From a CBC Radio commentary by Brian Lee Crowley [real audio] the head of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies

In the commercial republic to the south they do love to make money, but they love their families, their communities and their country more. To misunderstand this is to misunderstand everything about America.

I think that's a key insight into the collective American psyche that's often missed by Canadians, when dealing with our neighbours to the south.

-Peace