Close Reading

10:50 Ty, you balked out of the comment as if the writer threw acid at you. And yet you must understand that to many Canadians the religious batshit craze that is behind the prevalent political climate in the US is at the heart of the refusal to ever consider moving to the US. Americans think they live in the land of the free and yet they’re perfectly happy to force their personal conception of freedom (bear arms, ban books, ban gender/sexual orientation discussion, ban abortion rights etc) onto the whole country. Sadly, you chickened out of facing some unpleasant truths.

As a Québec citizen, I just laughed so hard when I saw that someone actually wrote « tabarnak ». It would also be my own answer. Although I enjoy traveling to the USA and have seen amazing places and met great people, there is no way in hell I would move there. The main reason is the blind patriotism some people show that leads to fanatism and extremists opinions often generated by the right religious wing. Politics in the US is a freak show. Nothing less…

As a Canadian there looks like some great places to visit in the USA but i would never move to the US. The biggest issue in the US is Gun violence, there attachment to guns. Number two is health care, number three is weather volatility and more adverse weather conditions. Instead of one main government the US seems to have two which prevents any real change for the better. Money controls more government and political decisions than even in Canada which is already bad enough. The NRA controls more government and policing. They are seen as the bigger risk to American safety and security. I believe many Canadians believe the NRA are on the cusp of being the largest domestic terrorist organization and closure to a major cartel. Not even the military could control the NRA if the US decided to enforce new laws that the NRA felt would effect their financial, political or perceived control in the US. This is a big reason Canadians may not want to move to the US. To think there is a private military ready to go to war against their own people in the drop of a hat, reminding North Americans of the war between the North and South. There are beautiful places to see in the US, there are hard working and brave people in the US and i am sure there are more good people than bad but those with power, control and weapons have the great degree of balance. The US has a lot to be proud of and still so much possibility and ability to grow if it were not for those with the majority of power that is not being used for good or in the best interest of the majority of US citizens. Love the architecture and old districts and those trying to preserve the environment, farms, seed diversity and best of what made the US great.

It's great having health insurance through your job as long as you have a job. I would never consider moving to the U.S. due to political, social, and safety reasons. I think under the current political environment in the U.S. we are watching the collapse of democracy in the United States. It is not at all an appealing place for me to visit or live.

@tyler An area doesn't have a school shooting until it does. And with the increased diversity/division and political anger there are too many lit fuses.

I married an American woman that have move from US to Montréal and now speaking a very good french. She will never move back to US except if the political atmosphere improve a lot.

I'm a proud Canadian who would NEVER move to the USA for a ton of reasons. I only wish our best neighbors---I still believe this---would get their act together. Unfortunately I think it may be way too late. The fact that a known scumbag like Donald Trump could still,I think,get back into the White House says it all. The warring political parties should be lining up to put him jail. Far too many shootings and violence down there. When I meet Americans up here,they are always nice folks,always respectful. Maybe they're relieved I'm not armed. I'm kidding. Still,all things considered,very proud and very lucky and very happy to be a Canadian.

I question even travelling to the USA. Unsafe gun crazy. Rude af maga people to difference. Many think they are the be all end all. Loving their ignorance. \nNever moving. Ever.\nBut still amazing places… my favourite ‘near to travel to’ spots. In the past. Fingers crossed for better times ahead for the USA. Their economic and defence powerhouse standing in the world makes them a leader. But the politics, religious aggressiveness, etc… such a number of batsh!t crazy. Truth.

You traitor CNN employees should have to go down there and personally apologize to every single one of them that you used as political pawns. Thank your local democrats for this disgusting scene at our border.

Individually, I met many Americans and find them nice enough. A little louder and opinionated. I managed employees there for clients.\n\nWouldn't live there...\n\nEvangelical religion, racism and discrimination, political instability & ineffectiveness, bizarre legal system, scary healthcare, poor education, threat of violence / gun culture, high crime rates.

You have an entire political party pushing racist crap... it happens in every state but it is much worse in Republican states..... I lived in Florida while I went to post secondary school there and I won't go back. F#$k FLorida's fascism and racist BS, it can be underwater anytime now and the world would be a better place because the focal point of fascism is in Florida\nI have been to California and drive to Florida from Alberta. I've been all over the US and I can tell you that I would never ever move to the US. The lack of common sense and intelligence and crazy level of consipracy theory nutjobs in ELECTED OFFICE says everything that needs to be said about the US.

