Good stuff, Dave! I don't know how President Biden can message the border policy effectively, unless he's implementing exactly what the bipartisan team negotiated before Convicted Felon derailed it. If it's the same, this should be the message, loud and clear: "I took this action on behalf of a bipartisan team in Congress that negotiated these exact terms in good faith, only to have them defeated by the political opportunist they have chosen to run against me. I will faithfully uphold whatever legislation is passed to address the immigration and asylum crisis that their inaction sustains."
Immigrants are the traditional whipping boy for populist politicians. Mark Zandi of Moody's said that Trump's plans to deport 10M undocumented immigrants would quickly trigger both inflation and a recession. Immigrant workers are what is currently keeping our economy afloat.
You don't need to look any further than the US plan recently floated to help immigrants fleeing unstable Central American countries make their way to Italy and Greece. It makes sense because both of those countries are struggling with aging populations and stagnant economies.
But the political realities are that the border remains a liability for Biden, so he is taking some action to address the MAGA claim that immigration can be addressed without legislation. The ACLU will likely succeed in blocking the implementation of this policy because the executive branch can't arbitrarily change the asylum laws without relying on some expanded executive powers that only come into play when there is an emergency (e.g. pandemic).
The facts on the ground are that Mexico has been more successful in reducing the flow of immigrants than any policies either Trump or Biden implemented. Their new president is a progressive and has talked about Mexico taking a leadership role in helper her neighbors to the south build more stable governments and economies. While this is probably too much in the weeds for the current campaign, it is evidence that the Biden approach of building strong international relationships works better than that Trump approach of intimidation and isolation.
The bottom line on immigration is simple. As long as there are employers willing to hire immigrants, people are going to risk their lives and fortune to come here because there is no future in their home countries.
With regard to contraception, it will be interesting to see how those who want to outlaw it will deal with the recently announced male contraceptive. It does not directly interfere with the process of fertilization. It simply inhibits the production of sperm. So there is no zygote to bestow personhood on.
IMHO, women's health will prove to be a big issue in this election too.
Another good book documenting the roots on indigenous genocide in this country is Jacksonland by Steve Inskeep. It documents that significant role that Andrew Jackson and southern politics played in the removals of Cherokee from Georgia. Michigan had a role to play in those efforts too. The War of 1812 was fought in Michigan. The British were aligned with the native populations. The French were allied with the US. Tecumseh surprised everyone by successfully organizing the disparate tribes in Michigan and Ohio to become a potent fighting force. The US didn't particular win so much as the British gave up. But the aftermath was that Jackson used the specter of an organized native force to remove the entire native population from Michigan and resettle them in Kansas.
Nobody wants to hear this, so Democrats are afraid to say it. The MAGAs have stolen the narrative. The people who want to join us in America should be welcomed with a HUG. But MAGA demonizes them. "They will steal our jobs." What jobs? Everyone who can or wants to work here has a job. The problem is the reverse!
Are MAGA kids going to harvest strawberries in 100+ degree heat? Are they going to clean slaughter house floors? Are they going to climb on roofs? Are they going to wash the elderly in retirement facilities? Let's get honest. Let's get real. WE NEED PEOPLE. MORE PEOPLE!
1. Our population is aging out. Birth rates in the US are below replacement level.
2. There won't be enough younger workers to support the elderly and disabled as a result.
3. Our economy is being restrained by a lack of workers. Contractors can't take on new customers or new projects in some cases. Housing starts are restrained. Causing a housing shortage and escalating housing costs.
4. Restaurants are closing for lack of staff.
5. Healthcare is crippled for lack of staff in facilities and for home care.
6. Medical professionals are retiring in huge numbers. Replacements are needed.
7. Teachers and other school staff are retiring. Replacements are needed.
8. New "chip" factories that have funding from the government and private enterprise can't hire fast enough to fill the new jobs. This threatens supply chain security.
WE NEED PEOPLE. There are thousands of workers applying for the jobs we can't fill. They are knocking at our door. Answer the damn door!
Immigrants commit far less crime than "native" Americans. And they pay taxes!
Thanks Bill. This is so obvious to those of us outside the beltway and some state capitals, it's sadly surprising that so few people in government understand it or are willing to take a public stand in favor of reality.
Immigrants are the soul and strength of our country back to the hunter-gathering Indigenous People who made it here in various ways. I write about wine and live in a region of Texas that raises cattle, sheep, and cotton. Immigrants, or guest workers, are essential to those industries. Not only are "native" Americans not willing to do the work, in most cases they do not know how to do the work. Grape harvesting is a skill passed down through generations. Same with sheep shearing. Stop "illegal" immigration and all manner of our economy collapses for want of workers. In most cases, the railing against immigration is pancake makeup to hide racism. They fear "the other" because they fear their own inadequacies.
