Close Reading

It took me 17years and a small forest worth of reams of paper to get from F1 to US passport through the H1B route, but I'm glad I'm done with that Kafkaesque mess that is the US immigration system.\nThere is so much ignorance in the US population of what is needed to immigrate to the US. A lot of the accusations that are leveled at employment based immigrants are just plain wrong: \nAnti-immigration hawks claim we lower the wages in the field: Wrong because the company has to prove they pay you at least the average prevailing wage for your position. An average cannot lower the prevailing wage.\nIt also costs the company many tens of thousands to file for a foreigner, so the company would very much prefer to higher an American. There's just not enough talent out there to fill ALL the positions needed to stay competitive. The company literally needs to advertise your position for 90s during the certification process and prove no locals are qualified. Companies meet this by always having positions available.

In terms of average life expectancy, Canada ranks 6th in the world. The USA? 48th. [SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2023] Why? Canada has universal health care, gun control, and a social ethos that works. The US has for-profit health care, ineffective gun control, and Trump. In Canada, cancer is treated as a disease. In the US? as a profit centre. Even so, most Canadians love most Americans as cousins and friends, and always will.

The average American actually has less money after all their expenses.

Oh, hell no! And further to that, if I was visiting the US and got sick enough that I might need a hospital, I would do my damnedest to get back to Canada. I have heard Americans say that the healthcare is very good, as long as you have money. But I don’t trust it because Americans have been brainwashed to believe that the US is exceptional in every way (sorry guys, but it’s extremely obvious to the rest of the world), yet I have heard too many stories about things like people picking up C. Diff or other drug-resistant infections in hospitals there.\n\nI spent about two weeks in the hospital in February. You know what it cost me? Absolutely nothing. Well, I did have to pay for taking an ambulance later. But the hospital stay itself cost me nothing. Neither did the food they fed me in there, or the medication they gave me.\n\nMayyyybe if you guys got universal health care (it shouldn’t be tied to your job), and stopped shooting each other so much. You definitely have some better weather. Oh, and if you all toned down the religion a bit. Annnd stopped trying to play world police while simultaneously bombing other countries into oblivion to steal their resources. That’s been going on for far too long, and I don’t think the average American citizen even realizes it.

Move to the states? All guns and no health care? Those states? Where they sacrifice their children to violence and corruption? I wouldn't even consider it. I am a disabled veteran. America is famous for how badly it treats veterans. I assume that would make me more hated than an atheist in America. Tarred and feathered and runout of town. If they ever found out my heathen religion I could expect to be shot on site by the average bigotted gun crazy American.

I have no interest in moving to the U.S., but the main reason people do choose to move there is for money. On average, middle class, upper middle class or upper class Americans are wealthier than the equivalents in Canada. At the top end, dramatically richer. People who are in it for money or for some specific job tend to move to the U.S.

I feel genuinely bad for average, nice Americans such as yourself Tyler. Maybe you're right, and you're lucky to live where you do. Even so, you're a layoff and a surprise disease away from financial obliteration that you may never recover from. Above all else that's messed up in the US (and that' saying something), it's the health care system - or lack of it - that would scare me to live there.

There is a greater entrepreneurial spirit in the USA, so you can get richer there - if you are lucky. That is about the only good reason for moving there. About 400 school shooting per year in the USA - more than one a day, on average. I drove down the DelMarVa peninsula, and the racism was obvious, and rampant, but Americans I talked to did not even notice! The healthcare thing is another biggie for staying in Canada. I know I would never move to the USA.

Well, you said it. On the gun violence topic that it seems that Americans are desensitized to how much gun violence is happening. It does happen in big urban areas but also rural areas. This is what the world sees of America and their love of guns. Too much money in that industry for it to ever change. I mean, if nothing has changed when those babies.....let that sink in. When those babies at Sandy Hook died, the parents were bullied threatened and basically disrespected and discredited but gun lobbyists, government and even the average American. If that tragic event didn't change anything....nothing will.

