"Our system has always rewarded frugality. The US on the other hand rewards obscene spending. "
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This is going to hurt you more than me but you know how the UN recently concluded that racism is so imbedded in Canadian institutions that the majority either think that's 'normal' or don't even notice it? And that record keeping is so poor in Canada that there is little confidence that the number of hate crimes reported in Canada is realistic?
Well Canadians virtually lead the world in personal debt. So give yourself more credit because it seems Canada rather than America "rewards obscene spending". Even if you use your superior education to just skim headlines you would know this.