I felt compelled to respond to Michael Mattingly's letter to the editor ("Conservative Country Is, Will Be Fact of Life," Feb. 1).

His suggestion to everyone who isn't satisfied with the presidential election results is "pack your bags and head off to Canada or France." Instead of advocating a mass exile, Mr. Mattingly needs to wake up and understand that public discourse is one of the many things that fuel our democracy.

This exchange of different ideas and opinions is what makes America great, and I think his "love it or leave it" attitude is simply intolerable and unhealthy for democracy.