For Canada, U.S. Debates (about abortion, birth control and same-sex marriage) Are Old News

[pampango]

“These issues do not seem to be as divisive and inflammatory in Canada as they seem to be in the United States,” Laura A. Liswood, the secretary general of the Council of Women World Leaders , a policy program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, said in a phone interview.

To many Americans, and particularly American women, who are wondering why some of the issues listed above still stir controversy decades after apparent resolution, Canada appears to have it all over the United States. Over the past three decades, Canada enacted a constitutional provision banning sex discrimination in 1983; lifted a ban on gays in the military in 1992; became one of the few countries with no legal restrictions on abortion in 1988; and legalized same-sex marriage in 2005.

Ms. Liswood, who is based in Washington, attributed the difference of attitude, at least in part, to Canada’s political system. “Ours,” she said, “is a winner-take-all system.” In Canada, which has a parliamentary system, it is more common to have to forge coalitions with other parties and find compromise, and, she said, Canadians seem to have come to terms with a large immigrant population and different cultures.

What’s more, Ms. Liswood pointed at the role that money plays in U.S. campaigns. “These social issues are great wedge issues that a lot of people raise money on,” she said. “Polarization is encouraged in that way,” deepening what is already a socioeconomic gap that is bigger in the United States than in Canada.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/us/30iht-letter30.html?_r=1

It is amazing that a country so close and so similar in many ways has progressed so much further and faster.

[Darth_Kitten]

1. We really don't sweat a lot of issues....

My heart goes out to Americans still having to fight these issues.
I guess that's the biggest reason I'm here.

[Canuckistanian]

2. It's because we don't allow religious crazies in our government

Anyone who spouted half the crap about their faith that your average Republican does, wouldn't get elected. Period.

Also, we don't give a shit about who's sleeping with whom. Not our business, don't care. As long as they show up in Parliament and do their jobs, fine. We tend to judge politicians by their professional record, NOT by who they sleep with.

But the biggest difference is money. We don't allow big campaign donations. $1000 per person. That's it. No corporations. No unions. And only a very limited time to donate. And completely transparent. ALL donations are public knowledge.

It's a boring system, but we like it.

[longship]

3. To say nothing of the idiotic two year presidential campaigns

Which I think is the worst thing the US does politically. It poisons the entire process.

How long do campaigns last in Canada?

[Canuckistanian]

4. Yeah, I didn't mention that - 36 days

That's the maximum you're allowed to run campaign ads.

And another thing - we have PUBLIC financing of campaign ads, by law. Each radio and TV station is compelled to provide FREE TIME to all national parties for campaign ads as part of their licensing requirements. Something that seems unbelievable to some in America.

[longship]

5. Actually, it's the US system I find unbelievable

A never ending campaign with out of sight expenses. Year after year after year. It's nothing but bread and circuses.

I'm disgusted by it. Too few are.