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Counterpoint: If you’re not white and/or have a vaguely Hispanic-sounding accent you should be scared. Our Supreme Court ruled that it’s completely legal to grab you off the street for no reason whatsoever, and federal agents here have been doing exactly that.
How quick we are to forget what happened (and is still happening, despite DHS’s claims) in Minneapolis.
While weirdly constructed, this should be hardly surprising, and shouldn’t be considered “political”. It’s factual. Foreigners coming to the country have a lot to worry about.
A U.S.-based organization that I help fundraise for hosts an annual summit with a bunch of fundraisers, and this year a lot of European attendees are opting out.
What is happening here is happening here, and only here do large swaths of people call it political to dismiss it.
During dinner a few days ago at a friend’s place, a cold-war-era military pilot next to me described his recent trip to southern Europe. In Italy he had a conversation (in English) with a Singaporean guy on a train, and talk turned to America’s political climate. His seatmate told him he and his son had scouted U.S. colleges during Covid. While they were in NYC, a random passerby punched his son and launched into a “you and your disease should go back where you came from” diatribe.
“Why should I send him there when he can be safer in China and get a good education where the future is happening? At one-tenth the price!” the guy said.
This story was told by someone who knows what the ever-present possibility of war feels like. Soft power matters. I don’t see America isolating itself into greatness anytime soon.
99% of the content from the automaker sounds like non-specific AI nonsense. Beware of dark alleys, poor neighborhoods, hurricanes and seismic activity.
Oh. Ok. Noted. Thanks.
Yeah, don’t all of these recommendations hold true for Europe as well?
Does Europe have tornados?
Google says much of Europe isn’t flat-enough for the weather patterns that cause tornadoes, but there are still 300-400 per year. (No report on how many touch down.)
The specific mention of deserts immediately made me think that it’s from a German automaker, given what happened to the German tourists in Death Valley.
Remember when Florida phased out the ‘lease’ license plates because criminals were targeting tourists who were easy to ID with the ‘lease’ plated rental cars (mostly Miami area).
My company sent me to Haiti once, the warnings were ‘dont drink the water’ oddly Brazil and Argentina came with identical warnings ‘do not discuss soccer’
Americans absolutely receive reports like this about other countries if they’re looking for them.
But what a bizarre report. At the same time, for example, I have a friend – a Spaniard who used to live here – who will no longer travel here (they’ve turned down speaking invitations) because of what we’ve come. I don’t blame them.
And let Mercedes’ article remind you that not everyone lives with the right to merely exist as themselves wherever they go.
Mercedes – not in my lifetime, but hopefully in yours, the USA will reverse course and become more accepting and acknowledge at the highest levels that not every person needs to be white and straight to be considered “good”. Until then, yes, try to avoid travel in states which lack basic knowledge that all human beings, not just those that are white and straight, deserve respect and the ability to live their lives without fear and live authentically.
Koreans or Italians.
To be fair to the desert, many tourists to places like Death Valley underestimate the severity of the vast American landscape.
The biggest danger to worry about in Vermont is hitting a moose with your car–there were Moose Crossing signs all over the place when I was there.
Like hitting a fucken dinosaur.
I drove up from Connecticut at dusk and went flying down two lane roads at 65 mph+ passing those signs and made it to my hotel ok fortunately. When I told a local what I did he made me understand the error of my ways and after that I didn’t speed in Vermont.
A deer can weight up to about 150-200 lbs.
A moose? Well over 1000 lbs.
Or getting hit by a moose in your car – it happens when they get horny and in a fighting mood. My uncle got some impressive dents in his truck by a big bull deciding it didn’t like Fords.
Back in college in waaay Downeast Maine, I came upon a moose in the middle of the road one very dark night. I managed to get stopped right beside it – it looked down at me thought the window and ambled on up the middle of the road with not a care in the world. Absolutely zero fucks to give is a moose’ general state of being.
