this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2025
299 points (100.0% liked)

politics

22233 readers
3962 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

The U.S. government has ordered the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border, to end Canadian access through its Vermont entrance due to drug trafficking concerns.

Starting Oct. 1, Canadians must use a new entrance on the Canadian side, costing the library over 100,000 CAD to build.

Locals on both sides express frustration at ending the century-old tradition.

The library, a nonprofit since 1901, launched a fundraising campaign, raising more than half the needed funds through small community donations.

top 41 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 days ago

The dumbest timeline ever

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 days ago (3 children)

It's remarkable that they are trying to blame Canadians for drug smuggling. I still can't wrap my head around this.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

Declaring a national emergency on Fentanyl allowed him to impose tariffs without needing congresses approval.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 days ago

Because it's not about drugs, it's about control.

And dismantling anything resembling a government, so private equity can run everything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Americans blame Canadians for drug smuggling, Canadians blame Americans for firearm smuggling. It’s a tit-for-tat that’s been going on for decades.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago

Only one of those has any basis in reality though.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 days ago

So you guys are trading guns for drugs? I kinda respect that

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

Just send a Cybertruck through a wall or something 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Little did I know that the Venn diagram between drug traffickers and Library patrons is a near perfect circle.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

You've never seen the deleted episodes of Reading Rainbow? Way more hardcore than The Wire. Levar's comming, yo!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Reuters that the U.S. decision was in response to drug trafficking.

GTFOH

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

I'm sorry the President of my country is an asshole.

I'm genuinely ashamed to be American now.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

So they reached their goal, but yeah, I donated some cash anyway:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/haskell-infrastructure-overhaul

Let's help out in honour/honor of Felon Drink Bleach, Couch Guyliner, Space Karen, Whale Carcass Anti-vaxxer, and the rest of their incompetent Nazi crew.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

look, Canada, if you wanna, y'know, take care of things, y'know, we'd really appreciate it. This demented rapsit is nothing but human sewage washing over everything.

I mean - who knew?!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

How could anyone know that a guy that was convicted of 34 counts of fraud was lying to people?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Relax guys. The other entrance should be equivalent to the other. Separate but equal if you will. That can't possibly go wrong.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's one approach. Personally, I think Canada should allocate a few hundred thousand for some ridiculously gilt covered grand entrance as a fuck you to America.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I believe this is what you are describing

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Just about - but slap Trudeau on the fucker.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why would a separate entrance stop drug trafficking? I’ve never been to that library but from the photo, it seems like you could just walk like 500m away, be in a forest, and hand someone a whole bucket of that sweet Canadian fent we all know and love.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It wouldn’t. This just a BS excuse to bully a trade partner.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

And Vermonters. It's also a fuck you to the state that hates Trump the most.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

"Drug traffickers and smugglers were exploiting the fact that Canadians could use the U.S. entrance without going through customs. We are ending such exploitation by criminals and protecting Americans," the statement said.

no more drugs or nudie pics from libraries by God!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

Under the new plan, which takes effect Monday until Oct. 1, non-library members attempting to enter the U.S. via the sidewalk on the Canadian side will be redirected to the nearest port of entry, a three-minute walk from the library. Library members will continue to be allowed to use the sidewalk with proof of membership.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/us-authorities-closing-canadian-access-to-library-that-straddles-quebec-vermont-border/

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago

I'm surprised they didn't just defund the library for lending out "banned" books. I guess that's the next step after they build the entrance just to own the Canucks.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Use the money to build our own library.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Just over the Canadian line and bigger and better

This whole thing is beyond stupid

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The library has been there for over 100 years and is a US and Canadian heritage site, and is supposed to be representative of cooperation and community between the US and Canada.

It’s the Quebec/Vermont equivalent to the BC/Washington Peace Arch, but also happens to be a cross-border library.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

is supposed to be representative of cooperation and community between the US and Canada.

And now it's representative of that cooperation and community being hammered by a senile psychopath in the Oval Office.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Yes and no… Kristi Noem already put in an appearance to repeatedly step across the “border” in the library shouting “USA Number 1! 51st State!”

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I understand. It's just that this is so petty.

[–] [email protected] 114 points 2 days ago (4 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I genuinely find it hard to comprehend that it is adults making these decisions.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

Hey demented sociopathy is fully capable of being adult and orange.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

We should be just as petty. Most books are on Canadian side build a wall.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It's truly sad what has become of the USA. Being Canadian and residing in Hamilton for my first 40 years: I've crossed the border over 1000 times. Had season tickets for the Sabres. Concerts, sports (Ernie De Gregorio!), shopping. Pete's Market and Honey's in NF!
We didn't even have to show ID until 9/11 !!

As of 2016, I've crossed once (for a gig in Buffalo in 2018) and that's been it.

As of now, never again.

[–] [email protected] 58 points 2 days ago

You just described the current US administration pretty accurately. It's appalling, and terrifying, to have thin-skinned toddlers with this much power.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 39 points 2 days ago (1 children)

A separate entrance is more then just a door:

To build out the Canadian entrance, the Haskell has to create a parking lot with reduced mobility spots, install reduced mobility access ramps and entrances, and build another proper building entrance to the facility.

Looks like their GoFundMe has a good response so far, already receiving over the expected $100k needed.