticket.

I’ve heard Canadians described as unarmed Americans with healt care.

Found this while noodling around the Web, and it reminded me of this question. Enjoy!

Canada should be thankful the Americans don’t decide to make a collective run for it.

We are very thankful that you don’t all make a collective run for it. The fact that we fund an excellent public school system means that our workers can be well-qualified. The fact that we fund a public health system means that our poor people are less desperate than yours, and the fact that we don’t carry guns means that our desperate people are less dangerous than yours.

We are very thankful that you don’t all make a collective run for it.

@canajun Exactly. Frankly, I’m surprised that more Americans aren’t escaping across the border to Canada.

I think that Canada is showing Americans what life could be without an elite class that is trying to create an empire.

Canada is far superior in every way to the US, including, lately, the dollar.

@zen not just yet….