I have heard that so many times, and I was so nervous about moving here as a result. Then I got here, and have never had an issue, and speed quite a bit. I have driven in most parts of the state at this point, and usually am doing 15ish over on the freeways, and never even been pulled over. Heck I’m often still getting passed. Not saying don’t be careful, but in my anecdotal experience, this is wildly overblown. Also, if you come to VA, come say hi!
Went to college in Virginia and it is the only state I have received a speeding ticket. Anything over 80 or 20 mph is instant reckless driving. Most of the state is fine, but they set up traps around towns where the speed limit will suddenly drop 15-20 mph. The state also bans radar scanners. Overall, it’s fine but based on what I’ve seen personally and the fact that everyone else has a similar opinion (or are just regurgitating what they’ve heard online) it’s a state you need to be cautious speeding in. Lovely state to drive through though, especially around Shenandoah
VA drivers are very active on Waze (I believe as a result of radar detectors being illegal), so use that to your advantage.
In VA, that reckless driving ticket isn’t a moving violation, it’s a criminal charge. And the general rule is, two days in jail for every MPH over 100. I could potentially get more than 8 months in jail on my motorcycle.
They did recently change it to 20 over or anything over 85, since we now have some roads with a 75 speed limit and too many people were getting criminal reckless driving charges for going 6 over the limit.
> two days in jail for every MPH over 100. I could potentially get more than 8 months in jail on my motorcycle.
That would mean going 220mph on your motorcycle, which honestly if you’re doing that on public roads, maybe you need some time in jail to reflect.
You should believe it. Buddy of mine got popped for 95 in a 70 on I-95 passing through in the middle of the night (dumbass). Directly to jail, then sentenced to five days including time served. Big-time fine too. I too will do 10-15 over through there as long as I am running with a pack, but 25 over all by your lonesome is asking for it. And they will cheerfully give it.
Surprised by how no one in this thread mentioned Jalop alum Patrick George spent 3 days in the pokie in VA during 2016 for hitting triple digits in a press Camaro, he even did a whole write up. Obviously it depends on the cop you get, as is the case anywhere, but I’ve always taken the advice about VA speed enforcement seriously
https://www.jalopnik.com/never-speed-in-virginia-lessons-from-my-three-days-in-1613604053/
It was linked by Mercedes in the post above.
Late to the party here, but I travel for a living – I’m on the road 100+ days a year all over the world. While, at the macro level, none of what they are saying is untrue, 99% of the people I interact with in this enormous country are just normal people, in many cases friendlier and more helpful than many other places… Also, I also get these emails from our corporate travel people every single time I book an international flight – may be a liability thing?
Think a little about someone who is openly trans and how much difference it makes when you’re not. I’m not, though have seen the despicable acts of others towards trans people who are caught “living as trans” and have done nothing else to earn the crap thrown their way. Evil people are in all countries. The USA currently actively supports their oppression at the federal level. It saddens me.
I’m sitting at my desk just across the river from Washington D.C., and I haven’t been murdered even one time today.
True, but you have a non-zero chance of dying (or at least being severely inconvenienced) during your commute home. The DC commuter life is not for the weak of mind or body.
You and me, both.
I live in the District and the only violent thing I’ve seen all year is a hawk devouring a squirrel on my deck.
Typo. I’m sure that they meant “desserts.” They’re typically very large, calorie-laden, and generally unhealthy in this country.
And oh, so good.
OTOH the pamphlet is likely from a German automaker, and they’re no slouches when it comes to large, sweet, unhealthy desserts.
The don’t try to be funny to the police thing does not seem like an Asian automaker. So I am guessing Europe. I also would eliminate Germany So that leaves Britain, Italy, Sweden and France. You said they were large so that limits the brands and you have done events with them before. So that leads me to Volvo.
But Mercedes said it is a hotly anticipated car. I think that eliminates Volvo or Polestar.
Maybe the Polestar 5? or so far outside Volvo brings back the V90.
Vermont also seems like a very Volvo place to debut a car.
Volvo is my guess also. Vermont is a frozen winterland right now. Perfect territory for a Swedish manufacturer (owned by a Chinese company) to have a press event.
