Let's face it, when people talk about illegal immigration, they are usually referring to folks coming from Mexico. They speak about how illegal immigration is straining our resources. Rarely do they mention how over-population in general is stretching us thin.
It is also worth reminding ourselves that illegal immigrants don't only come from Mexico. Many "illegals" come from across the oceans on first-class flights, with money in the bank and family businesses awaiting them, and with little intention of assimilating into our culture. These immigrants are here just as illegally as those captured in the desert. And some might have worse intentions. At the very least, they are adding to our population problems.
I understand that conditions and fears in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas might be different than in Virginia, and that those states have a right to protect their interests. But we also have to fess up to why a lot of Mexicans are currently fleeing their country. The drug wars have escalated. Drugs are big business in Mexico largely because of Americans buying the illegal substances. If I were the father of kids just across the border, and dozens of people were being killed weekly by drug lords, I'd do anything to get my family to safety in the U.S.
I am not saying that we don't need to get control of our Southwest border, but we also should understand that over-population, fear and lack of opportunities are root causes for many things that ail us globally, and no security fence or ethnic profiling policy will stop that. Whether the population explosion is fueled here more by illegal immigration or by our own overflowing American maternity wards is almost irrelevant. The end result is the same -- too many people competing for limited resources. No one country can provide a haven for an endless stream of consumers in need of everything from jobs and health care to clean water and personal safety. Our infrastructure won't support it. Our tax structure can't pay for it. Yet, we need to hold on tightly to our sense of decency.
President Obama spoke about Arizona's bill on illegal immigration today. He's not a big supporter of it. He is putting a lot of the blame for "misguided" laws on the federal government's lack of a coherent policy regarding immigration. I agree that it is time that we have one cohesive and fair policy that addresses all immigration from all countries, regardless of ethnicity, wealth or how illegal aliens got here. And that law needs to be enforceable. I also believe we need to rethink population strategies on an individual and global level. That will be a much harder nut to crack.
Theme for an Imaginary Western was recorded by the rock group Mountain back in the day. But it was written by Cream's bassist, Jack Bruce. Legend has it that Eric Clapton, the guitarist for Cream, didn't like the song, so Bruce gave it to Mountain, which featured guitarist Leslie West. In the Mountain version, the song was sung by Felix Pappalardi, the bassist for that group. Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife in New York in 1983. This video shows Jack Bruce (on piano) dedicating the song to Pappalardi. The Mountain version is heavier and features great guitar work by West. However, this stripped down version is more melodic and shows the versatility of Bruce.
Bad things happen when oil rigs burn. The one pictured here exploded near Australia. There's another that just collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico today after burning for several days. Click to see video.
About 700,000 gallons of diesel fuel might be pouring into the gulf right now. There has been a loss of life and massive destruction of the local marine environment.
So when folks, particularly politicians, like to say "drill baby drill," I cringe. When they try to sell it as a safe, clean way of providing energy to America, well, they aren't being truthful.
Nothing is entirely safe, granted. A windmill will kill birds on occasion and someone could potentially fall off the roof while installing a solar panel. But are gigantic oil rigs off our coast really safe and in our best long-term interest?
I am not sure when America is going to be an innovator again. Not sure when we are going to use all our technological might to provide something for society other than another smart phone or a computer that will make your toast in the morning. We're stubbornly clinging to ancient technologies while inventing frivolous new products that do nothing to preserve or advance what is really important. Maybe there is more money to be made in iPads than in alternative fuels. As long as profits are what motivate our society, it's unlikely that we're going to make great strides in cleaning up the planet, curing diseases or finding the spiritual balance many of us seek.
Watching these massive rigs go up in flames should be clear evidence that it's time to move away from fossil fuels. We can't keep going to war in crude-rich countries, polluting the seas, killing off species and making oil executives rich because we lack the motivation to think outside of the box.
Today is Earth Day. It's a nice concept. But how far have we really come since the first Earth Day in 1970? Click to see video.
If you are considering buying a home, The New York Times has a nifty multimedia device on its Web site today that may help you determine whether buying or renting is more cost effective. As a side observation, this is a good example of how online journalism - specifically interactive graphics - can add value and not just eye candy to a well-reported story. The NYT seems to do this better than most news sites.
The article that accompanies the calculator provides useful information about the changing real estate markets around the country. What was true three years ago is not necessarily true today. The recession has created buying opportunities in some areas, while having little or no impact in other regions. Read more at the NYT site.
The Supreme Court's decision to strike down a law that prohibits the sale of animal-abuse videos is another moral loss for America. The ruling shatters every ounce of commonsense one would hope the high court possessed. Animal-rights advocates are profoundly disappointed in this ruling. President Obama had supported the law. This one is truly mind boggling. When did it get so hard to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil? Read more.
Gun owners gathered in Northern Virginia yesterday. They carried loaded weapons at a park near D.C. They were protesting, uh, well... I am not exactly sure what they were protesting. The gathering was legal. I have no issue with people owning guns, but I do worry about folks who feel under attack when no obvious threat exists. Nor am I crazy about loaded weapons in public parks.
This protest, and others like it, seem to be more about intimidation than debate. There are a lot of angry people in this country right now, and gun owners can express that anger with a bit more gusto than your average Tea Party supporter. What are they angry about? Well, your guess is as good as mine. I see no shortage of gun shops where I live.
Living in the Washington area exposes residents to a lot of protests. But the one protest I haven't seen yet is a march of unemployed middle-age men. These are guys who were and are openly discriminated against in the job market. There is virtually no one who would argue against the statistics that prove mid-career men face obstacles (some of them illegal) that most other segments of society don't face when looking for work. There's no affirmative action plans in place for mid-career men. These are men with college degrees and years in professional trades. These aren't untrained, unmotivated guys making a life of hanging out on street corners.
As the result of men being discriminated against by some employers, many women are now carrying the financial load for their families. And while there are signs that the economy is improving, it's not improving fast enough for unemployed people over 50.
My guess is that many older men are without work for the first time in their lives as a result of the current recession. And there is an embarrassment factor associated with that. They've never asked for help so it isn't likely they are going to organize a mass protest or file a lawsuit. My gut feeling is that many of these men come from a generation where personal feelings and failures are concealed.
Gun owners, on the other hand, have no qualms about openly displaying their firearms. They believe that packing heat and yelling out unfounded fears towards the White House is somehow going to protect their rights to shoot things. But unlike the unemployed, no one appears to be threatening their rights. Best I can tell, there is no discrimination against gun owners. I can go buy a gun in 10 minutes and be shooting by noon. No one is going to say I am too old or overqualified. Men and women are treated equally at the gun checkout counter. So what are these protests really about?
We live in a time where far-fetched threats seem to mobilize people more than real threats. Emotions run high when guns, Obama or taxes are mentioned. But the real threat to our way of life has less to do with these topics and much more to do with a decaying sense of self worth in individuals who played by the rules -- folks who want existing laws to be enforced so that they can earn a living. Whether white, black, male or female, people want the right to earn a paycheck more than they want to carry guns in parks and restaurants. So maybe the next protest in D.C. should be about evening the playing field in the job market.
h reminding ourselves that illegal immigrants don't only come from Mexico. Many "illegals" come from across the oceans on first-class flights, with money in the bank and family businesses awaiting them, and with little intention of assimilating into our culture. These immigrants are here just as illegally as those captured in the desert. And some might have worse intentions. At the very least, they are adding to our population problems.
