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Irene Baldwin's avatar

I think there is now a culture of fear and hostility towards immigrants which also makes it hard to adopt a policy no matter how much we need residents and workers. Didn't Lake George shoot down a worker housing project not that long ago because community members worried migrants would move in? And unscrupoulous politicians constantly telling us there is an immigration crisis st our Northern border? I think embracing newcomers would be great for the local economy, but keep in mind the old timers might not be crazy about people who don't look like them. Think about the attacks on the Haitians who revitalized a dying town in Ohio. I saw similar complaints in towns in PA resentful of the large growth in Hispanic residents. Never mind those towns would be dead without the newcomers who saved them. Sorry to be cynical.

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Beth Ann Fitzgerald's avatar

Was just thinking the same thing! Wondering how my hometown would deal with this!

I grew up in North Creek, and seriously, there is (was) no diversity.

And the residents didn't welcome it.

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Edward Low's avatar

Not totally true (well the diversity is). European with a J-1 visa have worked in that area.. but never if they have melatonin in their flesh

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Irene Baldwin's avatar

And we talk about how young people leave for lack of jobs, but I feel like it must be pretty grim to be a little different and have no else like you around. And not much less grim to have everyone pretty much the same all around. I grew up in an urban neighborhood that was very lacking in diversity and I couldn't get out fast enough. I'm sure I wasn't thinking, "gee I need more diversity". More like Tom Petty's American Girl "She couldn't help thinkin' that there was a little more to life somewhere else. After all, it was a great big world..."

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Ken Tingley's avatar

All obstacles to be overcome. I think Rutland tried to attract a refugee population a few years ago with lots of backlash, but it is either change or die.

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Irene Baldwin's avatar

And Burlington has a huge immigrant population, they have been a resettlement community for decades. I think it really enriches that city

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Edward Low's avatar

I would guess, totally a guess, Burlington is a cosmopolitan city.. with students and professors and lots of people who move to the area, who might have open minds.. compared to much of the Adirondacks that believe the tourist and second home owners should just send money, but not be crazy enough to want to live here.

And, buddha forbid, be part of the community

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Edward Low's avatar

immigrants will only be accepted if they don't live here and only take the lowest of the low income jobs

Even then they will be despised.

It can't be stated enough, that after years of gQpedos politicians and republican propaganda media (fox, sinclair, newsmax, etc) .. those who aren't smart enough to learn and be educated.. will believe the lies.

We need no more than to look at how the uneducated folks in rural America who thought a rapist felon, who stole from children's charity was a good choice.

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Ethel Weeks's avatar

Thank you, Ken. Mr. Hamlen's letter resonates with me and revisits what many of us have said to you about your column before. You are doing a great service to our extended community, and we appreciate tge work and heart you and Will put into writing this newsletter. I have been a New York Times subscriber for my entire adult life. As an Economics college professor, I had the joy of introducing thousands of my Long Island students to reading it regularly, for credit, of course. I agree with you that they have excellent journalists doing great research and reporting in their ranks. My hope is for what remains of our free press to continue providing ideas to solve the serious problems we face. If not for this incoming administration, for the next democratic one to start thinking of implementing. At this point, I am hoping we can make it to 2027 without too much economic damage. The midterm elections may bring some semblance of sanity back. That is, if the MAGA cult can be broken by then. Here’s to better days ahead 🥂 (AM mimosas).

Note: If anyone read Paul Krugman's NYT columns before he retired in December, he's now on Substack, writing up a storm of good columns.

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mike parwana's avatar

Our immigration system has been purposely broken by politicians who do not want it to function. There are not enough court, judges, attorneys and so there is a backlog years and decades long.

If your car’s transmission won’t change gears because there is no oil in it designing a new car seems like overkill. Just put the correct oil in the transmission.

Then, while the old car is functioning properly you can make a better decision on whether to design a totally new car from scratch or if the old one can be updated.

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Richard Leach's avatar

Wish we had ideas on how to change President-elect Trump's oil...would sand work?

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Edward Low's avatar

kind of sounds like

'go pound sand up your..."

well maybe you know the saying ;-}}

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Edward Low's avatar

Have you ever tried to get a new motor put in a washing machine to fix it (in the North Country.)..

The response is often: 'We can sell you a new one."

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Maggie's avatar

I do think there is a lack of actual mechanics, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons (bricklayers) & other trades - its kind of chilling to see young people who have no desire to work in these areas - not everyone is really meant to go to college, nor can afford it currently. I'd really like to think the kids that do go have something in mind for when they graduate - a purpose - more than a place to party.

