[Note: we will soon have something to say about the horror that’s happening in Israel. In the meantime, this is the best editorial that got our attention, about what’s going on and why it’s so atrociously significant. It’s from independent journalist Noah Pollak in the highly respected “The Free Press.” See https://www.thefp.com, “Today Is Israel’s 9/11.”]
Oh, aren’t we dysfunctional? To be clear, allow us to define the oft used term:
dysfunctional — adj. [ dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl ] — not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.
Allow us to rinse and repeat. To be dysfunctional means not performing normally — malfunctioning. In other words, not working. Friends, our government is not working.
In my recent jaunt out of the country, one of the many things I found fascinating was those who pay attention to our country and culture — including the current state of political affairs — and those whose attention is accompanied by the question of preposterousness — something along the lines of “why do you elect those that you do?”
It wasn’t relegated to Democrats or Republicans; it was more a question directed to us voters. There were mentions of Biden, Trump and Harris to name the foremost few in their minds. And there was a clear contention that surely there are persons of indisputable competency and integrity who could better lead and serve us. Let me emphasize that they were not angry nor disrespectful in their questioning. They simply felt we as voters have made some poor choices in who we believe represent us wisely and well.
One of the ways such seems manifest is in our unfortunately robust inability to acknowledge who has a good idea…
Few will forget the chants in recent years to “build that wall!” Such was a signature policy of former Pres. Donald Trump, an approach believed necessary by his administration to help curb the challenges with illegal immigration.
It was controversial to some. In fact, when Pres. Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021, one of his initial actions was to issue a proclamation pledging that “no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall.”
But unlawful migration remains a problem. An increasing one, in fact.
Let’s be sure to admit this is a sensitive and complex problem. As SMU Professor of Political Science James F. Hollifield, said: “For the last several years, the United States has been gripped in a sharp debate over the flow of immigrants into the United States. The fierce exchanges include squabbles over issues like what to do with a large population of unauthorized immigrants and how to manage refugee flows. And the debate comes complete with political landmines that make it difficult to modernize immigration systems to meet the needs of the times.”
Trump’s blunt approach was to build the wall. Biden’s blunt approach has been not to. The reality is the problem hasn’t been solved; it’s only gotten worse; and certain cities are becoming saturated. As The Washington Post and others reported this week, there is a record influx of families, and “the border plan President Biden put in place months ago is at risk of collapse amid a new wave of illegal crossings,” intensifying strains on the U.S. economy.
As governors around the country — Democrats and Republicans alike — attempt to deal with the escalating issue in their state, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pleaded with the President to help in a public letter last week. Noting that nearly 1200 new migrants come to Chicago daily, Pritzker wrote that “the humanitarian crisis is overwhelming our ability to provide aid to the refugee population.” He’s not alone. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said last week that “the migrant crisis will destroy my city.” He added, “Let me tell you something, New Yorkers. Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don’t see an ending to this. This issue will destroy New York City.” The reality is that Democrats and Republicans are calling on the federal government to do more in regard to border security. And so more they decided to do…
This past week the Biden administration made a seemingly stunning change. At least their initial response looked, smelled and quacked that way (sorry; the duck metaphor is just too good). They decided to construct a new, 20-mile border wall in Starr County, Texas, a high-trafficked area; they waived 26 federal laws regulating new construction in order to do so expeditiously. Said Dept. of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, “There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas.”
Yet when Pres. Biden was later asked about his approach change — and specifically as to whether he now believes walls work, he offered a very direct “no.” He insisted that the only reason they are building the wall is because he had no choice. Congress appropriated the funds years ago, so he had to follow through. He had to waive the law.
Some days I wish politicians of all parties would just be honest. (Actually, make that many days.) Tell us what’s a factor. Tell us what’s not. Tell us, too, when you change your mind. That’s ok! But quit trying to manipulate the narrative so it looks like people, polling or politics were never in play. Quit acting as if you can’t acknowledge that a person from another party has a good idea. If we want to quit malfunctioning, we can start by acknowledging the good ideas from both Democrats and Republicans.
Increasingly more, I understand my foreign friends’ question of preposterousness.
Respectfully…
AR