The refugee crisis on the US's southern border has one cause. America's geopolitical chickens have come home to roost.
It's been days of rain and fog. That is just not the way things once were. it is fucked up weather for the end of December on the shores of Lake Ontario. Only once this month did snow fall and it dusted lawns, in my city, with flakes that despondently resembled freezer burn on cold soggy spinach.
I hate the wet winters more so than summer because my shoes- bought for economy sake are only waterproof under dry conditions, and I walk long and hard every day-around eight to twelve km each afternoon regardless of the weather.
Distance wise, it is about the same daily slog that those on the Central American migrant caravan trudge on their march to the southern border of the USA. My walk, however is safe and despite- my feet becoming sodden on those treks by cheap footwear, I know after 90 minutes in the elements, I will be home warm and dry. Refugees in Central America and around the world, however, survive precariously in harms way, through no fault of their own on their journey’s to find safety for themselves and loved ones.
The refugee crisis on the US's southern border has one cause. America's geopolitical chickens have come home to roost.
Creating famine and despair in Cuba and Venezuela through economic blockades doesn't produce revolution but exodus. People want the least path of resistance to a better life and will take legging it to revolution because they feel they have more of a chance of survival against the elements rather than openly opposing authoritarian governments. Most of us won't risk our jobs, let alone our lives, to fight fascism at home. So demanding those who live in far worse situations should be the heroes we don't have the courage to be is Western arrogance and entitlement. This also holds true in demanding Russians and Israelis to oppose their governments wars because it’s the most difficult thing to do-go against the tide even if it is the morally right thing to do.
We refuse to deal with the shit we created, so instead our news media and political elites made refugee bashing a mainstream occurrence.
Whether it is Ricky Gervais mocking the deaths of refugees attempting to cross the English Channel on his new Netflick's Comedy special or Keir Starmer promising that his government will get tough on illegal channel crossers- the results are the same.
It's about dehumanising vulnerable human beings so as not to make the crimes our 1% have instituted against their homelands something they must pay for through taxation of their wealth. The entitled will see tens of millions of refugees dead over the next decade in order not to diminish their wealth. A neoliberal electoral system will enable this slaughter because centre and right-wing governments sup with the wealthy, not the ordinary. And don't fool yourself; no serious left-wing politician has a hope in hell of reaching office. But the Trump's and Netanyahu's of the world are here to stay.
Twelve months from now, the US General Election will have been decided or perhaps not. But the betting has it ending like 1933 Germany. However, the joke is on us because 2023 America doesn't resemble any aspect of liberal 1930s Weimar Germany that conservative German voters elected Hitler to eradicate. Democracy absented itself from the USA some time ago. The choice in 2024 to govern the USA is either fascists or a less than benevolent plutocracy-the dictatorship of the 1%, if you will.
My optimism for better days has worn as thin as a bar of soap that has been too long in a bathtub. 2023 has been a dismal time for us all. "It was shit" sums up my Yelp review of the last 365 days. Although, I knew what we were getting into by living through 2022 and 2021. Terrifyingly, 2024 will be a glum rendition of this year- just with more crises all around. It's hard to figure out whether we should buckle up before we assume the crash position or not to ensure our end happens swiftly.
Hi All:
Thanks for reading my substack. You have been great all this year and my subscription numbers have grown. And now for the SOS I do really need your help during this end of the year, if you are able. I am rent short and want to remained housed and continuing to sustain and grow the legacy of my dad and his Last Stand Project. I think it is worthwhile and necessary. I am looking for 9 new, yearly subscribers to keep the lights on. It’s 30 quid a year or $50 and I think it has value. Substack and the payment platform take around 20% of that because capitalism is the gift that keeps giving to the wealthy. So if you can thanks and if you can’t it’s all good because you in solidarity with the work and projects ahead.
Take care, John