We’re just like the Americans, but without the guns & freedom.

@GeeMac

Half of the U.S. wants to be just like Canada because they are "sophisticated".

I have Canadian, Australian and European friends. For the most part when it comes to guns they are condescending. My response is that if you can't trust your citizens with guns you can't trust them with any freedoms including voting. All the arguments about this isn't the 18th century ignores the fact that a self reliant and responsible free population cannot be built on restricted freedom. If you don't allow people to make small but painful mistakes and keep them dependent their is no route to freewill, agency and dignity.

That said approximately 20 percent of the population is intellectually or emotionally unable to care for themselves. Like my liberal friends I do not want a society where 20 percent of the population fails. The problem is the U.S. is the most diverse country in the world. What works for Scandinavian countries will not work here. 50 years of liberal policies has produced runaway drug addiction, massive homelessness, violent and dysfunctional inner cities, failing infrastructure, astounding abortion rates, failed education, a permanent exploited and impoverished immigrant class, corporatism and corrupt government, failed foreign policy, helpless 30 year olds, failed families like Joe Biden's, energy dependence, corrupt elections, destruction of the working class, failed environmental movements, and destroyed the industrial base.

@wolfhnd yes, most of my American friends see Canada — inaccurately — as some kind of progressive utopia. Here are two examples I love that show how wrong that image is.

When Republicans want to tighten rules around elections with a requirement, for example, for ID, it’s denounced as “racist voter suppression”. Those US leftists who make a big deal out of that seem completely ignorant to the fact that no one in Canada can vote without showing valid ID, and everyone here just accepts that as reasonable. There are also stringent identity safeguards around mail in ballots, and all mailed ballots must arrive by the close of polls or they’re discarded.

On immigration, Canada is viewed by America as super liberal. Remember when Donald Trump wanted to impose an effective points-based immigration system? He was condemned from all sides as a supremacist racist. Yet the points system, favouring immigrants with language skills, education, and job training is exactly the system used in Canada, Australia and other countries.

The American left may fantasize about a progressive Canada, but when our ideas are offered by US politicians, progressives hate them. It also suggests that the ubiquitous “racism” smear isn’t about race at all.

@wolfhnd I also agree that approximately 20 percent of the population is intellectually or emotionally unable to care for themselves.

Most conservatives I know truly want to see these people cared for. Surprisingly, many of the leftists I know say conservatives are heartless, and would abandon the most vulnerable.

That is simply not true. Unlike the left, however, conservatives know full well that throwing money at a problem isn’t the answer. Neither is tolerating disorder, working to remove “stigma”, policing the opinions of others, or conducting smear campaigns.

If you are talking about health rules and regulations during the pandemic... they are not laws.

@Lightman SA with regulations to use facial recognition on smartphones to make sure you are in your home? Not a step too far???????

@adriaan23 Haven't heard of it are you reading conspiracy sites again, assange been emailing you rubbish perhaps, or is it a distortion based on the home quarantine system they are trying out / testing in SA?

@adriaan23 Oh look....
The South Australian government is SET TO TRIAL a smartphone app that uses facial recognition and geolocation to confirm a person’s location during home quarantine. The government WILL TRIAL the app known as Home Quarantine SA with 50 residents who are required to undertake 14 days of quarantine on return from interstate locations this week.

Better than hotel quarantine eh, saves the police etc from having to do it as well.

@Lightman Step by step. Reminds me of a Goon Show line. Open your wallet and repeat after me "Help Yourself"

@adriaan23 You should get a new tinfoil hat and a t shirt that says genuine conspiranut.
No wonder you idolise assange

@Lightman A tinfoil bodysuit is the go! But you seem to have a superpower! The ability to ignore the facts presented by the Assanges of this world and the power to leap obvious conclusions at a single bound.

@adriaan23 My problem with assange apart from his psychopathic selfish narcissistic personality is his lack of good judgement and responsibility.

Si, si!