The Collapse of Seattle - Another Dem City Destroyed

[douche]

I thought it was ridiculous, but my statement ("many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices") is based on personal conversations with Canadian citizens.

It would appear that some Canadians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled. Any Canadian citizen (or anyone at all) whose feelings are hurt by the bad orange man needs to take up a hobby or get a library card. Get over yourself.

I wonder how many Canadians are not travelling to the US due to something Trump said, or for the simple fact that the CDN dollar isn't worth anything. Last time I checked, 1 CDN dollar is worth .72 cents US. To me, that's a much more real incentive to avoid the US.

[Seattle or Bust]

I thought it was ridiculous, but my statement ("many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices") is based on personal conversations with Canadian citizens.

It would appear that some Canadians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled. Any Canadian citizen (or anyone at all) whose feelings are hurt by the bad orange man needs to take up a hobby or get a library card. Get over yourself.

I wonder how many Canadians are not travelling to the US due to something Trump said, or for the simple fact that the CDN dollar isn't worth anything. Last time I checked, 1 CDN dollar is worth .72 cents US. To me, that's a much more real incentive to avoid the US.

The CAD has fluctuated from 72 to 78 cents vs the American dollar since Trump’s first term.

I think they’re avoiding the US as a fuck you to Trump given his moronic comments about occupying them and insane tariff hikes despite the fact their dollar is worth far less.

[XpertDBA]

I thought it was ridiculous, but my statement ("many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices") is based on personal conversations with Canadian citizens.

It would appear that some Canadians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled. Any Canadian citizen (or anyone at all) whose feelings are hurt by the bad orange man needs to take up a hobby or get a library card. Get over yourself.

I wonder how many Canadians are not travelling to the US due to something Trump said, or for the simple fact that the CDN dollar isn't worth anything. Last time I checked, 1 CDN dollar is worth .72 cents US. To me, that's a much more real incentive to avoid the US.

The CAD has fluctuated from 72 to 78 cents vs the American dollar since Trump’s first term.

I think they’re avoiding the US as a fuck you to Trump given his moronic comments about occupying them and insane tariff hikes despite the fact their dollar is worth far less.

Oh no!!! No more Canadians streaming over the border to buy milk at Fred Meyers. Whatever will we do? That's a big fuck you to Trump, you nailed it perfectly. How will we ever survive?

[gil]

I thought it was ridiculous, but my statement ("many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices") is based on personal conversations with Canadian citizens.

It would appear that some Canadians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled. Any Canadian citizen (or anyone at all) whose feelings are hurt by the bad orange man needs to take up a hobby or get a library card. Get over yourself.

I wonder how many Canadians are not travelling to the US due to something Trump said, or for the simple fact that the CDN dollar isn't worth anything. Last time I checked, 1 CDN dollar is worth .72 cents US. To me, that's a much more real incentive to avoid the US.

Many people vote with their wallets. Examples are conservatives turning against Bud Light and Target, or leftists not buying at Chick-fil-A or Hobby Lobby. I don't think it has to do with hurt feelings or being bamboozled; it's just where people want to spend their money.

As Seattle or Bust pointed out, the Canadian dollar has had a fairly steady exchange rate with the USD for several years, so that wouldn't explain the decrease this year in Canadian tourism to the US.

So for those of you who want to say that people are stying away because of crime and violence? YOU should feel free to stay away. While I try to score a reservation at a downtown restaurant or enjoy a family picnic in one of our beautiful parks.

(I was just thinking: it seems like the "old Seattle", before growth became a religion, had a motto that went something like "yes it rains all the time, don't move here, so those of us who know the truth can enjoy it." Maybe the new one should be, "yes it's increasingly violent and crime infested, stay away, and let me and others who know the truth enjoy the parks and neighborhoods and downtown.")

[auroraave]

I thought it was ridiculous, but my statement ("many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices") is based on personal conversations with Canadian citizens.

It would appear that some Canadians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled. Any Canadian citizen (or anyone at all) whose feelings are hurt by the bad orange man needs to take up a hobby or get a library card. Get over yourself.

I wonder how many Canadians are not travelling to the US due to something Trump said, or for the simple fact that the CDN dollar isn't worth anything. Last time I checked, 1 CDN dollar is worth .72 cents US. To me, that's a much more real incentive to avoid the US.

Many people vote with their wallets. Examples are conservatives turning against Bud Light and Target, or leftists not buying at Chick-fil-A or Hobby Lobby. I don't think it has to do with hurt feelings or being bamboozled; it's just where people want to spend their money.

As Seattle or Bust pointed out, the Canadian dollar has had a fairly steady exchange rate with the USD for several years, so that wouldn't explain the decrease this year in Canadian tourism to the US.

So for those of you who want to say that people are stying away because of crime and violence? YOU should feel free to stay away. While I try to score a reservation at a downtown restaurant or enjoy a family picnic in one of our beautiful parks.

(I was just thinking: it seems like the "old Seattle", before growth became a religion, had a motto that went something like "yes it rains all the time, don't move here, so those of us who know the truth can enjoy it." Maybe the new one should be, "yes it's increasingly violent and crime infested, stay away, and let me and others who know the truth enjoy the parks and neighborhoods and downtown.")

SO, just to be clear - you DON'T believe Seattle has a crime/homelessness/drug addiction problem - and you also do NOT believe that could be a factor in WHY people are choosing to stay away - (you know "voting with their wallet, which is absolutely true). A friend of mine from NY visited Seattle for the first time this year - she literally said "I didn't know it was so third-world downtown" and this is from a NEW YORKER.

