4 ms·

I tend to agree, but then I wonder if people in places like Canada (which has universal healthcare) tend to pursue their passions more than those of us in the U

I tend to agree, but then I wonder if people in places like Canada (which has universal healthcare) tend to pursue their passions more than those of us in the US?

appleaday1 3y ago
Canada is kind of slowly imploding. It's going through a lot of crisis currently. Housing is one of the biggest ones, for example I am a housing activist and trying to do something actively about the housing crisis happening in Canada.
- mulmen 3y ago
  Can you give an example of what actually happened up there? And what you are doing? I hear rumors (China!) but you seem much more knowledgeable on the topic. I live down in Seattle so I'm curious how similar the situations are.
  - cableshaft 3y ago
    I don't live in Canada, but Toronto has an average housing cost of $1.1 million dollars (USD)[1], which is almost as much as San Francisco (at $1.3 million dollars)[2]. Meanwhile the average salary in Toronto is $52k USD per year[3], versus San Francisco's average salary of $109k[4]. So that might give you some idea. [1]: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-home-sales-1.6802017 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-home-sales-1.... [2]: https://www.zillow.com/home-values/20330/san-francisco-ca/ https://www.zillow.com/home-values/20330/san-francisco-ca/ [3]: https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Location=Toronto-Ontario/Salary https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Location=Toronto-Ontari... [4]: https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=San-Francisco-CA/Salary https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=San-Francisco-...
    - mulmen 3y ago
      I’m more interested in how this happened, not that it is happening.
      - 908B64B197 3y ago
        Out of control immigration. 10x per capita what's allowed in the US, all going to three major cities. Not only that, but when filing out immigration petitions, most firms will actually file in Canada and the US. Workers who can't meet the higher bar for US immigration will be sent to Canada.
        curmudgeon22 3y ago
        Immigration is actually an interesting one. There is a large amount of immigration for sure, but my understanding is that our economy will be in huge trouble without it. We don't have sufficient birth rates to maintain things and so both economic productivity but also the tax base will be significantly harmed without this immigration. That's not to disagree with your comment, the large amounts of immigration do cause problems and as you say, much of it flows into certain cities.
        908B64B197 3y ago
        > We don't have sufficient birth rates to maintain things and so both economic productivity but also the tax base will be significantly harmed without this immigration. With family reunification, it's not uncommon to see aging parents and relatives be sponsored. They add very little to the tax base but are a huge burden long term.
        deleted 3y ago
        [deleted]
        curmudgeon22 3y ago
        Fair point. I have no data, but assume that's a minority of immigrants. Also, there are some requirements to support those family members: "You will also sign a Sponsorship Agreement, obligating you to financially support your sponsored relatives if they cant provide for their own needs. The new permanent resident will not qualify for government assistance, even after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, separates from you, or leaves the country." "To sponsor a parent or grandparent, you must obligate yourself for 20 years of financial support." https://greenlightcanada.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-sponsor-a-family-member-in-canada/ https://greenlightcanada.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-sponso...
  - Ardon 3y ago
    The North American development pattern is unsustainable. It costs more money than to maintain than could possibly be paid for by property taxes. It's wildly inefficient in basically every way. We've been okay for a while since we use the influx of cash from new developments to support our existing maintenance obligations, but that adds new maintenance in the future. It's functionally a Ponzi scheme, and now it's starting to unravel. It'll happen in the U.S. too, just slower since the U.S. is bigger.
  - laratied 3y ago
    [dead]
- UncleOxidant 3y ago
  Much of the world seems to have a housing crisis right now. I recall a few weeks ago there was discussion here about the housing crisis in Ireland. I'd say we have something of a housing crisis in many parts of the US as well. Not enough housing was built during and in the aftermath of the great recession - that seems to be how we've arrived at this problem. Housing is hugely expensive both to buy and to rent. It's taking a large bite out of budgets - that's the crisis. Something's gotta give.
geodel 3y ago
Could be. Though I see lot of Canadians coming in US for employment or even just for weekly shopping in border states. Seems nothing like quality groceries, winter clothing and Gas etc on Canada side.
- bluefirebrand 3y ago
  It's not that there's nothing quality in Canada. Everything is just cheaper in the USA Canadians have much lower purchasing power than Americans. We earn less than Americans for the same work, we earn CAD which makes it even lower, and on average everything costs more here too. It is shocking to me how cheap things like gas and groceries are in the USA, even after factoring exchange rate. Nevermind how expensive technology is here.