I agree with many of the points regarding extremist politics, religion, guns, and healthcare. Another concern for me is that when visiting the US I don’t see people of different races mixing as friends very often. Even neighbourhoods seem to be segregated. Not an environment I’d enjoy living in. I love the mix of cultural backgrounds and how natural it is.

I lived in the US for most of my adult life, so until around 10 years ago. I lived in the South, including Florida (which I loved at the time although the residents there had a crappy attitude). My husband was a refugee in the 70s and is a Canadian, so we moved up here after marrying. I would NOT consider moving back willingly. The politics, the racism, the anti-LGBTQ, anti-women, anti-intelligence, the lack of health care...it all just makes for a really ugly existence. That said, it's also getting tough to stay here due to housing prices.

This is what happens when democRATS use immigrants as a pawn for political gain.

No never nada …Canada is beautiful. The gun culture in the U.S. is insane along with the refusal to create a health care system that protects everyone, rich or poor. Our education system in Canada is superior to that of your country. Our political system is superior to that of your country and although there are some loopholes that need attention, we on the whole can not be bought. I live in a province that wants to emulate your culture and I find it repulsive. There are amazing people in your country but the minority of misfits give you a huge black eye. My Grandpa was born in New England and one day, when sanity becomes the norm, I want to visit his birth place.

Diversity and minorities acceptance is relatively better in Canada. As an immigrant, the US would have been a big yes had it been thr 1990s but sadly, the perception to US changed drastically after then and would not want to live in the US even if given a job offer in Boston ( a beautiful city i fell in love with). Just because of what is happening on the political scene. If I need to leave Canada, it would be for Europe where work/life balance, public transit and culture of enjoying life prevails. American corporate culture is depressing.

There are different kinds of asylum but you are concentrating on political asylum. People seek asylum for different reasons including religion or being a .ember of a particular group.

America has mad shootings daily, they are famously the dumbest country on the planet. Democracy is important, but the USA is falling away from this. Two political parties is dangerous too. Need way more options. The facts that a majority of Americans voted in a celebrity billionaire racist loser makes me think they are even dumber than they are famous for. Climate incompetent. The number one problem I have with the states is the education system or lack of it. The public education system is awful. I’d rather live in about 50 other countries first. USA sucks ! Most Canadians think you are a country of morons. Which celebrity racist will you vote in next?

Move? Hell no. I won’t even travel there. The US health care, guns, racism, heat, crazy individualism, crappy education system, it goes on and on. Never mind the horrible political situation Trump, religious nuts. . . Why more sane Americans don’t move away is stunning.

Hi Tyler from Toronto Canada. I can kinda understand where some of the answers are coming from. Know that we( up north) are watching our brothers down south with the politics. In 2016 when T$__+&$#p had got into power, there was an exodus from the U.S. I know of a few Canadians who go south for the winter ( 6 months). Not too sure about moving to the U.S.A. but I love to visit. \n As I said, most recently it is more of a political thing. ❤❤

No, not anymore. The place has gone crazy.\nReason number one, way ahead of any other: Violence. Gun culture is out of control, with any Tom, Dick and Harry able to buy assault rifles. Then there is the political violence encouraged and stoked by Trump and his MAGA followers.\nThere is the absolute lunacy of conspiracy theories everywhere, such as QAnon.\nThere is ultra-conservatism and the religious right and what they are doing to human rights.\nThere is the matter of health care. I have a serious chronic condition which would make me uneligible for health insurance.\nI used to love going to the US. My last trip was over 20 years ago to New York City, which I love. I did not realize it a the time, but that was my last time crossing the border.

The exact words I was thinking:\n\nThere is not a chance in hell of me ever moving to the United States.\n\nReasons.\n#1. Gun culture.\n#2. Health Care.\n#3. Christian Theocracy.\n#4. The Sheer Near Total Insanity of the Republican Party. This includes the state of the Supreme Court, and the current barbaric handling of abortion.\n#5. The racial issues... that are still today influenced by the history of slavery.\n#6. The Issues around the Electoral College that allow a candidate to become president while losing the popular vote. Also the lack of an independent body to oversee elections. That is sheer madness.\n#7. Denser populations, and, as a related issue, greater pollution.\n#8. The Presidential Pardon... which is a concept that seems designed to facilitate the abuse of power.\n#9. Fox News, and the rest of the deeply manipulative right wing media... which I should have put much higher on this list.\n#10. Military spending... which also should probably be higher on this list.\n#11. The myth of American exceptionalism.\n#12. American ignorance of the rest of the world, in general.\n#13. The Criminal Code including the Death Penalty, which was eliminated in Canada many years ago.\n#14. Education.\n#15. The drastically increased potential for political violence ever since Trump entered the political arena. This one also should be higher on the list. The United States could not even get through a transfer of power without violence. This is beyond pathetic. The peaceful transition of power is the #1 job of first-world democracies.\n#16. Attitudes toward social problems such as poverty and drug addiction. \n\nNotice that #4 - #7 could be subdivided into more than one reason.\nI thought this list was going to have 5 or 6 items on it.

