Problems on Every Side
So, there's this whole big deal about the Mexican border and the drug war and the illegal immigrants and etcetera, and I keep seeing various sides of it and debates and discussion, but nobody really talking about solutions. It's certainly a big, complex issue, and it's one that with each passing week starts to demand more and more attention because the stakes are getting higher and people are becoming more and more incensed about it.
The Minutemen
So there's apparently this American grass-roots group called the Minutemen who are rallying and demonstrating all over the country, and they are strongly backed by the Tea Party. Now you can find these guys all over YouTube and in the news, and most of them are either conservatives or are redneck white trash. I feel I need to say that to get it out of the way, because I don't think all of their points are necessarily invalid, though they tend to not be very eloquent or rational in expressing themselves when their public face winds up out on the streets - at least the media and home videos are going for the sensationalist faction of them rather than any of the poignant and well-educated spokesmen. Without explaining all of the intricacy of my logic right now, I will say that I believe they have a valid point in securing the border and fighting the cartels and illegal immigration. They lose their arguments for coming off as racist hicks and for making poor assumptions or assertions when they get backed into a corner about a topic they are not very familiar with. They are genuinely concerned with the security and safety of America, both it's justice and it's culture. (And yes, we DO have an American culture, much as so many people would love to deny it and say we're just a melting pot and completely made up of other cultures - we've had over 200 years (that's 8-10 generations) to establish our own perspectives and way of life here.)
The Drug Cartels
Who have lately started getting severely emboldened by their money, power, weapons supply, and massive amount of "employees" who assist in the management, transport, manufacture and armed solicitation of said merchandise. They don't just deal in drugs, which is their primary asset, but in guns, people, gambling and mafia activity. They are rogue governments that are both inside and outside of the borders and operate like a massive, organized terrorist organization with cells everywhere. They are active, they are busy, and their job entails the subversion and control over people, money and power like a dictatorial government. They have military grade weapons, low scruples, poor training and a drive to be on top that makes them ruthless and dangerous as Hell. They are a real threat and a real enemy to nations, because their sole purpose is to bring the people of any nation they can to their knees through the addiction or frequent use of substances to power their own coffers and armies. They have kept many of the Central and South American countries impoverished over the last few decades, while others argue that they have brought so much money into those nations to enrich them. Considering the poor education and quality of living after over 30 years of the US economy being deported to them illegally through the drug trade, I'd say there's fair evidence that the drug cartels have not truly enriched their countries of origin.
What fuels the cartels then, how the heck did these rogue organizations come to such vast power? Drugs. And Americans' insatiable desire to consume them. Americans have money, more of a lion's share than most of the world, and America also does little to police drugs, despite the public image of a "War On Drugs". Why? Because it helps to create a complacent society, which is all any government REALLY wants - the more complacent your population, the easier they are to take from, to cheat, to lie to, and to ignore in your quest for power and glory. As long as they get work done and remain productive, anyway. Junkies can't pay taxes after all, and it's why addicts are considered the scum of the earth - and also why most addicts are also "professional criminals" who get involved in prostitution, grand theft auto, burglary, and any other ways to make a quick buck to buy more crack/meth/smack/etc. The real reason drugs are bad is because they enable unscrupulous people to make a lot of money and gain a lot of power and then use that power to abuse more people and build an empire of control, the drugs themselves aren't that bad if used responsibly, but man people really want them. Really, really, really want them. Which is surprising to me, in this country where we're so conditioned to hate them and be self-reliant individuals, people sure do have an insatiable appetite for them - you can blame that on being a society of convenience that doesn't want to find their release and escape from traditional ways and would rather have the GIMME NOW! rush of drugs.
The Immigrants
Ya know, everyone in America is descended from an immigrant. Even the Native Americans as we call them came across the Siberian land bridge some thousands of years ago. While technically they were here first, many of our white ancestors were assholes and killed them to take their land when they tried to defend it. Not a whole lot we can do about that now, though I must admit to white guilt on that - both for the natives and for the black slaves who were brought here against their will. So let's just get that out of the way up-front: none of us are FROM here, and making an argument about imminent domain or right is just pointless, uneducated and leads to the descendancy arguments that never go anywhere or get solved.
