I don’t talk lightly about other people’s countries. While I may find it fascinating, I don’t believe I have any business telling anyone how the internal politics of their country should be run.

As a Canadian however, sometimes I cannot escape the feeling that the rest of the world is treated as a second-class citizen by the U.S..

I just came out of a lengthy debate with an American, a Libertarian by his own definition. I was given a long lecture about how Canada gets liberty “wrong”, particularly within the “Free Market” regarding everything from health care to cellular carriers and the DMCA. I took affront, not only to the lack of Canadian insight inherent in his position, both physical and idealistically, but also to the religious zeal of the latitudes he spoke. I don’t believe he has any idea what it’s like living in a country with a greater land mass, 1/10th the population and corporations primarily owned by the neighbour.

In particular, I don’t think he knows what it’s like to live in a country where the greatest influence on liberty is not the local or federal government, but from another country altogether.

When the Free Market debate comes up, I always think to myself “What would a Free Market Canada do for Canada?” Without our own regulation influence keeping things in check, where would it go? South is usually what I come up with.

American liberty is a great ideal, for Americans. I don’t particularly like America’s concept of liberty for non-Americans. Even if the same rules were applied, the influence of America supercedes.

I get the whole celebrating liberty thing. Trust me when I say, we know your history a whole lot better than you do ours. Hell, many of us know your history better than our own too. Not just because you shout about it, but because it’s a worthwhile and fascinating subject. You guys have had some serious drama, I tell you. Most of it turned out pretty well because you’ve had some amazingly stubborn and gifted historical figures. I doubt you could make such a compelling bio-pic like John Adams about any of our politicians. Well, maybe a well-made Trudeau flic would be fun to watch, but I digress.

You guys own a whole lot. Not just history, but actual stuff. Much of our stuff. Even our Canadian corporations are mostly owned or directly influenced by U.S. interests now.

Our politicians can be corrupt, but even with all of the U.S. lobbyists within our borders, I’d rather trust a Canadian elected official than a foreign interest corporation.

I don’t want to be an American.

I know that must shock some of you, but I have some very Canadian values I rather like. What would be worse tho, is for Canada to be owned by the U.S. but not given the full benefits. That’s the way I see much of the world today. You guys may have abolished slavery within your own borders, but there’s something related going on outside of your borders. I know that sounds awful to say, but that’s how I feel. Everyone works for you. They may get paid in a way (for some, that’s questionable itself), but they have little choice and the payments themselves are often part of the influence trap. Our prices all go up and our economy bounces around with yours.

As surely as the British Tea Tax in 1773, we are being taxed by American Corporations. Our resources are exported south, often at cheaper prices than we pay for them here. I’ve heard the argument that we get the benefits of exported American culture in exchange, but clearly we don’t get the full benefits that you do. I’m aware that not every Corporation is technically American by registration, but let’s be realistic, that’s where the massive majority of the benefits reside, if not in name then by finance.

We, the rest of the world, are being taxed without representation. Taxed on our culture, taxed as consumers, taxed on our currency and commodities traded on your markets.

You folks seem so wrapped up in what is best for America, that you seem completely oblivious to your footprint on the rest of the world. Even if you think I’m being unfair, that you’ve done nothing but spread democracy and fast food, you must admit that when you think of America as the greatest, by definition it counts everyone else as something lesser.

I love many Americans. I think individually you’re usually just as wonderful as anyone elsewhere. I also feel however, that individually you’re all very responsible for many of the problems elsewhere. That’s very unfortunate. Globalization should be your concern and even your responsibility.

From all the rhetoric I’ve heard over the years, America’s greatest strength is in being able to sacrifice for its ideals. Where are you on the exploitation of the rest of the world? Where’s the great ideal and sacrifice for them? It was easier to have ideals when it was about the British Empire and America was the plucky underdog, but no matter how many school lessons or bio pics get made, that’s long, long in the past now.

I don’t want your wealth. In fact, I particularly want your wealth to stop turning other places into America-sub-class. I don’t want to be bought. The influence is a great weight. Our population places their expectations based upon yours. Our citizens mistake American laws and values for our own. Your lobbyists petition our government and when they can’t get the laws changed, they resort to overriding them by treaty (hello ACTA). We’re slowly losing what makes us Canada, yet we’re probably never going to be America either, even if we wanted to.

And this is just Canada. By proximity we get it a little more direct, but we’re not suffering as much as elsewhere. You act so surprised when some citizens of the world outright hate you. We’re a bit appalled by that too, but not as much surprised.

Make America great again. Prove you’re the most innovative country in the world and find a way to correct this imbalance.

This isn’t hate. This is a difficult thing for me to say, but I feel compelled to say it. This is frustration and some wishful thinking that it could actually be resolved.