Competing Against America: Why Canada Has Fallen Behind in the Race for Talent and Wealth (And What To Do About It) [Hardcover]

Michael Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2006

COMPETING AGAINST AMERICA

Critical acclaim for Competing Against America: Why Canada Has Fallen Behind in the Race for Talent and Wealth (And What To Do About It)

"Michael Alexander has provided a searching look into Canadian and American society and asked, why has the U.S. pulled so far ahead in the race for talent and wealth? His insightful answers should receive serious study from concerned citizens--on both sides of the border."
--Clark S. Judge, Managing Director, White House Writers Group, Washington, D.C.

While Canada no longer perches atop the leader board of the UN's Development Index, it does continue to outstrip all other industrial nations in comp;agency. Michael Alexander tackles the perils of smugness. he shows that neither our present nor our likely future is as bright as our leaders like to assure us it is. Puncturing the ten comforting myths by which Canadians live, he tells us how we will have to change in order to reach our full potential both as a nation and as individuals."
--Clifford Orwin, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Program in Political Philosophy and International Affairs, University of Toronto

"Michael Alexander cares deeply about Canada and has devoted much effort and considerable talent and energy to providing a thorough and penetrating analysis of Canadian political culture. This important book deserves an audience of thoughtful people who accept their serious responsibility to be informed citizens and to engage in publish debate regarding these issues that impact the future prosperity of us all."
--Dr. James Breech, President, Cougar Global Investments, Toronto

"Having known Michael Alexander since our days at Columbia Law School, he has the sharp intellect, eclectic insight and academic pedigree to attack some of Canada's most sacred cows, from multiculturalism to 'the best place to live' mantra. He argues persuasively that the pertinent question for Canada is not what we are, but what we can become."
--Richard J. Goossen, CEO, M&A Capital Corp., Vancouver, author of The Greatest Thinkers on Entrepreneurship

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Michael Alexander has provided a searching look into Canadian and American society and asked, why has the U.S. pulled so far ahead in the race for talent and wealth?  His insightful answers should receive serious study from concerned citizens—on both sides of the border."
—Clark S. Judge, Managing Director, White House Writers Group, Washington, D.C.

"While Canada no longer perches atop the leader board of the UN's Development Index, it does continue to outstrip all other industrial nations in comp;agency.  Michael Alexander tackles the perils of smugness.  he shows that neither our present nor our likely future is as bright as our leaders like to assure us it is.  Puncturing the ten comforting myths by which Canadians live, he tells us how we will have to change in order to reach our full potential both as a nation and as individuals."
—Clifford Orwin, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Program in Political Philosophy and International Affairs, University of Toronto

"Michael Alexander cares deeply about Canada and has devoted much effort and considerable talent and energy to providing a thorough and penetrating analysis of Canadian political culture.  This important book deserves an audience of thoughtful people who accept their serious responsibility to be informed citizens and to engage in publish debate regarding these issues that impact the future prosperity of us all."
—Dr. James Breech, President, Cougar Global Investments, Toronto

"Having known Michael Alexander since our days at Columbia Law School, he has the sharp intellect, eclectic insight and academic pedigree to attack some of Canada's most sacred cows, from multiculturalism to 'the best place to live' mantra.  He argues persuasively that the pertinent question for Canada is not what we are, but what we can become."
—Richard J. Goossen, CEO, M&A Capital Corp., Vancouver, author of The Greatest Thinkers on Entrepreneurship

From the Inside Flap

Competing Against America

In this provocative and hard-hitting book, Michael Alexander has a direct and unflinching message for all Canadians: our standard of living is in free fall, and has been for almost 25 years. Currently, Canada's standard of living is 20 percent lower than America's. The author asks why we have failed to achieve our economic potential, and many will find the reasons hard to accept. Some of our most cherished beliefs and values have turned out to be misguided and harmful to our well-being.

Since the 1960s, media and government elites have been feeding Canadians false ideas that have had a profound impact on policies affecting economic innovation, higher education, multiculturalism, equity in the workplace, and the guarantee of individual rights. Many of these ideas were supposed to create a "just society" that would establish equal opportunity as its guiding principle and promote national prosperity. Instead, these ideas have undermined the equal opportunity ideal and drastically reduced our productive potential.

When offering solutions, the author turns to the United States, not to advocate the adoption of American ideas and policies as a cure-all, but to pinpoint best practices that have made America the world's foremost economic power.& He argues that by combining these practices with our own overdue reforms, we can begin to challenge the thinking that has held us back, and fulfill the promise of the just society.

Competing Against America is a wake-up call for Canada. It's a guide to a more prosperous future. But, as the author stresses, we can get there only if we get our house in order and sweep away bad ideas and regressive policies. Politicians have told us time and time again that "Canada is the best place to live." This is only one lie among many, as this book will reveal.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470835125
• ISBN-13: 978-0470835128
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,725,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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