comparisons to America

[caexogm8]

I'm not delusional enough to think that any place is perfect. There's a difference between perfect and workable. I there's a very compelling case to be made that Canadian democracy is both intact and resilient, and that American oligarchy and the socioeconomic experience that it dictates is objectively much worse. Over the next decade I can only see the US descending deeper into ruin. If the US gets an F on such key metrics as economic freedom, corruption, etc, then maybe Canada only gets a B+/A-. Doesn't need to be perfect to be a significant improvement, and thus a wise investment.

So I'd be thrilled to hear from Americans who've made the hop, or anyone else who can speak from experience or research. Is the grass, in fact, greener on the other side?

Thanks.

 

[newtone]

Read the book The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century by George Friedman

 

[caexogm8]

I read that book a few years ago, actually. Worth a skim re-read.

I forgot if it has much content or specific to say about Canada. But there's 2 topics here I speak to here, 1-American decline and 2-Canadian decency

iirc I thought he glossed over the part where he expects China to simply go under without making a serious case for how or why.

 

[newtone]

The book dosen't have anything to say about Canada simply because its not very significant in the global arena. Says a lot about Europe and Turkey, however the final thought on the book is America is here to stay, it is and it will be the big brother for years to come. Conquering space means conquering the world. Which is why right now its a technological warfare, they dont even have to send troops just send unmanned drones. My theory is in the next hundred years with the way in which technology and biology are progressing you could virtually annihilate your enemy just by the thinking about them. We already are at a stage where you can destroy them by the click of a button, the next generation of technology will be a combination of psychology, biology, engineering and technology. More like cyborg humans with micro-processors built into your DNA. This kind of research is only possibly in the US cause they have the money, technology, resources, minds, and the hunger.

 

[caexogm8]

I remember that piece on essentially WW3 and that's true. US controls the oceans and the sky. Space is the next major arena. We dont know everything that the secret R&D and mil industrial complex is working on. Still I think we have a long way to go before we're at that point that American imperialism is permanently entrenched. Where are China and Russia in his WW3 theory? Do they not have both a significant space investment and a major geopolitical interest in existential survival. And so many other things that haven't happened between now and 2040. Multipolarity, disincentive against mutual assured destruction, economic interdependence, these are all possibilities for a more hopeful future. I also take a historical long view of things.

What about America's internal problems, which are vast, and he doesn't say much about Wall Street banksterism or the deep disillusionment thats only grown in America since 2008. It was a good read and a fair enough prediction, common cliche states that even just 2 years can be considered a lifetime in politics. 10 years or 20 years is potentially a lifetime squared in global politics and history.

edit and expanding on this,

I reviewed his macro thesis and here are Friedman's major contributing factors to why Russia/China will implode in his opinion

Russia
-declining population
-poor infrastructure

China
-internal pressure
-economic inequality

These assertions lack depth in a major way. The same things could be said of the US. Let's ignore the fact that the Russian nation has been around for centuries and they are culturally comfortable with czarism. Let's ignore the fact that China has been around for millenia and that their government is a single central governing party. In the US we have a 2-headed hydra on a leash held by Wall Street. That's vastly less efficient than a single party system imo.

So I'll make the same fairly superficial case that Friedman made for Russian+Chinese implosion and instead apply it to America and add a few points

America
-internal pressure
-economic inequality
-social media and realization of corruption
-poor infrastructure
-at least 70% of Americans cant afford the American Dream
-disenchantment and anger at the .01 and ubercaste is large and growing

Seriously its like he just waves his hand and say "Russia and China will implode, demographics and economics and stuff"

 

[caexogm8]

Anyway apologies for letting myself get somewhat derailed. I'm not really interested in American empire. There's other forums I could've joined for that. Chiefly interested in what people can tell me about the Canadian experience, thanks.

 

[keesio]

So I'd be thrilled to hear from Americans who've made the hop, or anyone else who can speak from experience or research. Is the grass, in fact, greener on the other side?

I'm a dual US/Canadian citizen. Lived 15+ years in both countries. The differences are marginal. Which is better really depends on the individual. I know Canadians who moved to the US and never looked back and have no desire to come back. I know Americans who came to Canada and love it here. And of course I know both Canadians and Americans that moved to the other and did not like it. I would fall in the category of an American who came here and loved it so I'm still here. But I liked living in the US too.

Canadians think there is a huge difference but there really isn't. Most Americans barely know about Canada so don't even really think about it. To the rest of the world, Canada is like the US but smaller and more modest/humble because of its smaller stature.