A few ways, recently, I’ve been reminded I’m not living in Chicago – or even just the USA.
1. I went in to get my Ontario driver’s license, and it cost $75 (for 5 years validity). Illinois was about $20.
2. I chatted about #1 with the driver’s licensing person helping me and she couldn’t believe how cheap Illinois is. Thought it was per year. Then I mentioned that at least in Ontario everybody has healthcare. She wrote that off, saying it depended on what type of care you want. Admittedly, the system here isn’t perfect, but everybody does have healthcare. But it’s such a given, that it’s taken for granted. They should try living in the US and see what they say.
3. The major paper in town – the Toronto Star – ran a front page story today holding up the Chicago Blackhawks as a model for the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs. Which included fan-friendliness as a hallmark of the Blackhawks. You know, the team that wouldn’t televise home games and drew some of the fewest fans in the NHL. My head is still trying to wrap itself around that one.
4. I saw a TV commercial advertising a lottery-style giveaway for a vacation in the sun. Sound familiar? The destination was Cuba.
I once quipped to a roomful of Americans the best thing about visiting Cuba is that there are no Americans there. Not one of the smartest things I’ve done in my life.
#1. In Missouri it’s $20/6 years. Of course, the way most people drive here, getting a license is purely a formality. How to Ontario/Toronto drivers compare to the tailgating, impatient, cell-phone-glued maniacs of any US city over 500?
#2. “saying it depended on what type of care you want” Classic quote, you’re absolutely right about taking it for granted. Unless you consider crossing your fingers to be health care.
#3. I was horrified to see this, until I read the Star article. They’re only comparing to the Blackhawks of this year, the first of the post-Bill Wirtz era, in which the new and younger management of the team really is going all-out to revamp the team and fan experience. While you were gone, the Hawks really did change their operation and it’s paying dividends. So I think their point is that the Leafs, too, could benefit from the lessons of the new Hawks, not the old ones. Still, I agree, it’ll take a while for “fan-friendly Blackhawks” to lose its oxymoron status.
#4. That’s a good one.
Regarding #3, I did know about the changes, and I also read the article and could see their point about the Hawks trying to turn things around. But it’s still pretty funny to imagine the Hawks as fan-friendly.
To really analyze the article, yeah, maybe the Leafs could do more to be fan-friendly, but ultimately, they sell out every single game, and it’s got to be one of the toughest tickets in (North American) pro sports. It’s also one of the most expensive.
The real problem is a crap team and a pattern of losing.
Looks like the Blackhawks are making a name for themselves under Rocky Wirtz. He’s got Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita back in the “official family” for the first time in three decades. Bob Pulford is off in another of the Wirtz family businesses It’s all an improvement, it seems to me.
Glad you’re settling in!
Cheers!
D…