Don't listen to the naysayers... I am moving to the US next month and I CAN'T WAIT to get out of Canada! Everything you buy is too expensive, and that's AFTER the tax rate which is nothing short of grand robbery. Health Care was already abysmal with waitlists over a year for certain procedures, but in the last 3 years it fell apart even further. Crime is on the rise everywhere and government just releases everyone regardless of public risk (read into Saskatchewan mass shooting from last year).\n\nI am set to make $20,000 more in salary, without even taking exchange rate into account, and that is going from Vancouver which has among the highest salary average in Canada to a small American country side town.

I dont have a problem with the average American but life in Canada is everything you could ask for. Health care of course but here you can truly do what you want and live your dream if you work for it. Every single person here stands a chance to do amazing things if they have the drive and motivation. We take care of each other here and there are always lots of jobs. \n99% of Canadians would never move to the States unless it was ridiculous to turn down a huge opportunity. But your average person, never. We have it way better here. I have spent a fair bit of time in America. While I have enjoyed it and met some great people there is no comparison when it comes to overall quality of life in every regard.

As a quebecoise, canadian french, I think we're still far from all problems in the USA. But we shouldn't forget that there are 300 millions more american people than us, canadians. The more we'll grow as population, the more problems of all kinds will follow. So no, i would never move to USA, it's a fact, but I think it's a little unfair to compare both countries. Plus, Canada tends to be more and more influenced by USA and their politics... And we're no safe anywhere in the world. There are not a lot of them, yet, but still, we've got also few mass violence shootings increasing for more than 10 years now. It exists here too. Nothing happens in a small village because we don't expect it to happen most of the times. But as beautiful as Canada may look, I can tell you it will never be the same again. The only thing we can do is enjoy it while it lasts. And no, Tyler, you're nothing average! :)

The population in Canada is also much better educated on average than Americans, and are better people to interact with. Most of us are always happy, smiling, and enjoying life to it's fullest. We don't sit around complaining to each other all the time about how crappy their crummy existence is. Here, life is truly wonderful in every way I know!

I have lived there for 4 months and would never go back! I keep planning to go visit my daughter, but I am afraid ,just because of the average attitude you encounter in every day life. Americans are scary, guns, attitude toward immigrants, they call our health care socialism, etc.

Of course you do not have a discussion about children getting slaughtered in schools. Sadly you have all become Numb to it, and seems to sadly accepted it is part of your daily lives. How that happened is pathetic to us. Australia had one school shooting decades ago now, and in less then 2 weeks all assault rifles, etc were outlawed. Now that is leadership, which the average American now knows they never deserve.

I sympathize with most of these people's struggles, but the average American is struggling as well, and it's not fair to all the immigrants who went through the difficult legal process to become citizens.

Most of them can outwork the average American & will do the job for way less.

The average American is better off as far as salary goes but the median American is very much worse off. You touched on it with the GINI - in America there are a large number of very wealthy people skewing all economic indicators. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. I do not want Canada to follow this route, it is OK if we don't maximize output because we take care of our people better.

At the end of the day I think Canada and the US share a lot of common ground in a lot of areas. \nThe major difference in my eyes between Canada and the US is the competitiveness of each economy. The US is far more competitive and innovative than Canada. Canadians are more risk averse and seem to want to work for the government or a big company whereas Americans are more confident in themselves and would prefer to work for themselves and try to start a business for themselves - and importantly - want to have it become a large business. \nAs a Canadian I wish I would have moved down to the States and tried it out when I was younger. I'm too old to move there now... \nCanada still isn't a bad place but it is nowhere near as prosperous for the average person, or I should say the average worker, as it used to be. And Canada's economy seems to be deteriorating rapidly and being usurped by newly developing countries whereas the economic future of the US seems brighter due to the powerful innovation in the US. However the social situation in the US seems to be deteriorating more so than in Canada.

