Do Canadians REALLY “defer to authority?”

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[Marshal_Dunnik]

I defer to JJ's superior expertise on this matter, and have no further questions about his conclusions, which I have accepted unconditionally

[antlerbraum]

The only authority I trust is JJs opinion on silly little nick-nacks and doo-dads.

[jarvy]

I think the longer this has gone on, and the more baffling decisions Johnston has made (or not made), the more people started to question "Wait, why does everyone think this Johnston guy is so great? Does he just know a lot of people? Is that it?" It's as you say, his authority derives from being a vague "professional authority figure" and I think Canadians deserve a bit more credit than to think they'd just accept that unquestioningly.

[jakemonster]

I never thought Canadians would be okay with some of the things that’s happened. But to be fair, I never thought my fellow countrymen would’ve been okay with the Patriot Act either. Strange times.

[angelrojo]

It's not a myth. I have to disagree with you here JJ. I do believe, after living my entire life here in Canada, that Canadians are by far the most compliant, passive/aggressive and passive/polite culture I have ever witnessed. The protests that you mentioned are the exception, not the rule. And as for Mr. Johnston bowing out, it points to a recent trend (thank God!) that Canadians are finally waking up to the incompetence of the current Gov't. Cheers!

[TheAirborneKite]

The big example for me is when one authority figure or another accuses someone of "undermining the authority of institutions" as though institutions are just entitled to the respect of the public. Also, the idea of "anti-government rhetoric" as something akin to hate speech. In both cases though, it's more a demand for deference than evidence of deference, just as you suggest.

[mcmann]

I like that last part you got to, the cultural idea in English-speaking societies where liberty means a constant skepticism of those in power. When pundits in the media or politicians ask "Why is trust in the government and institutions at an all time low?", at least in America, I always think of this idea that those in power and authority are inherently untrustworthy to some extent. It's interesting to see this in Canada as well.

[djexpo]

Australia in the LOW deference to authority category?! As a Canadian and Australian resident, there’s nothing Australians like more than being told what to do.

“Do the right thing!” they so often say.

[rangergxi]

I have always wondered about this as an Albertan. I would hardly describe the people here as "dangerously deferential to authority". Albertans seem to distrust the police and the govt to the extreme. its stuff like this that always made me feel like this province is almost isolated from the rest of Canadian culture. The Eastern half of the country is talked of as though it were some despotic place where people have a slavish mindset and I have always been unsure on that.

[christophercole]

In the Simpsons episode "The Bart Wants What It Wants", there's a scene in which the film "Canadian Graffiti" is being made at Paramountie Studios. What's then shown is a guy spray painting "Obey the rules" on a wall. I never really understood that joke until now. Thanks!

[krgoodrich]

Yes, those truckers were definitely deferring to authority as are the Albertans etc. Great video, your explanation reinforces my belief that Canadians are just slightly different Americans.

[BradyPostma]

"Canadians tend to defer to authority. To illustrate this point, allow me to defer to our most authoritative newspapers."

That's so meta!

[ShomoGoldburgler]

As an Albertan, I'd like to mention, trust in government especially the federal government is the lowest here. Many people are fiercly independent and pro republican.
Could be due to our history, in 1911 a quarter of Albertans were American or of American stalk.
A large number of young Albertan professionals leave for the USA each year. Our retirees spend their winters in the states.

Many Albertan wonder, what is their place in Confederation?

[DCAdamB]

That Trudeau quote at the end reminds me of a very similar quote from Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” Although they came from differing political coalitions and language backgrounds, they both share a remarkably similar small-L liberal conception of liberty.

[MrFallingfromgrace]

I wish we had “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” over “Peace, Order, and Good Government”. Never more so now.

[mukbangsareawesome]

I wonder why they didnt appoint a royal commission on this. Another seemingly Canadian thing to do. Love the channel, JJ. Being American, in my schooling, they always skipped Canada in social studies class as it was usually at the end if the book. This if course made me fascinated with the country.

[Ryyi]

As an American, I learned quite a lot about our northern neighbors. In fact, this video has given me a new view of Canada. Hope you can keep those "elites" in line with what the Canadian people want!
🇺🇸🇨🇦

[HeisenbergFam]

As a non Canadian, my condolences to Canadians having to deal with the state of Canada

[awabicamazon]

hey jj love your content, thanks for lighting a shine on the bs going on in our country! Love from another BC resident!

[charleslalonde]

i used to live in theDetroit area ; and visited Windsor often walking around the downtown, i would come across pedestrians waiting at the cross walk, i would look left and right, no cars in sight as far as the eye could see, yet the canadians stood obediantly waiting for the light to change , no traffic at all