Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Good News/Bad News



First the good news.

If Biden wins, there will be violence. 

The savagery will be instigated by a sociopathic, shameless, twice divorced, twice impeached, p——y grabbing electoral vote deficient lying sore loser. Imagine a combination of the January 6th, 2021 attempted coup and the riotous Black Lives Matter demonstrations with a greater loss of life and injuries. A result of severe lead poisoning from Trump’s followers brandishing AR-15 rifles and assorted firearms. The battles will be mostly one sided since Democrats aren’t exactly Dirty Harry or Rambo. (See below).

In essence, the end product will be a political pogrom. 

  • Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more than twice as likely as Democrats and Democratic leaners to say they personally own a gun (45% vs. 20%). Source Pew Research September 2023. 
Eventually the rioting will be quelled by the National Guard and local law enforcement agencies. That is if they don’t take sides. 

OY! Jeffy! If that’s the good news! What’s the bad news?



If Trump wins there will be violent purges with longer lasting affects. These purges will make Hitler’s “Night of the Long Knives” seem like a pajama party in comparison. 

For further explanation please read: 



However if you believe purges could never happen in America, here’s a lesson from an amateur historian. (That’s me!)

Good Ol’ Honest Abe suspended the writ of habeas corpus while rounding up potential Confederate collaborators. Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History 

Lincoln initially suspended habeas corpus in the volatile border state of Maryland in 1861 in order to try large numbers of civilian rioters in military courts and to prevent the movement of Confederate troops on Washington. The order was eventually extended in response to different threats. In the summer of 1862, President Lincoln had called up the state militias, leading to increased opposition to the Civil War within the Union. By General Orders No. 141, September 25, 1862, Lincoln subjected protestors to martial law and the suspension of habeas corpus.

During Woodrow Wilson’s World War I administration, the incarcerations began in earnest. (Including the imprisonment of Eugene Debs, a former presidential candidate who in 1912 garnered 6% of the popular vote). Shame on Wilson. (Then again what can you expect from a president who green-lighted the segregation of the Departments of the Treasury, Commerce, Navy and Post Office.) 

From the National Constitution Center:

 During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson pushed for new laws that criminalized core First Amendment speech.  Congress passed the Espionage Act shortly after the U.S. entered the war. The Act made it a crime to convey information intended to interfere with the war effort.  Later, the Sedition Act imposed harsh penalties for a wide range of dissenting speech, including speech abusing the U.S. government, the flag, the Constitution, and the military.  These laws were directed at socialists, pacifists, and other anti-war activists.  The Wilson Administration argued that these Acts were essential to the war effort and prosecuted thousands of anti-war activists under their various provisions.  While modern scholars view these Acts as violating core free speech protections, the Supreme Court at the time upheld these convictions.

One more example: Let’s not forget the Uber purge of American history. FDR’s inexcusable Executive Order 9066. Another War related civil rights atrocity in which 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes and shipped to distant “internment camps.” About 80,000 were Japanese-Americans. These citizens were deemed possible subversives due to their last names and the shape of their eyes. In a 6-3 decision the Supreme Court went along with this racial injustice. (Komatsu vs. US).

For further reading, here’s my take from a visit to the Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp in California:


I’ve now historically established purges do and can occur in  the “Land of the Free.”

I began this post with a comparison of Trump to Hitler for a reason. Since America’s descent into the Age of Trumpism, political pundits (and me) have seen alarming similarities between the two. All the verbal and physical threats, intimidations, scapegoating, dismissals of the Rule of Law and their respective Constitutions, an admiration of fellow autocrats, and an aversion to facts mired in a deeply Nationalistic vibe. None of this bodes well for the US, since it didn’t work out too well for Germany either. As in Germany there will be many innocent victims.



In Trump’s own words: “ revenge, retribution, fight like hell, terminate the Constitution, suckers and losers, vermin, poisoning the blood of our country, enemies of the people, dictator on Day 1, American carnage“ 

 “Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a blood bath for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a blood bath for the country.” March 16, 2024. Vandalia, OH.

Not exactly “We the People” words or a return to a Woodstock Nation. Is it? 



Trump’s deplorable toadies are already on the sidelines…waiting.

Instead of Hermann Goring (influential leader of the Nazi Party) there’s Mark Meadows.

Hitler had Nazi propagandist Joesph Goebbels. Trump has Steven Cheung (former head of communications of Ultimate Fighting Championship) and Steve Bannon (former head of alt-right Breitbart News) and Stephen Miller (co-author with Bannon of the infamous 2017 inaugural speech. “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now”

Stephen Miller is another Jew who apparently slept through his US/World History classes. 