Kind of off the immigration subject.

But I do understand the issue of "buy new - throw away old"!

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Edward Low's avatar

Actually that's my point

It's nearly impossible to find somebody to replace a refrigerator motor or a washing machine motor

There isn't the person that is a repair shop in small towns anymore

Or the other jobs you mentioned

I didn't mean planned obsolescence

I meant there is nobody to do the work

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Maggie's avatar

Yeah, that's more and more the case.

I've been lucky - my dad was a plumber, could do most anything, same with my ex-husband, and now my son, who is a locksmith, used to be a mechanic.

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Irene Baldwin's avatar

I'm with you. My daughter is in grad school studying electrical engineering, I asked her if she could fix my ceiling fan, she said "no, that's an electrician". I asked her if she could also become an electrician. It's just impossible to get an electrician and other skilled crafts. I wish I had that in my family.

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Bob's avatar
Jan 15Edited

"It's what the voters wanted."

I think the most one could argue is that Trump's policies are what half the voters wanted. Trump's election was by the narrowest of margins -- 1.5 percent. Trump at 49.9 percent, Harris at 48.4 percent.

That 48.4 percent of us is not going away. And we're not going back.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Unfortunately, just enough. Considering how reprehensible some of the proposed policies are, that makes the voters that much more reprehensible.

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Bob's avatar

True. But half the country will oppose. And at the very least, we will bear witness.

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Edward Low's avatar

Thank you... this needs to be said every time people say ''it's what the voters wanted."

the saying:

Lie to me once, shame on you

Like to me twice, shame on me

can't be stated enough... just as the responsibility of electing a liar

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/24/trumps-false-or-misleading-claims-total-30573-over-four-years/

is on those un-educated gQpeds that voted for hmpy trmPEDOphile

Getting your candidate out of ignorance, to be sure WILLING ignorance, is what the republican party did. And they now own that.

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Dennis Maher's avatar

Absolutely. Never forget it. Build on it.

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Edward Low's avatar

I would add.. the saying that is often repeated

"It's what the voters wanted."

should be:

"It's what the voters THOUGHT they wanted."

Because:

ª most every campaign promise was not policy...

ª most of those promises have been rescinded since the electoin

ª lies about everything (like the California fires of late) just isn't the best voting strategy

Just read the pro-hmpy trmPEDOphile supporters on:

https://www.facebook.com/RepEliseStefanik

Almost all are happy they have trmPEDO, not because of policy, or remembering how he failed last time, but - - - > they feel they 'owned the libs'

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Richard Leach's avatar

Thank you, Mr. Tingley, for writing this column. And thanks too, for the concerns others have expressed here.

Please know that there are two local organizations that have been actively engaged in welcoming and supporting immigrants who have been making their ways to our area.

One is the Adirondack Welcome Circle, which has helped several families settle in the Glens Falls and Queensbury area during the past 3 years. The most recent is a refugee family from Bangladesh, brought in through the Federal Government program called Welcome Corps just one month ago. The AWC will very soon also be bringing in an Afghan refugee under the same program.

The other organization is the Adirondack Regional Immigration Collaborative. ARIC has been developing a network of individuals, nonprofits, faith-based groups, businesses and service organizations, all of whom share the points of views you and the New York Times have articulated. The specific purposes of the Collaborative are first to share information that makes it easier for newly arriving immigrants to become safely and fully integrated into our communities, and second to build a large community voice to advocate for them - for their rights as humans to seek a better life and for their value to those of us who embrace them.

Last week, for an example of its work, ARIC hosted a Know Your Rights seminar for immigrants in Glens Falls. We are developing plans to bring similar educational events further into Warren County and to near-by counties up to the border. Additionally, ARIC hopes to bring together more voices like yours to highlight the impressive contributions immigrants have made in the past and present to our local cultures and economies, and to discuss how many of our North Country communities need the revitalizing that immigrants can bring.

Some of the folks we are right now so privileged to call our friends - from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Colombia, Pakistan, Japan, Congo and many other countries - are entirely secure. Others who have lived here for years, who are working and paying taxes and have kids in our schools are trembling because of the threats of mass deportation.

Please know that part of our advocacy acknowledges that our current immigration system has allowed this horrible state of affairs to occur. It clearly needs a gigantic overhaul and must become a system in which our new neighbors can be brought to live here in a securely legal way. We are in the process of bringing that point of view to our local, regional and state governmental representatives.

