Canada relies on the size and expense of America's military. While Canada contributes to military actions abroad, and NATO, Canada relies heavily (as does most of the western world) on U.S. contributions to NATO et. al.
That is the trade off that we have enjoyed, yes, but it has also brought other benefits to your country. The opportunity cost of investing in our military has been funneled to peace keeping and infrastructure projects abroad. It has honed its peace keeping tactics given that it cannot provide huge amounts of military support.
The Harper government put $64 billion into vamping up Canada's navy in order to deal with the upcoming battle over arctic sovereignty, something that greatly affects North American trade.
It's not as black and white as saying that Canada is enjoying a free ride while your government protects us. We are the biggest oil exporter to the United States. 50-60% of your oil comes from Canada. If our companies had instead been channeled into militarization, I doubt the oil sands projects would be as advanced. Furthermore, without our oil, your military will be frozen in your own country. But no, Canadians will not begrudge you over this... we will happily sell you our oil at bargain rates under NAFTA, because you are our ally.
We contribute more advancements to the robotics industry than the U.S. I would imagine this applies to your military technology as well.
The list goes on. So yes, it's true, Canada relies on the U.S. for protection, but in exchange our opportunity costs shift to other projects which in turn benefit your nation.
I'm grateful that Canada is at least mildly supportive of what U.S. forces and other allies are doing abroad, but putting 2500 people in Afghanistan is hardly a make/break commitment. And Canada is struggling to do even that.
Then it should be even more sad that those 2,500 troops have been the make/break factor in the retention of Kabul and most of the Southern front while the U.S. administration twiddled its thumbs.
I find it ironic that a Canadian poster is criticial of the U.S. Navy using steel from the WTC towers to field a new ship. And yet, he will be the first to speak up for spending on social programs.
The military-industrial complex in your country has FAR more power over domestic and foreign policy than in any other nation. It's not as simple as saying that Canada can afford more social programs than the U.S. because we don't need as much of a military; your country could
also afford more benefits for its population if it had different priorities. Instead, your nation's foreign policy for 50+ years has been an interventionist one, and your population has suffered. Couple that with the incessant fear of anything 'socialist' and you have a recipe for a population that doesn't support socialized benefits as well as an administration with tighter reigns over foreign incursions.
It's a matter of priorities. The reason that Canada has been able to spend so much on social programs is that Canada's defense is subsidized by U.S. spending.
This was debunked above.
I will continue to be grateful for the relationship that Canada and the U.S. shares even if, on a political level, there are many disagreements. I am grateful that every day there are men and women from both our nations that dedicate their lives to either our protection or our betterment... and even when faced with Americans who attack the Canadian way of life without basis, such as criticizing our social systems, our "liberalness", or continue to refer to us in a jingoistic manner as just another U.S. state, I will still be grateful to those people.
What I see here is you trying to make up for the fact that you made a stupid, out of line remark both against my nationality and against an ally of your country that has provided so much. Instead of taking your foot out of your mouth and apologizing or simply saying NOTHING, you are only embarrassing yourself further.
Keep digging your grave deeper, by all means. Like I said, despite your attacks on me and my country, I will still love the U.S. for its friendship, even if some of its citizens are less than friendly towards Canadians.
Let's keep this civil folks. At least one thread ban has already taken place and more will follow if the attacks continue.
