Growing up in Southwestern Ontario, we'd occasionally cross into the US at Buffalo, Detroit or Niagara Falls. I distinctly remember having an impression of the US as being almost sort of third worldish -- I'd feel sorry for Americans when we'd cross over. There was a huge litter problem back then and the country really seemed to be in some state of decay. This would have been in the mid 70s - early 80s and I realize that I wasn't seeing her at her best. From my perspective the country's self image and standing in the world improved a lot since then or at least between then and 2000, I don't think it has regressed that far but neither are things looking particularly rosy at present.