Novak on the ignorance of Canadians

This happy exchange from CNN's Crossfire, 6/19/02:

NOVAK: All right, the next question is from Marg in Prince George, British Columbia. She writes: "I can't imagine being a senior in your country and not being able to pay for a much-needed drug. If I lived in the U.S., I would probably be dead by now. For such a rich country, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves for not providing extended medical care for the elderly."

Marg, like most Canadians, you're ill-informed and wrong. The U.S. has the longest standard of living -- longest life expectancy of any country in the world, including Canada. That's the truth.

The transcript is here.

Comparisons from Brooks

David Brooks, NYT 28 Aug 2009

We in this country have a distinct sort of society. We Americans work longer hours than any other people on earth. We switch jobs much more frequently than Western Europeans or the Japanese. We have high marriage rates and high divorce rates. We move more, volunteer more and murder each other more.

Out of this dynamic but sometimes merciless culture, a distinct style of American capitalism has emerged. The American economy is flexible and productive. America's G.D.P. per capita is nearly 50 percent higher than France's. But the American system is also unforgiving. It produces its share of insecurity and misery.

This culture, this spirit, this system is not perfect, but it is our own.