Should anyone wish to help us stand by their and our sides, and wish to help the work of the AWC or ARIC, we sure will welcome you.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Thanks for the information. Sounds like a future column.

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Edward Low's avatar

Adirondack Welcome Circle - > https://www.adirondackwelcomecircle.org/

Adirondack Regional Immigration Collaborative - > https://aric.network/

thanks

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Irene Baldwin's avatar

Thank you.

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Dennis Maher's avatar

We are experiencing "the unsteady, unpredictable emergence of a different world." People react against it as we might expect. People in the North Country will probably not welcome an influx of Haitians, Mexicans, or Middle Easterners. The different world is coming, it is here, but we don't know how to adapt yet. I listen to Ezra Klein a lot, and we need more commentators on culture and politics so we can figure this out and change our minds about some things. I suspect a very real problem is that AI will devastate the job market.

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Edward Low's avatar

Yes, I commented elsewhere on the fact the only immigrants accepted in the north country are of european descent.

And yes A.I. will be a problem.. and the uneducated (can't stress how the ignorant always hurt themselves) will be the biggest losers.

Think about how few locals will be working for the towns as truck drivers, when we send rumbas around to remove snow from the streets.

Add to this, when it comes to A.I. (this is a statement I heard on line) there will be two groups: Those who are control Artificial Intelligence (those programming, making algorithms, and owning the companies) and those who are controlled BY Artificial Intelligence.

I.E. there will be a loss of jobs in one sector and gains in others..... the uneducated will not be part of the gains.

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Paula Collins's avatar

The lack of a workable immigration system is squarely on Stefanik's shoulders. In her leadership capacity, she could have harnessed the votes to pass a bipartisan bill in the house -- which we had on the floor for a vote in the Senate.

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Edward Low's avatar

pos_tfnKKK IS A PIECE OF sh** but this is one time, though she did nothing for 10 years, but isn't the complete picture (Though MOSTLY)

a year before pos_tfnKKK there was a bipartisan bill..

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2014/6/30/18080446/immigration-reform-congress-2014-house-john-boehner-obama

. . . and like the last 10 years under pos_tfnKKK the gQpedos would rather place blame, then solve problems.. - - - the republicans blocked progress - - so she certainly is culpable.. but there is a lot of asinine behavior to be shared..

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W Tucker's avatar

Hello Paula, why not look back a little further in time? If the Native Americans had a workable immigration system in place before their uninvited guest arrived the problems, we now face would not exist.

You come to lay blame but bring no solution, are you looking to following in the steps of Donald Trump, or did I miss your in-depth analysis of the problem in your Substack

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Edward Low's avatar

thanks for reminding us you have no point and are a troll

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Paula Collins's avatar

Thank you, Edward.

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Paula Collins's avatar

You said that climate change should be the one and only issue for the new administration to address. Exactly. Whats happening in LA is a cautionary tale for all of us. Reminder: we now have wildfires in NY and our most populated island (Manhattan) was under a drought watch in late 2024.

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Edward Low's avatar

Republicans (and some democrats) have been ignoring cautionary tales for some time perhaps since 1884

Since: Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Arrhenius#:~:text=A%20hundred%20years%20ago%2C%20Swedish,doubling%20atmospheric%20carbon%20dioxide%20would

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Don Shuler's avatar

Thanks, Ken, for your analysis. Sounds like the NYT immigration proposal is close to the Senate compromise plan that was sabotaged by the President to be.

Your views on the NYT also were right on.

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Edward Low's avatar

I don't know if: "We aren't making enough babies... " Not sure if that is a paraphrase of NYT or Mr.Tingley's thoughts.

I think either way that isn't the case... If we had 1,000 immigrants with 27% of those being children under the age of five, if the problem wouldn't still exist.. as soon as those children grow up, as immigrants often do, they will be going to college and getting degrees.

They will leave, just like most people with degrees will. The Hotel Saranac, in Saranac Lake or the Prospect House in Blue Mountain Lake do not need Aerospace Engineers or Paleontologists, or Stock Brokers. Nor do the areas where they are located, though they might need teachers, if we could get the people who live here to believe in education.

Maybe doctors, but in four years when we lose our health care, that point will be moot.

And if any of those immigrants had the audacity to worker hard, get their CDL license.. (like they tend to do) they will be driving a truck for the town, village or state.. the only means of income for most uneducated ‘locals’.

