Living in the Midwest, I am no expert on Brexit. But this conversation has been very interesting and I see many similarities as to the issue of immigration. Yes countries need immigrants. However in the Midwest there is the same undertone that somehow we are losing the part that of the culture related to "American ness". For many that centers around the issues of the economy and immigration, but its really the general fairness idea. Here its the seeminly never ending flood of illegal immigrants from Central and South America.
Its a class issue as well. No one complains when doctors and scientists immigrate here. But there are huge numbers of complaints about no skilled and low skilled immigrants, largely illegal, that are here.
And its the attitude of many of these immigrants that irritates here in the US, especially here in the Midwest. I can't speak to other areas as this is where I live daily.
When my parents arrived here, the first order of business was to learn English. Our native language was spoken at home, but in public English was spoken or you kept quiet until you learned the correct words. Speaking X was embarrassing, to them as they were now Americans. There were no options to push 1 for English 2 for Spanish or clerks that only spoke Spanish or expectations of special allowances in schools.
2. A few months after they became citizens the Vietnam War broke out. My grandmother walked her 6 sons down to the military recruiting center and signed them all up for service. She only asked that her youngest be allowed to stay home and finish high school before he enlisted. All five of the rest served multiple tours in Vietnam. Baba felt she owed it to the US for the privilege of living here. She said we must pay back the country that took us in and gave us the opportunity to have such a good life.
3. All six of Baba sons and her daughter went on to earn advanced degrees or were skilled tradesmen. No ever collected any type of aid from the government. It would have brought great shame on the family to do so.
4. None were ever involved in criminal troubles. That would have been an even bigger shame.
5. Voting day was a huge deal for Baba. She dressed in her Sunday dress and we all went to vote together. Then dinner was served and candles were lit and prayers said. She had poured over newspapers and flyers to make her decision. Loud talk among the family and debates were had in the months leading up to the election so no one was unfamiliar with any of the issues.
But the times have changed. And change is scary for many.
There are fewer and fewer jobs for low and no skilled people of which the perception is that the US already has plenty of no skilled and unskilled workers without adding to the pool. The argument here in the Midwest goes something like, "No I don't want to pick my own carrots or lettuce or blueberries. Why not get some of these people laying around on public aid to do it in exchange for their check?". That is anger displaced against other Americans falling on the heads of nameless and faceless immigrants.
Next comes the argument, "Why should we pay more taxes to help these people and have our wages decline for the pleasure?". That's because not all immigrants stay in the jobs of picking. Some become tradesmen and more. So more anger as now some are moving up to better paying jobs. We had a whole page of jobs in the employment section that required all applicants to be bilingual which leaves out a high percentage of Americans. More anger.
Then there are constant screams about the number of aid recipients who are immigrants getting free healthcare when Americans are required to pay for Obamacare. Again the issue of fairness. More anger.
Then numbers are trotted out as to the number of crimes committed by illegals. By now the issue of immigration has been lumped together, illegal and legal, made to be virtually the same in the eyes of many here in the Midwest. Now "all" are seen as illegal law breakers. Any easy target for anger, even hatred.
The underlying theme here is Americans are angry about what they see as unfairness. Some politicians have funneled that anger towards an easy target, immigrants. It nicely deflects blame to a nameless mass rather than shines the light on the real problem of brokenness in the American governmental system and ineffectual policies. It is the easier solution that saves the jobs of career politicians. Find an "other" to hate. Bread and circuses for the masses at one time. Nazi Germany. Stalinist Russia. All successfully used this tactic at one time or another when the masses were angry. And for a time it worked. Economies grew under war machines. Politicans kept control. Anger simmered until the next time. This deflection also allows for Americans to duck responsibility for themselves. It makes an excuse for why our children are still living at home in their 20's and beyond. It makes an excuse for not achieving what our parents did. It makes it OK and almost understandable that men and women walk away from their responsibilities. Marriage not great? Its the spouses fault. Not happy all the time? Spouse and employer fault. Children in trouble at school or with the law? Not their fault. Not my fault. They are special and misunderstood. Can't behave? Get a pill. Won't listen? Teachers fault for being boring. Son an addict? He gets that from having no father. Son living in basement? His ex was a bad wife who bled him dry for child support. Didn't vote? Nobody appealed to me and I wasn't familiar with the issues. Daughter pregnant? Its the boyfriends fault for not using a condom.
Excuses excuses excuses. When did personal responsibility die?
Its something on this board that there have been huge fights over even though we all have so much in common, and great divides between sides have developed between two extremes. Tough love vs love them back. They are sick and less responsible for their actions to they are 100% responsible for this mess we all found ourselves in. Stand forever vs kick them to the curb quickly. The forum is for standers only vs the forum is for all and we can run around talking about dating like teenagers after their first sexual experience.
The middle ground is gone, or perhaps has largely gone silent for one reason or another.
Xenophobia is rising in the US. The US is a huge Goliath of a Super Power whose activities impact others and scare others. And the country elected Donald Trump on the slogan of Make America Great Again.
I'm disturbed for both the future of the US and the future of this forum when the vocal extremes polarize hot button issues as a tool to achieve their goals of control. It doesn't speak well for the future of either.
Lp
if people won’t listen to you, there’s no point in talking to people. If they won’t listen, you’re just banging your head against a wall.
Sadly Ive used up all the time I had allotted to spend banging my head on the wall
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US ELECTION #2