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> the culture isn't one we like, the politics are terrifying, the gun obsession and violence Life in the US isn't like that for most people who live here. It's

> the culture isn't one we like, the politics are terrifying, the gun obsession and violence Life in the US isn't like that for most people who live here. It's fine you don't want to live here, that's okay. But the idea that the majority or even many Americans are gun toting nutjobs is false. If you live in a major US city your life is almost exactly the same as any major Canadian city. Vancouver might as well be a larger Seattle. Having lived in both countries, your day to day differences are fairly minor. There are outliers of course, Texas and Florida are very unique places. The South is generally higher crime. But living in Chicago, Seattle or NYC isn't that different from Toronto or Vancouver. Toronto's murder rate is 3.11 per 100,000 people, which is higher than NYC and Seattle: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/stats-show-sharp-uptick-in-toronto-shootings-but-murder-rate-still-below-a-dozen-other-canadian-cities-1.4224142 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/stats-show-sharp-uptick-in-tor... Many Canadian cities are on par with their US cousins. The major difference is actually healthcare.

Tiktaalik 7y ago
Even relatively liberal Washington State, which is culturally similar to BC, is an open carry state. Many Canadians would be uncomfortable to find some random dude walking around the super market with a gun.
- jorblumesea 7y ago
  I've lived in Washington my entire life (except for a stint in Vancouver) and have never seen anyone walk around with open carry in public. Technically it's on the books but once again the average day to day experience isn't people walking around at Costco strapped up. This is what I'm talking about, everyone talks about how insane the US is, but our day to day life isn't that different. I wonder how many have actually been? edit: this is not to take away from the serious challenges that the US has when it comes to many issues. I am by no means excusing our income inequality or absurd healthcare system. Just trying to convey a perspective from someone who lives there. There's a lot we need to improve but this isn't the wild west either.
  - jbay808 7y ago
    For what another anecdote is worth, I lived in Washington state for 3 months and have seen it twice. (Once in a Seattle food court). As a Canadian it was quite a culture shock.
- deleted 7y ago
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geoka9 7y ago
> Vancouver might as well be a larger Seattle Seattle is bigger, actually.

Tiktaalik 7y ago

Even relatively liberal Washington State, which is culturally similar to BC, is an open carry state. Many Canadians would be uncomfortable to find some random dude walking around the super market with a gun.

jorblumesea 7y ago
I've lived in Washington my entire life (except for a stint in Vancouver) and have never seen anyone walk around with open carry in public. Technically it's on the books but once again the average day to day experience isn't people walking around at Costco strapped up. This is what I'm talking about, everyone talks about how insane the US is, but our day to day life isn't that different. I wonder how many have actually been? edit: this is not to take away from the serious challenges that the US has when it comes to many issues. I am by no means excusing our income inequality or absurd healthcare system. Just trying to convey a perspective from someone who lives there. There's a lot we need to improve but this isn't the wild west either.
- jbay808 7y ago
  For what another anecdote is worth, I lived in Washington state for 3 months and have seen it twice. (Once in a Seattle food court). As a Canadian it was quite a culture shock.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

geoka9 7y ago

> Vancouver might as well be a larger Seattle Seattle is bigger, actually.