Is it better to live in, and/or be a citizen of, the United States or Canada?

Both have their pluses and minuses.
WE have stricter gun laws in Canada compared to the states.
Canada has universal health(NO IT’S NOT FREE) but it is affordable to everyone, so if you get sick or injured you won’t face financial ruin .
Not saying the states doesn’t have an outstanding health care system,it’s just a shame millions of Americans can not access that system.
As for your question do you mean live in either country and not be a citizen of said country?
You can’t just move to one or the other with out going through the motions, you can visit but ya can’t work in the country you are visiting and after six months they do want you to return to your own country.
I am very happy being a Canadian just wish we were not so reliant on the US for trade.

The answer must vary tremendously depending on the net worth of the individual concerned. Clearly, if you are loaded, the U.S. is the place to reside if your plan is to avoid taxation. On the other hand, if your subsistence is dictated through the public safety net, the “true North, strong and free” puts us to shame.

Canada is preferable, by far, except for the cold.

(I lived in Canada when I was very young, and have been around Canadians my whole life).

I can tell you living in Florida a whole bunch of Canadians like America a lot, because America has warmer weather! Even in Deep South states Canadians enjoy the warmer weather.

The Canadians I know who live in America are a little split politically. Some lean conservative, but most are more liberal. They find their niche in America just fine for now, especially if they are upper middle class or higher on the socio-economic ladder.

Now that you can buy Coffee Crisp in some American supermarkets America is even more appealing. ~

For now, if you have a high earning profession, I think America is better overall to be a citizen and live in. I don’t know what it’s like if you are extremely poor in Canada? I hope good shelter is provided considering how cold it gets.

At least healthcare is available to everyone in Canada, that’s pretty big.

I wonder how many American move to Canada and become citizens compared to how many Canadians come to America and become citizens.

Well. I lived in other countries, but not Canada. I lived in Germany, for 3 years. The people were not very polite to Americans. I traveled all over Europe. We didn’t seem very welcome anywhere. I learned German, but have forgotten almost all of it.

Before Trump was elected, America was the best place I ever lived. Perhaps, I should say before Obama was elected. I love Obama, but people started showing their true colors, when he was in office. There is still deep hatred/resentment of black people. Something that I thought had almost gone away. I worked at a gun counter fora few years. And was basically held captive , by racist morons, who would blab on about how Obama was ruining the country.

In bars now, I hear all kinds of alt-right idiots running their mouths. They will attack the lower class, and ban together against brown people. Trumpers, are definitely empowered, to show their hate now. It’s pathetic. Now that I’m not a LEO anymore, I call them out, when they’re pulling of a drunken rant, or bullying someone. They can’t defend their remarks, and if it comes to violence, they tuck tail and run. They are mostly cowards, and stupid at that. They simply regurgitate what Limbaugh, and Hanity say. They get more angry, as they drink, and eventually pick a smaller person, or smaller brown skinned person to preech to. And as they get drunker, they start yelling, and threatening them. At that point, I step in, and ask them to continue our debate, in a parking lot, or alley. Not ONE, has accepted. Many have knives, or other weapons I can spot. But they still back down, and show ignorance, and cowardly side. I refuse to let this country turn into a home of racism, and intolerance. I hate stupid bullies, and there are apparently plenty out there. That makes America, a less desired place to live in. I’ve gotten plenty of new friends, from stepping in, and calling out these fools.
Trump says there will be a civil war, if he’s removed. Pfft. He’s wrong about his followers. If these are the people who would start a civil war, they will swiftly be defeated… His followers, are cowards, and not too bright.

The Caribbean, is nice, but relatively lawless, and corrupt. And of course, they get run over by ever strengthening hurricanes.

Mexico, is full of corruption, and drug cartels, that much scarier, than the alt-right fools in the US.

I’ve never been to Canada. I’ve been in Michigan, but that’s becoming a third world country. The streets in their major cities, are dangerous. Chicago, well the Southside, is a war zone. California, seems great, other than the fires.

I may end up in New Zealand. Never been there, but I have heard/read good things.

In the meantime, I love Charleston, SC. It’s much better than most places I’ve been in the “dirty south.” The summers are brutal. But I call it home, and would love to stay here…

Canada.

I think to ask what’s better all depends on different people having different priorities.

Maybe one person wants health care that’s free or low cost. Maybe another person wants low taxes. Maybe someone else wants the different seasons. Maybe someone else likes warm weather and frigid cold is not for them. Maybe someone wants close proximity to relatives who live in certain areas. Maybe someone else wants certain social programs or resources. So “better” all depends on a bunch of factors.

The United States. It’s warmer down here.

My only experience is thru news and media, and a few jellies here.
I love that they are more lenient with the law, like a drunk tank instead od massive FWI penalties. The natives seem very desperate, crime-ridden, poor and violent up there, though.
I’m not sure how their taxes are structured but prices seem higher than ours based on a thread or two. I also dont think the dark and cold would suit me. I love the cuisine and cultural mix though.
I’ll stick with America, since many Canadians do seem to come and choose to stay.

@KNOWITALL I’ll be interested to hear what Canadians say about the Native Americans in Canada. My aunt is married to a Native American (what’s the correct term in Canada?) and he and my aunt live on a reservation in Canada during the summer. He fits the US Native American stereotype of being an alcoholic (similar time the Irish and some other groups too) but he has been dry for many many years. He certainly isn’t violent. He didn’t earn a lot, but my aunt and he were lower middle class.