As far as muscle goes, Hitler had the Gestapo, the paramilitary SA and SS plus those unlovable teenagers in the Hitler Youth League. Trump has the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys and the Three Percenters many of whom will be pardoned if their political False Messiah regains the White House.

If you believe checks and balances will come to the rescue. Fuhgettaboudit! The Heritage Foundation will hand Trump a list of political appointees whose main attribute is the ability to suck a watermelon through a PVC pipe. In other words, total ass kissers and sycophants with unquestioning loyalty to the Con Man in Chief.  https://www.heritage.org/conservatism/commentary/project-2025

And the purges and violence will begin.




If you still believe, “that could never happen here.” I’ll respond this way. A Nation which protects the rights of gun ownership over the rights of children to attain adulthood (Uvalde, Parkland, Aurora, Newtown) has already set a morally low bar. It’ll take more then  “sending thoughts and prayers” to fix America’s misaligned priorities. Yes, bad stuff will happen again with Trump in charge. 

In America’s history there has been 45 peaceful presidential transfers of power. (Sure Hays vs. Tilden and Bush vs. Gore were glitches, but civil decency eventually prevailed). On January 6th, 2021 this 224 year string of Democratic correctness came to a sudden and violent halt. The aberration that is Trump cannot and will not abide by the rules or laws.  Trump is spending so much time in courtrooms, he might as well purchase a Laz Y Boy recliner to fume in. 


Who knows? Maybe a disciple will organize a GoFundMe to offset the expense. 




Folks, the coming election is a simple choice. The continuation of Democracy or the descent into Dictatorship. All the other issues (the economy, the Gaza War, immigration and “wokeness”) are small lumps of tasteless tofu in comparison. 

“And by the way, I can’t believe I have to say this, but ‘Are you going to be a dictator?’ is not a normal question you should have to ask a presidential candidate. If you have to ask your babysitter, ‘Are you going to eat my kids?’, it doesn’t matter what their answer is. The fact that you needed to ask them means you should get another babysitter.” — CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD

Trump is a predatory Beast. When backed into a corner (with the possibility of jail time) he’ll become even more unhinged and  dangerous. 

Beware. The next eight months will make the election cycle of 2016 and 2020 seem like a Buddhist Yoga Retreat.

Lastly, I found a Trump quote that’s not a lie. In his own words. 

“The gravest threats to our civilization are not from abroad, but from within.” Nov. 15, 2022, Palm Beach, Fla.

Wake up! Pay Attention! Because you never know how deep a purge can go. 





















Thursday, February 15, 2024

“Everybody has a plan until…

they get punched in the mouth.” 

 Mike Tyson (former world heavyweight boxing champion)

I’ll be the first to admit my winter getaways aren’t all that exciting. But this is what I do know. It’s better than  bundling up, hunkering inside, shoveling the white stuff or worse slipping on ice.

This winter I thought I had a viable game plan to sidestep my season of discontent. Unfortunately this go-around Mother Nature connected with a left jab to my mouth.

Here was my itinerary:

I spent December in an Old Town Snobsdale, AZ rental. Purpose? To hike in sunny and 60 plus degree weather, read Kindle books at poolside followed by Happy Hour and dinner. 

 What actually transpired:

Sanctuary One (my Toyota Tundra and camper) had an electronic seizure which ended up costing me $2,300 to repair. A financial OUCH! 

Left knee arthritis got a whole lot worse resulting in two doctor visits plus two injections. Hiking in the nearby regional parks took a back seat to strolling on the Snobsdale bike paths. 







I booked a consultation at the pricey Mayo Clinic about manly personal matters. An informative visit with no health resolutions.


All in all, a subpar Snobsdale visit.

At the start of the New Year, I drove to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to camp for three weeks.




Before I left Snobsdale, I checked the Weather Channel’s January forecast. The meteorologists predicted a cooler than average month in the Southwest.

It was. 



In the time I was there, I broke an inside-the-camper low temperature record. 33 degrees. I flicked the furnace on most days. I hiked in the warmest part of the short days with the aid of poles and two injections. 

More than 50% of the time it was cooler, breezier and cloudier than normal. My last days there were essentially sun-free and wet. It got so bad, I left a day early and  was actually looking forward to spending two nights in a Yuma, AZ hotel. Yes, that’s desperate and bad, but not rock bottom. Yet.



