O Canada, my home and native land...

I've been seeing this pop up in conversation with some of my Republican friends who aren't taking the election of Barack Obama very well. Flippant comments about wanting to move to Canada now that the Republicans have lost quite a bit of control of the government (much to their own chagrin, I might add).

What makes me chuckle about this comment is that Canada, our friendly cold-weathered country to our north, is a government based on the English model of Parliament. Which bides well with our own democracy since they pass laws democratically. But they also do, like most of our European democratic allies, have abundant socialist programs for their citizens with a corresponding high tax rates.

So in effect, when my Republican friends who in disdain threaten to move to Canada, they are opting for a much more liberal government than what was elected with this new Democrat landslide.

Plus why, out of all things to say in a time of needed collective patriotism, would any losing party (because I heard this plenty from the Democrats too pre election) member state that they would want to move away from America. It's very much like Cartman from South Park: "Screw you guys, I'm going home" or in this case "I'm leaving the country".

And for all of the unfounded fears thrown back and forth at opposing sides in any election of a two-party system, there are always idle threats and I don't believe for a moment that any of my friends who have muttered these words would actually do such a thing, but it makes me wonder why we have all taken such radical sides that a thought like that would pop into someones head?

I can disagree with Republican policies and their constant strides to control civil liberties all day long, but it doesn't have to escalate into anything other than a disagreement between allies about how something should be done. Not if they have a valid argument point or not. It is a belief of theirs that they hold dear and I can respect it - even if I don't understand it.

Maybe we all should live in another country for at least a while. Just so we can all appreciate the freedoms and lifestyle that we have been afforded here in America. I know that in my travels to Mexico to work in some of the poorer areas, I got a taste of just how good we've got it stateside. Especially when you buy a soda from a 5 year old who's been left by his parents to mind a store all by himself for the day.

When our nation needs us the most, we must put our party differences aside and find some common ground to stand upon. The cliche of "reaching across the aisle" is rather silly in my opinion. We should have never of had to reach across anything to find the obvious commonalities that we must protect the safety and freedoms of all of our citizens. Our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And maybe, just maybe, that Canada may just be looking for some new ex patriots, there could be a place for those too blockheaded to see that.