Canada, U.S. Barely Differ on Separatist Sentiments

Hmm. It seems separatist sentiments in the USA and Canada are quite close to one another.

From an Ipsos-Reid poll, as reported by the Calgary Herald a little while ago:

A new Ispos Reid survey says 15 per cent of Canadians would have their province opt out of Canada if given the chance. Alberta and Quebec lead the way, with one in five Albertans (18 per cent) saying they would like to declare independence.

From a new Zogby poll of Americans:

One in five American adults - 22% - believe that any state or region has the right to “peaceably secede from the United States and become an independent republic,” a new Middlebury Institute/Zogby International telephone poll shows.

However, there’s a twist:

Politically, liberal thinkers were much more likely to favor the right to secession for states and regions, as 32% of mainline liberals agreed with the concept. Among the very liberal the support was only slightly less enthusiastic - 28% said they favored such a right. Meanwhile, just 17% of mainline conservatives thought it should exist as an option for states or regions of the nation.

And another one: 44% of Americans believe the country’s too messed up for two parties to fix.