Also, bud light crashed hard and Target quickly reversed course - Chick Fil A wasn't hurt at all (I don't eat that shit anyway) and I have no idea what hobby lobby is.

To be clear - you position is that Seattle DOESN'T have a crime problem - and those that think it does should 'stay away' anyway right?

This is where I laugh and laugh and laugh.

Tourism tax dollars are HUGE for any major city. You are basically saying it's fine to be known as a crime city which drives away tourist dollars which can be used to drive the local economy - boost local businesses and restaurants - and add to the tax coffers - potentially to further improve the city, rather than clean it up and invite those tourist dollars in - which Seattle desperately needs.

Your position makes NO sense on an economic or civics level. Zero. You are supposed to protect the citizens and look out for the business interests that sustain the local economy.

[douche]

You say:

I don't think it has to do with hurt feelings or being bamboozled; it's just where people want to spend their money.

But earlier you stated:

I think many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices.

So is it hurt feelings, or is it where people choose to spend their money? If Canadians think they're sending a message by avoiding travel to the US due to some inane comment that Trump made, then they're delusional.

[gil]

You say:

I don't think it has to do with hurt feelings or being bamboozled; it's just where people want to spend their money.

But earlier you stated:

I think many Canadians didn't like the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and that affected travel/vacation choices.

So is it hurt feelings, or is it where people choose to spend their money? If Canadians think they're sending a message by avoiding travel to the US due to some inane comment that Trump made, then they're delusional.

I reacted to "hurt feelings" because that kind of trivializes things - kind of like a teenager's reaction to not being invited to a party. How about if Putin suggested annexing Alaska. I'd be pissed off at him. No hurt feelings, just mild outrage.

Serious question: How do you tell which of Trump's comments are inane? Canadian should become the 51st state? We are going to buy Greenland? Threatening strikes on Iran? Insisting that Putin needed to agree to a cease fire?

If you can figure out which positions are serious, which are bargaining chips, and which are inane? I'd love too know!

[gil]

It would appear that some Canadians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled. Any Canadian citizen (or anyone at all) whose feelings are hurt by the bad orange man needs to take up a hobby or get a library card. Get over yourself.

I wonder how many Canadians are not travelling to the US due to something Trump said, or for the simple fact that the CDN dollar isn't worth anything. Last time I checked, 1 CDN dollar is worth .72 cents US. To me, that's a much more real incentive to avoid the US.

Many people vote with their wallets. Examples are conservatives turning against Bud Light and Target, or leftists not buying at Chick-fil-A or Hobby Lobby. I don't think it has to do with hurt feelings or being bamboozled; it's just where people want to spend their money.

As Seattle or Bust pointed out, the Canadian dollar has had a fairly steady exchange rate with the USD for several years, so that wouldn't explain the decrease this year in Canadian tourism to the US.

So for those of you who want to say that people are stying away because of crime and violence? YOU should feel free to stay away. While I try to score a reservation at a downtown restaurant or enjoy a family picnic in one of our beautiful parks.

(I was just thinking: it seems like the "old Seattle", before growth became a religion, had a motto that went something like "yes it rains all the time, don't move here, so those of us who know the truth can enjoy it." Maybe the new one should be, "yes it's increasingly violent and crime infested, stay away, and let me and others who know the truth enjoy the parks and neighborhoods and downtown.")

SO, just to be clear - you DON'T believe Seattle has a crime/homelessness/drug addiction problem - and you also do NOT believe that could be a factor in WHY people are choosing to stay away - (you know "voting with their wallet, which is absolutely true). A friend of mine from NY visited Seattle for the first time this year - she literally said "I didn't know it was so third-world downtown" and this is from a NEW YORKER.

Also, bud light crashed hard and Target quickly reversed course - Chick Fil A wasn't hurt at all (I don't eat that shit anyway) and I have no idea what hobby lobby is.

To be clear - you position is that Seattle DOESN'T have a crime problem - and those that think it does should 'stay away' anyway right?

This is where I laugh and laugh and laugh.

Tourism tax dollars are HUGE for any major city. You are basically saying it's fine to be known as a crime city which drives away tourist dollars which can be used to drive the local economy - boost local businesses and restaurants - and add to the tax coffers - potentially to further improve the city, rather than clean it up and invite those tourist dollars in - which Seattle desperately needs.

Your position makes NO sense on an economic or civics level. Zero. You are supposed to protect the citizens and look out for the business interests that sustain the local economy.

No, not at all. We've got too much crime, too many homeless encampments. Period.

What I've been arguing, with data, that it doesn't seem that these problems are the reason for the 2025 decline in tourism. And for the record, I voted for the "more moderate" people in 2021: Ann Davison for Attorney General, Harrell for Mayor, Sara Nelson for City Council. All of them finished second on the recent primaries to people more to the left, and while I need to learn more about their opponents for the general election in November, my current feeling is that moving away from the moderates is a really bad idea.

[douche]

Serious question: How do you tell which of Trump's comments are inane? Canadian should become the 51st state? We are going to buy Greenland? Threatening strikes on Iran? Insisting that Putin needed to agree to a cease fire?

For me, the only answer to that question is my earlier comment...

Politics is theater for the masses, and the masses have fallen for it... hook, line and sinker.

But I do think there's a difference between threatening strikes on Iran versus 'buying a country'.

[GL_Storm]

This just came up in my YouTube feed, Canadian snowbirds abandoning Florida: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq01YsE2GYc&t=195s

This is entirely anecdotal, but I spoke to one of my cousins in Vancouver about a week ago and she said people are generally avoiding crossing the border unless they really need to. There's a lot of resentment against the tariffs and some nervousness about harassment from border agents. People still go, just not as much.