I have lived in different parts of Canada my whole life, but always seem to end up in majority conservative areas. I do not consider myself a conservative. Even though I don't agree with everyone's politics, I can still live here feeling relatively safe and accepted.\nWhen things get a bit much and I feel like maybe home doesn't feel safe or match my values, I never look at the USA as my exit plan. I have considered Sweden, and Finland before anywhere else. I also wonder if it's just the sheer volume of people that Canadians aren't used to when they visit the states. Your population is massive compared to ours, and it's hard to imagine the quality of life that I have here being easy to emulate down there without drastic changes.\nThen there's my vacation and sick time at work. Maternity leaves etc... so many quality of life things to consider. I look at the housing prices and really wish I could get over the other things. But as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, I could never work in your fee for service word. I know what hospital CEOs are doing to your healthcare from the diagnostic side - the shortcuts that are being made to make more money - and I could never do that with my ethics.\nI hope Canada wasn't too rough on you - we can be pretty shitty some times lol... and not even be sorry about it.

Spend the winter there in a snowbird white area. Can’t wait to get home in April. Guns medical cost an political fighting had changed the U.S.

I would be back in Canada in a flash if my children weren’t settled here. The politics, gun culture, religious extremism, healthcare costs are unbearable. Having said that, I have a good life but miss my culture and that Canada generally puts people before greed.

No way, I have been a Canadian snowbird for 12 years, sold my house in southwest Florida and I am very happy, too many guns, out of control political extremism, and God created every one equal, not Americans first and then the rest of the world.

Canadians are exposed to American media on a daily basis, and because of the extreme polarization in politics, the portrayal of the USA is that of a country teetering on the edge of self destruction. Canadians are exposed to constant horror stories of gun violence, crooked police, the loss of human rights, and school shootings. Having said that, you did a pretty good job of trying to stay neutral in your presentation on what is a very touchy subject. Leaning one way or another on social media would get you bashed in the comments section (which is another place where we see that polarization).

I'm an American who moved to Canada. Would I ever move back? Probably not. The US is so screwed up right now that I can't imagine ever moving back into that malstrom. Most Americans don't realize the laughing stock Trump has made of the US. Trudeau isn't great but Donald Trump makes Trudeau look like a saint. And socialized medicine, while imperfect still beats the US medical insurance situation. Less litter, less congestion and more politeness. That's Canada compared to the US.

This is what happens when a rich kid runs a country with NO educational background in economics, business or politics. An ex-ski instructor who just got elected for his last name.

In all religions and even intellectual sects, there is a right, left, and middle side, even political parties, feminists, or the LGBT community. The West and the Western media are trying to inflate stupid and ignorant groups that do not know Islam, like those fools in this alleged periodical. And depicting their deviation is because of the Islamic religion, and this is misleading and distorting

You hit the nail on the head about Canadians being afraid of guns. You are too accustomed to the violence of guns in American society. Canadians are aghast that USA does not protect children and we are utterly thankful and appreciative that we do not need to worry about the safety of kids. That provides us a sense of peace. I used to enjoy the states (been to many), but I won't even visit now. Your politics have gone screwy.

These people got rich they have not gone to real school not read books just by certificate of caste or political mercy or mafias \n\nDignity of human is gone

Canadian here. No way in fking hell would i even visit. Women have no rights, minorities are treated like crap, the whole trans/gay phobia thing, health care, guns, stupid politics, just no. Would literally move almost anywhere else first.

no I like Canada. They got politics to drive ya mad and a war going on all the time--somewhere.\n No universal health care.. Canada has some of the best doctors in the world.. \nserious marketing of racism to keep people confused..and have you seen trump?

I’m a US/Canadian citizen and my entire family live in the US. They always ask me to move back. No Way, I love my home country but with the Health Care cost, crime, and political issues, just doesn’t compare. \n\nMy Step-Father, who was a retired US Marine, was denied much needed medical treatment for Myelodysplasia. When he passed, my mother lost everything, house, car, everything. Had to claim bankruptcy. This would not have happened in Canada.