The reason the educated move, isn’t the education per se, it’s the lack of jobs for the educated.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

There are statistics that every two people are producing 1.5 babies in the US and that is not enough. It is a real problem.

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Edward Low's avatar

My point is small towns and rural America is fading more because of a lack of jobs then of the people that live here

And it's highly likely the offspring of immigrants would also be motivated to go to college and move out of the area

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Diane Collins's avatar

Join us, the Adirondack Regional Immigration Collaborative, to welcome New Americans, immigrants that will work hard and help North Country communities prosper.

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Edward Low's avatar

If I may, I would like to suggest when you promote this, you also use the links

Adirondack Welcome Circle - > https://www.adirondackwelcomecircle.org/

Adirondack Regional Immigration Collaborative - > https://aric.network/

Not just for people in needed of these services, but those who may be working with immigrants and any organizations that may be reading this.. I know of several, two below

there is a Literacy Volunteers in Plattsburgh that represents much of the Northern Adirondacks

there is another that should be shared with.. the do GED prep, often with immigrants

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Edward Low's avatar

I am the guy who brings uncivil to the table

I am the guy, who has given up on civility. I no longer think you can convince many, if not all, of those who voted for hmpy trmPEDOphile they made a huge mistake

I contented being nice to those folks won’t change them. I understand the thought of being uncivil to them is... well, not civil.

Instead I throw the harshest light I can on their folly. I remind them they voted for a known liar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_or_misleading_statements_by_Donald_Trump). I point out the guy who campaigned on lowering grocery prices, now admit he can’t (https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/12/13/trump-food-prices-groceries-inflation-down/76949414007/).

The sad thing about this is.. you don’t want prices to go down. Deflation is bad (https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/deflation).

Telling guys like 'simply put' (https://substack.com/@simplyput2?) he is wrong, but what a pretty smile you have grandma, will not change him.

In fact I would like to see where being civil to people who are destroying the planet and now our democracy, changes them!!!

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Ethel Weeks's avatar

I read your frustration, Edward. I am on the same ship with you, and marvel at your knicknames for all those morons. However, I abide by the saying, "Never wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty and the pig loves it." We must find and take a high road out of this miserable situation. As a retired college educator, I couldn't believe voters would buy "lower prices and higher wages", "lower prices and high tariffs on imports" ... ???? Anyone who at least took Economics in high school would call those out as lies. But then, I was reminded of the disparity in K-12 education standards throughout the country. And we expect the wrestling lady to lead the effort on that front? 🤦 We're in for a rough ride but we're not alone. Hang in there.

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Edward Low's avatar

At first

When I became un civil

I thought about the saying of wrestling with a pig in the mud

And it's still there in the back of my mind however

When someone is so disgusting such as pos_tfnkkk or hot trpedo

I think you do a disservice to the civil people by not calling those two what they are…

For example: Mr.Tingley Will point out they are both lying at time but he will not say they are liars

His choice of course

But I contend if someone like pos_tfnkkk & hmpy lie as much as they do they should be called liars

That we SHOULD dispense of civility and move into an area that I would call factual

And sometimes factual is not civil

The truth isn't always civil

And civility should never win out over truth and facts

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Ken Tingley's avatar

I believe I have called them liars at times, but I think that may be splitting hairs and calling someone a "liar" is certainly more inflamatory.

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W Tucker's avatar

Hello Ethel what are your thoughts on Common Core? It had a goal of increasing consistency across state standards for K–12 students in all states of the US.

There just seemed to be one problem with it, everyone wanted it their way and at the time few could agree what that way should be.

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Edward Low's avatar

Nice assessment, However, if you had worked in a school you would not simplify it like that

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W Tucker's avatar

Edward why not? Do you have experience in all the complex issues you comment on?

If one wants to know what is happening in a school ask the janitors. It is the mice at the bottom of the ship that know it is sinking first, not the highly educated caption on the top deck.

Why is that some people with a university education feel superior to those without such, but are unable to repair the own cars, their simple appliances, or even grown their own food?

The issues that face the world are many and we all have our own opinions as to how solve what each see as the problems.

One time when I expressed my opinion to Grandmother she told me. Opinions are like ass holes everyone has one but nobody can smell how bad their own stink

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Edward Low's avatar

see there is your problem

my comment (could you read it this time):

"Nice assessment, However, if you had worked in a school you would not simplify it like that"

your entire post proved you did not ask anyone in the schools, that you didn't talk to a janitor; AND YOU DON'T WORK IN A SCHOOL

because of that, every single thing you wrote

EVERY SINGLE f-ing SINGLE THING YOU WROTE

Shows you now nothing of the issue.