By this time, I rated my energy level about 40-50%, my Mojo low with a side order of Meh. 

This malaise even affected my reading habits. I’d get through about two/thirds of a book only to lose interest and start another Kindle download. It’s a good thing Kindle didn’t penalize me for incompletions.

BUT! On my lackluster feeling days, I managed to drive along Trump’s Wall to pen this asylum seekers post. Please read this Sambini investigative report:




BTW it poured enough in Yuma to create a parking lot sized Lake Superior.



After restocking my IPA, coffee and oh yeah food supplies, I then set off for Anza-Borrego State Park in California. It was a lovely almost week of camping and hiking until it wasn’t. Another El Niño driven surge of clammy watery weather was heading toward the Southwest and me. 



The Weather Channel eggheads predicted a wet February in the Southwest. 

It was the first weeks for sure. 

So…I departed from Anza-Borrego to urban camp in Palm Springs to the tune of a $100/night campsite. Yes, it rained there too, and was chilly as well. BUT! I did get the chance to have an enthusiastic Happy Hour with those Endless Honeymooners from Fort Collins, Steve and Ginny.



I left the next morning after restocking once again for an anticipated 2-3 week campout in the largest National Park in the Lower 48. AKA Death Valley. 

Between atmospheric river events, I managed to spend a day and night in Joshua Tree National Park. This was by far the bestest day of my entire winter getaway. I actually felt quite happy and content. (Probably because I was offline!) 





Don’t get me wrong, I had other good days, but this one was stand alone outstanding. 

After a peaceful night’s rest, I blasted out at to beat the next round of downpour’s and possible road closures. Destination: The Metroplex town of Shoshone, CA (population 18). This two-three block long village balances on the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park. It’s also the winter getaway destination to another pair of Endless Honeymooners, John and Sue. 



After reconnecting with the happy couple, the rains and road closures began. For two Noah’s Ark nights I loitered in their palatial yet cozy 35 foot RV, complete with lounge chairs and a couch. Best of all (besides the companionship) was the working furnace. 





Desperate times calls for desperate measures. After 48 hours of knee aching damp and chill, I decided to retreat to a dry, warm and roomier hotel room in Las Vegas. (AKA my least favorite city, which to me symbolizes all that is wrong with American. The materialism, get-rich quick schemes, debauchery and sleaziest of all, another Trump Tower Casino.) 



It was there where I decided to stand by to see what Mother Nature wreaked upon Death Valley NP’s infrastructure. The following morning while feasting? on a Holiday Inn Express breakfast of powdered scrambled eggs and a bland toasted bagel with cream cheese, I checked the Weather Channel forecast for the Park. It wasn’t joy, joy, happy, happy. California Highway 190 which bisects Death Valley was flooded. The Weather Channel then flung salt at the open wound.  Each and every campground I was going to visit required water wings. 

You’d think by now I would have had enough, but NOOOO! Apparently, I’m a glutton for mental anguish. When I checked road conditions back to Durango most were under winter storm warnings, I decided to go full circle. I booked another VRBO in Snobsdale to ride out another week of winter.

Looking back, my kosher Spider-Man senses were whispering “This might be another VRBO scam.” There was no reviews of the property, nor host profile or contact information. Surely, this wouldn’t be the second VRBO scam I fell for in a little over a year. 

It was. And don’t call me Shirley. 

Check out the silverware draw and linen closet. Excessively Minimalistic even for me. 





Read about the scam of December 2023. 


At this moment Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler song started spinning in my brain. “You have to know when to hold em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run.”

The next morning, I called my credit card company to stop payment and began the long drive back to Durango. 

En route I did a lot of thinking back to conversations with myself. They went like this, “Self! Why are you camping in winter? It hasn’t been working out in the past few years. You don’t have to do this. You have money. Buy airline tickets to other places!” 

So that’s what I’ll be doing in my next season of discontent. I’ll leave Sanctuary One behind to spend time and money in Costa Rica? Cuba? Belize? Panama? Or Africa?



Here’s my final tale of winter woe. 

When I was camping in Anza-Borrego State Park, a holding-hands senior couple moseying by got my attention while I was sunning myself and reading. The woman asked politely, “would you mind showing us your camper? We’re thinking of buying another kind of RV.”

“Not a problem. Come on over and I’ll give you the nickel tour. This won’t take long.”

I talked up Sanctuary One on its many attributes. I enthused about its efficient refrigerator, solar charged batteries, adequate storage space, 20 gallon water reservoir, kitchen sink, two burner stove, furnace, lights, comfy bed and “dining room” table. I told them stories of camping at 12,000 feet or in canyon country, where its 4x4 capabilities are utilized. Like a proud parent I showed them photos to prove my point.

