I was reading an article earlier about Bosnian Refugees who revitalized a St. Louis neighborhood in the late 90s. It became know as little Bosnia but as they became more and more integrated into America, they have now largely moved to the suburbs.
Unfortunately the area they left behind is once again suffering.
Its actually a fairly typical immigrant/refugee story where they come here, find some place they can settle and afford, work hard, Americanize their children, and like millions before them flee the urban area.
The problem is that the area they left suffered again because we didn't have new refugees to move in..
I read another story about how seniors in Maine are having trouble finding caregivers because their numbers have grown and the number of young people is not large enough. The article predicted that Maine is a forerunner of many other areas as we simply have a growing senior population.
One of the big issues with defined benefit pensions and Social Security is simply that the number of people getting benefits is growing but the number of workers is not keeping up.
We are desperately in need of young families in this country yet we are doing everything we can to discourage them.
Who thinks that makes sense?
Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts
Monday, August 19, 2019
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Doing The Right Thing
Are poor immigrants wanting to come to this country for a better life a crisis?
If so the country was in a crisis for most of its history.
I understand that the rhetoric has grown dramatically and it is presented as an invasion of undesirables.
Still, it might rise to the level of a situation, but it is only a crisis if we make it one.
It may strain our border resources a bit, but we could certainly process these asylum seekers in an orderly way if we wanted to.
We have processed large numbers of asylum seekers in our past successfully. Of course in some events we simply accepted everyone fleeing Cuba who passed a rudimentary check. To some extent our current cumbersome process and shortage of personnel is causing delays and detention issues.
As a person who should care about his fellow man, the issue is what should we do with people who have left everything behind and show up at our border asking for safe entrance?
Obviously if they are some sort of threat or have terrorist connections, we shouldn't admit them, but ordinary people with families who just want a chance to be safe?
The country is not full, its is far from it.
Its clear that not everyone agrees that we have a humanitarian responsibility to help these people, our fellow humans, and that is just a fact.
However, each of them is a person and has the same hopes and desires as we do. They are mostly victims of violence, poverty and corrupt governments. Those are not our fault, but its not their fault either.
We need to do the right thing and not blame the victims.
If so the country was in a crisis for most of its history.
I understand that the rhetoric has grown dramatically and it is presented as an invasion of undesirables.
Still, it might rise to the level of a situation, but it is only a crisis if we make it one.
It may strain our border resources a bit, but we could certainly process these asylum seekers in an orderly way if we wanted to.
We have processed large numbers of asylum seekers in our past successfully. Of course in some events we simply accepted everyone fleeing Cuba who passed a rudimentary check. To some extent our current cumbersome process and shortage of personnel is causing delays and detention issues.
As a person who should care about his fellow man, the issue is what should we do with people who have left everything behind and show up at our border asking for safe entrance?
Obviously if they are some sort of threat or have terrorist connections, we shouldn't admit them, but ordinary people with families who just want a chance to be safe?
The country is not full, its is far from it.
Its clear that not everyone agrees that we have a humanitarian responsibility to help these people, our fellow humans, and that is just a fact.
However, each of them is a person and has the same hopes and desires as we do. They are mostly victims of violence, poverty and corrupt governments. Those are not our fault, but its not their fault either.
We need to do the right thing and not blame the victims.
Friday, February 15, 2019
National Emergency?
There is a situation on the Southern Border that has been going on a long time.
It isn't really getting worse, in fact by most accounts it has been getting better.
Still the dontard is determined to act like this is an emergency and try to use money intended for other purposes to build a silly wall.
To the extent this is likely to fail, it is probably just a stunt to fire up the anti-immigration part of his base.
These are the people convinced that having Spanish as an option on automated phone systems is somehow a threat to their liberty.
This is not something new in American history.
From the earliest times there were people who decried how new immigrants were destroying the American way.
Wave after wave of immigrants were greeted by some with distrust and hate even as they built this great country to what it is today.