I get country reports for travel a few times a year. Even with countries considered very safe, there are sections the scream “abundance of caution”. If someone was mugged in the last five years it seems to be noted. Not surprised that other countries are seeing the US like this right now.
Stellantis?
Or maybe Mercedes-Benz mistook your name for an internal mailing list?
Vermont is a little more complicated than people tend to give it credit for.
That being said, it’s a mostly friendly and chill state, and that dossier is pretty hilarious. You’re more likely to bump into Trey Anastasio than you are anyone willing to do you harm. No I will not be accepting any jokes related to Phish harming your ears.
I live about half an hour from the VT border (in NY) and love to visit Vermont. In fact, I’ll be in Woodstock this weekend, hopefully getting an XC ski on and beer in.
I’d rather go to prison than listen to Phish.
I’ve been to the US twice and thoroughly enjoyed each visit. You’re right, Mercedes – thare are places to see and things to do in the US. I always felt I need to come back to visit more of you national parks (best thing USA has to offer and it’s not even close – please, don’t take them for granted).
That being said, I don’t think I will be visiting anytime soon – the country as a whole no longer feels very welcoming to foreigners. And I know: foreign-media bias, internet bubble, etc etc. but that’s just the overall feeling I get.
I mean, I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t live here right now. I’m genuinely worried for a lot of my friends, even some who were born and raised here, because they look or sound like the groups who are getting targeted by ICE thugs.
The whole damn organization needs to be abolished and outlawed. Burn that trash to the ground, salt the earth and never let a Nü-ICE sprout in its place.
Heh. I received a security advisory for some upcoming work travel also. They know where I’m going and where I live, so they should able to see that I’m just driving to the other side of the state for a week. Alas, I’ve been notified that I should reconsider travel to the US.
I will say of all the states to visit, Vermont may be one of the friendliest.
Until just last year my in-laws lived there for nearly 20 years, near Springfield, VT actually which hilariously won the Simpsons Springfield contest when the movie came out, even though it was not invited to participate, the residents just took it upon themselves, they had literally a 1 screen theater in town, and that theater got the swag from the contest.
VT is where writers like Robert Frost and Rudyard Kipling would hang out and write deep thoughts. It’s where Ben and Jerry decided to make Cherry Garcia ice cream. It is very chill.
New Hampshire may be live free or die, but Vermont’s not that hardcore, they just live free. Also it’s not the season of the sticks so should be pretty this time of year.
I love Vermont so much. I kept threatening to move to a cheese farm in VT every time I wanted to get the hell out of TX. Now I’m in CT, gosh, 80? miles away, and generally pretty happy with it. I still threaten to ragequit everything to a cheese farm. The cheese, Gromit. The cheese. So much cheese.
(TBF, allegedly there’s a good one down here near work. I still need to try its wares. But what if—hear me out here—there was more cheese. Also, maple syrup. To chug.)
CT is where I’m from originally, love the orchards there and scenic backroads, the late summer fairs, but the winters and cost of living was killing us. VT is basically the northwestern part of CT, ski slopes, fairly rural, farms, but CT also has the shore only an hour away.
Also, Cheeese Grommit, Cheeese!
Based on the stories I’ve been reading in the international press, I’m not really surprised to be honest. It just feels like the country is getting increasingly hostile towards foreigners, of any kind.
“I wonder if this is what it’s like when an American tries to describe other countries?”
Exactly this. The US travel advisories are pretty stark.
We have been to a few countries lately where the advisories were pretty strongly worded let’s say. We had amazing times and no issues. Though some people don’t have common sense or travel experience and so do need warnings…
“ In addition, the USA is also exposed to the threat of internal subversive actions perpetrated by politicized and radicalized groups.”
So… they’re warning you that the MAGA crowd and card carrying Republicans are likely to give you a hard time, eh?
And I’m gonna guess the automaker is European… either VW, BMW or Mercedes.
