Is U.S. like Canada?

[Needful Sinner]

Don't under-estimate the importance of economics when it comes to differences; spare yourself posting here later like so many do "Why didn't that store in Vancouver accept my US dollars when I tried to pay".
The Canadian economy kicking butt, the US and world economy not so much.
Crucial differences that may not seem important but are

"Canada rises to Top Five in world economic freedom ranking"
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/18/...s-to-18th/

Gay marriage legal in Canada. Neither I nor the government cares about your love life.
Not true in the USA.

No laws or any such thing that protects the rights of any race religion or ethnicity in Canada - we are all equal and none better or shown a preference.
The USA has black history month and say things like 'Afro-Americans'... where-as there is no such thing as an Afro-Canadian'. Quebec being the exception as 'a distinct society'.

"The Economist magazine again has ranked three Canadian cities are among the world's top five most livable cities, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary made The Economist magazine's 2012 list released earlier this week. The survey ranks 140 cities based on a number of factors, including health care, stability, culture and environment, education and infrastructure..."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012...omist.html

Canada has universal healthcare... some in the US fear that as socialism and the topic is fuel for raging controversy.

"Canada best G20 country to be a woman; Policies that promote gender equality, safeguards against violence and exploitation and access to healthcare make Canada the best place to be a woman among the world's biggest economies, a global poll of experts showed on Wednesday."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/1...0420120613

I'm not saying one country is better than the other for the ways they do things - they are unarguable extremely different once you get past the superficial 'they both talk english' appearance.
Even then, Canadian's speak The Kings English, eg amour, colour, theatre, metre and not 'American'. The differences are vast

EDIT TO ADD

*chuckles at how utterly feeble thumbs-down are by silent people who can't provide contrary information to back up their dismay at what are, facts said without bias*

[MattH]

It depends what part of each country you are comparing. Both countries are pretty diverse... peopel from Mississippi are different than people in Newfoundland... but society in Seattle is pretty close to society in Vancouver. See what I'm saying? It's really hard to compare both countries since they are both very diverse geographically and culturally/socially.

There are a few over-arching differences like political systems and things like that. I've travelled my fair share of the western portions of both countries (seeing as though I'm from Western Canada), and in my experience, they are pretty similar. There are few big differences between the western states and the western provinces... at least in my experience. Being from Southern Alberta I share more in common with folks with from Colorado and Montana than I do with folks from Ontario or Quebec.... that's just kind of how it is.

There are alot of American and Canadian nationalists that try to really differentiate our two countries... sometimes to the point of ridiculous-ness (stressing things like the monarchy, systems of governance, etc.)... but when you really see how joe schmo lives and works in each country.... foreigners would be more mindful of the enormous similarities we share as opposed to the differences.