We wouldn't have settled the west or built our great cities without them, but each wave was going to destroy our values.
Oddly, the immigrants we object to now actually share a lot with us already, at least historically, being from American countries that revolted against a European master and who won their freedom.
In some ways they aren't much different than the waves of poor Americans who fled the dust bowl and southern poverty over the years
They are just on the other side of a border created by events they had nothing to do with.
Emergency? The only thing that comes close is our failure to act like good neighbors and extend a helping hand.
It isn't really getting worse, in fact by most accounts it has been getting better.
Still the dontard is determined to act like this is an emergency and try to use money intended for other purposes to build a silly wall.
To the extent this is likely to fail, it is probably just a stunt to fire up the anti-immigration part of his base.
These are the people convinced that having Spanish as an option on automated phone systems is somehow a threat to their liberty.
This is not something new in American history.
From the earliest times there were people who decried how new immigrants were destroying the American way.
Wave after wave of immigrants were greeted by some with distrust and hate even as they built this great country to what it is today.
We wouldn't have settled the west or built our great cities without them, but each wave was going to destroy our values.
Oddly, the immigrants we object to now actually share a lot with us already, at least historically, being from American countries that revolted against a European master and who won their freedom.
In some ways they aren't much different than the waves of poor Americans who fled the dust bowl and southern poverty over the years
They are just on the other side of a border created by events they had nothing to do with.
Emergency? The only thing that comes close is our failure to act like good neighbors and extend a helping hand.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Straws
It looks like a border wall has become more of a symbolic issue than a real issue.
It is clear to almost everyone that it will have little or no impact on the so called issues brought up about the border.
It may deter some casual crossers, if any exist, but you have to remember that the border is already protected by natural barriers that aren't crossed casually now.
It is such a long border that the people, the coyotes, who currently arrange crossings and profit handsomely will find ways under or over it for profit.
It will not deter terrorists or drug traffickers who already use other mean to enter the country.
Still it has become a rallying cry for people even as it has no real value.
It is likely to stay with us until the current occupant of the white house is replaced
Its easier than espousing real solutions that are probably too complex for many.
It may or may not inspire certain anti-immigration groups to get out and vote.
It may not work.
Its simply one of the straws they are grasping.
It is clear to almost everyone that it will have little or no impact on the so called issues brought up about the border.
It may deter some casual crossers, if any exist, but you have to remember that the border is already protected by natural barriers that aren't crossed casually now.
It is such a long border that the people, the coyotes, who currently arrange crossings and profit handsomely will find ways under or over it for profit.
It will not deter terrorists or drug traffickers who already use other mean to enter the country.
Still it has become a rallying cry for people even as it has no real value.
It is likely to stay with us until the current occupant of the white house is replaced
Its easier than espousing real solutions that are probably too complex for many.
It may or may not inspire certain anti-immigration groups to get out and vote.
It may not work.
Its simply one of the straws they are grasping.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Domestic Security
Negotiations are under way to avoid another Government shutdown and right now things aren't looking too good, at least according to some of the participants.
The only real issue comes down to funding for the wall that was a campaign promise of sorts.
Of course that promise included a promise that we wouldn't have to pay for it, which has apparently been forgotten.
Is a wall a good thing?
In certain areas we already have barriers and in other areas we rely more or less on the terrain to deter border crossings.
We are talking about thousands of mile of border, much of it quite inhospitable.
Certainly, people can be transported to the border in those areas and can cross, usually with the hope of being apprehended and applying for asylum.
The vase majority of these immigrants simply want an opportunity to plead their cases.
The other ones, the drug dealers and possibly terrorists, have better ways to cross, they can afford it.
You are really talking about two different worlds, that of the desperate immigrant looking for a better life and that of a criminal looking to make more money.
There have been many ways that drugs have gotten into this country and I can guarantee that long treks across inhospitable stretches of desert is not very popular, there are many easier ways.
