Would you visit USA in the current climate?

I don't think it's remotely comparable. We've a outward looking world view, whereas in the US they think they are the world.

Some people here do also think that the world revolves around the USA, and get very defensive about any criticism of it. Perhaps it's as like your cartoon their minds are colonised by lifetime of consuming US TV exports.

Aside from the longhaul there's simply less to worry about on choosing traveling around Europe instead of the USA. I did enjoy the scenery of our driving holidays in the US, but there's plenty of variety of scenery to enjoy in Europe, along with good food quality and a simple perfunctory level of customer service that doesn't wear anyone down.

We've a outward looking world view, whereas in the US they think they are the world.

Thats overly simplistic. I know loads of Amerians with outward looking world views. Well traveled. Normal. Loads that dont of course. Have met some great people and some absolute morons.

I know loads of Irish people who dont see the world past a few pints in the local, maybe a trip to Manchester for a footie match or a holiday or two in Fuengirola in their lifetime.

Seems a lot of posters think you'll be shot by ICE on every street corner when the reality is the country is basically the same as its always been. Most people couldn't care less about politics. 90 million people didnt vote remember.

But you were fine going at a time when they were just finishing up a pointless war that killed over a million people?

Right.

See also America from 2003-2011.

The differences are there just more subtle. You go east coast to west there's a lot of cultural differences under the hood.

The smarter people in the US aren't working in the usual tourist hangouts or summer jobs. So that's why you don't meet them unless you're in a higher (than tourist) social group.

Also a high % of Americans have no interest in international affairs. They don't travel much even within the States. 50% don't have a passport. Everything they need is within the States.

When I was there a common question was why did we want to travel around the States or coast to coast . They didn't see the point of it.

I actually noticed on the radio the music was very different east to west coast.

Bit of a Le Royale to it all.

The problem I had with it is generally it's entirely unnecessary.

Do you really need the fake insincerity of "hows your day" etc.. when buying anything?

What gaps does US style customer service actually bridge other than a customers need to feel sucked up to?

It's one of the reasons wallmart failed in Europe.

You can really spot American reviews from European restaurants. Always "our server Pablo was so nice, he has a dog the same age as our dog" craic.

Your 40k is out of population of 340m

Theres only about 100k Irish visitors to the US annually. That's much smaller pool to target. Especially when Irish people are known to stay illegally.

I wouldn't actually say "shoot me" in the US, they might actually oblige.

What's more interesting is that the deportation rate was actually higher under Biden and Obama, but the current detention model is run by private business. False detentions actually are more profitable when legitimate residents remain locked up while challenging their arrest.

I won't be surprised if the owners of the detentions centres give kickbacks to ICE.

Is this some sort of old tacky Western movie you're in?

I've worked for US companies, a lot of the music I listen to is American , as are the movies I watch and the books I read. I have relatives and friends in the US, I have travelled extensively there - both the coasts and the fly-over states and I've done so since the 1980s. I've visited for work and holidays. My negative impression of the US is of it's government (and that's pretty much all of the governments since the 1980s) and it's corrupt system of government. I've found a strong core of decency in almost all of the American people I've met - people from all walks of life , of all races and of all political viewpoints. I've experienced acts of genuine kindness that are far deeper than the 'have a nice day' stuff and even those platitudes can often be sincerely meant. I wanted to explore the bits of the US that I haven't seen after I retire - I don't see that happening now.

There is one reason why I wouldn't travel at the moment - and that is the attitude of immigration. I was stopped at immigration in Shannon in the 2000s and was told that I was on record as having overstayed a business visa. I knew I hadn't - all my business trips had gone to plan and I didn't remember even having a business visa - I presume my employers organised these for me when they were required. The situation was resolved in minutes - a white guy working for a US multinational wasn't going to get delayed by them. They didn't apologise but they were friendly and waved me through. In the current climate I can imagine that brief (and presumably recorded as resolved) incident showing up on my record when it get's pulled up by some twitchy immigration official anxious to meet their detention quota. When I read some of the horror stories that are out there I realise that something that I haven't even thought about for 20 years could rapidly turn nasty.