[sbarre]

I am also a Canadian who has decided not to visit the US until further notice, and honestly, I'm sad about it.

In my 20+ years of regularly travelling to the States, I've almost always had great interactions with the people I've met in all parts of the US I've visited, and I've been all over. "Warm and welcoming" is a very good description.

I hope to be able to visit again in the future.

[conductr]

I think you’re all within your right to keep your distance from us. Our disgraceful leadership, even if it doesn’t accurately represent our people, we must suffer under it but no reason for you to do the same. We just hope you’re aware it’s only a few more years and we can begin to heal the whole relationship with more sane leaders that hopefully do see the strength and value in a positive relationship with a northern neighbor.

If not, please send help or accept our political refugees because we will have become permanently screwed if this behavior continues past our current orange phase.

[overfeed]

> [...]even if it doesn’t accurately represent our people

I beg to differ, seeing that the US had free and fair elections - media bias aside.

[conductr]

Elections are not good sample of our collective values. The approval rating is quite low and is probably a better measure.

But when it comes to elections, first, somehow “we” get 2 bad choices every time. This last time, I personally feel they were 2 incredibly terrible choices. Then the fumbling from the other side basically assured orange man’s victory. It was a disaster of an election (but sadly appropriate as it seems like every thing we do is a disaster now.)

We also have a low voter turnout. So the result isn’t really complete and probably has some bias.

We also have an electoral college which means the winner can have less than 50% of the popular vote and win.

I could probably go on but I feel the point has been made that election outcomes are not the proxy you think

https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker

[overfeed]

If "both sides" are equally bad, then both sides equally represent the people, no?

> I could probably go on but I feel the point has been made that election outcomes are not the proxy you think

The purpose of a system is what it does. There are not many grassroots efforts to change the many negatives you listed. Tacit approval - whether through nor voting or not fixing what is broken - does not lessen culpability. The outcome is still accurate representation on the aggregate.

If 4 housemates always have a dirty kitchen, it's a reflection on all of them. It may fall short of their ideals, or they can blame Bob for not doing dishes, not fixing a problem whose root they know is an indictment, not an excuse.

[gucci-on-fleek]

Most Canadians are visiting Hawaii and California, not Arkansas and South Dakota, so the point still stands for the states most people are going to. (Although Florida and Arizona are both pretty popular destinations too, which somewhat contradicts my point)

[dnemmers]

South Dakota actually has a few decent tourist attractions west river: (Mt Rushmore, Badlands, Crazy Horse).

With its proximity to Canada, and relative cheapness, likely pulls in quite a few tourists from up North.

One additional South Dakota attraction (although lessening interest as of late) is how much hunting/fishing is available, and how much the community is interested in the ‘visiting’ hunter.

https://sdvisit.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/2025-Economi...

[gucci-on-fleek]

Oh, I wasn't aware of that, thanks! I guess I was only thinking of warmer places, since that's where I tend to travel to. I personally live a bit too far north to drive to the US (in a reasonable amount of time), so I completely forgot that the US is close enough for a summer road trip for most Canadians.

[atonse]

Same has been true the 2-3 times I've visited Canada. I don't think that'll change. I remember how things got pretty heated during the run up to the Iraq War. And we hope that the friendship will endure.

But I'm a pretty optimistic person anyway.