Good stuff, Dave! I don't know how President Biden can message the border policy effectively, unless he's implementing exactly what the bipartisan team negotiated before Convicted Felon derailed it. If it's the same, this should be the message, loud and clear: "I took this action on behalf of a bipartisan team in Congress that negotiated these exact terms in good faith, only to have them defeated by the political opportunist they have chosen to run against me. I will faithfully uphold whatever legislation is passed to address the immigration and asylum crisis that their inaction sustains."
Immigrants are the traditional whipping boy for populist politicians. Mark Zandi of Moody's said that Trump's plans to deport 10M undocumented immigrants would quickly trigger both inflation and a recession. Immigrant workers are what is currently keeping our economy afloat.
You don't need to look any further than the US plan recently floated to help immigrants fleeing unstable Central American countries make their way to Italy and Greece. It makes sense because both of those countries are struggling with aging populations and stagnant economies.
But the political realities are that the border remains a liability for Biden, so he is taking some action to address the MAGA claim that immigration can be addressed without legislation. The ACLU will likely succeed in blocking the implementation of this policy because the executive branch can't arbitrarily change the asylum laws without relying on some expanded executive powers that only come into play when there is an emergency (e.g. pandemic).
The facts on the ground are that Mexico has been more successful in reducing the flow of immigrants than any policies either Trump or Biden implemented. Their new president is a progressive and has talked about Mexico taking a leadership role in helper her neighbors to the south build more stable governments and economies. While this is probably too much in the weeds for the current campaign, it is evidence that the Biden approach of building strong international relationships works better than that Trump approach of intimidation and isolation.
The bottom line on immigration is simple. As long as there are employers willing to hire immigrants, people are going to risk their lives and fortune to come here because there is no future in their home countries.
With regard to contraception, it will be interesting to see how those who want to outlaw it will deal with the recently announced male contraceptive. It does not directly interfere with the process of fertilization. It simply inhibits the production of sperm. So there is no zygote to bestow personhood on.
IMHO, women's health will prove to be a big issue in this election too.
Another good book documenting the roots on indigenous genocide in this country is Jacksonland by Steve Inskeep. It documents that significant role that Andrew Jackson and southern politics played in the removals of Cherokee from Georgia. Michigan had a role to play in those efforts too. The War of 1812 was fought in Michigan. The British were aligned with the native populations. The French were allied with the US. Tecumseh surprised everyone by successfully organizing the disparate tribes in Michigan and Ohio to become a potent fighting force. The US didn't particular win so much as the British gave up. But the aftermath was that Jackson used the specter of an organized native force to remove the entire native population from Michigan and resettle them in Kansas.
Keep writing Dave. We need your voice.
Nobody wants to hear this, so Democrats are afraid to say it. The MAGAs have stolen the narrative. The people who want to join us in America should be welcomed with a HUG. But MAGA demonizes them. "They will steal our jobs." What jobs? Everyone who can or wants to work here has a job. The problem is the reverse!
Are MAGA kids going to harvest strawberries in 100+ degree heat? Are they going to clean slaughter house floors? Are they going to climb on roofs? Are they going to wash the elderly in retirement facilities? Let's get honest. Let's get real. WE NEED PEOPLE. MORE PEOPLE!
1. Our population is aging out. Birth rates in the US are below replacement level.
2. There won't be enough younger workers to support the elderly and disabled as a result.
3. Our economy is being restrained by a lack of workers. Contractors can't take on new customers or new projects in some cases. Housing starts are restrained. Causing a housing shortage and escalating housing costs.
4. Restaurants are closing for lack of staff.
5. Healthcare is crippled for lack of staff in facilities and for home care.
6. Medical professionals are retiring in huge numbers. Replacements are needed.
7. Teachers and other school staff are retiring. Replacements are needed.
8. New "chip" factories that have funding from the government and private enterprise can't hire fast enough to fill the new jobs. This threatens supply chain security.
WE NEED PEOPLE. There are thousands of workers applying for the jobs we can't fill. They are knocking at our door. Answer the damn door!
Immigrants commit far less crime than "native" Americans. And they pay taxes!
Thanks Bill. This is so obvious to those of us outside the beltway and some state capitals, it's sadly surprising that so few people in government understand it or are willing to take a public stand in favor of reality.
Immigrants are the soul and strength of our country back to the hunter-gathering Indigenous People who made it here in various ways. I write about wine and live in a region of Texas that raises cattle, sheep, and cotton. Immigrants, or guest workers, are essential to those industries. Not only are "native" Americans not willing to do the work, in most cases they do not know how to do the work. Grape harvesting is a skill passed down through generations. Same with sheep shearing. Stop "illegal" immigration and all manner of our economy collapses for want of workers. In most cases, the railing against immigration is pancake makeup to hide racism. They fear "the other" because they fear their own inadequacies.