Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Canada-US Divergence Part II
Environics took a poll recently to demonstrate a continuing divide between the US and Canada on social and cultural thinking. I think it's become fairly obvious to most Canadians that this divide is growing with recent legislation allowing gay marriage and other like-minded liberal advances while the US continues to backtrack on such issues. The religious right wields great political power on the US while having really none here. I was tempted to end that sentence with "thank gawd".
The Environics poll indicates that 45% of Americans go to church every week while only 20% of Canadians say they do. Both of these are substantially down from 85% in the 1950's. 58% of Americans say that it is neccessary to believe in god to be a moral person while only 30% of Canadians agree. In perhaps a tell-tale question, Americans believe that the father should me master of the house agreeing 49% of the time to such a question. Canadians replied "yes" 18% of the time and it would not suprise me in the least if the question wasn't greated with great laughter in many households. Lastly, in perhaps an obvious note, 49% of Americans also admitted to having a gun in the house compared to 22% in Canada. Mr. Adams, Environics President, was quoted as saying, "I have a picture of Sunday morning in the US, of dad pulling out his .357 magnum saying 'Okay kids, time to go to church'."
Environics took a poll recently to demonstrate a continuing divide between the US and Canada on social and cultural thinking. I think it's become fairly obvious to most Canadians that this divide is growing with recent legislation allowing gay marriage and other like-minded liberal advances while the US continues to backtrack on such issues. The religious right wields great political power on the US while having really none here. I was tempted to end that sentence with "thank gawd".
The Environics poll indicates that 45% of Americans go to church every week while only 20% of Canadians say they do. Both of these are substantially down from 85% in the 1950's. 58% of Americans say that it is neccessary to believe in god to be a moral person while only 30% of Canadians agree. In perhaps a tell-tale question, Americans believe that the father should me master of the house agreeing 49% of the time to such a question. Canadians replied "yes" 18% of the time and it would not suprise me in the least if the question wasn't greated with great laughter in many households. Lastly, in perhaps an obvious note, 49% of Americans also admitted to having a gun in the house compared to 22% in Canada. Mr. Adams, Environics President, was quoted as saying, "I have a picture of Sunday morning in the US, of dad pulling out his .357 magnum saying 'Okay kids, time to go to church'."
