VaxoP Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 or vice versa? what are your reasons? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglebtc Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 well you could look at it from a few diff angles, but since I'm not canadian i have no specific answers for you: ...in terms of voting and policy amendment ...in terms of political makeup of population and government ...in terms of the free health care system (Dem's love this) try those on for size. you'll have to do all the homework, unfortunately :p but this should get you going :) good luck, - brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvorgold Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 in some views yes, in canada, the law system is more democratic than the US, in the US they want all the border patrols to carry guns while in canada its not mandatory but they say they have the same privilegs as a mountie now. for government the US is more democratic since in the US they have a president and vice president and their election n stuffs all different than the canadian government while in canada, the governor general (rep of the queen) signs all the bills before they get put in place, if the prime minister is in a major scandal, the governor general has the power to overthrow the prime minister and call an election since he/she is the most powerful person in parliament (and is only selected by the prime minister and approved by the queen). Canada still has its ties with britain, although they dont get bills approved by british parliament anymore (since '82). In canada the education system is governmently funded while in many cases in the US, major companies may own the schools/fund the schools. In canada the government funds all peoples' health care through tax dollars so if someone is injured, its already paid for, unlike in the us its a pay per use service. thats all i can think of right now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neowin_hipster Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 Canada is not very democratic. Who has the power to stop Chretien or any majority party? If their own members go against they get kicked out. The moment a bill can't be passed parliament dissolves. In B.C, our liberals have even gone against court rulings. The ruling party has complete control. Its own members are even on a leash, unless they are cabinet ministers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaxoP Posted April 3, 2002 Author Share Posted April 3, 2002 true - true, but doesnt that exist in america too? ie if the congress is majority one party or something also, does it mean that because one party has majority rule its not democratic? or does it mean that the country IS democratic, and the party is just doing a good job of it. here are my arguements for each side Canada Resposible gov't (if bill cant be passed election is called) One leader can be in power for unlimited terms (ie if they are doing a good job, they are kept in power) BAD - Senate is appointed America House of represntatives, Senate, President all elected (is there any part of the political system where someone is appointed?) Power is distributed among states - (not so much in canada?) President, Congress and whats the third group? each can influence each other and stop decisions made by other groups if they deem not right BAD - When a bill is passed, many other unrelated, irrelevant things are added to it to get all 3 sides happy with the bill hopefully this is right, im not sure about the question marks.. anyone want to add or modify my points? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-LineD Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 I'm sorry I cant help because I know nothing about Canada and very little about the USA but hey, I'm learning a lot here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotcomlarry Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 The US Government has a system of checks and balances, so that no one 'side' may have more power than the others. Theoretically, Congress represents the people, but more often than not, it doesn't, but rather represent their own agendas or that of the lobbyists. The majority party chairs all the committees (Armed Services Cmte, etc etc). In regards to term limits (for Congress), I think they would be good in that you always have fresh blood, and probably not as much political scheming, blah blah blah.. If you really want to get technical, the US isn't a democracy, but rather a republic, since true democracy (direct voting) is more or less impossible to have, so a republic by which the people are represented is much more practical. And do remember that the Founding Fathers were charting new territory... the US wasn't called the Great Experiment for nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaxoP Posted April 3, 2002 Author Share Posted April 3, 2002 what are the checks and balances? whats the 3rd group? congress, president, ?? is everyone in power elected? when people vote, do they vote for the president himself, or the party? is power more spread out in states in america, or provinces in canada? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeons Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 Judicial(spelling?) branch is the third. They are the Supreme Court. Offically, they can veto a law. Technically, it's no where in the constitution they have that power, they assumed it at sometime, no one stopped them. That's the 3rd check in the check and balence system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozart Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 I would say that the United States is more democratic than Canada. In "democratic" I mean popular rule, not the party. The United States is a representative republic. Three branches of government. Majorities in congress and senate are needed to pass a bill. A better balance of governmental power and broader voting rights. Canada has a parliamentary system. We cannot vote for Prime Minister or Premier, only our local candidates. Majority party rules, the rest drool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grimman Posted April 3, 2002 Share Posted April 3, 2002 no to both questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john smith 1924 Veteran Posted April 3, 2002 Veteran Share Posted April 3, 2002 ahahah!!! dudes- are you trying to tell me that in pre 82 world times that i, a strong britain was more powerful than you, a meek canadian?!!!!!!! thats made my day. Do you canadians feel that you should get rid of us? do you feel independance from the old colonial power would benifit you? I think that this is very similar to the situation in AUS - they are still effectivly in the same situation as you, except i think their constitution differs. you could tie in australia into this... freedom from the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaxoP Posted April 4, 2002 Author Share Posted April 4, 2002 i think im going to pick america as more democratic.. does anyone have any more reasons or arguements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts