Unrelenting Criticism

The press is filled with criticism about everything. Mostly negative vibes, no analysis, perspective or possible solutions.

I know the press is supposed to report the events, the happenings. But relentless coverage of negative conditions without any perspective or discussion of solutions, is a pointless waste of time in my opinion. For example, the immigration backlog on the Texas border, especially the Haitians. The happening is news. Day after day reporting on this is not news. If news organizations wish to continue to cover this situation, then provide the history of the problem; report causes experts feel led to this problem; pull experts on the problem to discuss possible solutions.

Immigration and its many problems is not a problem belonging to a President or Governor. If governors do not cooperate with federal authorities to ease the problem, when possible, then the issue is theirs to manage. Otherwise, the problem belongs to federal policymaking and legal strictures. Mostly that is the province of Congress. Policy is executive branch, but that can only respond to the legal environment of the problem.

For 70+ years Congress has kicked the can of immigration down the dusty path. No solutions offered. Only dicta that impoverished the victims, or caused the victims’ situation in the first place.

Most immigrants assembling at our southern border are coming from Mexico and Central America where opportunities and living conditions are very poor. Mexico cannot support immigrants from both south and central America. They simply do not have the infrastructure and economic strength to do so. The south and central American nations with low quality of life and serious violence and poverty conditions are pushing their own people out of their own country. Why is this? What can America do to prevent these conditions in the first place; anything?

We have tried to aid those nations in the past. Much of the aid dollars and materiel have landed in the hands of the bad guys, not the intended recipients. Trump removed those efforts entirely. The problems worsened in those nations. Immigration flows increased to Mexico on the journey to the USA. Again, the US border is not the place to welcome new citizens in an unlimited flow.

But then, solutions are begged to better manage the situation all around. Where are those ideas coming from? Certainly not from Congress. They have avoided this issue for generations. And certainly not from the press. All they seem able to do is report miserable living conditions brought about by too many people assembling in an unprepared location as they escape from dire situations. This is a global issue, not an American one.

America retains its international reputation for ‘land of opportunity.’ Mostly that is true. However, there are always Americans who feel threatened by an influx of immigrants. That is evidence of their own sense of inferiority.

America was built on cheap labor – slaves, poor immigrants, intentional poverty pockets, and more. People willing to work for low wages, learn new skills and jobs, use low paying employment as a stepping stone to independence and middle class status. This has worked for centuries now. It will still work. On top of that, immigrants keep the rest of America working meeting their housing, transportation, and food needs.

This is only one issue targeted by the press. There are many more. We need to see these issues clearly and the press can be a part of that process. They can also be a part of channeling collaboration in finding solutions to those same problems.

I don’t want sound bites and photo ops. I want news with depth and purpose. Is the American press corps able to perform at this level? Will they?

September 27, 2021