What scares me about Trump....

This is a real photo!!!  And Trump's disrespect for our judiciary and of our constitution is a big potential problem. Why is it that "Conservatives are the ones most wanting to change the constitution instead of achieving their goals within it?  Aren't they smart enough to show that their goals are in the best interest of the American people?  My guess is that they don't really want the rule of law, but instead want the rule of and by their tribe.  There is a clear and present danger to our society, and the Washington Post articulates that threat much better than I can do.

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I find it interesting that Ted Cruz (at the time of writing this entry) has not yet endorsed Donald Trump.  He may actually have a small amount of principles he can stand on. (Although he has not enough principles for me to show him any respect.)  But what's most interesting is how many of the GOP elite stayed away from the convention, using the flimsiest of excuses to stay away. Normally, I find political conventions unwatchable, as they are only meant to stir the passions of their associated tribe.  But this year is even worse than usual, because the quality of "entertainers" (yes, this is political entertainment - the serious stuff is still being done outside the public view) is so totally amateur.

Next week (at the time I started to write this entry), it will be Hillary's turn to entertain the public, and the Democrats will throw their quadrennial party.  And, like the GOP, their entertainers will take the stage, make a lot of contentless speeches, and stir up the passions of their tribe.  Unlike the GOP's convention, I expect the entertainment to be much better than what is on the TV now.

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It is eerie to many that Trump has the same kind of charisma that a certain Central European had 85 years ago.  People respond to him in a more primitive way. He appeals to people's feelings and not their minds.  And they are being led like sheep.  I'm not saying bad things about these people - many want a real change, and are disgusted with the political elite of both parties. 

Hillary represents the "Nomenklatura" of America's political elite. Leaders of both parties have their lists of people who are in power, and those being groomed for power.  Like the Mafia, people have to pay dues to the system before the system takes care of them. And I am just as disgusted with this group of people as most of the public is.  But at least, much of the system functions, albeit poorly.

Trump, on the other hand, buys and sells Apparatchiks. Even though he hob nobs with the high and mighty, he knows which low level palms to grease to get things done. Yet, whatever business he touches turns to lead, while his bank account turns to gold.  He has no idea of how to run a business for the long tern, nor does he have an idea of how to manage a large bureaucracy.  If he were to do even a small fraction of what he proposes to do, he will likely cause the whole system to collapse.  (Imagine what would happen if he were to start trying to expel illegal immigrants - how many legal residents and citizens would get caught up in the INS sweeps?  It's bad enough now that many American citizens fear the INS.  But what would happen if this part of the bureaucracy were given extra power?) But then, he speaks to the fears of the public, and not to their aspirations.

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In short, this is an election that indicates whether America is a nation who fears the world, or whether America is a nation who stands up to the world.  America can be a beacon that inspires the world or one that terrifies the world.  Acting out of fear will create terror for everyone.  Acting out of courage will embolden others to be more like us.  We have a choice, and I hope America can make one in line with its better qualities.....

Arizona

It's important to note that most Americans are pro-immigration. They simply want government to enforce its immigration laws. Sadly, both political parties are paralyzed because they covet the Latino vote - and that a clampdown on illegal immigration will cause the party responsible to lose the Latino vote for a generation. Arizona is on the front line - and can not afford to pay the price for Federal government inaction. So it made the right move - pass a very popular law (for Anglos) and unpopular law (for Latinos) which forces the Federal political infrastructure to take notice of a major problem.

Before people criticize Arizonans for passing this law, they should examine Mexico's treatment of illegal immigrants at its own Southern border. If they did, Arizona's actions seem quite tame. If one looks at Mexico as two regions, North and South, one would see that the South is under control of the central government, and prospers because of remittances sent from its citizens living in the USA. In Mexico's North, the narcotics "industry" rules - and Mexico's leadership also prospers because of this. Illegal drugs are shipped to the USA, and dollars are repatriated to Mexico. The Mexican drug industry has diversified, and has now gone into the business of transporting illegal immigrants into the USA - with the tacit approval of the Mexican government.

Should Arizona pay for the Federal government's irresponsibility - NO! But in an ideal world, only the US Federal government would need to take actions regarding immigration policy. Sadly, this is not an ideal world. I think the result of Arizona's law will cause other states to take similar actions, causing the immigration battle to go to the Supreme Court of the USA.

Most of the illegal immigrants are here because they want to work. Much of this work is that which native Americans don't want to do. And we prosper because of these immigrants. But if we shut off the pipeline for these immigrants, we'll see wages go up - as happened down South. (A slaughterhouse was raided, and about 400+ illegal immigrants were rounded up. As a result, wages in the area went up, and Walmart increased its hourly wage by $2.00+ per hour due to a labor shortage.)

These illegal immigrants (and I must stress that they have no right to be here) are pawns in a bigger game - Big business wants labor who is underpaid and who will not fight for safe, healthy, well paid work. Elected officials want votes, but are afraid to alienate any important political bloc. The general public simply wants to be safe in their homes, safe on their property, and safe in their community. And the illegal immigrant simply wants to work hard and take care of his/her family. How will this mess get sorted out? I'm not sure, but forcing the Federal government's hand is a good start - even though it turns innocent people into pawns. Hopefully, we'll end up with a rational immigration policy, where more legal immigration will be authorized for law abiding people, where the value of one's labor is a factor in deciding who can come here, and where government again works for the people to make the hard decisions that we ask it to make....