I may be wrong on this but I believe Canada is the highest taxed G8 nation in the world. Paying tax on tax, it is insane!
Now I will also agree about the neighbours in the M.E. But there are some real westernized countries like Bahrain where it is real easy to fit in and you don't have to go to Iraq,Iran etc.
As for a necessary evil in there companies and countries?
Pilots in Canada are certainly a necessary evil for a company. Just look how we are treated.