Crazy thing is I bet you they are willing to work harder than your average American

What makes them feel they're entitled to break our laws?\nIt's because the Tribe of Little Hats who control the media has been telling lies to the migrants.\nThey've also convinced many gullible Americans this is the moral thing to do, ignoring the obvious destructive economic consequences. \nAlso, there are many politicians and high ranking law enforcement agents who've taken millions in bribes to help facilitate this invasion.\nTop all this off with the mainstream media owned by the same Tribe that spins the realities of this invasion, thus anaesthetising the average citizen into complacency.

Imagine if all those folks rushed El Présidentes palace and took back their country … they don’t want to be Americans they just want all the free things «  Uncle Sugar Joe » will hand out .\nWhile he snd his family collect millions from there «  business partners » the average tax payer bleeds money and their families do without

Well guess we gonna have lots of street food seller and cheap labor lol put homeless to do that … yeah homeless people chose to be like that but again this immigrants need to chill it’s hard for average Americans to afford a life more people coming in more competition from the basic jobs and admit some companies will prefer cheap labor over the legal Americans I seen it everywhere but just my opinion

not to be selfish but take care Americans in need first I already see multiple families who don't even speak English living way better then the average American make that make sense

just imagine what would happen if they had made it across the border and then realized that they would have to live on the streets like your average American homeless person . They would have a INSURRECTION and start looting stores like the bl*cks did during the summer of 2020 ge*rge fl*yd riots .

The US-Canada wage gap hits hard. Americans are becoming meaningfully wealthier than us on a per capita basis, all while their housing prices are significantly lower. We're not that far away from the average American making 50% more than the average Canadian. We're getting poorer and it's like no one is talking about it.

I’m confused! Somebody please help me to understand why these people are trying to cross into the USA ! You mean to tell me that they can afford to pay $2 - 3K, A month for a two bedroom apartment, when the average AMERICAN cannot afford to pay that kind of rent!

These people don’t realize how expensive housing in America is and how jobs are not matching the inflation rate . Even the average American is struggling with work, inflation and housing what made them think that they are gonna have it easy. They be watching too many American movies ?

Man, I really do love everyone who is currently in office for our government at the moment. I just love letting any & everyone into our country, not to mention the cost of groceries & gas is amazing too! I absolutely love paying almost $7.00 just for a gallon of milk. It also just makes me think about such better times that were...... I don't know, like three fucking years ago! When the average American could afford to buy groceries & gas, and any other essential as needed. \n\nNow we will find housing for all of the people illegally entering our country, while we have more than enough Veterans sleeping on the street, & not to mention that 22 Veterans a day kill them selves on average. But MS-13 gang member and Mexican Cartel members deserve a nice place to live, hopefully they don't cut off anyone's head during their stay! ?\n\nBut, anyways....This current regime deserves nothing but praise! Thank you, Democrats, seriously thank the Fuck out of you people!!!?

All corrupt governments working together. We still have not recovered from the Ukrainians and others just given all of America’s benefits. They sent them to Watts and Compton to suck the Homeless resources and get 100’s thousands that and average American will never see at once in their lifetime. The people of the world must realize that they are the power and must work in their own countries to get it right or the cancer grows stronger every generation.

@Mac Ronan \nOh, there's _plenty_ of housing, however, unlike my parent's and grandparent's generations, the buying market is unfathomably skewed, to the detriment of single families. This is largely because of the bulk buy up of properties by hedge funds, which in turn rent these properties at exorbitant costs, and severely limiting the supply of homes available to buy by prospective homeowners. Another factor is the curtailing of multiple family housing (as in affordable apartment buildings and duplexes) due to unprecedented restrictions on development zoning permits for the average citizen,\ninstead favoring the whims of commercial and gated community developers, most of whom have contributed to the campaigns of the various city council members who enact these policies. Beginning with deregulation and less focus on community development under Reagan, the crowding out of potential new home buyers saw an upsurge after the '08 crash. With thousands of Americans facing homelessness with impending foreclosure, most were forced from their homes, and thus a huge upsurge in demand for lower cost rentals for tenants that now had terrible credit ratings.Their former homes (sometimes entire neighborhoods), however, were purchased dirt cheap by aforementioned hedge funds and large rental property realtors from banks desperate to recoup even a fraction of their losses due to the crash. This policy of 'pump and dump' mass property purchases continued, largely turning the once suburban neighborhoods of homeowners into strictly assets to be squeezed for every bit of profitability possible. Even as the economy stabilized, even after the big banks profited overall from these foreclosures, because there were no lasting effective measures taken to prevent this housing situation from reoccurring, nor was the issues surrounding the housing market for single family home ownership ever addressed, let alone properly rectified, the housing market steadily constricted. As the U.S. gasps a last breath in it's death nell through late stage capitalism, there is no future policies or government reforms championing loudly for affordable home ownership on the horizon, and this is not likely to change anytime soon, not as long as the megalomaniacal entities continue to usurp any chance for the American Dream to be realized for all future generations.

