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Fair, I don't like everything about the US but I do wish we had a bit more of their hustle and ambition. And maybe held our politicians to account for the way

Fair, I don't like everything about the US but I do wish we had a bit more of their hustle and ambition. And maybe held our politicians to account for the way our institutions are crumbling.

SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
> And maybe held our politicians to account for the way our institutions are crumbling. It's strange to hear this complaint after a comparison to the States. I would dare say a vainglorious attitude doesn't seem to be helping.
- Mikeb85 4y ago
  That point is different than the other point. If you're not Canadian you wouldn't know that all our government institutions are way worse than they were, say, 10 years ago. Trying to access healthcare, trying to contact the CRA, trying to get a passport, etc... All these institutions have gone to shit fairly recently.
  - bpye 4y ago
    My experience is that these institutions were largely fine pre-COVID, certainly I never had any issue getting seen at Service Canada or contacting the CRA. Things have certainly gotten worse in the last 3 years, but it seems likely that these are the same pressures causing issues in other comparable nations. The UK passport office, for example, is struggling in much the same way [0], and I believe that is also true elsewhere in Europe. [0] - https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-62378144 https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-62378144
  - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
    I am Canadian, and as bpye notes - it seems to be COVID pressure explaining the slowdown for those systems. I'm also unsure how "a bit more of their hustle and ambition" would get you your passport faster - hustle and ambition are famously not part of ANY government anywhere.
    - Mikeb85 4y ago
      They're two separate points. 1. Other countries have more ambition, hustle and grit on a cultural level. 2. Our institutions are decaying. Maybe let's add a few more. 3. Oligarchs run the country. 4. People don't care and will defend our mediocrity. Separate points. But all pertinent. Also, in many ways, the attitude from our government does shape cultural attitudes as our federal government is by far the largest employer in the country.

Fair, I don't like everything about the US but I do wish we had a bit more of their hustle and ambition. And maybe held our politicians to account for the way our institutions are crumbling.

SketchySeaBeast 4y ago

> And maybe held our politicians to account for the way our institutions are crumbling. It's strange to hear this complaint after a comparison to the States. I would dare say a vainglorious attitude doesn't seem to be helping.

Mikeb85 4y ago
That point is different than the other point. If you're not Canadian you wouldn't know that all our government institutions are way worse than they were, say, 10 years ago. Trying to access healthcare, trying to contact the CRA, trying to get a passport, etc... All these institutions have gone to shit fairly recently.
- bpye 4y ago
  My experience is that these institutions were largely fine pre-COVID, certainly I never had any issue getting seen at Service Canada or contacting the CRA. Things have certainly gotten worse in the last 3 years, but it seems likely that these are the same pressures causing issues in other comparable nations. The UK passport office, for example, is struggling in much the same way [0], and I believe that is also true elsewhere in Europe. [0] - https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-62378144 https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-62378144
- SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
  I am Canadian, and as bpye notes - it seems to be COVID pressure explaining the slowdown for those systems. I'm also unsure how "a bit more of their hustle and ambition" would get you your passport faster - hustle and ambition are famously not part of ANY government anywhere.
  - Mikeb85 4y ago
    They're two separate points. 1. Other countries have more ambition, hustle and grit on a cultural level. 2. Our institutions are decaying. Maybe let's add a few more. 3. Oligarchs run the country. 4. People don't care and will defend our mediocrity. Separate points. But all pertinent. Also, in many ways, the attitude from our government does shape cultural attitudes as our federal government is by far the largest employer in the country.