I’m trans too and there’s no way in hell I’m visiting the US any time soon. Sucks, I want to visit friends but I’m just not prepared to take that risk. Overblown? Maybe! But we just can’t know what’s going to happen in the future or who’ll we’d get at the border so it’s just not worth risking the time and money.
It also feels like the US should be punished with a loss of tourism dollars. I say this while living in the US. There are plenty of places to visit that are governed by relatively sensible adults.
I do not blame you one bit! Stay safe! ♥
The rather odd phrasing in the alert sounds like a description of the Democrat insurrections all over the country, which any foreign nation would recognize as terrorism.
Most countries really can’t grasp how large America is and misinterpret numbers.
There are a large number of terrorist attacks here, rarely reported, but not a major threat to most people here.
Plus, it’s always more difficult to recognize social cues for danger in different places, even in your home country.
I was very aware of this in Europe.
There are always irrational people anywhere you go.
I asked about riots in Amsterdam that made the news, and it was dismissed as not this part of town. Probably true.
At least automotive journalism is relatively safer than some specialties.
I’ve broken some stories that might result in prison or death, and usually hand them off to whoever runs with it.
I’m not getting paid to be shot at.
The next story will have my name on it though.
It’s hilarious to me that president rant is claiming Democrat insurrections and seditious behavior when they wouldn’t even investigate him for Jan 6 until a year later, and did not challenge his election results in 2016, even though he did not receive the majority of the votes. Ludicrous!
It’s never been a secret what city takeovers were about. No one has to tell us. The desperate dance as handlers tried to control their own creature in time to get votes was hilarious, but failed.
As for Jan 6 in DC, I ignored all of it, same as everyone I know.
I’ve never met anyone that went.
We had bigger riots in Memphis that barely made the news.
Looks more like another show involving mostly federal agents in cosplay.
Calling it an insurrection is funny.
I know someone that broke all the windows at city hall in Memphis, and escaped on a bicycle.
That impresses me more than whatever happened in DC.
Then he went back and did it again, and went to jail. It is a very corrupt city.
I did find the govt leaders that had been safely removed by tunnels thousands of feet away to safe harbor by federal police, doing soliliques on their trauma while in hiding, became the high point when the country found out it was all fantasy.
I deplore the violence, same as the violence committed all over the country.
I can’t think of any reason someone with more intelligence than a bottle cap would consider going without getting paid to be there.
I don’t go to riots, and I question why anyone would.
I assume you’re aware total national votes aren’t relevant to the electoral system used here?
Of course I am, but it also indicates how close the election was. If you are going to challenge an election, that is a good indicator that slight changes could have a large impact.
Maybe.
Last election trump won this state before the voting day, so many people didn’t bother voting. Probably not the only state.
Democrats wildly underestimate how fed up voters are, obviously.
I think rural voters are seriously undercounted currently, as well.
Last time I worked at a precinct, we were required to accept every vote, no matter how clearly unqualified someone was to cast a vote there. And the doj was there in person to reinforce those instructions.
Clearly unqualified, how?
Every possible way.
Registered in a different location, not registered at all anywhere, no ID or paperwork. It looked like we were being set up.
This sort of thing gets filed as provisional votes.
Only thing I don’t recall hearing was paperwork that proved they couldn’t vote in this country.
This process delayed us from closing much longer.
This was always the latest closing station in the state already.
After election day, what further steps were taken with those provisional votes?
They should have been summarily rejected, but I’m not privy to what they did after I turned in the paperwork.
The intent was clearly to collect as many democratic votes as possible.
Provisional votes are supposed to be carefully reviewed. In some cases, issues might be fixable, if someone had recently moved, for instance, and can document it.
They should be checking for anyone having already voted in their old location, for the same election.
I don’t believe the numbers were enough to matter but the doj activity seems illegal.
This sort of thing is why they have poll watchers. I was also paid as a poll worker, but not enough.
It is reportedly the most heavily democratic precinct in the state, so seems an unlikely place for the weirdness.
This was in Memphis under the Shelby county commission.