More Canadians support unilateralism than Americans: poll
I can’t believe that now more Canadians support a unilateralist position than do Americans! When the Americans have moved on from the Bushism and into a multi-lateral, cooperative mode, we the friendly Canadians are catching on the chase for ‘ism ideology! Why are we always behind the Americans? What a successful brainwashing campaign this government has brought us!
The degree of degradation of Canadian values (my definition: blue-cap UN peace-keeper) under this government over the last four years has been amazing!!! Nowadays, we glorify contemporary wars (which I believe are more imperialist in nature than keeping the peace); identify professional soldiers as heros. Why don’t we see that the sacrifice of our soldiers isn’t about bringing justice to the world, but has only innocently be used as political tools by political parties to score cheap political points? Why can’t someone have the gut to say it out that soldier is also a JOB that people CHOOSE to join, because they like it just like any other jobs? Their genuine love of the job has fallen into prey of cheap domestic politics and lowly party agenda. In addition, Canada now asks immigrants to study our military history in order to get the Canadian citizenship. And NOW THIS?? I want MY Canada back!
Nanos-SUNY(UB) Five Year Study (2009)
This week at the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) conference in San Diego Nik Nanos, a research associate professor at the State University of New York in Buffalo, will present the findings of a five year study in Canada-US relations. The study includes two parallel samples of 1,000 Americans and 1,000 Canadians on a series of key measures.
The five year longitudinal study shows that, in the first wave of research since the election of Obama as president, there is a growing level of acceptance of free trade between Canada and the US. The countries differ in terms of how they regard the other on several dimensions. Canadians are more likely than Americans to be aware of the importance of the Canadian-American relationship.
Canadians have consistently been more likely (62.0%) than Americans (52.8%) to support a unilateralist position “even if this leads to conflict with other nations.”
The US is perceived by over half of Canadians as the closest country in terms of business values (53.4%), while only one in five Americans chose Canada as the closest country in terms of business values. Americans more frequently named Japan as the closest country in terms of business values (31.7%), followed by Britain (21.0%).
Relatively few Americans are concerned about goods entering the US from the northern border (3.6%). Canadians on the other hand are comparatively more likely to feel that products and people coming into Canada from the US should be thoroughly inspected, though that proportion has declined from 2005 (24.4%) to 2009 (11.2%). This difference may be explained by the fact that a vast majority of Canadians live close to the US-Canada border, while only 1/3 of Americans live in states that border Canada. Both countries expressed more concern to goods and people coming from Mexico and China, motivated by recent US media related to lead poison in toys from China, etc.
A majority of Canadians and Americans believe there should be closer cooperation between Canada and the US in national security policy and priorities, though the level of support is comparatively higher among Americans (69.7%) than Canadians (59.6%). The majority of Canadians (83.9%) and Americans (86.4%) feel it is very important to work together to develop an integrated energy policy to remove any dependence on Middle East oil.
To chat about this poll join the national political online chat at Nik on the Numbers. The detailed tables and methodology are posted on our website. You can also register to receive automatic polling updates.
Methodology
Nanos conducted a random representative online weighted sample of 1,006 Canadians and 1,001 Americans between August 31 and September 25, 2009.
Unilateralist Position Question: : Canada should follow its own interests, even if this leads to conflict with other nations? (5 year change in brackets)
[Canadian response]
Strongly agree 16.5% (-5.3%)
Agree 45.5% (+6.2%)
Neither agree nor disagree 20.5% (+2.5%)
Disagree 13.6% (-1.7%)
Strongly disagree 2.5% (-1.0%)
Can’t choose 1.5% (-0.5%)[American response]
The US should follow its own interests, even if this leads to conflict with other nations? (5 year change in brackets)
Strongly agree 21.2% (+2.7%)
Agree 31.6% (+0.1%)
Neither agree nor disagree 21.7% (+1.5%)
Disagree 15.8% (-4.5%)
Strongly disagree 6.3% (-1.1%)
Can’t choose 3.5% (+1.4%)Business Values Question: Thinking about Canada in relation with the countries below, could you please identify the first and second ranked countries that are closest with Canada in terms business values? [first ranked response - Canadian respondents] (5 year change in brackets)
[Canadian response]
The US 53.4% (-9.7%)