Similarly, most terrorists simply fly into this country using various visas. That's for terrorists that come from outside the country, we have always had our home grown ones.
Domestic security is important, but generally it is not tied into events on our southern border specifically.
Those people aren't the threat.
The only real issue comes down to funding for the wall that was a campaign promise of sorts.
Of course that promise included a promise that we wouldn't have to pay for it, which has apparently been forgotten.
Is a wall a good thing?
In certain areas we already have barriers and in other areas we rely more or less on the terrain to deter border crossings.
We are talking about thousands of mile of border, much of it quite inhospitable.
Certainly, people can be transported to the border in those areas and can cross, usually with the hope of being apprehended and applying for asylum.
The vase majority of these immigrants simply want an opportunity to plead their cases.
The other ones, the drug dealers and possibly terrorists, have better ways to cross, they can afford it.
You are really talking about two different worlds, that of the desperate immigrant looking for a better life and that of a criminal looking to make more money.
There have been many ways that drugs have gotten into this country and I can guarantee that long treks across inhospitable stretches of desert is not very popular, there are many easier ways.
Similarly, most terrorists simply fly into this country using various visas. That's for terrorists that come from outside the country, we have always had our home grown ones.
Domestic security is important, but generally it is not tied into events on our southern border specifically.
Those people aren't the threat.
Friday, November 23, 2018
The Refugee Problem
One of the success stories of western civilization and western economics is that it attracts so many people from poorer countries.
It is of course also one of its problems, the number of people who are attracted to the better life it promises.
Most of the western world has consumer based economies where the production of consumer items employs many at good wages leading to more money to spend on consumer items.
Underlying this economy is of course certain fundamental industries, but as we see consumer spending growing every year it becomes a bigger percentage of the economy as a whole. It is currently a little over 70% of the economy, as measured by GDP.
To people living is poor, war ravaged areas where clean drinking water is a real concern, seeing images of people ordering exotic coffees or any of the million other consumer items we hardly think about is an image of a paradise they want to be a part of.
Obviously not all of them but enough that it becomes a problem for many western countries, or at least a perceived problem.
It obviously varies country by country and some of the poorer European countries with high unemployment can hardly afford thousands of more needy people.
On the other hand the United States actually has plenty of work for them once they get acclimated and the objections are generally more related to social issues, and rhetoric.
The nature of the issues tends to define the areas hardest hit, so the southern tier of European countries are generally the most accessible to most of the new refugees and ask for help from richer northern European countries.
It is however more of a worldwide issue that should probably be dealt with via consensus, although of course we are currently not interested in such arrangements.
It really is a much more problematic issue elsewhere but it is a tale of human misery which impacts all of us to at least some extent.
It is of course also one of its problems, the number of people who are attracted to the better life it promises.
Most of the western world has consumer based economies where the production of consumer items employs many at good wages leading to more money to spend on consumer items.
Underlying this economy is of course certain fundamental industries, but as we see consumer spending growing every year it becomes a bigger percentage of the economy as a whole. It is currently a little over 70% of the economy, as measured by GDP.
To people living is poor, war ravaged areas where clean drinking water is a real concern, seeing images of people ordering exotic coffees or any of the million other consumer items we hardly think about is an image of a paradise they want to be a part of.
Obviously not all of them but enough that it becomes a problem for many western countries, or at least a perceived problem.
It obviously varies country by country and some of the poorer European countries with high unemployment can hardly afford thousands of more needy people.
On the other hand the United States actually has plenty of work for them once they get acclimated and the objections are generally more related to social issues, and rhetoric.
The nature of the issues tends to define the areas hardest hit, so the southern tier of European countries are generally the most accessible to most of the new refugees and ask for help from richer northern European countries.
It is however more of a worldwide issue that should probably be dealt with via consensus, although of course we are currently not interested in such arrangements.
