As a Canadian, I think you Americans obsess about tax rates far too much. Sure they pay high taxes, but they also pay next to nothing for health care, schools, they get FREE university, etc etc. Point being it balances out.
Add to that that they have a business friendly environment, land access to the rest of the EU and are big free trade lovers and you've got a pretty good place to settle.
It has everything to do with government's indisputable inefficiency due to a lack of competition.
Your views on the world and government are inherent to where you were "randomly spawned", since they are inherent to the environment and culture you've been exposed to.
My comment was by no means an insult, just an observation.
Fair enough, but views and opinions are a product of many things, not just environment and culture. Additionally, my view on big government has been proven many times empirically; it's more fact than view. Most of them just don't have any incentive to improve, which I understand.
This: "Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." is one of my favorite quotes :). I'd argue it isn't a very "American" thing to say, but who knows. Ironically, Shaw was a socialist.
Add to that that they have a business friendly environment, land access to the rest of the EU and are big free trade lovers and you've got a pretty good place to settle.