{"id":14011,"date":"2023-10-08T08:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T12:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=14011"},"modified":"2023-10-08T08:35:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T12:35:02","slug":"does-it-matter-who-the-good-idea-comes-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=14011","title":{"rendered":"does it matter who the good idea comes from?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

[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<\/a>, “Today Is Israel’s 9\/11.”]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, aren\u2019t we dysfunctional? To be clear, allow us to define the oft used term:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

dysfunctional <\/strong>\u2014 adj.  <\/em>[ dis-fuhngk<\/strong>-shuh-nl ] \u2014 not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allow us to rinse and repeat. To be dysfunctional means not performing normally \u2014 malfunctioning. In other words, not working. Friends, our government is not working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 including the current state of political affairs \u2014 and those whose attention is accompanied by the question of preposterousness \u2014 something along the lines of \u201cwhy do you elect those that you do?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ways such seems manifest is in our unfortunately robust inability to acknowledge who has a good idea\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few will forget the chants in recent years to \u201cbuild that wall!\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But unlawful migration remains a problem. An increasing one, in fact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be sure to admit this is a sensitive and complex problem. As SMU Professor of Political Science James F. Hollifield, said: \u201cFor 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s blunt approach was to build the wall. Biden\u2019s blunt approach has been not to. The reality is the problem hasn\u2019t been solved; it\u2019s only gotten worse; and certain cities are becoming saturated. As The Washington Post <\/em>and others reported this week, there is a record influx of families, and \u201cthe border plan President Biden put in place months ago is at risk of collapse amid a new wave of illegal crossings,\u201d intensifying strains on the U.S. economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As governors around the country \u2014 Democrats and Republicans alike \u2014<\/em> 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, <\/em>Pritzker wrote that \u201cthe humanitarian crisis is overwhelming our ability to provide aid to the refugee population.” He\u2019s not alone. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said last week that \u201cthe migrant crisis will destroy my city.\u201d<\/strong> He added, \u201cLet 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.\u201d The reality is that Democrats and <\/em>Republicans are calling on the federal government to do more in regard to border security. And so more they decided to do\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/em> 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, \u201cThere is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers<\/strong> 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet when Pres. Biden was later asked about his approach change \u2014 and specifically as to whether he now believes walls work, he offered a very direct \u201cno.\u201d 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<\/em> to waive the law.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some days I wish politicians of all parties would just be honest. (Actually, make that <\/em>many <\/em><\/strong>days.) <\/em>Tell us what\u2019s a factor. Tell us what\u2019s not. Tell us, too, when you change your mind. That\u2019s 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\u2019t 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<\/strong><\/em> Democrats and Republicans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasingly more, I understand my foreign friends\u2019 question of preposterousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[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 … <\/p>\n

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