Canadians rarely think of themselves as fervently patriotic and thus, Samuel Johnson's famous dictum that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" is rarely thought applicable in the Canadian context, at least as it concerns the possible excesses of nationalism. But the ugly side of nationalism does crop up on occasion, especially in debates over public policy.

The temptations of nationalism occurred to me again recently after an anonymous caller left a message that can only politely be described as "nut-barish," with a tendency for a strong belief in conspiracy theories and a few unprintable words. In the first message, (she left two), the caller had no doubt that this writer must be an American. She then listed a litany of sins she thought were endemic to the United States and not merely incidental. Similarly, in an e-mail, someone else asked what American state I was from, with the insinuation that anyone in favour of lower taxes and limited government must be a Yankee.

Full disclosure: This writer is 100 percent Canadian, having been born and bred in Kelowna. That should be irrelevant, but the anti-American streak in what one assumes is a minority of Canadians, is strong and it contains a powerful streak of irrationality that often shuts down legitimate policy debates. The anti-American bias is too often accepted in place of a real argument. Thus, if any idea is tagged, even mistakenly, as "American," some Canadians will dismiss it on that basis. Too bad, since a decent idea is worth considering on its own merits.

For example, consider where Canada would be if we ignored ideas from other countries. Let's start with progressive income tax. The Americans instituted that in 1894. In contrast, the federal progressive income tax in Canada did not appear until World War One. Like the idea of a some form of a welfare state It originated with Otto Von Bismarck in Germany in the late 1800s. How about the Canadian constitution That was an American idea grafted on to our system of government. How about the vote for women If Canadians had rejected that because it was a foreign concept, (New Zealand first gave women the vote), Canadian women would still be waiting for the chance to cast a ballot.

And then there are the modern issues. Any promotion of the benefits of private health care is assumed to equal a desire to have uninsured Canadians. (A false linkage; universality now exists with much private care including for-profit doctor's offices.) Lower taxes and limited government are also assumed to be American in origin even, and ironically, though the U.S. now spends more per capita on social programs than does Canada. (The reasons are simple: The U.S., per capita, is wealthier and also pays less in debt interest.)

The assumption that limited government and moderate tax levels are American ideas is false, but not easily disposed of. As a test, ask yourself how you respond to these words: "It is not in the power of the present generation to dispose of the birthright of its descendants. Liberty and self-government are inalienable rights."

Such phrases often make one think of modern-day American political rhetoric. Actually, the year was 1870, and the speaker was T.L. Wood, a legislator with British Columbia's Legislative Council, in a debate over B.C.'s entry into confederation.

Samuel Johnson was half-right: patriotism can be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but an open mind can keep such patriotism in check.