Canadians must pay attention to U.S.

Re Canadians seem to forget we don’t elect U.S. politicians, Opinion, Oct. 11 While I agree with Mark Bulgutch that Americans have the right to elect candidates of their choice, I disagree with his assertion that it’s none of our business. Many of us have a deep interest in the political climate of the U.S. — and for many reasons.

As our nearest neighbour, we consider Americans to be our cousins. We share the same cultural ancestry. Many of us have close relations and friends in the U.S. Many of us live there part of the year and many of us vacation there. Many of us have emigrated to the U.S. and while still Canadian, live, work and pay taxes there. Many of us have property or business interests there.

What happens there affects the global economy in which Canada is enmeshed — the 2008 meltdown is a case in point. We are linked by trade agreements and as military allies. We are heavily immersed in and influenced by American arts, media and entertainment. Why do we care about their lax gun laws? They involve us immensely when countless firearms flood our country.

Yes, I agree we should keep our eyes north, as we have much with which to concern ourselves domestically, but we need to keep glancing down. Norah Downey, Midland

I was surprised to read the opinion of a former senior executive producer of CBC News that we Canadians should “save our breath” and not care so much about high-profile domestic issues in the United States.

Mr. Bulgutch seems to believe issues such as gun control, health care and education in the U.S. do not really affect us. But the increasing influence of the extreme right-wing in the U.S. and an increasingly unhinged White House administration do indeed represent a very real and growing threat to Canada on these and other issues, including the current administration’s war against environmental protection. Raphael Vigod, Toronto

Enlightened Canadians have an opinion on issues south of the border because they are citizens of a global populace. It is our duty as part of global humanity and, yes, it is our business. Many Canadians are morally disgusted by what is happening south of the border. To bury one’s head in the sand would be morally bankrupt. Ask the British how this worked out for them when Lord Chamberlain acquiesced to Hitler.

Just because we have an opinion on U.S. matters (or issues anywhere in the world) does not preclude us from taking care of our concerns in Canada. David Bourque, Collingwood