“Wow! You sound like a commercial for Four Wheel Campers. Do you have any complaints?”

“Yeah. I’m alone.”

And that in a nutshell is what exasperates all the jabs, hooks and roundhouse punches life pitches at me on occasion. I have no one to commiserate with or to score a reassuring hug when
things are a bit off. 


Stay well.
I’m looking forward to canyon season.
Cheers!
Jeff



















Saturday, January 20, 2024

The Detritus of Desperation



Right now I’m camping at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It’s  on the border of Arizona and Mexico. From my campsite I have an unobstructed view of Trump’s Wall as it convulses its way along a line created by the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.

This is my third consecutive winter getaway to this cactus wonderland. Being curious by nature, I always take a drive along an eleven-mile stretch of road parallel to the metal eyesore and environmental disaster. (Just ask the native wildlife (Sonoran  pronghorn, mule deer, javalinas, coyotes, mountain lions, bighorn sheep and bobcats) whose range is now confined to one side or the other. No Bueno for them. 

This year my investigation was different and not in a good way. First off the National Park Service didn’t recommend going. When I pressed a timid Ranger on the issue of why? His answer, “The Border Patrol are conducting Homeland Security surveillance out there,”



My answer, “The Border Patrol are always conducting surveillance out there.” In my mind either a road is open or closed. Sort of along the concept of not being a “little pregnant.” 

If you’ve been following the news, there’s been a surge of asylum seekers trying to gain access to  the Promised Land of America.

This human tide was so large, the US powers to be shuttered the Lukeville/Sonoyta Border crossing for about a month. The lockdown caused economic hardships on both sides of the Wall. The border towns of Ajo, Why and Lukeville lost the potential revenue from the steady stream of Gringos en route to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. (Rocky Point in Gringo-speak).  Daily workers from Mexico couldn’t commute to their jobs on the US side. No Bueno II. 



Still the asylum seekers came.

The immigration issue is like climate change. Everybody talks about it, but no one does anything about it. 

Go back in American History to 1844 and the founding of the “Native American” political party. Better known today as the “Know Nothings” whose platform was all about immigration. They particularly had it out for Irish Catholics, many of whom were escaping the Great (Potato) Famine of 1845-1852. The Know Nothings whined and whined, yet those Guinness guzzling Irish Catholics still came. The English speaking newbies became part of the American fabric handing us Saint Paddy’s Day and two US Presidents. JFK and Joe Biden. Stretch the Irish name a bit and maybe O’bama. In the long run the Irish-Americans found a second homeland.



In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed. Like the name suggests, those Asians weren’t allowed entry to the US for the simple crime of being born in China. It wasn’t until 1943 when this racist abomination was repealed. By then, China was a WW II Allie of the US. (Probably a political “Sorry about that! was issued to the Chinese government.) Now we thank Chinese-Americans for their industrious ways and providing Jews a place to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas.



The Immigration Act of 1924, worked on a quota system based on percentages of hyphenated Americans already here. The rules heavily favored western and northern Europeans as well as those from the British Isles. This act was far from all-inclusive. I suppose those White guys in power were concerned about the possibility of the “poisoning the blood of our country.” (No the quote wasn’t from Hitler, but from Trump in New Hampshire on December 17, 2023.) 




Forty-One years later, LBJ under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Therefore negating the quota system. ( good riddance to that.) For a Good Ol’ Boy Texan, Johnson displayed great empathy for the plight of the underdog. During his administration Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Head Start and the Voting Rights Act were passed. PLUS! The Wilderness Act of 1964. 



Ahhh. The Yin/Yang of American politics. In January 2017, the Orange Disruptor in Chief enacted Executive Order 13769. It came with a  catchy title. “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” The nickname was better. “Trump’s Muslim Ban.” Essentially the ban included seven predominantly Muslim countries.  Thereby stereotyping 1.8 billion adherents of Islam as international “Bad Guys.” As par with 45’s administration the order created confusion, chaos and a BIGLY amount of lawsuits. Lawyers must love Trump for all the lawsuits he generates.

Notably missing from the list was Saudi Arabia, the country of origin for fifteen of the nineteen 911 hijackers and its mastermind  Osama bin Ladin. The US has business and military interests in SA which might have influenced Trump’s omission. (Just saying’)

For a great read on America’s worldly military presence, check out “How to Hide an Empire.” Who knew!