I tend to agree, but then I wonder if people in places like Canada (which has universal healthcare) tend to pursue their passions more than those of us in the US?

appleaday1 3y ago

Canada is kind of slowly imploding. It's going through a lot of crisis currently. Housing is one of the biggest ones, for example I am a housing activist and trying to do something actively about the housing crisis happening in Canada.

mulmen 3y ago
Can you give an example of what actually happened up there? And what you are doing? I hear rumors (China!) but you seem much more knowledgeable on the topic. I live down in Seattle so I'm curious how similar the situations are.
- cableshaft 3y ago
  I don't live in Canada, but Toronto has an average housing cost of $1.1 million dollars (USD)[1], which is almost as much as San Francisco (at $1.3 million dollars)[2]. Meanwhile the average salary in Toronto is $52k USD per year[3], versus San Francisco's average salary of $109k[4]. So that might give you some idea. [1]: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-home-sales-1.6802017 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-home-sales-1.... [2]: https://www.zillow.com/home-values/20330/san-francisco-ca/ https://www.zillow.com/home-values/20330/san-francisco-ca/ [3]: https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Location=Toronto-Ontario/Salary https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Location=Toronto-Ontari... [4]: https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=San-Francisco-CA/Salary https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=San-Francisco-...
  - mulmen 3y ago
    I’m more interested in how this happened, not that it is happening.
    - 908B64B197 3y ago
      Out of control immigration. 10x per capita what's allowed in the US, all going to three major cities. Not only that, but when filing out immigration petitions, most firms will actually file in Canada and the US. Workers who can't meet the higher bar for US immigration will be sent to Canada.
      - curmudgeon22 3y ago
        Immigration is actually an interesting one. There is a large amount of immigration for sure, but my understanding is that our economy will be in huge trouble without it. We don't have sufficient birth rates to maintain things and so both economic productivity but also the tax base will be significantly harmed without this immigration. That's not to disagree with your comment, the large amounts of immigration do cause problems and as you say, much of it flows into certain cities.
        908B64B197 3y ago
        > We don't have sufficient birth rates to maintain things and so both economic productivity but also the tax base will be significantly harmed without this immigration. With family reunification, it's not uncommon to see aging parents and relatives be sponsored. They add very little to the tax base but are a huge burden long term.
        deleted 3y ago
        [deleted]
        curmudgeon22 3y ago
        Fair point. I have no data, but assume that's a minority of immigrants. Also, there are some requirements to support those family members: "You will also sign a Sponsorship Agreement, obligating you to financially support your sponsored relatives if they cant provide for their own needs. The new permanent resident will not qualify for government assistance, even after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, separates from you, or leaves the country." "To sponsor a parent or grandparent, you must obligate yourself for 20 years of financial support." https://greenlightcanada.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-sponsor-a-family-member-in-canada/ https://greenlightcanada.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-sponso...
- Ardon 3y ago
  The North American development pattern is unsustainable. It costs more money than to maintain than could possibly be paid for by property taxes. It's wildly inefficient in basically every way. We've been okay for a while since we use the influx of cash from new developments to support our existing maintenance obligations, but that adds new maintenance in the future. It's functionally a Ponzi scheme, and now it's starting to unravel. It'll happen in the U.S. too, just slower since the U.S. is bigger.
- laratied 3y ago
  [dead]
UncleOxidant 3y ago
Much of the world seems to have a housing crisis right now. I recall a few weeks ago there was discussion here about the housing crisis in Ireland. I'd say we have something of a housing crisis in many parts of the US as well. Not enough housing was built during and in the aftermath of the great recession - that seems to be how we've arrived at this problem. Housing is hugely expensive both to buy and to rent. It's taking a large bite out of budgets - that's the crisis. Something's gotta give.

geodel 3y ago

Could be. Though I see lot of Canadians coming in US for employment or even just for weekly shopping in border states. Seems nothing like quality groceries, winter clothing and Gas etc on Canada side.

bluefirebrand 3y ago
It's not that there's nothing quality in Canada. Everything is just cheaper in the USA Canadians have much lower purchasing power than Americans. We earn less than Americans for the same work, we earn CAD which makes it even lower, and on average everything costs more here too. It is shocking to me how cheap things like gas and groceries are in the USA, even after factoring exchange rate. Nevermind how expensive technology is here.