Wednesday, January 29, 2025

A Little Immigration Reality

 I think it's time to discuss immigration, because a lot of you simply do not understand it.

The laws of the U.S. allow people to apply for asylum. Many, many immigrants have done that. They then have to wait for a judge to hear their cases, and this unfortunately can take as long as five years, perhaps longer. This is a result of Congress' inability to pass meaningful legislation to alleviate this situation despite multiple administrations of both parties pining for just that. 

Many of these folks have been in this country illegally for decades, building families, owning and renting homes, holding jobs, paying taxes, and contributing to the economy. Like the rest of us, they keep their heads down and live their lives. 

But yes, they remain here illegally, and there is no argument to that. They are now living in mortal fear of deportation back to a country they likely barely recognize. 

No one, not even the most left-wing person you know, has ANY issue shipping criminals back to the countries from which they came, believe me. Have at it. 

But it's these hard-working, yet still illegal, immigrants who present the problem. 

What do we do with them? Should they and their families be summarily forced from their homes and sent back? Or would it be more compassionate and right to allow them the chance to become legal citizens before taking such drastic action?

It's important that we all remember these people are likely no different from our own ancestors, who ponied up to Ellis Island over 100 years ago seeking a better life. Do not buy into the fear mongering of Trump and his ilk about how these people are somehow evil monsters hell bent of destroying America. 

Demand that your representatives fix the laws, not punish innocent people who are here seeking a better life. It is possible to be compassionate and still uphold the laws and have a secure border. 

Act like these people are your grandparents. Because they damned well could have been. 

Thursday, January 09, 2025

The Trump-Hitler Comparisons Make You Mad? Tough Noogies

I know people hate it when Trump is compared to Adolph Hitler, and I get it. Hitler murdered over six million people and caused a World War that destroyed a great deal of Europe, cause the deaths of 50 million people. So yeah, that's a pretty high bar of evil.

But after watching yet another documentary about Hitler and Nazi Germany, it's impossible to deny the comparisons.

Why?

Because Trump is obviously following in Hitler's filthy footsteps with regard to his behavior in acquiring and keeping power. It's as plain as the nose on your face.

Like Hitler, Trump uses a firehose of misinformation to distract the public, while discrediting the free press. And like Hitler, Trump's efforts have borne evil fruit — the majority of Americans simply do not trust the press any longer, which leaves them ripe for conspiracy theories and crackpots.

Which is exactly what Trump wants. Then, like Hitler, he becomes the sole source of "the truth."

Like Hitler, Trump is seeking to surround himself solely with loyalists. That is the sole qualification for the jobs to which they are being appointed. This is intentional, part of the plan. Trump does not care a lick if they do their jobs. He only cares that they do HIS bidding. In many cases, "his bidding" will involved the destruction of the very entities to which they have been appointed to lead.

Like Hitler, Trump already began corrupting the judiciary in his first term by appointing loyalists who will not hold him to account for his misdeeds. These corrupt justices of the High Court were selected and groomed by the religious right Federalist Society and lied their way to their appointments before taking cases that favored Trump and then ruling in his favor. These included, of course, the over-turning of Roe v Wade and the REAL abortion of placing the POTUS above the law, granting him immunity for virtually any deeds committed that can be classified as "official duties." Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more anti-American than that.

Hitler, once in total command of Germany, immediately betrayed his loyal SA and replaced them with his hand-picked protection squad known as the SS. These soldiers/murderers were forced to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler rather than Germany. Trump is putting loyalists in place in high-ranking positions in the military, people who he believes will do his bidding and put his wants and needs ahead of their loyalty to the Constitution of the United States.

Is it then far-fetched to think that someday he might demand that all U.S. military personnel take a similar oath of loyalty to him rather than the Constitution? Honestly, I don't think it's far-fetched at all.

With complete loyalists at the upper rungs of the military, and with complete immunity for official acts, and with a House and Senate who refuse to stand up to him, and with a Supreme Court that will apparently give him everything he wants, I think it's perfectly logical that he would consider it. The checks and balances set up by the founders will be toast.

Of course, this is the part where Hitler really began his plan to murder six million people and initiate a World War so Germany could rule over all of us.

I kindly doubt that is in Trump's plans. However, I firmly DO believe he will attempt to remain in power for life, or at the least, make certain that the right wingnuts, uber-wealthy, and religious whackos are able to accomplish this. J.D. Vance is certainly a firm believe in all those insane things, and I have no doubt he will assume the presidency at some point within the next four years and continue Trump's evil agenda.

Trump told his minions that if they got out and voted for him this time, they would "never have to vote again." What does the rational mind tell you about a statement like them?

It tells me that they are working on ways of corrupting the system that will allow them to remain in power and impose their beliefs upon us all for eternity.

Scoff if you want, but this is not only within the realm of possibility, it is actually already in progress in many ways and in many venues across this land.

Pay attention, people. Democracy is in grave danger here and also in other places across the globe. If we don't stand up and speak out, it could vanish before our very eyes.