One of the great mysteries of North America is why so many Canadians trust their government while most Americans think their own government is a pack of liars.
Canadians seem to believe, for instance, in Global Warming to a far greater degree than those in the United States. Americans, when confronted with climate-related excuses to frighten, tax, and regulate, roll their eyes and try to hold on to their wallets even as we scheme to replace the greediest and most self-serving politicians with those more likely to love their neighbors.
As one tiny example of Canadian trust in government, Canadians, despite their proximity to growing numbers of polar bears and the naturalists who count them, are more ready to believe that those same bears are getting ever-closer to extinction.
They are generally more concerned about Imaginary Problems as rising sea levels, air pollutants, and whatever alarms du jour they are told about by an obedient, but remarkably literate, media. Indeed, Canadian newspapers are so well-written that Canada’s better-educated citizens can most reasonably find them convincing.
The Canadian mind has adapted to the dichotomy between government falsehood and reality by becoming extremely complex. Indeed, having to live amidst so many lies, the intellectual ability of Canadians is extremely high.
Americans are far more simple-minded. We will react, with knee-jerk speed, “Our government has a lot of liars in it, and this is another one of their d*****d lies.” is how we greet most government proclamations. The Canadian mind is far more sophisticated. It can maintain a dual reality. The majority of Canadians know that “If I need an MRI, it will take six months, and I may die from a disease our health service refuses to even identify, much less treat.” even while they insist, “Our health care system is the best in the world.”
Even while they are saying this, they are seeking information about medical centers in Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota where they, or their loved ones, can obtain prompt medical care when they need it.
Since Canadians and Americans share so much common history, this difference between the two peoples is remarkable. It may be that, since many supporters of George III preferred to move to Canada than rebel against the monarchy, they have influenced Canadian culture to be more accepting of government than is the case in a nation founded by their more revolutionary brothers and sisters.
It’s hard to tell who was right, those who participated in America’s Revolution or those who were loyal to the King. Both countries have ended up being run by far greater tyrannies than either George III or America’s Founding Fathers ever dreamed of.
