Without question the left has much to answer for in their approach to immigration policy. Then again, so does Don and JD. I don’t need to dredge up all their racist comments regarding immigrants, they’ve proudly placed them all in the public record, on video. But doesn’t this discussion pale in comparison to what is really on the ballot tomorrow? Immigration policy, marginal tax rates, tariffs, etc are important and complex issues that demand much debate. But first, we need to stop the authoritarian movement that Dons high command has warned us about. Remember when Don promised to appoint “the best people”? Now, those same people are warning us with specific and graphic warnings of the danger these two “leaders” represent. I believe them. Read their words. These are the people who know him best. Policy debate is next to irrelevant in this climate. There is no debate in an authoritarian regime. Here’s hoping we get through the next several months without the political violence Don & JD so openly foment. Good luck America.
By American Compass’s own telling of the story, the plight of America’s working class is the product of financialization exemplified by companies like Boeing or GE, neoliberalism, and its macroeconomists.
Every essay AC writes about immigration that doesn’t highlight the scapegoating of immigrants for political gain is a missed opportunity to oppose a demagogue and his fascist policy prescriptions.
Allowing immigrants to occupy the same position in Trump’s narrative as the Jews did in Hitlers is simply unconscionable, particularly when the remedy proposed is much the same, “Let’s just get rid of them.”
American Compass has a moral obligation to step up to the plate on this issue or begin making friends with all of the gutless cowards hiding in the dugout with the neoliberals.
Remember, history shows that authoritarian movements can only succeed with the acquiescence of elites. In many ways, their role is more important than the role of the demagogue. The founders knew demagogues would appear, so they crafted a system that allowed a free people, us, to stand up to them. Let’s all play that role, and someday we can return to arguing about immigration policy.
You make a good point, but I believe the founders also assumed judges, representatives, and administrative officials would do their jobs without bias. Anyone remember Kim Davis? Refused to issue marriage certificates because she didn’t like gay marriage. So many other examples.
Ben i so concur with your statement. It will probably take a big tragedy like a killer crazy war to come together again and work as a nation unfortunately. If not we will continue to unravel.
Fun that this was Oren’s topic this week. As a Times reader, I assume liberal bent, but my reaction to the Stockton piece was: “Wow, this is actual gaslighting”. There are always a few “subscription-cancelling”-worthy articles in NYT each week but this one stood out so I’m glad I wasn’t alone. (I try to read everything because I think it’s the responsible thing to do but the Stockton article was a notable piece of trash.) Listen to Ezra Klein’s podcast with Alejandro Mayorkas if you want a more balanced view of the facts.
Perhaps the most bizarre thing is that the readers of the NYT consider themselves some sort of intellectual elite but willingly consumes and repeats this nonsense.
Don't forget, however, that there is another faction to advocates for open borders. Wall Street. This is probably a significant part of their left turn in recent years.
I have to admit I’m belly laughing at the concern over “elites misleading us”. Didn’t we just elect two individuals who have an exhaustive record, recorded for all time on countless videos, of serial lying? So, we have elites accusing fellow elites of lying in their coverage and analysis of current events-the ultimate scrum in the sandbox of the privileged. Meanwhile, we’re fine with placing serial liars in positions of ultimate power? We care more abut the musing of an Atlantic or NYT reporter than the on record statements of our highest ranking leaders? Really?
While I won't comment on the particulars of the NYT piece you cite, as I have not seen it, I feel complelled to point out that several assertions you make are factully incorect. Title 42 was in force untl May 12, 2023. See https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-be4e0b15b27adb9bede87b9bbefb798d, which reports the new rules went into force in 2023, Secondly, I find the whole "open borders" terminology misleading. The borders are not open, the laws of the United States as passed by the Congress are enforced. Within that context, the sitting Administration does have the ability to create policy on how it is enforced. If Congress wants to change the law they are free to do so. They did try in 2024 and the Republican party got most of what wanted but was rebuked by the MAGA wing of the party as they wanted it as an issue for the election. There is plenty of blame to go around as why immigration is broken.
I like what you say about industrial policy. I think it’s an important topic and one that gets very little coverage in the media. I wish that we brought more “common sense” about it as you mention. Certainly Matt Stoller makes a good case that much of the inflation we’ve experienced in recent years is a result of cartels on our market flexing their muscles. Sadly, this gets little attention.
Are trolls or bots allowed on this site? Some very ones sided responses on this site lately? Remember, no one side is COMPLETLY bad or wrong. When you talk like this you are basically an on line bot or troll.
I was thinkin that merely supporting the statements of Dons upper echelon would be compelling. I’d agree with much of the policy discussion here, but draw the line at armed insurrections.
It saddens me how little fact based and reasoned argumentation takes place on line. I agree that conservatives and liberals often have valid points (while also missing valid points on the other side). But our discourse has become really partisan.
I’m curious as to how you think asylum seekers should be treated ideally. My understanding is that they are being allowed to work which makes sense if the government cannot offer support. My sense is that many of these asylum seekers are from really poor countries and would likely not be able to bring resources to support themselves while awaiting adjudication of their cases.
I am around the corner from 80 yrs old. I have been a Republican since I first registered, and grew up in a strictly conservative environment.
I am very disappointed in what my party has devolved into. I signed up for this Substack because I thought it would offer more constructive information from the right. But it seems to me that it is impossible to find any right leaning content that doesn’t involve mostly whining and finger pointing.
To be fair Oren has written about anti-trust support from the conservatives, which I found refreshing. Though if you find that interesting, Matt Stoller dives into it much deeper.