What we're talking about is NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY, not race, not religion, not ethnicity - the issue with the immigration is that we, as a nation called the United States of America, have a Federal policy on immigration and how people come into and interact with our country if they are a FOREIGN NATIONAL. If you are not from America, as in not born here or not a naturalized citizen, then you are required by our laws to follow the proper channels and procedures - and if you're here illegally then according to the law you're SUPPOSED to be deported. The US allows more people to legitimately immigrate into it's borders than ANY other country on the planet, so saying that there's not room or the procedure is too difficult to follow is bunk. Concerning Mexicans specifically, I have a number of Mexican national friends who are here LEGALLY who DID follow the procedures, and ARE working their asses off to do what they need to do, within the law, to become a landed immigrant. Every illegal is a slight to people like that, and to our laws and system of justice and national sovereignty, and THAT is the issue at hand. That is where *I* am coming from in being against illegal immigration. Realize that not all Mexicans or other Central/South Americans inside US borders are illegal - praise and support the ones who are not, because believe me there are more than enough ignorant assholes who give them Hell about it.
Global Community/Economy
Why ARE immigrants pouring across the border illegally? Because they are living in a Hellish war zone with very little prosperity that has historically been abused by dictators, drug cartels, and even the American government and big business. Immigration (the INS) is lax in the US, and they really have nothing to lose - at worst they make a little money and get deported a pocketful of cash richer, and at best they make enough to support their family, and maybe send some back to Mexico to help support friends or family in their homeland. Granted, there ARE also a good deal of illegal immigrants who are criminals (drug dealers, cartel guards, transporters, thieves) but they only make up a margin of them, most folks are just looking to make a better living and the US offers a relatively safe (in comparison) place to live and work. Because that's all MOST people really want! So it shouldn't really be a surprise if anyone really thinks about it.
So what's the solution? Well, that's a tricky question because it's a tricky problem with many facets. The easy solution would be to remove all addiction and desire for drugs while simultaneously eliminating greedy robber barons and imperialism from the world - fat chance of that! What needs to happen is an orchestrated, multi-front attack on the problems, and who better to lead the charge than the US. Mexico is our neighbor, their problems are to some extent inherently our problems, and it's OUR citizens' demand for their illicit substances that's causing much of the problem. Historically no president has had the gumption to REALLY push for a front line in the "War On Drugs", but it may be time to start. Mexican people in general seem to be really sick of oppression and being butchered and threatened and bullied by the cartels, and the less scrupulous of them are signing-up to work for them and make them even stronger and more difficult to topple. America has resources and a powerful army (the best in the world so we brag), so taking out a few pests should be simple, right?
What we need to do: we DO need to increase border security in order to help stymie the illegals issue, the drug transport issue, and the gun export issue. We DO need to work directly with the current Mexican government who IS trying hard to fight the cartels with their military, but they're losing the battle because traditionally the cartels are so well-connected and influential on the government due to their size and power. We need to pull out of poor military decisions overseas and start putting our soldiers to work within our borders and at our borders AS UNITS who are impervious to the temptation and bribes that cartel members make at the border to "look the other way". We need to start better educating Americans about the problems and about the dangers of buying cartel-industry drugs (Hell, tell stoners to favor locally-made meth and marijuana, heroin from China, whatever) which support horrendous foreign regimes. Maybe it really is time to consider legalizing some drugs for recreational use, and allow some of these to be grown domestically so that those funds come back and circulate in our own economy and prevent foreign militant interests from gaining regime power from it. The bottom line is that WE as the PEOPLE of America need to wake up and realize that this is a GLOBAL issue with larger ramifications, but WE are the TARGET and WE need to take responsibility for cleaning up the mess that our drug craze has caused. Mexico is our neighbor, and they are suffering in many ways because of OUR complacency an inaction in this issue.
President Obama, please meet with the Mexican president again and work with him to help clean up the mess our people have created in his country. WE are responsible, it's only fair that WE fix it. We also have an obligation to edify and raise up our neighbors because we have to live next to them and listen to the noise when they are murdering their own people in the house next door. While we're at it, let's start edifying our own people and building domestic stability and security again in this country too - our education and community domestically has gone to shit and it will take a firm commitment and follow-through to fix that. Get our people off of drugs, get them productive, get them educated, get them to embrace peace and understanding and open minds. If you can't do it, there aren't many others who can.