That was the Reader’s Digest version of US Immigration Policy 101. 

Back to the present. So there I was driving parallel to the Wall that Mexico was supposed to pay for but that was another Trump fib. American taxpayers shelled out the multi-billions of dollars (not pesos) of dinero. (Money in Gringo-speak) Gee! What a surprise! 

Yep, since the surge the borderland has changed since last year. About one mile west of Highway 85 an apparent asylum seeker processing center stood out. The half-acre parcel contained porta-potties, tents and stadium lights. That was new to me and disturbing especially since the land is within a National Monument. But most distressing of all was the debris field adjacent to the road.  A vast multi-mile stretch of discarded clothes items, thousands of pitched plastic water bottles, spent juice cartons, empty soda cans and an improbable container of hair conditioner. But just like that, the trash subsided. The newly arrived litterbugs were crammed near Highway 85. They weren’t trying to evade capture. They were seeking a better life through asylum. 

Sure, I found the trash to be distressing, but more than likely so was the life the migrants left behind. Anyone desperate enough to negotiate the Darien Gap, (sometimes with children) must have had a reason to risk it all. 

As a first generation American, I can relate to the “Push/Pull” concept behind immigration. For Sid and Clara the push was the first fits and starts of the Holocaust. Simply put, their choice was to flee or be murdered. The pull to NYC was simple too. Get to live another day and eventually make me!



Americans have an uncanny knack in believing “tsrus” (troubles) only occur here. WRONG! Immigration (like inflation) is a Worldwide dilemma. 
 
Worldwide inflation: Source World Bank.

Worldwide immigration: Source Springer-link

  Currently, there’s 16 out of the 54 countries in Africa in the midst of a Civil War. In South America unstable governments unfortunately seem to be the rule instead of the exception. 

Source: The Global Economy.com 


These are some of the “pushes” on the worldwide scene. The “pulls” are any country possibly offering folks stability, safety and security. Yes. The US is one of those countries.

Readers, I won’t BS you and say I have the answers to a multi-generational international quandary. 

But I do know humanity is going over the top on Genesis 1:28. That’s the “be fruitful and multiply” notion. (In my lifetime alone, Homo Sapiens expanded from 2.7 billion to over 8 billion). 

Another thing I know, it’s going to take a “village” of cooperating Nations to come up with viable solutions. (Just like dealing with climate change).

Walls aren’t the answer despite what Senator Robert Rice Reynolds said on June 5th, 1941. 

I’m down at the Border,
Jeff

The Detritus of Desperation 

Right now I’m camping at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It’s  on the border of Arizona and Mexico. From my campsite I have an unobstructed view of Trump’s Wall as it convulses its way along a line created by the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.

This is my third consecutive winter getaway to this cactus wonderland. Being curious by nature, I always take a drive along an eleven-mile stretch of road parallel to the metal eyesore and environmental disaster. (Just ask the native wildlife (Sonoran  pronghorn, mule deer, javalinas, coyotes, mountain lions, bighorn sheep and bobcats) whose range is now confined to one side or the other. No Bueno for them. 

This year my investigation was different and not in a good way. First off the National Park Service didn’t recommend going. When I pressed a timid Ranger on the issue of why? His answer, “The Border Patrol are conducting Homeland Security surveillance out there,”

My answer, “The Border Patrol are always conducting surveillance out there.” In my mind either a road is open or closed. Sort of along the concept of not being a “little pregnant.” 

If you’ve been following the news, there’s been a surge of asylum seekers trying to gain access to  the Promised Land of America.

This human tide was so large, the US powers to be shuttered the Lukeville/Sonoyta Border crossing for about a month. The lockdown caused economic hardships on both sides of the Wall. The border towns of Ajo, Why and Lukeville lost the potential revenue from the steady stream of Gringos en route to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. (Rocky Point in Gringo-speak).  Daily workers from Mexico couldn’t commute to their jobs on the US side. No Bueno II. 

Still the asylum seekers came.

The immigration issue is like climate change. Everybody talks about it, but no one does anything about it. 

Go back in American History to 1844 and the founding of the “Native American” political party. Better known today as the “Know Nothings” whose platform was all about immigration. They particularly had it out for Irish Catholics, many of whom were escaping the Great (Potato) Famine of 1845-1852. The Know Nothings whined and whined, yet those Guinness drinking Irish Catholics still came. The English speaking newbies became part of the American fabric handing us Saint Paddy’s Day and two US Presidents. JFK and Joe Biden. Stretch the Irish name a bit and maybe O’bama. In the long run the Irish-Americans found a second homeland.