Do you think of Canadian Indians as different than US ones? I wouldn’t even think to differentiate the two.

@JLeslie I watch a lot of live pd type shows, like Under Arrest on Netflix.

I am disappointed by what I see with the first nation people there. It seems more integrated but more dire. It piques my interest and even many govt officials and Canadians are concerned.

Worse than the US, I really cant say, sad though. Seems like American natives have more tribe pride and hope, just my take.

@JLeslie We call native people here in Canada, First nation people.
Certain bands here are more destitute than others @KNOWITALL definitely depends where you are some bands are very wealthy and doing quite well,others not so much.

You Yankees with how cold it is in Canada crack me up, it totally depends where in Canada you are, you know Vancouver area barely gets any snow and most of the time doesn’t even freeze down there, it can it times though.
Our Summers here in the central BC are very hot and I will give you temps we see weeks of very high 90F’s at times going over 100F.
But central Canada gets very cold in the winter so your right there.

United States

@SQUEEKY2 That’s right. As soon as you said it I realized I have should have remembered. Ok, so my aunts husband is First Nation.

We know Vancouver is mild, much like the US Pacific northwest. That ain’t Florida though.

I am looking at eastern / Atlantic Canadian temps regularly and they are slightly warmer than Eugene, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. May get colder in deep winter.

In fact, Nova Scotia has been warmer than Memphis several times in the past week.

There are many places in Canada I would like to live, but having a love for Appalachia and the ocean, it would seem that the Maritime provinces or eastern Newfoundland would be where I would want to live.

It IS colder than I am used to. And I like the cold. But what I do like about our stiffling summers here in the South of the U.S, is the pleasure of going in a cool, air conditioned place, or swimming.

Are you looking at immigrating here, or permanent resident status, or just visiting?
What ever you choose do it legally and good luck to you.^^^^

Remember “Hitchbot”, the hitchhiking robot?
He managed to hitchhike successfully in the Netherlands, Germany, and Canada.
But when they tried that in the colonies, he was almost immediately murdered and dismembered.
That really tells you everything you need to know.

I’m pretty sure Canada is pretty strict about letting new immigrants in. Especially, about finances. You need to be able to support yourself. America has rules like that too, but Canada has a higher bar I think.

@JLeslie Actually, Canada has accepted many refugees and undocumented migrants that were under threat of incarceration and deportation by the US ICE with no appeal and no hearing.

@zenvelo That’s totally different. That’s asylum. We take in people under asylum also, but if you apply without a threat to your life or significant threat to your freedom, then you need to be able to support yourself, or have someone who can sponsor you who can support you.

We still do that in America believe it or not I know republicans want you to believe that we just let people in and they can file for dole money the next day, but in actuality sponsors sign that they are financially responsible. People who bring people over to get married, or their older parents, all sorts of visas the sponsor is stating they have income to support the person. People who come on work visas have the work themselves to financially support themselves.

@JLeslie We do NOT take in people seeking asylum.. We stopped that more than two years ago. Current refugees admitted to the US are being systematically returned as the “danger” is now considered passed.

Canada does not have a stricter immigration policy than the US, it is much easier to get an entry visa.

I just googled. I found an interesting article on Canada vs US immigration https://www.google.com/amp/s/vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-whats-different-and-similar-in-canada-and-u-s-immigration-policy/amp

@zenvelo: The US has an asylum program.

@JLeslie Good article, thanks for posting. At least I’ll give you a GA, since I love truth and facts.

@jca2 The US has an asylum program based on dumping refugees in Guatemala.

The US also now charges a fee to be a refugee.

@zenvelo Not everyone pouring across the border qualified for asylum even pre-Trump. Trump made immigration into a show. He did horrible things, but people were being turned away before him for not qualifying. My girlfriend’s sister 5 years ago was refused by America and she already had acceptance to a university here. My SIL was detained in the airport with her 3 year old and 6 month old for hours and she had a green card. That was 20 years ago. The friend if a woman i worked with had a friend who lived here for 8 years, and she had traveled to her country and then when she came back here immigration randomly searched her bag and found a business card and they put her on the next flight back to Chile and she wasn’t allowed to return. That was 25 years ago. I have many more stories.

@JLeslie Thanks, your stories confirm that US immigration is a lot less welcoming than Canada’s.

@zenvelo: The charge for asylum is a proposal. It is not implemented.

@zenvelo I assume there are immigration stories to be had in Canada too.

Canada doesn’t border the developing world. Canada also isn’t a place that people constantly try to come into like America. Like the article says, Canada like to let in immigrants who have money.

America has a population of 330million. Canada has a population of 37million. 1 in 7 residents in America are foreign born. 1 in 7!

America let’s people in. We let a lot of people in daily. We make them citizens all over the country on a regular basis. Do we still need to improve our system and make it better? Sure. Have we sometimes cruelty not let in people who probably should have been let in? Yes. But, America is a country of immigrants and we continue to have very high numbers of immigrants being allowed in.

If Canada opened its doors to all the people who want to come to America I’m sure a lot of people would take the opportunity, but Canada doesn’t do that.

If you cherry pick what stories and stats then you can make any country look good. America failed in my opinion when so many Syrians needed asylum. We never should have separates children. But, we have allowed huge numbers of immigrants to come in throughout our history and even recently.

Immigration is only one aspect of this question. Taken in toto, I would say at present it is preferable to be a Canadian/live in Canada, than to be a US citizen/live in the US.

^^That’s fine. I have no argument with that. Some people prefer Canada, and some prefer America.