Canada vs. USA vs. UK vs. Australia?

Question

what a mess? well, i just want to know what are the pros and cons of each country mentioned above. why do u consider one better than the other, likes or dislikes. and finally, where do u actually live and which of these would u like to live in.

Answer 1

Firstly, I am Australian and have travelled extensively all over Australia.  I have also spent 3 months travelling around America, 1 month travelling in Canada (and my sister in law has married a Canadian and currently lives there) and I have spent time in London and know a lot of English people who now live in Australia.  So I think I am in a reasonable position to give an opinion.

1) Standard of living (fact): Canada is 3rd in the world, Australia is 5th, America is 6th.  England is out of the top 10.

2) The wealth is more evenly divided in Canada and Australia ie. Americans have more very rich people but they also have a lot of poverty.

3) There is more of a fair go for everyone attitude in Canada, England and Australia than America.  There is a reasonable minimum wage and free health care for all (except America).  America's attitude to poor people seems to be tough luck.

I think some rich and powerful people stay rich on the back of a great number of poorly paid workers so that is unlikely to change.

4) Only America has a strong gun culture.

5) Only in America does the religious right wing have a lot of power (both in domestic and foreign policy).  An example is that America will not give foreign aide to poor countries if they want to educate people about birth control or safe s*x (no matter how overpopulated they are or how rife AIDS is).

6) America spends a lot more of its budget on the military.

7) America is the most polluted country and Australia is the least out of these 4 countries.  From staying in American homes, there seems to be very little concern for the environment.  There wasn't much recycling going on, everyone brought there shopping home in plastic bags, lots of people drive around in unneccessarily big cars, lots of overpackaging of products - even fruit and vegetables sold in polystyrene containers with glad wrap, I could go on and on...

8) Canada and Australia are the most integrated and tolerant of all the different races that live there (my perception).

9) America is the most 'corporatized' country on the planet.  It seems that as a business you either get big or you disappear eventually.  This is another reason why so much wealth ends up in the hands of so few  (with lots of cheap workers down the bottom).  It also seems that you need a lot of corporate backing in order to get into political office  and this means you end up having policies or systems (eg. health) that only look after the corporate interests.

10)Food:  Americans seem to mostly live on overprocessed junk food (hence that are the most obese in the world).  English people eat a lot of stodge and seem to pay a lot of money for fresh, good quality food.  Without being biased, Australia has great food as far as quality, variety and price (especially in the big cities).  Canada is second.

11) Economy -  Australia's economy is going gang-busters.  We are having to import skilled labour to fill jobs.  Canada and Britain's economy are OK and America's economy is doing badly at the moment and is accumulating an unbelievable amount of debt that one wonders how they are ever going to repay.

12) The cost of health care/insurance in America is a disgrace.  Even if you chose to go privately in Australia, England or Canada the price is much more reasonable for the same standard of care generally.

13) Sports: Canadians and Americans like gridiron, basketball and baseball.  English and Australians like cricket and rugby.  The English are nuts about soccer.  Australians (in most states) are nuts about Australian Rules Football (which is unique to Australia).

I heard someone say the other day " the business of living in Europe is culture, the business of living in Australia is lifestyle and the business of living in America is business".  I think there is a lot of truth in that.

I think people get judged in Canada and Australia by what kind of person they are, in America by how much money or how famous they are and in England by their class or their accent more so.

I think if you are rich life can be good in America and England.  If you are poor or middle class then it would be preferable to live in Canada or Australia.  I think the main thing Canada has going against it is its harsh Winters in a lot of places.  Australia can be very hot in a lot of places in Summer and now has water restrictions in many parts of the country due to years of low rainfall (? global warming).  If you love snow skiing, Canada would be better.  If you love surfing, then Australia would be better.

I have found people from all these countries to be very friendly.  Canadians and Australians are definately the most laid back.  English people know a lot about Australia.  Americans are very ignorant about Australia other than a few stereotypes (eg. Steve Irwin, Crocodile Dundee, kangaroos, Foster's beer (which is hardly drunk at all in Oz) and not much more).

I live in Melbourne and absolutely love it.  Melbourne and Vancouver always fight it out every year in the most liveable cities in the world ranking for 1st and 2nd place.

I think Canada and Australia tie for the best 2 countries here.  Weather is probably going to be the deciding factor here (? more sun or ? more snow).

Overall, if you live in one of these 4 countries you are lucky.

PS:  If we are talking about which is the nicest English speaking country to live in New Zealand should also be part of the debate!

Answer 2

I have lived in Canada in Ontario. I have been through or had holiday in 5 of the 10 provinces and 1 territory. Having lived in Ontario for a considerable length of time I like Canada very much, I wish I was living there now. I like the not hurried laid back and friendliness of the people. The basic medical system although it has problems is still quite good.

I have never been to the UK or Australia so I can only go on what I have read, seen or heard. Although unpopular with many I have become a Royalist and believe in the monarchy and the queen. I would not want to see Charles be king but I would like to see William as king.

Australia is intriguing. I only know what I have seen and heard so I cannot honestly say.

I was born and raised in the USA. Although I like and love my country I do not like the federal government and how it has violated the constitution repeatedly. I do not believe the government is a legitimate government and that includes all those running for president. I am totally against the war in Iraq and believe Bush and all his cronies be brought up on major charges for his invasion of another country and causing his war. He had no reason to do so and although the Taliban is not friendly with the USA they did not do the attack on 9-11. The medical system needs to be taken out of the hands of the insurance companies and social medical be installed. The pharmaceutical companies need to quit making such huge profits when most every disease has been curable for years. The Federal Reserve should be done away with and a constitutional monetary system reinstalled.

There will be those who disagree with me, and that is your privilege…however unless you can back up your disagreements with good evidence please keep quiet.

Answer 3

Canada - socially (in terms of human rights, equal opportunity, and law and order) the most advanced of the four, UK next then Australia and way way last is the USA.

Australia - environmentally (in terms of air quality, no-nuclear, temperature, ecological diversity) the most pleasant of the four, with Canada next, then the USA and the UK a cold and grey last.

UK - culture (in terms of art, museums, shopping, cafes) definitely out in front, with Canada and Australia perhaps tying for next place with the not only culturally bereft but also embarrassing USA last again.

Australia - economy is raging from multiple resource booms then Canada, UK and the USA lastly in trouble.

Australia - safety due to geography and democracy, then Canada. The UK and the USA the only ones terrorists have attacked and the crime and gun situation in the USA is totally out of control.