[brookst]

> most Americans are perfectly fine with "America First".

I agree with everything you said, except this. Sub “many” and I’d go with it. But at least here, in blue state / more-sane land, there is widespread horror and outrage. We’re only at the “tens of thousands of people protesting” stage and I’ll be the first to say Americans need to do more, but I think it’s going to far to say most Americans don’t care about the impact elsewhere.

[palata]

I can't edit it, but my point was that this is the perception from the outside. And really I believe that the perception is that most Americans are fine with America First.

[b112]

but I think it’s going to far to say most Americans don’t care about the impact elsewhere.

Indeed.

Recently in Palo Alto for a few months. Saw lots of people protesting Tesla dealerships, lots of interesting and creative anti-Trump and Elon signs.

Not one word of Canada, of Greenland. Trumps stated goal of destroying Canada's economy to force annexation, or to outright just take Greenland seem not protest worthy.

Most people I spoke to seemed barely conscious of the issue.

To be fair, other matters may be higher pri in their minds, so if other events were not happening in parallel, it may be different.

But when 65 billion dollar defence hardware purchases are being dropped (they are), when future military purchases are not going to happen, when police cars, municipal vehicles are not going to be from US companies any more, when natural resources are going to be sold to the EU and China instead (sadly), the US is going to feel this for a very long time.

Because these are choices for decades. And it's not only Canada making them.

[pseudalopex]

The Hands Off protests had signs and chants saying hands off Canada and hands off Greenland. And I think it's understandable current events have higher priorities than possible events.

[DeathArrow]

Why should US citizens deeply care about Canada? It's not their country, they don't live there. Don't tell me Canadians lose sleep thinking about the well being of US.

[pseudalopex]

> Why should US citizens deeply care about Canada?

You don't have to deeply care about Canada to oppose annexation threats.

> Don't tell me Canadians lose sleep thinking about the well being of US.

A Canadian prime minister said Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.[1]

[1] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pierre_Trudeau#1969

[palata]

Ask that to the US companies that were relying on Canada, I suppose.

A partnership goes both ways. Caring about a partner is caring about yourself.

[DeathArrow]

Yes a businessman might care about his trade partner. I was asking why should Joe a Average from US care about Joe Average from Canada.

[brookst]

Just basic empathy I guess. Some people want good for others, even those they will never meet. It’s why disaster aid flows in from all over the world. Understood that it’s incomprehensible to some people, but I think that’s a small minority.

[thaneross]

Because nationality is an accident of birth and being unconcerned with causing harm to others is sociopathic.