The Minutemen
So there's apparently this American grass-roots group called the Minutemen who are rallying and demonstrating all over the country, and they are strongly backed by the Tea Party. Now you can find these guys all over YouTube and in the news, and most of them are either conservatives or are redneck white trash. I feel I need to say that to get it out of the way, because I don't think all of their points are necessarily invalid, though they tend to not be very eloquent or rational in expressing themselves when their public face winds up out on the streets - at least the media and home videos are going for the sensationalist faction of them rather than any of the poignant and well-educated spokesmen. Without explaining all of the intricacy of my logic right now, I will say that I believe they have a valid point in securing the border and fighting the cartels and illegal immigration. They lose their arguments for coming off as racist hicks and for making poor assumptions or assertions when they get backed into a corner about a topic they are not very familiar with. They are genuinely concerned with the security and safety of America, both it's justice and it's culture. (And yes, we DO have an American culture, much as so many people would love to deny it and say we're just a melting pot and completely made up of other cultures - we've had over 200 years (that's 8-10 generations) to establish our own perspectives and way of life here.)
The Drug Cartels
Who have lately started getting severely emboldened by their money, power, weapons supply, and massive amount of "employees" who assist in the management, transport, manufacture and armed solicitation of said merchandise. They don't just deal in drugs, which is their primary asset, but in guns, people, gambling and mafia activity. They are rogue governments that are both inside and outside of the borders and operate like a massive, organized terrorist organization with cells everywhere. They are active, they are busy, and their job entails the subversion and control over people, money and power like a dictatorial government. They have military grade weapons, low scruples, poor training and a drive to be on top that makes them ruthless and dangerous as Hell. They are a real threat and a real enemy to nations, because their sole purpose is to bring the people of any nation they can to their knees through the addiction or frequent use of substances to power their own coffers and armies. They have kept many of the Central and South American countries impoverished over the last few decades, while others argue that they have brought so much money into those nations to enrich them. Considering the poor education and quality of living after over 30 years of the US economy being deported to them illegally through the drug trade, I'd say there's fair evidence that the drug cartels have not truly enriched their countries of origin.
What fuels the cartels then, how the heck did these rogue organizations come to such vast power? Drugs. And Americans' insatiable desire to consume them. Americans have money, more of a lion's share than most of the world, and America also does little to police drugs, despite the public image of a "War On Drugs". Why? Because it helps to create a complacent society, which is all any government REALLY wants - the more complacent your population, the easier they are to take from, to cheat, to lie to, and to ignore in your quest for power and glory. As long as they get work done and remain productive, anyway. Junkies can't pay taxes after all, and it's why addicts are considered the scum of the earth - and also why most addicts are also "professional criminals" who get involved in prostitution, grand theft auto, burglary, and any other ways to make a quick buck to buy more crack/meth/smack/etc. The real reason drugs are bad is because they enable unscrupulous people to make a lot of money and gain a lot of power and then use that power to abuse more people and build an empire of control, the drugs themselves aren't that bad if used responsibly, but man people really want them. Really, really, really want them. Which is surprising to me, in this country where we're so conditioned to hate them and be self-reliant individuals, people sure do have an insatiable appetite for them - you can blame that on being a society of convenience that doesn't want to find their release and escape from traditional ways and would rather have the GIMME NOW! rush of drugs.
The Immigrants
Ya know, everyone in America is descended from an immigrant. Even the Native Americans as we call them came across the Siberian land bridge some thousands of years ago. While technically they were here first, many of our white ancestors were assholes and killed them to take their land when they tried to defend it. Not a whole lot we can do about that now, though I must admit to white guilt on that - both for the natives and for the black slaves who were brought here against their will. So let's just get that out of the way up-front: none of us are FROM here, and making an argument about imminent domain or right is just pointless, uneducated and leads to the descendancy arguments that never go anywhere or get solved.
