I think we Canadians have an interesting perspective on our southern friends. In an overall personal sense, they are good people. I find the majority of Americans to be kind, warm, vibrant people.
From a political-governmental standpoint, my views of them are more mixed. They are somewhere on the border between good and evil in that area.
I like the fact that they haven't succumbed to the political correctness that Canada and a lot of Europe has fallen victim to. For example, in many of this country's (Canada's) public schools and workplaces, it's considered offensive to wish someone Merry Christmas or Happy Easter . You can mention every other non-Christian holiday but God forbid you offend someone by mentioning a Christian holiday. The US largely hasn't fallen victim to that politically correct nonsense. The darker flipside of that of course is that religion and politics are too interconnected in the US, and I say that even as a practising Catholic. I believe that a longtime ago during the Enlightenment, the West began to realize that mixing government and religion was largely undesirable and led to horrendous injustices. Religion should not be a politician's guiding light when faced with an issue like gay marriage. Moreover I find it astounding that the teaching of Evolution is still banned in parts of the states.
Their foreign policy has positive elements and negative ones as well. They certainly are the main force for democracy in the world. Invading Afganistan and their role in Yugosavia was certainly justified, Iraq was not. Yet I've also never forgiven Bush Sr. for failing to do more to make China pay for what they did to those kids in Tianneman Square. The Chinese market was simply considered too lucractive to put any meaningful pressure on the Chinese that could jeopardize trade. The US has often proven that when push comes to shove, economic interests (i.e. first Iraq war) take precedence over political democracy. They've often proven they'll deal with dictators as long as they aren't deemed to be too left wing and are open for business, despite their leaders "democracy" rhetoric.
So I'll repeat... they are overall a good people...but their government is somewhere on the border between good and evil.
Cheers