In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed. Like the name suggests, those Asians weren’t allowed entry to the US for the simple crime of being born in China. It wasn’t until 1943 when this racist abomination was repealed. By then, China was a WW II Allie of the US. (Probably a political “Sorry about that! was issued to the Chinese government.) Now we thank Chinese-Americans for their industrious ways and providing Jews a place to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

The Immigration Act of 1924, worked on a quota system based on percentages of hyphenated Americans already here. The rules heavily favored western and northern Europeans as well as those from the British Isles. This act was far from all-inclusive. I suppose those White guys in power were concerned about the possibility of the “poisoning the blood of our country.” (No the quote wasn’t from Hitler, but from Trump in New Hampshire on December 17, 2023.) 

Forty-One years later, LBJ under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Therefore negating the quota system. ( good riddance to that.) For a Good Ol’ Boy Texan, Johnson displayed great empathy for the plight of the underdog. During his administration Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Head Start and the Voting Rights Act were passed. PLUS! The Wilderness Act of 1964. 

Ahhh. The Yin/Yang of American politics. In January 2017, the Orange Disruptor in Chief enacted Executive Order 13769. It came with a  catchy title. “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” The nickname was better. “Trump’s Muslim Ban.” Essentially the ban included seven predominantly Muslim countries.  Thereby stereotyping 1.8 billion adherents of Islam as international “Bad Guys.” As par with 45’s administration the order created confusion, chaos and a BIGLY amount of lawsuits. Lawyers must love Trump for all the lawsuits he generates.

Notably missing from the list was Saudi Arabia, the country of origin for fifteen of the nineteen 911 hijackers and its mastermind  Osama bin Ladin. The US has business and military interests in SA which might have influenced Trump’s omission. (Just saying’)

For a great read on America’s worldly military presence, check out “How to Hide an Empire.” Who knew!

That was the Reader’s Digest version of US Immigration Policy 101. 

Back to the present. So there I was driving parallel to the Wall that Mexico was supposed to pay for but that was another Trump fib. American taxpayers shelled out the multi-billions of dollars of dinero. (Money in Gringo-speak) Gee! What a surprise! 

Yep, since the surge the borderland has changed since last year. About one mile west of Highway 85 an apparent asylum seeker processing center stood out. The half-acre parcel contained porta-potties, tents and stadium lights. That was new to me and disturbing especially since the land is within a National Monument. But most distressing of all was the debris field adjacent to the road.  A vast multi-mile stretch of discarded clothes items, thousands of pitched plastic water bottles, spent juice cartons, empty soda cans and an improbable container of hair conditioner. But just like that, the trash subsided. The newly arrived litterbugs were crammed near Highway 85. They weren’t trying to evade capture. They were seeking a better life through asylum. 

Sure, I found the trash to be distressing, but more than likely so was the life the migrants left behind. Anyone desperate enough to negotiate the Darien Gap, (sometimes with children) must have had a reason to risk it all. 

As a first generation American, I can relate to the “Push/Pull” concept behind immigration. For Sid and Clara the push was the first fits and starts of the Holocaust. Simply put, their choice was to flee or die. The pull to NYC was simple too. Get to live another day and eventually make me!




Americans have an uncanny knack in believing “tsrus” (troubles) only occur here. WRONG! Immigration (like inflation) is a Worldwide dilemma. 
 
Worldwide inflation: Source World Bank.

Worldwide immigration: Source Springer-link

  Currently, there’s 16 out of the 54 countries in Africa in the midst of a Civil War. In South America unstable governments unfortunately seem to be the rule instead of the exception. 

Source: The Global Economy.com 


These are some of the “pushes” on the worldwide scene. The “pulls” are any country possibly offering folks stability, safety and security. Yes. The US is one of those countries.

Readers, I won’t BS you and say I have the answers to a multi-generational international quandary. 

But I do know humanity is going over the top on Genesis 1:28. That’s the “be fruitful and multiply” notion. (In my lifetime alone, Homo Sapiens expanded from 2.7 billion to over 8 billion). 

Another thing I know, it’s going to take a “village” of cooperating Nations to come up with viable solutions. (Just like dealing with climate change).

Walls aren’t the answer despite what Senator Robert Rice Reynolds said on June 5th, 1941. 

For further readings:

I’m down at the Border,
Jeff





For one last look at the humanitarian side of the immigration dilemma.
Please read this great article from the New York Times