Be Nice To Your Neighbours

politic
politic
Aug 24, 2017 · 5 min read

TL;DR: I wrote this before Charlottesville. Please forgive my time-lagged analysis.

Two-thirds (2/3) of Canadians live within 100km of the southern border; America is not as far away as we think. How different can we be? Does the geopolitical apple fall far from the tree?

The mind is made ripe for reflection by the new perspectives of travel.

On a recent road trip through the United States east coast, these are some things I’ve noticed:

  1. Flags

They’re everywhere. They’re on everybody’s houses and lawns. Got a car? You bet you’ll find Old Glory stickered on there. It’s on every electrical pole and every office building. Trouble finding the mall? Spot the giant flag. Now, it’s been at least a month since July 4th, but even then, these flags sure don’t look like a once a year occasion kind of deal. These are permanent fixtures of Americana.

Proud and loud nationality seem just kind of foreign to Canadians. Even the sesquicentennial failed to produce this kind of expressionism. Some throw around the word, “modest”. What’s with the flag obsession?

2. Dunkin Donuts

Also everywhere. Equivalent to our Timmies, if not even bigger. DD was actually one establishment I genuinely wanted to frequent while I was down south. Not that I heard it was good or anything (I’m sure it’s brown water like Tim’s) but something about it seems more “American” than the hamburger.

Even though DD’s were everywhere, I noticed a particular LACK of a coffee shops on every street corner. Contradictory, I know. Timmies, Starbs, McDonalds, Second Cup, Coffee Culture, etc., are literally everywhere here at home. Honestly expected every street corner to have something. Either I was extremely good at avoiding these or they’re actually not as popular as we think. In fact, these establishments are more functional than they seem. As a foreigner in a foreign land, cheap food, caffeine nourishment, and Wifi survival essentials.

3. Pennies

Unfortunately, these still exist. WHY?!? As they collect and weigh me down in my pocket, and I find it very hard to spend, as well. These small, crusty, brownish red bits of metal just need to go. Consider the state of Pennsylvania where sales taxes are generally not a thing. Why even bother with the penny?

Similarly, what’s with all the same coloured cash? It’s so confusing. Paying in cash takes at least 3 times longer BECAUSE I’M APPARENTLY BLIND. Also the disgusting crumbly linen material needs to go too — plastic, multi-coloured, maple-syrup-scratch-and-sniff-smelling cash master race.

I’m also conflicted about dollar bills. I actually like these. Two dollar bills are even better (casey neistat better). They’re nice, simple, and small — it makes smaller purchases much simpler and less cumbersome than loonies and toonies.

4. Left Lane Passing

This. More of this. I’d say 80% of where we drove, everyone respected this rule very closely. Also 120+km/h on the freeways is a normal scene and everyone’s cool with it. Convenience of driving comes at a cost, though. Pedestrian/bike culture was limited to big cities, not the most ideal if you’re environmentally conscious. Especially since price of fuel is at least a 1/3 cheaper than Canada, it’s hard to see public transit every having any greater traction beyond, say, Manhattan.

5. Exchange Rates

Differences in exchange rates allows arbitrage to occur. But it’s not always in our favour. For example, we pay $1.50 for a hotdog and drink in Canadian Costco’s, which at a 13% HST is $1.70 CAD. The same hotdog and drink in The States is ALSO $1.50 (USD); although the state you’re in will dictate your tax rate, even if we assume no taxes on this item, at the current exchange rate of $0.80 USD = $1.00 CAD, this hotdog is effectively $1.88 CAD.

You pay more, which is counter intuitive to what we expect about American goods — it’s an assumption that fuels cross boarder shopping crazes. After frequenting several retail establishments, it was clear that parity had essentially been achieved. For the most part what you’re really saving on is the tax rate. Considering most of us pay a hefty 13% for every fringe purchase we make, it was exciting to overt that. It felt like I was cheating someone and getting away with it.

6. Fox News

So you know that fake news establishment? Yeah it’s everywhere here. You’d think that given the media attention (or rather dissension) of the Fox News outlet that it wouldn’t be something people actively tuned into. Boy, was I wrong. In every hotel I stayed at, the TV in the lobby was tuned to Fox News. Every restaurant had it on.

I was confused. Was this an indication of the “majority” views? Or is Fox News just that entertaining that it’s worth throwing on in the background? But even if the latter were true, why subject yourself to be subconsciously influenced by the rhetoric?


So how can something so close be so different? I think it really is a mindset issue. I’m no sociologist or political scientist, so no pontification from me. But I think those differences are pretty damn cool. At its lowest it’s entertainment, but at its highest, knowledge.

And if you’re not constantly seeking knowledge, what are you even doing?

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