Mexico
All along the border
Over the past few days Trumps speech to the Christians on Friday seems to be having the same effect as Alexander Stephens “Cornerstone” speech in 1861 that justified secession and the creation of a new “more perfect” country based on slavery…not the “All men are created equal”… in our founding documents.
To the wealthy southern planters our founders were wrong about slaves…they were in fact God’s gift to mankind. I could go on, but you get the picture.
Now Trump is the gift we’re supposed to buy. He is the answer to all of our problems. He can solve it all…because he is a political magician. When we elect him in November, we won’t have to vote again.
EVER…because he will rule till he dies, then there will be Ivanka, then Barron…then their babies…talk about going backwards…1950 isn’t far enough for them…they want 1764….before the Stamp Act.
So back to our theme…Mexico…the border.
When we presented the video evidence of Trumps speech to one of my old high school friends who said about my FB post…”He did not say that, I heard him”…a group of us presented her with the video evidence from numerous News outlets. (I could not find that clip from a Fox source). She must have looked at the clips and then without missing a beat pivoted to the Border and Illegal Immigrants…there was no “you’re correct…I was mistaken…or deceived…” she just moved on to the next MAGA/Fox talking point.
The open border. Trump will fix it. Biden caused this problem. Dems are weak…
The Mexican Immigration issue has been bubbling since the early 1900’s. For many years we wanted/needed Mexican immigrant labor to do jobs that the rest of us did not want to do. These folks could make more money here, live a better life and take care of their families. The numbers were relatively small and these folks were mostly in farm camps, closer to the border.
The numbers historically grew and really stated to grow from 1960 to 1980. That’s when it started to be a political talking point…and Congress did a great job of kicking that can down the road.
Here’s the dirty little secret about the status of our southern border. I work a lot of conferences and meetings in DC. Most organizations have an HQ near our Capitol or the White House in order to easily lobby Congress and the President. AAA, AARP, the Chamber of Commerce, the Labor Unions…to name a few.
Around 2005 and I wish that I could remember the acronym for the group, I was documenting a private meeting with no press allowed of a group that included fast food franchise owners, their vendors like soda pop, chicken and beef suppliers, etc. This was a mostly conservative group except about one issue…the BORDER. Some organizations make us sign “do not disclose” agreements to work their events. AIPAC does…these folks did not. This was at a point that George W Bush was trying to get the Border and the Immigration issue under better control…and he wanted a guest worker program for a lot of folks but not amnesty.
This group did not want the border closed…not at all…the current situation suited them just fine. They had the cheap (almost slave) labor they wanted…folks who would take cash, folks who would obey because they did not want to be deported. This open border worked for them…more profits…more control. They did not care about the drug or terrorism issue at all in this meeting.
So guess what…they lobbied and nothing happened. No amnesty, no more money for the Border Patrol…nothing….and both parties are guilty of this…because these folks donate a LOT of money to both parties and to campaigns.
I documented the Maryland GOP delegation at 2 National Conventions. One in Huston and one in NOLA for Reagan and Bush I. They both had huge sponsorships from a lot of Corporations who had a direct interest in a porous border.
I’ve said for years if you want to fix the illegal issue at our Mexican Border, start arresting, fining and putting in prison the business owners/leaders/managers who break our laws by hiring these folks…paying them unreported cash, etc etc etc.
If we did that the “Illegal” problem would mostly dry up…and these Fat Cats would have to pay a living wage and not hire minors to work overnight cleaning up animal guts from slaughter houses and chicken processing plants.
So to my high school friend, Joe Biden did not create this issue…and Donald Trump will not fix it with a wall…whether Mexico pays for it or not.
Many people have proven that you can go under, over and around the wall.
People have escaped from prisons that are MUCH better built and guarded for years.
( I like the Count of Monte Cristo for inspiration )
I really like James Taylor’s song Mexico. I want to go back, I really have enjoyed it there…they are lovely people with an ancient country, full of delights.
Peace y’all.
My husband and I have said the same thing about the business owners for years: find them, charge them, lock them up, and the problem will solve itself. Unfortunately, they are the ones who pay the lobbyists the most to keep the status quo.
It is interesting that very few politicians dare discuss the solution you write about - holding the food and agriculture oligarchs responsible for hiring illegal immigrants. The hypocrisy is baked into our system of feeding ourselves.
So what would happen if ANY administration began sending federal agents into slaughter houses and the fields where we grow our food? INFLATION! First, there would be shortages. Then there would be hiring people who would demand much, much higher wages to suffer in jobs like that. Are big ag and big meat going to absorb those added costs? I don't think so. That rib eye that costs $25/lb will then cost double that. Certain fruits and vegetables will be completely unaffordable. And as people can't afford to eat decent food, the health problems of weight, diabetes, heart ailments and cancer will escalate. The ripple effect through our entire society will be devastating.
It all reminds me of our stupid and fake war on drugs. It's really a war on people. We incarcerate a few sad souls each year and make zero effort to reduce the demand for the stuff. As long as you can make big profits on drugs or food, why would anyone want to change the system?
Here's a crazy idea. Legalize people and legalize drugs. Take the profits away from the cartels and the oligarchs. We need more immigrants - not less!