Facts Every American Should Know -- And Few Do

Canada

The second largest country in the world, Canada's borders with the U.S. stretch about 5,525 miles, longer than any other international border in the world. Canada is the largest trading partner with the U.S. -- 23% of all U.S. exports go to our northern neighbor, and it's the largest supplier of energy to the United States. Finally, Canada has the second-best ice hockey team in the world after the U.S. team -- as evidenced by the teams' split of their last two games, and the U.S. winning the aggregate score, 7-6. Still, the Canadians do play well and have a bright future in that sport.

So, we can agree that Canada is a very important country for the United States, right? So, surely you can answer these very basic questions about our intimate neighbors (my Canadian readers are not allowed to take the followng quiz):

1. Who is Canada's head of state?
2. Who is Canada's head of government?
3. Who is President of Canada?

Why do you not know the answers to these questions? It's like not knowing what job Barack Obama has in America. He's the "community organizer" for the United States? No, he is not. So who is the head of state of Canada? Well, it's a slightly trick question, actually. It's Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. Yes, "of Canada." She's the same lady who waves to crowds in London as Queen of England, but there is nothing that bars her from holding down two jobs. She doesn't really have much power, beyond waving to crowds in Toronto, but she is the representative head of state. She's even on some of the money -- that should prove it, right? Not even Obama is on any of our money.

Ok, so you can claim that I tricked you on that one. So, surely you can say who is the head of the Canadian Government, yes? No? Here's a hint: He's the prime minister. What is a prime minister? I am not going to explain that in this blog, because then I will lose a lot of readers, and I probably have already lost all my Canadian readers. The head guy, as of today, is Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The 50-year-old Conservative Party leader has been PM since 2006, the same year that Palau moved its capital from Koror to Melekeok, as you recall. I can remember it as if it happened yesterday.

As for who is President of Canada...? Come on, there is no such thing! If I asked you who is King of the World, would you say "that guy on the Titanic"? You really need to stop watching so much reality TV and ice hockey games.

Mexico

Mexico has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, and it shares a 1,969-mile border with the United States -- and that border, from what I've heard, apparently is completely unguarded and Mexicans are offered free candy if they want to cross it for fun. Mexico is the third-largest trading partner with the U.S., after Canada (see above) and China (don't see above). Finally, based on the Dec. 2009 FIFA soccer (football) world rankings, Mexico is rated #17 in the world. This is very good, and they should be very proud, since fútbol is their national sport. One day, in fact, they might become as good as the USA, which is ranked #14.

So, Mexico is also important to the U.S. Therefore, you certainly can answer two simple questions about the country, right? (Canadians are allowed to take the following quiz, because they probably also do not know the answer.)

1. Who is the President of Mexico?
2. Who is the Queen of Mexico?

I'll get straight to the point: As of today, President Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa. I will also accept the response Felipe Calderón. The 47-year-old is affiliated with the National Action Party. He has been president since 2006, the same year that Sweden won the Olympics Ice Hockey championship in Torino. I remember that as if it happened four years ago.

There obviously is no queen of Mexico. I threw that bone in there so you would get at least one question correct and not feel so utterly worthless. Still, my point is that Americans generally do not know the simplest facts that they should know. Now memorize the answers and go out there and win some bets at bars.