What is the difference between Canada and the US re: socialism

[crazy canuck]

On the contrary, I think the US does a very good job of directing funding to Universities, both by government and privately.  As for the bang for the buck argument,  I am not sure about that.  The quality of university education in the US is excellent.

There is an issue regarding cost.  But I think that is a different issue.

A quick-and-dirty survey says that the top-end (i.e. in the top 100) public universities in the US charge and spend about $17,000 per year per undergrad student, exclusive of course of room and board and books.  I'd be interested to see what the equivalent is for Canadian universities.  I'd be willing to bet its right in the same ballpark.  I don't think that there's any question that the product is very equivalent.

Yes, the numbers related to the amount spent per student are very similar.  Although costs vary by progam with some being more heavily subsidized than others, at UBC the average annual cost per student is about $23,000.  The student, on average pays $5000 in tuition.

[DGuller]

But I think that is the crux of the argument of the thread.

Both countries spend similar amounts on the same things, but Canada is able to direct the money from the government directly to the provider while the US has to have other layer(s) so that the "inefficient" government isn't wasting money. 

The end result is Canada getting better bang for their buck while we piss more money away but preserve our idea of not having the government involved in our day to day lives.1

On the contrary, I think the US does a very good job of directing funding to Universities, both by government and privately.  As for the bang for the buck argument,  I am not sure about that.  The quality of university education in the US is excellent.

There is an issue regarding cost.  But I think that is a different issue.

I think that's open for debate.  On the top end, of course US colleges are better than Canada's.  They're better than any other country's in the world.  However, the median quality is more questionable.

[Valmy]

I am not going to sit here and listen to these unjustified attacks on Northwest Missouri State University.

Speaking of Universties my Circuits of DOOOOM final is in seven hours.  May the slaughter begin!

[crazy canuck]

But I think that is the crux of the argument of the thread.

Both countries spend similar amounts on the same things, but Canada is able to direct the money from the government directly to the provider while the US has to have other layer(s) so that the "inefficient" government isn't wasting money. 

The end result is Canada getting better bang for their buck while we piss more money away but preserve our idea of not having the government involved in our day to day lives.1

On the contrary, I think the US does a very good job of directing funding to Universities, both by government and privately.  As for the bang for the buck argument,  I am not sure about that.  The quality of university education in the US is excellent.

There is an issue regarding cost.  But I think that is a different issue.

I think that's open for debate.  On the top end, of course US colleges are better than Canada's. 

That is the end of the debate then. If you are to compare apples to apples you need to compare Canadian universities with their competition in the US.  Canadian Universities have to compete with the top end of US universities since those are the institutions Canadians would leave Canada to attend. 

[grumbler]

I don't know. Is McGill on par with Berkeley?

I don't know.  Are those the only top-end public schools in each country?  If not, what does it matter?

The equivalent of the top 100 universities in the US would be the top ten schools in Canada (in each case, roughly 1/8 the total).  I'd argue that the median Canadian school on its list would be the equivalent of the median US school on its list.  feel free to debate this, but outliers don't make for good evidence.

[Savonarola]

Speaking of Universties my Circuits of DOOOOM final is in seven hours.  May the slaughter begin!

In boca al lupo!

Hope it turned out okay.

[DGuller]

That is the end of the debate then. If you are to compare apples to apples you need to compare Canadian universities with their competition in the US.  Canadian Universities have to compete with the top end of US universities since those are the institutions Canadians would leave Canada to attend.

I don't get this point.    Tertiary education is not a tournament were being at the top is the only thing that matters.  How well you're educating people on average also matters a great deal, since at the end of the day, most people go to average colleges rather than top colleges.

[Ideologue]

What's good for Harvard is good for America.  That's why it's a legitimate target.

[garbon]

Average people. Ugh.

[Razgovory]

Average people. Ugh.

I suppose this is a hit against the top schools, you went to one and ended up strictly average.

[Ed Anger]

garb graduated on the Dean's Fabulous List.

[garbon]

Average people. Ugh.

I suppose this is a hit against the top schools, you went to one and ended up strictly average.

Oh, darling, you'll have to do better than that.

[Razgovory]

If you were more interesting, I would have more to work with.  You are the man in the pink flannel suit.

[garbon]

Ghastly. I would never!

[Razgovory]

I know, that would actually be interesting.