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  • Last time I was in the US I was in Hawaii in January 2009. Obama was being inaugurated and because of time zones I had to get up early to watch it. Figured it was worth getting up for because it was kinda historical. So I was in the common area of the hostel where the TV was and there were four other people in the room, two women sitting up front, close to the TV, excited about the Obama being inaugurated. And there was a dude at the back of the room cursing and swearing because the stock market was dropping.

    When the speech was done, we got to talking. The two women excited about the inauguration were Canadian. The guy at the back of the room angry at Obama because of the stock market (he's literally being inaugurated, he hadn't done anything yet) was American.

    Just felt like there was something wrong with that country then and just didn't feel like going back there again. Then Trump came along and he did nothing but reinforce that feeling. Had some small hope they might be able to get past their greed, ignorance, and racism when Biden got in, but that just didn't happen.

    Haven't gone there in 16 years, and sure as hell not going there now.

  • Back before the Canadian dollar was at or near par, we'd visit the US from Toronto monthly. We'd roll up to the outlets and score deals. I'd pick up parcels from my cross-border PO box. And then once we were all shopped out, we'd treat ourselves to a quality meal at Olive Garden and be on our merry way. Some nights we'd even get a room at the nearby casino, drop some money at the penny slots.

    Since 2016, in addition to the low Canadian dollar, the political climate and the rise of anti-intellectuals have really forced us to think twice about spending any time across the border.

    It used to be a fun day trip with great deals and cheap food. It's not the case anymore.

  • (not canadian) i’m 100% in the same boat… i have commitments to some international events throat i have to fulfil, but im pulling any support from “international” things in the US after they’re done

    i can’t in good conscience come and spend money in that economy, and i certainly can’t support events that draw other people into doing the same - especially when a lot of it is US-centrist-reinforcing the idea of what “international” is by providing only token nods to other cultures

99 comments