Britain 15.7% (-1.1%)
Japan 12.6% (+3.8%)
Germany 6.5% (+3.0%)
China 6.4% (+3.4%)
France 4.3% (0.0%)
Mexico 1.1% (+0.6%)[American response]
Thinking about the US in relation with the countries below, could you please identify the first and second ranked countries that are closest with the United States in terms of business values? [first ranked response - American respondents] (5 year change in brackets)
Japan 31.7% (-7.5%)
Britain 21.0% (-4.9%)
Canada 18.9% (+0.9%)
China 17.0% (+8.5%)
Germany 7.6% (+2.1%)
France 2.0% (+0.7%)
Mexico 1.8% (+0.4%)Inspecting Foreign Goods Question: Thinking about when a package or shipping container of goods enters Canada from one of the countries below, please rank the first and second country that Canadian customs officials should thoroughly inspect the shipment? [first ranked response] (5 year change in brackets)
[Canadian response]
Mexico 47.0% (+8%)
China 36.6% (+8.5%)
The US 11.2% (-13.2%)
Japan 2.0% (-0.6%)
Germany 1.6% (-1.4%)
France 0.9% (-0.7%)
Britain 0.8% (-0.5%)[American response]
Thinking about when a package or shipping container of goods enters the US from one of the countries below, please rank the first and second country that American customs officials should thoroughly inspect the shipment? [first ranked response] (5 year change in brackets)
Mexico 48.0% (-1.3%)
China 36.1% (+8.3%)
Canada 3.6% (-1.5%)
Japan 3.5% (-1.4%)
France 3.3% (-2.9%)
Germany 3.2% (-0.7%)
Britain 2.4% (-0.4%)National Security Policies and Priorities Cooperation Question: In terms of national security (i.e. NATO, the United Nations), should Canada and the United States be moving towards greater and closer cooperation or should they be maintaining separate national security policies and priorities? (5 year change in brackets)
[Canadian response]
Much closer cooperation 23.5% (-6.3%)
Somewhat closer cooperation 36.1% (+1.6%)
Stay the same/no change 15.5% (+4.2%)
Somewhat separate 14.9% (+2.8%)
Completely separate 6.9% (-2.9%)
Can’t choose/don’t know 3.1% (+0.6%)[American response]
Much closer cooperation 30.2% (-7.0%)
Somewhat closer cooperation 39.5% (+4.0%)
Stay the same/no change 13.3% (+2.0%)
Somewhat separate 6.1% (-0.6%)
Completely separate 5.8% (0.0%)
Can’t choose/don’t know 5.1% (+1.6%)Integrated Energy Policy Question: In your opinion, how important or unimportant is it for Canada and the United States to work together to develop an integrated energy policy to remove any dependence on Middle East Oil? (5 year change in brackets)
[Canadian response]
Very important 52.0% (-5.1%)
Somewhat important 31.9% (+4.3%)
Neither important nor unimportant 6.7% (+1.1%)
Somewhat unimportant 4.0% (+0.2%)
Very unimportant 2.4% (-1.0%)
Unsure 3.1% (+0.6%)[American response]
Very important 58.0% (-6.7%)
Somewhat important 28.4% (+4.1%)
Neither important nor unimportant 6.3% (+1.6%)
Somewhat unimportant 1.3% (-0.5%)
Very unimportant 1.5% (-0.4%)
Unsure 4.4% (+1.7%)
I think it is absolutely shameful and abysmal that you would insult and doubt the goodwill of our men and women in uniform. Have you ever made a decision that would risk your life for the sake of your country? Well, many have left their families to work on the front-lines, risking their lives for our country. Many join the military out of a sense of patriotism and respect towards our country. And for you to CHEAPEN the SACRIFICE of these men and women doesn’t just disappoint me; it sickens me.
If you want to criticize something, criticize government policy. But DO NOT criticize people who put their lives at risk so that you can have the freedom of speech.
Furthermore, the government is not “glorifying” wars. The government did not send new troops or start any new war, so I don’t know what you are talking about. If you are discussing Afghanistan (which was initiated by the Liberals under Jean Chretien), then it is only responsible that Canadian soldiers stay in Afghanistan until some degree of stability has been accomplished. Steady progress has been made in Afghanistan such as the rights of women and children, many whom can now attend school.
It’s not about scaoring political points because many Canadians actually oppose the mission in Afghanistan. It’s about doing the right thing and being responsible and taking accountability for something that we’ve already started.
ChineseinVancouver, I liked your blog for bringing attention of Chinese issues, but this post has gone way too far for insulting the sacrifice of our soldiers.
well, perhaps i just don’t believe in sending troops to a country means to “stabilize” it . i just don’t believe in intervention. i’m not criticizing the soldiers. i only want to point out that career soldier is a JOB. everyone has some expectations for any job. in modern days, it’s a choice that you wanna join this job or not. i am very sympathetic to the lives we lost in foreign wars. but why are we losing lives? is it the right thing to do in the first place to send troops there?
Here’s the work of a writer who could better tell my feelings about the Canada of late: