Deportations

In recent days the argument has been made that it is OK to deport illegal migrants after they have had due process. Some estimate this would take many years since there are more than 10 million illegals in the country. This was not always the case. As the number of illegal crossings increased the number deported without due process increased. In 1995 1,400 migrants were subject to nonjudicial removal representing 3% of total deportations. By 2012 that number had increased to 313,000. Here is a quote from AFL-CIO in 2016. Obama Administration’s Crackdown on Immigrants Ignores Due Process and Creates Communities Filled with Fear Obama used something called rocket docket where nonjudicial removals are fast tracked sometimes involving a single border agent who acted as judge and jury. Many had no lawyer and no chance to appeal. In 2016 the ACLU stated that the US has a proud tradition of affording everyone due process but a judicial review showed that in 3 out of 4 cases that did not happen when deporting illegal migrants. A report from UCLA law school in 2023 said, tens of thousands of children have been ordered deported, most without legal representation or a fair day in court.

Revolution

In the 1950’s the US produced 60% of the worlds consumer goods. These were things like appliances, electronics, clothes and cars. A lot of innovation led by research and development gave rise to the industrial base that produced these goods. This meant good paying factory jobs where wages went up each year a little more than inflation and the American dream became a reality. Beginning in the 1970’s and accelerating in the 1980’s and later, foreign markets began to compete with the US, most notably China especially after China entered the World Trade Organization in 2000. Take the case of widgets. The US was making most of the widgets but China first off, stole the technology (intellectual property) and then used cheap labor including child labor and sometimes slave labor to lower cost. They had no worker protections regs or environmental regs and used cheap coal energy which polluted their cities. The government provided cash incentives and also manipulated the currency to help lower cost. The widgets produced in the US cost $1,200 but those imported from China cost only $1,000. The free market being what it is, caused the US consumers to buy widgets from China. US companies quickly saw the price difference and begin to ship production to China to take advantage of the lower cost. In time the US widget industry was replaced by imports. Enter Trump. His goal was to bring back manufacturing jobs. Recall that in October of 2012 Obama said, “manufacturing jobs aren’t coming back, no matter who’s president”. Trumps plan is to place tariffs on widgets, so that they will cost more, which means the US consumer will pay more but if the tariff is 30% then the Chinese widgets will cost $1,300, which is more than the US made widgets. As the US builds new facilities with the latest technology, aided by AI, the cost of widgets will be less than China’s and the US consumer will once again buy American. During the time of transfer there will be disruptions and markets will jump around while things adjust but long term the industrial base will expand and once again American companies will be making American widgets, for American consumers and the good jobs will be back. The establishment will fight this since companies have been making profits at the expense of the working people. If Trump is unable to make this change, then things will reverse back to the old ways of globalization and the working people will once again go back to low paying jobs. This is revolutionary but is not likely to succeed because too many forces are against this change. Globalization has put profits into companies and the workers suffered. It is the old story. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

Crimes

The recent event of the arrest of a Milwaukee Judge has exposed a tension between the federal and state governments. Some cities have declared themselves to be sanctuary cities which means they will refuse to help the federal government, in this case ICE, to arrest illegal migrants. This can be seen as passive resistance and acceptable behavior. This judge, however, went a step further and took active steps to interfere with the ICE agents by hiding the suspect. Federal Crime of Assisting or Instigating Escape – 18 U.S.C. § 752(a) Clearly, in the United States, it's a crime anywhere to provide someone assistance who is attempting to escape from lawful custody.

New jobs

The reindustrialization of the United States is underway. Many manufacturers are bringing production back to the US to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and improve logistics. This trend is being further accelerated by initiatives like the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The push for fare tariffs has encouraged foreign investment in manufacturing. The US Department of the Treasury reports that manufacturing construction spending has doubled since the end of 2021. New plants use the latest technology and along with AI will have significant increases in productivity which will provide good jobs without putting pressure on inflation. A 2024 Cato Institute survey found that 80% of Americans believe the country would be better off with more manufacturing jobs. This is one of the best ways to unify the country. There will be growing pains while this transition takes place but long term it will help the working people, who have been hurt by globalization.

War

Through out history wars usually ended when one side decisively won. This happened in the Civil War and WW 2 but not since. Korea ended in a stalemate that has yet to be resolved. Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Gulf Wars just petered out and it looks like that will be the case in Ukraine. That was the history of the Middle East dispute between the Jews and Palestinians but the events of Oct 7 changed that. It now appears that Israel is determined to destroy Hamas and win the war once and for all. They are no longer deterred by the threat of nuclear retaliation which has been the reason that countries around the world have not sought total victory

Unity

There is an opening in the door for unity in the US but will the parties go through the door. Most agree that illegal migrants should be deported but not how Trump is doing it. Most agree that the border should be secure but not the way Trump has done it. Most agree that manufacturing jobs should be brought home but not the way Trump is proposing. Most agree that the Ukraine War should end but not the way Trump wants. Most agree that tariffs should be fare but not the way Trump is going about it. The problem is that those who disagree with the Trump methodology are not proposing alternate means. Instead, they want to use the old method of tax and spend. They want to take from the rich and give to the poor. Most people would rather have a job that pays a living wage with benefits and forgo the public assistance and this can be achieved by bringing manufacturing back home. The average person does not want to be dependent on government largess. They prefer to be self-supporting.

Change

It would be possible for both parties to get together for the good of the country but they have to accept change. Starting with areas of agreement and working toward common goals. Striving for peace instead of war. Invest in rehabs not jails. Educate students for jobs. Support equal rights for women. Government investment in childcare. Safety for the elderly. Bringing jobs back home. Path to citizenship for migrants. Deportation of criminal migrants. Tax on the super-rich. Increase child tax credit. Privatize social security. Eliminate capital gains tax break. These are some of the many things that the democratic candidates for president could be pushing but they are more interested in concentrating on Trump. After he is out of office things may be different.