My in law US veteran spend around 10 years dealing with Veterans Affair to get his retirement fullfill then last minute they demand him to take a drug test ; imagine in ten years been poor he would of end up doing. Illegal drugs to deal with PTSD. That is why a lot Americans or disappointed with immigration laws i am Mexican and i understand both sides but where is the fairness to the people average poor people from the US; definitely politicians are happy with this confusion

I am not against immigration but the fact of the matter is this in this country aren’t going well even for its own citizens. Homelessness is up, inflation is up, unemployment, gas and groceries are up. The average American has to make a choice every month wether they get to feed their family or catch up on bills. We need to improve our infrastructure some cities are literally falling to pieces. We need to fix our country just like these folks need to do to their home country, running from the problem won’t fix it.

The average American can’t barely make it with this bad economy. Now they have to spend their tax money in foreign invaders.?

Many of the people here in the comment box trying to explain how cringy Canada is even who born and raised in Canada! I am pretty sure those people never have been to a country like Bangladesh, average part of India. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even imagine to write down such a bad words about their country. Here in south Asia, average people literally beg to their boses for their sallery unless its a high-end job. Its weird to hear I know but the reason behind is the combination of inflation and instability of work-life balance. As being raised in Bangladesh though an American I can tight the difference. You wont never feel it sitting there, atleast have a summer break to south asia. Good day

Come to the South. There is some racial segregation by neighborhoods (especially in the very rich and very poor), but there are tons of racially diverse neighborhoods. The most extreme examples of racial segregation are found in the North and the Coasts. Ask the average resident of Providence, RI how many black people they know or share a neighborhood with. I bet it's going to be on one hand and maybe even one digit. It doesn't surprise me that the races self-segregate up North, because that's how it's always been done. Even when the majority of immigrants were European, major American cities had Polish, Russian, German, Portuguese, and Italian neighborhoods. It's just easier to see now that we have a bunch of different skin colors represented.

The average American has a higher median income and higher disposable income with lower than the average Canadian. I mean there’s a reason why there’s a much higher rate of Canadians migrating south then Americans going up north. \n\nBy the way Trudeau is a much bigger clown than Biden, that man’s hypocrisy is truly astonishing.

It's cheaper to live in Dallas Texas than Montreal, which is one of the cheapest cities to live in Canada, so I don't know where you're getting lower cost of living (and yeah I heard you're trying to compare apples to apples, but this is impossible and honestly, wtf would someone want to live in a crime ridden city like NYC? Which btw is around the same housing cost as Vancouver..)\n\nAlso, I'm not sure if you guys pay taxes, but this is a HUGE factor; take home income in Canada is much lower, and when you consider Americans get paid the same as us but in US funds, their taxes are a joke, so their disposable income is much higher.\n\nCanada is a country where mediocrity is celebrated, it's a good country for average intelligence type people who don't or won't earn high incomes , who don't want to own businesses - yeah it's perfect for them , but I was born and raised here , and trust me seeing 60-65% of my income going to cumulative taxes is disgusting.\n\nOh and for the record, someone earning average income of $50k in Canada gives up 46% of that to cumulative taxes - this is a fact you guys seemed to have left out.\n\nFor good looking women, bro once again, Montreal born and raised, the quality has dropped severely - a lot of hairy legged far leftist anglo types taking over, it's not what it used to be....\n\nLived in both, once again, Canada celebrates its mediocrity, the US is where you go to make bank and build a business - And Toronto is the most racially self segregated city in the world....

