Just got to the north country tonight (after a lovely 2-day drive across the "fruited plains").
I guess I won't be doing any shopping at Rainy River this year. I used to really like the big liquor store over there.
Darn shame.
I'm sure Canvasback is right, Americans can be serious blockheads (no doubt!) but this trouble with our northern neighbor is disheartening for me. I'm sure there's alot about it I don't know (I actually work at not knowing too-much these days) but... I hate how this has become so-ugly so-fast. Maybe it was inevitable with the way our respective governments have evolved but it makes me rather sad to think about it all.
I sure hope it doesn't get any worse.
Back when I worked for a living, I can recall an interview with a US customs agent who was curious (and not in a good way) about the footwear samples I had with me. These are typically half pairs in women's size 6 and men's size 9. I had maybe 24 half pairs in what was obviously a purpose made sample case for shoes. My business cards indicated clearly I was in the wholesale footwear trade. He accused me of planning to bring the matching half pairs down with me on my next trip so I could match them up and get away without paying whatever the appropriate duty rate was at the time. Had I actually been planning to do that, I might have scammed my way to a windfall of $120. Could have retired then and there!
I think Lloyd and Stan have it right. Put a uniform on someone and it goes to some of their heads. On both sides of the border. That said, I have little sympathy for those who assume because it's legal in one country, it's legal in another. When I travel to the US I make of point of trying to be aware of the differences in the laws.
The other side of the coin is traveling to Nebraska to hunt with a car load of vintage doubles with me and having a very enthusiastic US agent ask me why I was going to Nebraska when there was great hunting right there in Michigan. And peppered me with questions about vintage shotguns.
I arrive at border crossing with my paperwork perfectly in order often on a clip board (hunting licenses, dog rabies info etc), I immediately roll all the windows down, winter or summer, and if it's night time, turn on the interior light. I declare everything, every time. I find when I behave like that, the agents are polite, often friendly and move me through. They are in the business of making snap judgements based on physical appearances and behaviors. I make it easy for them to make the right decision. No attitude, just organized and respectful.
