I found this interesting. These statistics, if true, seriously indict our own national economy:

If you’re feeling short-changed by Ottawa, it turns out you’re right. Every year, the federal government spends an average of $3,919 per Ontarian, not including federal interest payments on the national debt. When it comes to spending, per person, Ontarians get the least. The feds spend $4,375 per westerner, $4,974 per Quebecker, and $8,209 per Atlantic Canadian.

I found this on a blogexplosion blog site, so I don't know how to find the direct link, but it could probably be googled easily enough if you're inclined to verify the facts.

What I found compelling was that the per capita spending of the HIGHEST demographic ($8,209; Atlantic Canadian) is substantially below our own government's per capita expenditures of $8566 per person. Sadly, I am without information as to whether these statistics are in US or Canadian dollars, if the latter, the gap is substantially wider.

Canada's high per capita expenditure is understandable when you consider that there are many elements of Democratic Socialism that guide the Canadian government. Canada's health care system, though oft maligned by the American press, is certainly better than the zero health care that is the reality for all too many Americans. At least, one can look at the government and see where the money is being spent.

Our taxes have provided many good programs; the electricity we enjoy and the roads upon which we drive are but a few examples of this. But our government is grossly inefficient in the administration of funds, and we would be well served to explore ways to increase government efficiency and reduce taxes that must support such government overspending. Personally, I don't advocate for a national health care as such, but rather for reductions of taxes that would ultimately reduce costs for many Americans and increase income. Certainly, when our per capita spending is so much higher than Canada's while providing less, there is room to cut.