But that's a perfect example of the American Dream! Education is for the A-l33t!
In regards to Canada, the US, and democracy, I think its pretty simple.
Canada has traditions, the US has traditions.
In the United States, its tradition for electors to choose the President based on recommendation of the popular vote. This system doesn't always elect the most popular votes (as we saw in 2000) and this system basically locks the nation into a two party system. The electoral college is a winner takes all system, so a voter who voted for any party but the winner essentially has no vote at all. The person who gets a majority or plurality in a given state gets ALL its electoral votes (so long as the electors stick to their word).
In the United States, all real power in Congress is essentially held in the Senate.
In Canada, the Parliament has two branches. By tradition, the Canadian Senate holds little meaningful power. Its more symbolic. All the power is held in somewhat proportional ridings in the House of Commons.
The actual elected party gets to do things and is responsible for those things. Canadian people know where the party leadership stands, and they directly vote a party in or out. If a party doesn't keep its word, they know who to hold directly responsible.
Maybe my university professors emphasized the responsible vs non-responsible party system more than the average American got taught, but there is a huge positive in having a responsible party system like Canada has.
Canada's Parliamentary system is more democratic because where all the real power is held, its direct elections of the members in each riding.
That's my opinion.
But at the same time, there is moderation built into the system. The Senate by tradition holds little power, but it can moderate the House of Commons when it wants to try, and symbolic positions can be held that really show diversity when otherwise a person wouldn't be elected.
For example, America is all gung-ho over the possibility of Obama, a black American, to be President. They are happy a female might be VP on the Republican side.
Canada already has an individual that is both black and female in the name of Michaëlle Jean. Educated people in Parliament who both respect and promote diversity appointed her, and it represents the multi-culturalism of Canada in real ways.
But her position is purely symbolic, so people don't fear her in terms of political policy. She's a symbol of Canada. I think that's a safe diplomat to have in terms of representing Canada.
I prefer the Parliamentary system 100x more than the American system.
