Many Americans do have misconceptions about the Canadian Mounties, but many Americans also have misconceptions about our own police. I think both of these police forces trade on their history and imagery of being upstanding, honest, and immune to bribery/corruption (especially compared to much of the world). That's all ancient history at this point.
The real struggle is that of the individual against the almighty state, and it manifests in different ways in different places. They're all the same though. They even openly speak of their desire to merge into one giant, global superstate. Notice how the executive agencies of government, in both Canada and the USA, have taken for themselves the role of legislatures? So much is done by fiat now. The operate behind the fig leaf of legitimacy that comes from some overly broad and misinterpreted legislation or constitutional premise -- such as the Commerce Clause in America's case.
Government is evil. Not this government or that government, but all government. The very idea of government is predicated on coercion and violence. We have always rationalized to ourselves that while it may be an evil, it is a necessary evil. As the train of abuses grows, though, that whole "necessary" part becomes increasingly up for debate.