As a New Yorker who frequents MTL. women in Montreal are way hotter on average. \nNew York women are constantly looking to finesse a situation and operate from a struggle mindset.\n\nIn Canada you'll have solid 10s working barely above minimum wage, you'll feel like you're tripping over baddies.\nTake one of their average looking girls, dump her in NYC and she'll be worshiped as a queen.\nCanadian women are also much easier/nicer to talk to and a lot less materialistic.\n\nAlso, (alleged fat shaming segment ahead) black women can't tell me shit about them being naturally fatter because Canadian black girls aren't big like that. Of all my cousin's friends, maybe 2 are out of shape and neither would be considered that big by American standards. It definitely shifts city-to-city, region-to-region. People in Western New Yorker are fatter than people in NYC

I totally agree, the demand on your time that jobs expect from the average person are too much... and I am speaking as a US American.\nY'all are so cute btw, thank you for sharing!

Why don't you guys move to Africa where you will see abundance of black people, or go to Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Philippines where Asians can feel accommodated, come to Nigeria where you will pay almost 40% if your salary as direct tax and many other indirect taxes and VATs to be paid from your Lilliput salary which doesn't have hope if growing, where your tax is being squandered by the leaders and not a single infrastructure is built, come to Nigeria and come and see super queue at hospitals, schools, banks etc that are not even used by the leaders, even if you school outside Nigeria you don't have automatic employment until you write the exams or your profession in which you have to study for, maybe you ladies should come back to Africa, you better appreciate where God gives you the opportunity to have a meaningful life, 80% if Africans are not even average but far below average yet you are complaining of living a simple average life, are all Americans billionaires, our brains have been destroyed that we believe until we are billionaire before we ate successful or fulfilled, in Nigeria only government gives you one month leave but private organization only gives two weeks in a year and the private organizations are the largest employer of labor in Nigeria. All those reasons are totally invalid, in fact Canada suits my nature

I think that, we, north Americans, deserve what we get. It's impossible to explain to the average American. That's why Americans consume 95% of the psychological drugs in the world, suffer illegal drug problems, etc... I have given up and will move to Asia soon.

you should see Greece.I grew up in Canada and we moved to Greece in 1990.In Greece we enjoyed another 15 years of openness.Nowadays Greece has turned into a western nation of lonelyness and depression.We are loosing and forgeting gradually our culture and becoming more american than the average american!!

What percentage does an average American pay to a medical plan compared to Canada. Much more and USA have deductable.

To me the biggest problem of people of African origin is not racism. Infact if you called a child who knows colours very well and ask that child to mention the skin colours of that panel there will be brown, pink and barge. Back to my point, people of African origin have failed to be honest with themselves thats the biggest problem. The biggest problem to solve is the family problem. African men and women majority have failed to raise up responsible children because half of the time they are absent from home. Don't tell me they are absent because they have to look for money to feed children. Let us tell our children to stay away from gangs, be at home latest by 6 pm, start recording high grades at school meaning they will be spending much time with books, wait to have sex until they are legally married, start opening businesses and build corporations like Indians and Chinese do. Then this racism issue will just disappear on its own. As long as people of African origin continue to possess the mentality that other races owe them a good life, the problem of racism won't end. I live in Africa and am an African but I see my brothers and sisters North America or Europe majority live very careless lives. Yesterday I was listening to BBC news a chief police officer of African Origin saying on average there were about 65,000 murders within the African Americans community annually. Where is racism in all this. Can't we be ashamed of ourselves. When last did you hear of such statistics in Asian communities in America or Europe. I agreed with Prime Minister about systematic racism but in my view thats not a priority for the African communities. Number 1 is raise responsible children and not weapon fleaks. Number 2 raise responsible children. Number 3 raise a responsible family then we can sincerely address this racism issue because if there are no trouble makers from our homes but only graduates, business owners, responsible youths who do not abuse substances then if we are treated unfairly it can be vividly seen that someone is discriminating against our race.