I’ve been to the U.S a couple of times, not in the last 15 years though. The times that I went I really enjoyed it and found people to be very friendly. Americans that I have gotten to know who live here in Canada or have been visiting, I have also found to be quite friendly.\n\nAs I type this you are talking about the importance of making sure you move to an area in the U.S where there are like minded people, like mined political views etc. that’s such a strange concept as a Canadian, because we don’t really have to think about that in terms of where we would live in Canada. \n\nMaybe you should come and visit us here in Canada? There could be certain limitations that you have become used to living in the U.S that you might start to see more clearly when those limitations are not there.

No. Never. Given the state of politics, gun violence, mass shootings, suppression of rights (abortion, etc), I could never live in the united states. I find it hard to believe that a third of the population adores one of the worst humans alive and might even re-elect him president, if he is not in jail by then for his role in January 6 and the classified documents cases. My last visit was in 2018 to Bangor, Maine and through northern Vermont and New Hampshire, and it was depressing. Lots of shuttered businesses and homes everywhere. I won't be visiting the country any more. Europe is a much more enjoyable (and safe) vacation.

OH HECK! No way, I would not move to the USA. I would move to many European Countries way before moving to the USA. First of all, our health care is a fact we do not need to worry. Second we do not have all your freaking problems with people that think Trump is a GOD given to them. We do not have religions anywhere near politics here. I agree depending where you are living the climat does influence us, but that is because 95% of our population live about 1 hour away to the USA. Yet I do not remember the last time I was visiting friends in the USA. But visiting friends in European Countries a few months ago, and going back again to visit them, yup going to France, UK, Germany, Austria and Russia. We do not get while eating in a restaurant: Oh! gosh again those americain that think everyone speak English and hamburger with fries is the top of the chain food.

Tyler why would anyone want to move to America? America is a 3rd world country in respect of the provision of basic human rights for its citizens. Healthcare, affordable housing, education, workers' rights, and work-life balance also mass shootings. You live in a country where they value the gun more than human life if that wasn't the case they'd change the law but they don't want to because it's of no advantage to them politically and donation-wise from the NRA. Here in the Uk, we changed the law in 1996 after the Dunblane Massacre and have not had a mass shooting since in Australia they did the same after Port Arthur with the same result.The 2nd amendment can be changed clue is in the title it's an amendment. America it's about rights and freedom workers don't have any rights and freedom that were taken away from women to have the freedom of choice about abortion under any circumstances. So much for the land of the free.

I have visited the US many, many, times and many different states during my life and always enjoyed going there. Even thought I’d probably retire there at least in the winter months. Now… there’s no way I would ever retire there! Even visiting scares me now that there’s so much gun violence, racism and political unrest. It makes me very sad because the countries such a mess now. ☹️

US - the problem is when there are obvious problems you have a system that allows big money into politics, which allows for lobbying, which in my opinion is legal bribery. The idea that politicians had ( or have ) NRA ratings for supporting openly guns and not implementing the most logical of common sense gun control. \nHealthcare - in Canada, not having the healthcare tied to your employer actually makes Canadians a more free country. There are a lot of Canadians in the arts ( musicians, painters etc. ) that have the freedom to pursue any employment that wish, and not worry about the health benefits. \nIt kind of surprises me that you were surprised about school shootings. From what we see, that is not happening all in big cities. Sandy Hook was the worst. To think that Congress didn't do a thing after that, is reason enough not to want to move there.\nAnd Donald Trump has soured my wanting to ever even go there on holiday. Unbelievable that after two years, so many Americans believe anything he says, when he claims that he won in 2020 with not even a ounce of evidence to the contrary. There is not even a theory that would explain his claims. The mistrust of Americans with each other stems from people like Trump and Fox news. \nI think as you said - Healthcare alone is enough for almost any Canadian. I don't know anyone that owns a gun, I don't know of anyone who has gone bankrupt for being sick, and I never worry my granddaughter going to school and being shot.