What we're talking about is NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY, not race, not religion, not ethnicity - the issue with the immigration is that we, as a nation called the United States of America, have a Federal policy on immigration and how people come into and interact with our country if they are a FOREIGN NATIONAL. If you are not from America, as in not born here or not a naturalized citizen, then you are required by our laws to follow the proper channels and procedures - and if you're here illegally then according to the law you're SUPPOSED to be deported. The US allows more people to legitimately immigrate into it's borders than ANY other country on the planet, so saying that there's not room or the procedure is too difficult to follow is bunk. Concerning Mexicans specifically, I have a number of Mexican national friends who are here LEGALLY who DID follow the procedures, and ARE working their asses off to do what they need to do, within the law, to become a landed immigrant. Every illegal is a slight to people like that, and to our laws and system of justice and national sovereignty, and THAT is the issue at hand. That is where *I* am coming from in being against illegal immigration. Realize that not all Mexicans or other Central/South Americans inside US borders are illegal - praise and support the ones who are not, because believe me there are more than enough ignorant assholes who give them Hell about it.
Global Community/Economy
Why ARE immigrants pouring across the border illegally? Because they are living in a Hellish war zone with very little prosperity that has historically been abused by dictators, drug cartels, and even the American government and big business. Immigration (the INS) is lax in the US, and they really have nothing to lose - at worst they make a little money and get deported a pocketful of cash richer, and at best they make enough to support their family, and maybe send some back to Mexico to help support friends or family in their homeland. Granted, there ARE also a good deal of illegal immigrants who are criminals (drug dealers, cartel guards, transporters, thieves) but they only make up a margin of them, most folks are just looking to make a better living and the US offers a relatively safe (in comparison) place to live and work. Because that's all MOST people really want! So it shouldn't really be a surprise if anyone really thinks about it.
So what's the solution? Well, that's a tricky question because it's a tricky problem with many facets. The easy solution would be to remove all addiction and desire for drugs while simultaneously eliminating greedy robber barons and imperialism from the world - fat chance of that! What needs to happen is an orchestrated, multi-front attack on the problems, and who better to lead the charge than the US. Mexico is our neighbor, their problems are to some extent inherently our problems, and it's OUR citizens' demand for their illicit substances that's causing much of the problem. Historically no president has had the gumption to REALLY push for a front line in the "War On Drugs", but it may be time to start. Mexican people in general seem to be really sick of oppression and being butchered and threatened and bullied by the cartels, and the less scrupulous of them are signing-up to work for them and make them even stronger and more difficult to topple. America has resources and a powerful army (the best in the world so we brag), so taking out a few pests should be simple, right?
What we need to do: we DO need to increase border security in order to help stymie the illegals issue, the drug transport issue, and the gun export issue. We DO need to work directly with the current Mexican government who IS trying hard to fight the cartels with their military, but they're losing the battle because traditionally the cartels are so well-connected and influential on the government due to their size and power. We need to pull out of poor military decisions overseas and start putting our soldiers to work within our borders and at our borders AS UNITS who are impervious to the temptation and bribes that cartel members make at the border to "look the other way". We need to start better educating Americans about the problems and about the dangers of buying cartel-industry drugs (Hell, tell stoners to favor locally-made meth and marijuana, heroin from China, whatever) which support horrendous foreign regimes. Maybe it really is time to consider legalizing some drugs for recreational use, and allow some of these to be grown domestically so that those funds come back and circulate in our own economy and prevent foreign militant interests from gaining regime power from it. The bottom line is that WE as the PEOPLE of America need to wake up and realize that this is a GLOBAL issue with larger ramifications, but WE are the TARGET and WE need to take responsibility for cleaning up the mess that our drug craze has caused. Mexico is our neighbor, and they are suffering in many ways because of OUR complacency an inaction in this issue.
President Obama, please meet with the Mexican president again and work with him to help clean up the mess our people have created in his country. WE are responsible, it's only fair that WE fix it. We also have an obligation to edify and raise up our neighbors because we have to live next to them and listen to the noise when they are murdering their own people in the house next door. While we're at it, let's start edifying our own people and building domestic stability and security again in this country too - our education and community domestically has gone to shit and it will take a firm commitment and follow-through to fix that. Get our people off of drugs, get them productive, get them educated, get them to embrace peace and understanding and open minds. If you can't do it, there aren't many others who can.