At least two more differences between the US and Canada (I'm a Montrealer myself with American-born parents):\n\n1) When going to the different parts of Canada, they feel that much more different from each other (in the buildings, highway signs, etc.) than the different parts of the US. For example, British Columbia feels like a foreign country compared to not just Quebec (the most obviously different province in Canada) but also compared to Nova Scotia or Manitoba, whereas Washington state or Minnesota is less different than Pennsylvania or Massachusetts.\n\n2) Native Americans (or First Nations, as they're called in Canada) make up a way higher proportion of the Canadian than American population, though less so percentage-wise in Montreal or Toronto or even Quebec City, and they are thus much more in the consciousness of the average Canadian than the average American.

As an American, I have mixed outlooks...emotional and financial, regarding USA to Canada illegal alien movement\n...I respect and like Canada, and wish its people the best\n...AND\nI'm grateful.....as each illegal alien that leaves the USA for Canada saves me $70,000 USD on average\n...........and increases the wages of America's poorest CITIZENS, \nand protects their jobs from elimination via foreign meddling in the job market.

ISLAMISATION OF EUROPE, ENGLAND AND AMERICA. Actually, we see in Sueden, Denmark, Germany, England, Australia, New Zeland and other countries, the fiascos, promoted by MERCKEL for immigration. In all those countries, by millions, the Muslims are making pressure to introduce the Shariah Law and, for one, MERCKEL let them to. Pretty soon, we will see those countries, introduce representations in their government and, it will be the end of them. As drastic a measure, by all means, those Muslims must be reduced by numbers. Statistics don't lie. While the average children birth, represent 1.5 per couple, we see rates of 4 to 16children per man in Muslims communities. On top of being in tandem with islamism, they are supported by social programs, where they can benefit of all the ressources of SOCIAL SECURITY, PUTTING UNDER THE NATIONALS. In Canada, their population is 1,053,945 or 3.2% . In USA, their population is 3,450,000 or 1.1%. \nWe observe in Canada, a government representation of Muslims in strategic positions. The same is observe in USA. As a matter of facts, the usual patterns of infiltration is in progress and, we even see COURTS referring to the Shariah Law as weight on our regular administration of JUSTICE. THERE COULD NOT BE TWO (2) SYSTEM OF JUSTICE for our citizens. IMMIGRANTS HAVE TO CONFORMED TO THE LAW OF THE LAND, not to the SHARIAH. The operating system among democratic countries cannot be base on the Quran (Coran) and, the prescriptions of their Prophet MOHAMED. Those archaic systems were designed to control human activities in the Arab World, not in the WEST. It is at work since the 7th century. At the speed they go, Canada will be a Muslim State in 30 years. I said it before, Canada must joined the United States as fast as possible, to reduce the muslim influence or, drastic measures be introduce to reduce their number. In Quebec, for exemple, the LAW is in process to reduce their influence and, many muslims already think to move West of Quebec. That's a society very flexible to change of perceptions. Our LAW must not show any flexibility to the application of the Sharia Law and our understanding of liberty of religion, must stay private if need to. Moskes liberty must be stop at all costs and, no permit delivered. Those moskes are serving the only purpose of endoctrination and, make undue pressures on american values. Gerry

Canada don't be a racist like trump, he himself is a result of immigrants. I'm glad to know you guys a are better open welcome to Canada. Does the average American even know the difference between migration and immigration??? Sadly no but the hard truth as non American immigrants is that they will sacrifice their lives along with children for a better future. Seeking manual labor to start from the bottom up. Any American born lazy ass can claim foodstamps and be ok. I like nicer things in life and I've worked my ass for the better life I have. its will in life not God given right.