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Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

bloomberg.com

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Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#21

Post by lostgame »

ska wrote: post #9
product50 wrote: post #3

And then you realize that the population of Canada is 10% of US. Canada should be compared to the Nordic countries vs. US in terms of quality of life etc.

It's not that simple, really. Although for some comparisons you are probably correct, in other ways they are a very natural pairing. For all their differences, in many other ways Canada and the USA are much more like each other than either are like any other country.

Completely agree with this, having lived for time in both countries.

While we might be a percentage of the overall US population, we are fortunate to have access to most of the same things as the USA, just with a few extra nice things like health care.

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#22

Post by vgoh1 »

product50 wrote: post #3

And then you realize that the population of Canada is 10% of US. Canada should be compared to the Nordic countries vs. US in terms of quality of life etc.

I don't understand this argument. What does the population of the country have to do with anything? Shouldn't a country with a larger population have more power to make competitive advantages, and larger economies of scale, and therefore have an easier time?

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#23

Post by lostgame »

gourabmi wrote: post #19
lostgame wrote: post #5

[flagged]

From my personal experience I have nothing but happy memories from my visits to Toronto. Yes, the winters can be brutal but so is the case with most of the New York state. Toronto seems more diverse, clean and in general, a happy place. <3

You're right - it's just so much cleaner than Chicago or Orlando. It makes living here feel 'good'.

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#24

Post by refurb »

hackbinary wrote: post #8
refurb wrote: post #4

Canadians have been gorging themselves on debt for the past decade. Far higher than other OCED countries. That's left them in a very precarious situation.[1] [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/24/canadas-household-debt-level...

Well spotted. And that is mostly due to Harper and the Conservatives giving huge tax breaks to the very wealthy, and the super ridiculously wealthy.

What do tax breaks have to do with private debt, namely mortgage and HELOC debt?

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#25

Post by kerkeslager »

ghobs91 wrote: post #6

and yet when clicking the link, the headline says "Canada’s household debt levels higher than any other country, report says"

I wonder if there's some A/B testing or tailored headlines going on here, because the headline I'm seeing when I click the link is "Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans".

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#26

Post by acchow »

ghobs91 wrote: post #6

and yet when clicking the link, the headline says "Canada’s household debt levels higher than any other country, report says"

I'm seeing a different page from yours.

Headline for me is: "Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans"

With a subheadline: "Middle-class people in the U.S. are losing ground to their peers in other rich countries."

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#28

Post by lostgame »

kthejoker2 wrote: post #15
lostgame wrote: post #5

[flagged]

I didn't downvote you, but I see no data, only anecdotes, poor forms of argumentation ("most of us ..."), and outright mistruths (your health care is in no way, shape, or form "free") ... and HN tends to downvote this sort of content.

How is USA health care not being free untrue?

Furthermore, I actually had to search, you're putting words in my mouth and misquoting me, there - I never, ever, said, anything along the lines 'in no way, shape or form is it free'. I'm aware of insurance, I lived there, I'm not dumb, and I don't appreciate people misquoting me, or putting words in my mouth, thanks.

I lived there, I would know...that's not something I think needs backed up by data...I'd be happy to provide it.

Also, how is something like ICE an 'anecdote'?

ICE is one of the biggest crimes against humanity that is still ongoing. I hear horror stories every other day.

EDIT: added references for everything.

Here: '6 reasons why health care is still so expensive in the USA' https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/08061...

Weather aside - Chicago, with a population of 2.7mil, reported 86,324 Chicagoans were homeless in 2017[1], vs. 9200 in Toronto[2], which has a population of 2.9mil. [1]https://www.chicagohomeless.org/faq-studies/ [2]https://homesfirst.on.ca/info-stats

Re: Most Canadians Are Now Better Off Than Most Americans

#29

Post by Ididntdothis »

grecy wrote: post #18
product50 wrote: post #3

And then you realize that the population of Canada is 10% of US. Canada should be compared to the Nordic countries vs. US in terms of quality of life etc.

I have never understood why people assume that just because the US is bigger than other OECD countries that it can't have the same levels of happiness, or the same quality/cost of healthcare and education etc. Why do you think the US should aim lower simply because it has more people? Why don't you think per-capita comparisons are valid? If anything, the US should be better than smaller OECD countries because it gets…

Yes. It's the "greatest country to ever have existed" but whenever it's behind in something it's impossible to fix that because it's too big, too diverse or something else.
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