It really is a much more problematic issue elsewhere but it is a tale of human misery which impacts all of us to at least some extent.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Immigrants, run for the Hills!
A group of ragtag refugees trying to escape poverty and violence has terrified our commander in chief and sending troops at some significant expense to guard against nothing at all.
His characterization of this group as an invasion is simply rhetoric that is designed to incite some voters before the election coming up.
He may or may not know better, who cares.
He also, despite controlling both houses and of course the presidency for two years now blames this on the democrats because he likes to just make things up.
Immigration to this country both documented and undocumented has overall been a benefit, not a detriment.
Each wave of course has had bad characters, the Irish gangs, the Italian mafia, the Russian gangs but this is a tiny percentage greatly offset by the much greater number of hardworking families who have made America great.
People haven't changed and despite the rhetoric about who may or may not be travelling in this caravan, the one thing that is certain is that they are people.
His characterization of this group as an invasion is simply rhetoric that is designed to incite some voters before the election coming up.
He may or may not know better, who cares.
He also, despite controlling both houses and of course the presidency for two years now blames this on the democrats because he likes to just make things up.
Immigration to this country both documented and undocumented has overall been a benefit, not a detriment.
Each wave of course has had bad characters, the Irish gangs, the Italian mafia, the Russian gangs but this is a tiny percentage greatly offset by the much greater number of hardworking families who have made America great.
People haven't changed and despite the rhetoric about who may or may not be travelling in this caravan, the one thing that is certain is that they are people.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Land of Opportunity
One of the lures that America has always had to immigrants is that you can do better here then you can where you are.
America was the land of opportunity.
Its of course accepted that this was true and clearly for many millions of immigrants it did offer a better situation then starving because of a potato blight or being persecuted for religious beliefs.
Of course this varied by country and while we did have in many ways more opportunity here than a country with rigid social castes it wasn't like immigrants had won the golden ticket, they still faced tough conditions, bias and in some cases terrible living conditions and years of poverty.
However, we were a growing country and work was fairly plentiful so they were generally able to establish themselves and in fact build a better future for themselves and their families.
They contributed greatly to their new country and most would agree they added greatly to the fabric of this country.
Current immigrants are no different than their predecessors and to portray them as crime ridden hoards intent on destroying our way of life is just repeating things that were said about Irish, Italians, Poles, Russians and Cubans.
They are people looking for a better, safer life and they are needed here as we don't have enough willing workers to do many of the jobs they will fill.
There are issues with American workers who see less opportunity then there once was in our manufacturing sector, but the immigrants aren't displacing them, they were displaced by economic forces and automation.
To hear the dontard talk about immigrants is to hear the same old song and dance that has been said about previous immigrants, and it is just as wrong now as it was then.
America was the land of opportunity.
Its of course accepted that this was true and clearly for many millions of immigrants it did offer a better situation then starving because of a potato blight or being persecuted for religious beliefs.
Of course this varied by country and while we did have in many ways more opportunity here than a country with rigid social castes it wasn't like immigrants had won the golden ticket, they still faced tough conditions, bias and in some cases terrible living conditions and years of poverty.
However, we were a growing country and work was fairly plentiful so they were generally able to establish themselves and in fact build a better future for themselves and their families.
They contributed greatly to their new country and most would agree they added greatly to the fabric of this country.
Current immigrants are no different than their predecessors and to portray them as crime ridden hoards intent on destroying our way of life is just repeating things that were said about Irish, Italians, Poles, Russians and Cubans.
They are people looking for a better, safer life and they are needed here as we don't have enough willing workers to do many of the jobs they will fill.
There are issues with American workers who see less opportunity then there once was in our manufacturing sector, but the immigrants aren't displacing them, they were displaced by economic forces and automation.
To hear the dontard talk about immigrants is to hear the same old song and dance that has been said about previous immigrants, and it is just as wrong now as it was then.
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