Tariffs Every Which Way

We cannot manage the flow of immigrants wishing to come to America. There are those who have magnified this problem for political reasons. And for political gains. The problem remains: managing the flow of immigrants into our land.


We may wish to manage that flow in an orderly manner. That is not always possible. Circumstances require our value of human life to open our arms to those in need. Asylum seekers have rights both by our own laws and by policies of the United Nations. If we do not manage well, we get what we deserve.


Need more staff in the immigration offices? Hire them. Need more social workers and caregivers for the immigrants who are in process of entering our nation? Hire more social workers and caregivers. We have the money. We have the talented people and institutions to supply the labor.


And we have the human and spiritual values to love and help those in need of entering our land of welcome.


So, analyzing the immigrant flow, researchers are finding what they expected to learn.  Immigrants are coming here for economic opportunity. Educational opportunity. Safety. Health care. A chance to prosper with a people who have always prospered with a strong flow of immigrants to live among us. As in the past, they are our future, and our future is vital to theirs.


Mexico provides many immigrants to our land. They have families already here that newer generations wish to join. Economic and social issues in Mexico continue to make America attractive to these immigrants. They are willing to start over in our land because their own is unable to provide the opportunity or potential.


Still, many others come from far more distant lands to our south. They are escaping nations of despot leaders, failed economies, non-existent support programs for human services, and a horrible history of violence and mayhem. They come to America out of desperation. Mexico has nothing to do with it.

And Mexico has less resources to help those far southern nations solve their problems. America has such resources, and we have been sharing them with Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Venezuela, Columbia, and all the rest. For their own good and the region, the US has offered a helping hand for generations. Still more needs to be done if native populations are to remain in their homelands and prosper.


Blaming Mexico for problems raging in other nations is pure baloney. No tariff will solve that problem.


A tariff, however, will harm Mexico, America and consumers in many lands. The tariff solution is pure stupidity at work. Usually it is a policy that fails. Long term problems require long term solutions. And faithful hearts and open minds working together for the common good.


Now there’s a term! Common good. May we look for it and work towards it. With all of our nations.
And friends.


June 5, 2019