ª you can have an opinion, I am sorry I triggered you but showing your opinion doesn't mean a g.d. thing

ª talking about repairing a car is kind of cute, since many of those who know how to repair a car learned it in public vocational schools.. it also shows you are clueless on that one too!

ª if a janitor knew about what is happening in a school.. might be true but it DOES NOT mean s/he understand education.

{{Unless you think the phys ed teacher sleeping with the English teacher is how you understand education? and from your ignorance, it just might be}}

ª now go read my post and try again

your arrogance proves your Dunning Krueger

sorry I stepped on your ignorance toes... too bad it didn't make you think about researching the situation and finding answers

stay ignorant, I hear it is blissfull

and keep making the same ignorant posts that give me a good laugh

good job!

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W Tucker's avatar

Gee Edward it must be a heavy burden to carry being able to see the faults within others while failing to see your own shortcomings.

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Edward Low's avatar

I need to respond again (my first response to the first part of your post... I was in the car waiting for a senior (in my volunteer gig) and didn't go with the whole thing)

I am going to respond to the k-12 education standards

The education is at a lot of levels (in my mind) because

1) it is a can being kicked around by politicians.. many, if not all, have no education experience. Take Obama's admistration: Arne Duncan. His education was in sociology, which might give he some background in families, but not education. He never worked in a school and at best was a school board member. He also seems to be a pretty smart guy.

Maybe it would be better to have someone running education to have some experience

2) when you are discussing education with states.. you have a lot of states that don't want to spend on education and don't seem to worry their low scores with the current standards (why would they want to raise the standards or spend more on them)

3) "I love the poorly educated."

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Susan Andrews's avatar

Ed…please don’t give oxygen to the creature that repeatedly baits you and others. “It” thrives on creating dissent and disrupting the productive information sharing and mutual support which hallmarks this valuable substack.

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Edward Low's avatar

Perhaps

But it's very fun

Very much a joy

To take the fools to task

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Julie Wash's avatar

The Obama Administration developed just such a plan. Mitch McConnell and the GOP vowed to never have it pass. In this last Congress, you will recall there was a bipartisan bill to address immigration reform, and again, the GOP player-in-chief pressured the lawmakers to dawdle.

The NYT may not say it, but I will. There is one party (powerful players) who choose to destroy or delay progress on pressing issues such as climate, civil rights, healthcare and immigration for political gain. In my recent history, that party is unmistakably the GOP.

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Eric Mondschein's avatar

I know a number of people who did not vote for VP Harris not because they wanted all of the Trump agenda but rather against what they knew they did not want. I think Senator Fetterman (D) said it best. He will see what happens, vote for what he believes is good for the nation and against what he thinks will not help.

I personally don’t think the name calling and sarcastic comments will help bring people together. I think both sides would be better served if there was less of it. Governing must include compromise. It’s not a dirty word.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Sadly, “compromise” has become a dirty word for the GOP.

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Eric Mondschein's avatar

It appears both parties do not accept compromise as a necessary tool of governing. We are all less for it.

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Frederick L Grunewald's avatar

The WSJ and The Economist over the past year have written articles documenting the strength of America's post-pandemic recovery has been in part due to immigration. Businesses will quickly turn on the 47th Administration if they implement mass deportation.

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Tanya Goldstein's avatar

Trump, being devoid of any vestiges of principle beyond having his ego stroked and lining his pockets, made his campaign promises based on what made his crowds cheer and what kept him on what passes for the front page these days. Once he is in power, it will not matter one bit to him what people thought they were voting for. He will move forward based on what billionaires and captains of industry say THEY want, and he will go whichever way the monied interests push him.

So if, for example, the factory farmed meat industry makes it known to him that without cheap immigrant labor they will have to pay much higher wages or have to cut back production, unacceptably damaging their bottom line which will eventually lead to less grift in his pocket, then I bet he will allow all kinds of immigration, legal or not. What will be interesting to see is whether he does a public about-face on the subject or just ignores it and stops mentioning it. Or maybe he'll claim some kind of victory, saying look I fixed it!! I predict pretty much the same scenario with all his promises.

Also interesting will be to see what will happen if and when the people who have hitched their wagon to his star realize they're going nowhere. Some won't ever. They will believe what he says even if it involves a complete about face. But some might start to realize just how empty his promises are.

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