I’m with my fellow Canadians, I’ll visit the US (although even then, it’s beginning to look less and less ideal) but over my dead body would I live there. \nThe fact you have become desensitized and don’t discuss school shootings is baffling. 4 or 5 years ago, there was a shooting where I live in Canada. The whole city was on lock down. I believe one elderly woman died, and 3 were injured. The person was caught, arrested, and is rotting away in jail. It hasn’t happened since. People still remember it. My little sister and I were scared, so we hid in my bedrooms closet. (It was on the second floor, and there was no way anybody could break in and get up there easily.)\n\nHealthcare is a huge issue. My family has a long line of health issues, and with that in mind, the risk is just to obscene.\n\nI am a woman. The fact that laws are being stripped away from us by old white men who have no idea what it is like to be a woman in the states is horrifying. \n\nGun culture. It’s near-on impossible or at least it’s incredibly difficult to get guns here. Owning guns isn’t respected. When people die from being shot, it’s remembered and spoken about, even years later. At least to me, it seems you care more for your Guns and the rights to own and use them, then Women who want to have bodily autonomy.\n\nYour political issues. I don’t even know what to say at this point beyond. The entire senate is rich old straight white men who like to make laws about groups they aren’t part of, and strip laws away from others. You basically have two polar opposite sides of the political spectrum and that alone, divides people so deep they can’t even be in the same room for more then 10 seconds.\n\n\nI’m Part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Enough said. \n\nI’m well aware that not everyone in the US is like this. But in my eyes, that’s more then enough to deter me. I’m glad you decided to take a look at this, and see our reactions to the questions. And I’m glad you didn’t take offence to the harsh or bitter answers. Sure Canada isn’t perfect, but it’s better in enough ways to keep me much preferring staying here.

I lived in the US; Virginia for 13 years. For the most part the people are lovely... just like a lot of places. If you treat people with kindness; they usually return that kindness. At least that is my experience. Mind you, I came home in 2006. When I lived there the political climate was completely different. I would absolutely NOT move back to the US. When I came home to Canada; I was so grateful because I had to endure 2 years without Healthcare when I really needed it. I lived on pain pills at that time. I was in a wheelchair by 2008 and so grateful that I was home where my country took care of me when I was unable to work, or even walk. \n\nPolitics has changed so much since then. It was always kind of poler, but when Donald Trump entered the scene; it has become just awful. Again, I love the Americans for the most part, however there is so much racism, homophobia and hate displayed in the country right now. I pray every day that Donald Trump does not become president again. I fear for the United States. I love her as a sister to Canada; she is. I want her people safe...

Just one person here. One: Canada's going in a bad direction for some. Perhaps very bad. Latest is the opposition to the current leader of Canada (and the group) who is shown to be the same in many ways. But it's US better? Mexico might be, except for cartels.\nCanada is multicultural. Arrangements are for 'millions'(?) more.\nImmigrants are in 'tent CITIES' I one city.\nBut doesn't US have that, too?\nSo, not seeing reasons? Politically difficult in both.

1. You have mass shooting EVERY F'ING DAY! EVERY DAY!!!!! \n2. The fact you just rushed past the abortion issue is concerning considering 50% of the pop is women, it is a vital area to consider if you care at all about women and their rights and right to choose. \n3. Healthcare in general.\n4. As a gay married man of 20 years your republicans can get bent. \n5. Your political corruption is INSANE and VERY evident. I had an american friend tell me that Trump did a good job cause N Korea and Russia didn't bomb the US while he was in office. \n6.

Guns and gun laws in Canada are awesome. Conceal or open carry is a bizarre concept. Canada has an excellent school/curriculum system. Canada's political system is better. Canada's policing system is better. Canada's multiculturalism is fun. Canada's environment is beautiful. Canada's lower population, while not great for some reasons is great for other reasons. I've been through 15 states and everyone was very nice. Staying Canadian thanks very much.

That person complaining about BatShit Crazy religious political people probably was in that backwater state of Floriduh. Where most Canadians get their American experience.

Absolutely NO! Never! Besides all of the gun violence & the shitty health care, after Trump became president and the behavior witnessed during (and after) his presidency, along with the behavior of some republicans, really surprised me and totally turned me off. There’s no professional, no mental competence. Just appalling how politicians act. We all know they lie etc but trump really made the US look stupid. I was embarrassed listening and watching how some acted, and do still act. Nobody acted so trashy before Trump. And I’m not into politics. I’m just really surprised by the attitudes and lack of professionalism. Oh, and the US isn’t as friendly as we are.

I'm married to an American citizen here in Canada. There isn't much hope in H E double hockey sticks... That we would ever consider moving to the USA. Way too many crazy people in politics and the government. Not to mention all the haters in the USA.

You may want to remember comments on the internet don't necessarily represent a broad spectrum of the political spectrum. That said my wife who is from the US prefers Canada. Also we have lots of guns in Canada we just don’t tend to use them on each other.