Without question the left has much to answer for in their approach to immigration policy. Then again, so does Don and JD. I don’t need to dredge up all their racist comments regarding immigrants, they’ve proudly placed them all in the public record, on video. But doesn’t this discussion pale in comparison to what is really on the ballot tomorrow? Immigration policy, marginal tax rates, tariffs, etc are important and complex issues that demand much debate. But first, we need to stop the authoritarian movement that Dons high command has warned us about. Remember when Don promised to appoint “the best people”? Now, those same people are warning us with specific and graphic warnings of the danger these two “leaders” represent. I believe them. Read their words. These are the people who know him best. Policy debate is next to irrelevant in this climate. There is no debate in an authoritarian regime. Here’s hoping we get through the next several months without the political violence Don & JD so openly foment. Good luck America.
By American Compass’s own telling of the story, the plight of America’s working class is the product of financialization exemplified by companies like Boeing or GE, neoliberalism, and its macroeconomists.
Every essay AC writes about immigration that doesn’t highlight the scapegoating of immigrants for political gain is a missed opportunity to oppose a demagogue and his fascist policy prescriptions.
Allowing immigrants to occupy the same position in Trump’s narrative as the Jews did in Hitlers is simply unconscionable, particularly when the remedy proposed is much the same, “Let’s just get rid of them.”
American Compass has a moral obligation to step up to the plate on this issue or begin making friends with all of the gutless cowards hiding in the dugout with the neoliberals.
Remember, history shows that authoritarian movements can only succeed with the acquiescence of elites. In many ways, their role is more important than the role of the demagogue. The founders knew demagogues would appear, so they crafted a system that allowed a free people, us, to stand up to them. Let’s all play that role, and someday we can return to arguing about immigration policy.
You make a good point, but I believe the founders also assumed judges, representatives, and administrative officials would do their jobs without bias. Anyone remember Kim Davis? Refused to issue marriage certificates because she didn’t like gay marriage. So many other examples.
Ben i so concur with your statement. It will probably take a big tragedy like a killer crazy war to come together again and work as a nation unfortunately. If not we will continue to unravel.
Fun that this was Oren’s topic this week. As a Times reader, I assume liberal bent, but my reaction to the Stockton piece was: “Wow, this is actual gaslighting”. There are always a few “subscription-cancelling”-worthy articles in NYT each week but this one stood out so I’m glad I wasn’t alone. (I try to read everything because I think it’s the responsible thing to do but the Stockton article was a notable piece of trash.) Listen to Ezra Klein’s podcast with Alejandro Mayorkas if you want a more balanced view of the facts.
Perhaps the most bizarre thing is that the readers of the NYT consider themselves some sort of intellectual elite but willingly consumes and repeats this nonsense.
Don't forget, however, that there is another faction to advocates for open borders. Wall Street. This is probably a significant part of their left turn in recent years.
an excellent column, the immigration mess deserves your harsh assessment
I have to admit I’m belly laughing at the concern over “elites misleading us”. Didn’t we just elect two individuals who have an exhaustive record, recorded for all time on countless videos, of serial lying? So, we have elites accusing fellow elites of lying in their coverage and analysis of current events-the ultimate scrum in the sandbox of the privileged. Meanwhile, we’re fine with placing serial liars in positions of ultimate power? We care more abut the musing of an Atlantic or NYT reporter than the on record statements of our highest ranking leaders? Really?
While I won't comment on the particulars of the NYT piece you cite, as I have not seen it, I feel complelled to point out that several assertions you make are factully incorect. Title 42 was in force untl May 12, 2023. See https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-be4e0b15b27adb9bede87b9bbefb798d, which reports the new rules went into force in 2023, Secondly, I find the whole "open borders" terminology misleading. The borders are not open, the laws of the United States as passed by the Congress are enforced. Within that context, the sitting Administration does have the ability to create policy on how it is enforced. If Congress wants to change the law they are free to do so. They did try in 2024 and the Republican party got most of what wanted but was rebuked by the MAGA wing of the party as they wanted it as an issue for the election. There is plenty of blame to go around as why immigration is broken.
I laughed so much at “ours is not to reason why” that the kids wanted to know what is so funny. Making them read The Charge of the Light Brigade soon.
I like what you say about industrial policy. I think it’s an important topic and one that gets very little coverage in the media. I wish that we brought more “common sense” about it as you mention. Certainly Matt Stoller makes a good case that much of the inflation we’ve experienced in recent years is a result of cartels on our market flexing their muscles. Sadly, this gets little attention.
Are trolls or bots allowed on this site? Some very ones sided responses on this site lately? Remember, no one side is COMPLETLY bad or wrong. When you talk like this you are basically an on line bot or troll.
I was thinkin that merely supporting the statements of Dons upper echelon would be compelling. I’d agree with much of the policy discussion here, but draw the line at armed insurrections.
It saddens me how little fact based and reasoned argumentation takes place on line. I agree that conservatives and liberals often have valid points (while also missing valid points on the other side). But our discourse has become really partisan.
I’m curious as to how you think asylum seekers should be treated ideally. My understanding is that they are being allowed to work which makes sense if the government cannot offer support. My sense is that many of these asylum seekers are from really poor countries and would likely not be able to bring resources to support themselves while awaiting adjudication of their cases.
I am around the corner from 80 yrs old. I have been a Republican since I first registered, and grew up in a strictly conservative environment.
I am very disappointed in what my party has devolved into. I signed up for this Substack because I thought it would offer more constructive information from the right. But it seems to me that it is impossible to find any right leaning content that doesn’t involve mostly whining and finger pointing.
To be fair Oren has written about anti-trust support from the conservatives, which I found refreshing. Though if you find that interesting, Matt Stoller dives into it much deeper.
I follow Matt Stoller