Americans are generally a lot more individualistic in their approach to life, in my view. Their Constitution means government has not been there intervening in their lives for as long as the Canadian government has been the master of the lives of Canadians. But I will say that being America's neighbor, their influence has somewhat slowed our "creeping" socialism so we aren't as bad off as Europe.

I don't know if, overall, Americans are more aware or awake but they have been far less trusting of big government than Canadians. Their history, born out of revolution against a tyrannical government and the fact they have been, up until recently, taught to be wary of government, makes them less inclined to endorse a big government. The swing is to be less vigilant for the last few decades, becoming more progressive. There are some international efforts to influence and advance American progressivism lately as well. I would go so far as to say there is a concerted effort to erode Constitutionally granted rights and authority from without and within and, until Trump, national sovereignty was being sold. Recent nefarious activities of the intelligence community and the revelation of those activities has brought attention to the slackening of vigilance that has crept in.

Are you joking?

I mean, there's elements of each here. Some tune out of politics just to not face what's happening, unaware that politics is affecting the minutia of their daily lives -- or just not caring. Other swallow uncritically whatever rot the media wants to spew. Then there are those who are totally aware.

I can't make the comparison to Canada, because I just don't know enough about what it's like there.