Canada!!

Let me know where I can send you the Can of Pepsi. Just mail your Pasport back to the Government. I don't think you need it to cross into Canada.

Unemployement benifits. Does Canada do the Dole? I might be able to pay the rent in Canada if I lose my job. 7.5 is about our unemployment rate. Were ****ed if we lose our job In river city.

Curious this. Your ancestors probably came to America is search of opportunity. You decide to leave in search of welfare benefits.

Amongst a couple of thousand Pakistanis who are frightened of being deported in the fight against Islam, whoops, I meant terror.

I've been to hospitals and clinics all across this fair land. I've never had to wait for more than a few minutes to see a doctor. Nor has anyone I know. Our health care is accessible 24/7/365. Where are you people getting these ideas?

There may be waiting lists for specialized treatments, such as heartsurgery, psoreasis treatment and other treatments. I dunno, but that is the trouble here in the North. Other than that, there are no waitng lists.

True, I have no love lost for the airline industry (BTW Air Canada declared bankruptcy yesterday). But perhaps it's time Oregon discovered the glory of SALES TAX. It's also a little misleading to just talk numbers when talking of education, since I know that the California public education system, for example, wastes a lot of money on over-administration, corruption, etc.

Canada is a nice country though, I'm a big fan of Vancouver Good luck to you either way.

MPC, the problem is YOUR, not America. You seem to be an anger and miserable guy. Perhaps you should go see a counselor.

Blaming all of it on America is silly, really.

Just a little note: smoking weeds usually cause poor judgement.

You don't get it. You just don't. <sigh>

Oh, thank you for the rolling eyes. It really made my day

If I were MPC, I would just say this "I happened to dislike the way America is running itself" instead of "I hate America because they doesn't give a **** about Americans".

If he like Canada better than America, good for him but it's stupid to put America down just because he happened to dislike them.

I immigrated from Canada to the US so you can take my spot. <grin>

The health care system isn't nearly as bad as Americans make it out to be. But yeah, they do ration it. A lot of systems like MRIs simply aren't that common. So be prepared to be frustrated if they decide you don't have a condition that needs immediate treatment.

Canada has the strongest economy they've ever had at the moment. However be prepared. A strong Canadian economy is still much weaker than a weak American economy. But by and large menial jobs in Canada pay quite well. The government makes it so you can actually live on working in a grocery store or a gas station. I'm not sure that's right, but by and large Canadians like it.

It is pretty. There's a lot more regulation in Canada though. You may get frustrated. Vancouver is a beautiful area but the speed limits and police controls drive me crazy. The speed limit in most places is 45 mph and they enforce it so badly that most people drive under the limit, just in case.

If I had to live in Canada I'd pick Alberta. It has the strongest economy in the country and is much more American that most places. Stay away from the east coast. Very, very high unemployment. (I'm from Nova Scotia) A little run down as well.

Some people love Canada. I get very frustrated there even though I think it is far more beautiful than the US. I love in particular the Canadian rockies.

As an American you shouldn't have much trouble immigrating. If you aren't used to a high standard of living you'll like it there a lot. A lot of Americans who are middle class don't like it up there though. Overall it ends up being more expensive. (IMO)

MPC

Tell me what you want in a country and I'll tell you how it is here on the island.

Also tell me what you want to work with and etc.........

That's for sure. The Canadian Rockies are gorgeous.

I wouldn't suggest Calgary though - they might be upset about the fact they probably won't make the playoffs this year. Might not be as friendly as usual!

Hasn't that become business as usual for them?

You could go to Edmonton, they have a really big mall

I need to remeber this one for my all-time top ten list.

A good friend of mine is similar to this - always bitching about how hard it is for him to keep his head above the poverty line, how only the rich succeed, and how other countries really 'take care' of their people.

He's never too short on cash for weed, though, and would rather spend days/weeks/months on a couch doing bong hits instead of socializing, furthering his career, pursuing a college degree, exercising, etc.

A good friend of mine is similar to this - always bitching about how hard it is for him to keep his head above the poverty line, how only the rich succeed, and how other countries really 'take care' of their people. He's never too short on cash for weed, though, and would rather spend days/weeks/months on a couch doing bong hits instead of socializing, furthering his career, pursuing a college degree, exercising, etc.

An other benefit to moving to Canada. The weed is much cheaper and is generally conceded to be among the best there is. In BC in particular it is (unofficially) one of the biggest cash crops in the Province. Something like 1/3 of the weed in the US now comes from BC. According to that MTV special anyway. Not being one who would waste my time smoking weed, I don't know. But that's what my friends say as well.

They also don't care as much about small pot possessions up there. (Not that they do in the states either, although I know most fines are between $1000 - $2000)

A good friend of mine is similar to this - always bitching about how hard it is for him to keep his head above the poverty line, how only the rich succeed, and how other countries really 'take care' of their people.

There is also working its way through the legal system serious questions regarding small time pot possession.

http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2003/03/30/54550-cp.html

That's another thing that gets me. I hear a lot of people say that they have a hard time keeping above the poverty line or that only the rich succeed. I think that is a load of crap. You may never be as rich as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or people like that but you can still live comfortably. I see a lot of mexicans, Asians and other come to this country not know a word of english but yet are able to make it in this country. Why is that? Is it becuase they are willing to work even if it is a meanial job and work on learning new skills to get a better job? I've seen a lot more non-American people who come to this country and work there A$$ off for less than most people Make but you don't hear them complain. They are just happy to have a job and to make money.

If you get fired from your job would you work pumping gas or work in a grocery store bagging or working the register til you found something better? Would you Buss tables at a resturant? Most people in the US find this below them and don't do it then complain that they don't have a job or that they are being not fairly treated by this company or that company because they got laid off or fired.

not being judgemental at all, just pragmatic:
If you can't afford health care I'm confused how you are going to be able to afford the transportation costs to move to places like iceland?

I think your idea of "making it" might need some revision. I would say "survive" describes it a bit more accurately.

Sounds to me like MPC is sick of "surviving" and wants to go somewhere where government (and community) are more publically minded.

Some people want to call it "welfare" as if wanting low crime, decent pay, good education and health care make you some kind of parasite.

Society is based on cooperation. People working together to secure common good which enables private good. I don't think MPC is alone in wondering if enough Americans see through the false promises of the Rat Race and Consumerism to be worthy partners in building a better tomorrow.

If you don't feel like anyone else cares, it's natural to think about going somewhere where people might care more. The grass is always greener, as they say, but maybe the grass really is greener--depending on what you want.

Then again, maybe MPC just needs to find a corner of America with more like-minded people to find what he's looking for.