Over 150 million Americans voted in this presidential election resulting in a voter turnout in excess of 60 per cent. Joe Biden is expected to capture more than 78 million of those votes. But much to everyone’s surprise, 73 million people voted for President Donald Trump.
How could a politician so despised by Canadians get that many votes?
After all, it was predicted in many pre-election polls that Trump would lose the election by double-digit margins. His strong electoral support simply demonstrates how little the world understands American voters.
While Americans may look and talk like Canadians there are distinct differences. It is these differences that contribute to making America the world’s largest economy and leader of the free world.
During my executive career, I lived and worked for 12 years in California as president of a mid-size private sector multinational company with 2,500 employees. Many of those employees embraced the American dream of becoming the next version of Bill Gates or Elon Musk.
Americans are far from perfect. Most don’t expect the government to look after their needs and they tolerate little interference from government in their lives. They do not want their government to tax and dictate their lifestyle but rather they want to determine how best to spend their paycheques for their own betterment.
For example, employees are enrolled in employer-sponsored private health-care plans where they contribute 50 per cent of the cost and have a real say in the quality of health care they receive. Ten per cent of Americans are unfortunately uninsured due to a variety of circumstances. In Canada where everyone is insured, wait times are long and the provinces decide for you what health care you will receive.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ranks America five in global worker productivity versus Canada at 18.
On average Americans are more motivated, innovative and entrepreneurial than Canadians.
An important observation to note from the American election is that the Senate will likely remain under Republican control. Also noteworthy, the House of Representatives significantly increased its Republican membership from the 2018 mid-term elections.
That result alone should send a clear message to president-elect Biden that Americans are not ready to embrace the new green deal, medicare for all or defund police policies promoted by the Democratic party left. The voter message this time was simply one of, “we are sick of Trump but we are not ready to embrace Democratic policies either.”
On average Americans are more motivated, innovative and entrepreneurial than Canadians.
A majority of Americans were tired of hearing from a bombastic, narcissistic president who embraced reckless practices when dealing with COVID-19. The number one concern for most Americans is job security.
During my time in California, I found them friendly and supportive. But American’s frown on anyone who does not try as hard as they do to look after themselves.
With Republicans maintaining a strong voice within both the House of Representatives and the Senate it would be foolhardy for president-elect Biden to start cutting jobs in the energy industry in many of the swing states that gifted him a slim victory. More moderate policies will be needed if the Democrats wish to survive the presidency in 2024 or the 2022 mid-terms.
America remains a deeply divided nation.
And it would be unwise for Biden at the outset to block Keystone XL pipeline construction and muddy a friendly relationship with Canada when our energy significantly contributes to American energy security. Aren’t both countries supposed to support North American free trade and prosperity for all?
Our prime minister should prepare for tough talks with Democrats on Keystone XL. Maybe Canada’s position should be, “if you block Keystone XL construction, then Canada will release Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to China and get back the two Michaels." But Canadians have a history of being too nice to push back. America will roll over us if Ottawa does not speak up.
A new OECD report shows household incomes in Canada increased 11 per cent during the second quarter of 2020 compared to a decrease in most other developed countries. Instead of keeping incomes flat during COVID-19, the Liberals went over the top. The IMF projects Canada’s 2021 deficit as a percentage of GDP will be the single largest in the world at 19.9 per cent. U.S.A. projects 18.7 per cent.
Justin Trudeau grew a beard to play Santa Claus to Canadians and provincial premiers. While financial supports were warranted during the COVID-19 economic shutdown, it appears nine months later Santa does not want to wean anyone off the candy handed out by Ottawa. Instead of expanding the economy, the Liberals are weighing down the taxpayers with unprecedented debt.
Outside the Atlantic bubble, premiers have performed poorly in controlling COVID-19 yet they keep asking for more federal tax dollars instead of making tough political decisions. Canadians and premiers have now become dependent on these federal taxpayer supports and many now consider them entitlements.
That is the big difference between Americans and Canadians.
Adrian White is CEO of NNF Inc, Business Consultants. He resides Sydney and Baddeck.
