‘I Didn’t Vote for This’: A Revolt Against DOGE Cuts, Deep in Trump Country

[Nick87]

Psa dont ever click on the show ignored content button.

 

[El Jason]

Psa dont ever click on the show ignored content button.

I do it every once in a while. Usually it reaffirms why I did it in the first place.

 

[Nick87]

Well, I think it’s quite obvious @Irrelevant ‘s statement only holds true in areas with a lot of orchards. It probably also equally applies to areas with a lot of asparagus and hops, among other crops.

I'd imagine most immigrants dont aren't looking for a certain detail of work, just work. Orchards by you guys, dairy farms to the north of me mostly concrete and roofing around here. I dont think they walked across the desert to pursue there dream of x job. Just a job.

 

[Nick87]

I do it every once in a while. Usually it reaffirms why I did it in the first place.

Sure did. Could've huffed paint and lost less brain cells than clicking that.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Being pro-strong border security is not synonymous with anti-immigration.

There’s absolutely no doubt that we benefit from immigrant labor. There’s no reason for agriculture, construction, or any other industries to rely on undocumented workers rather than immigrants with valid work visas.

Our government is ultimately to blame for first of all not securing the border and secondly for its visa policies.

We’re a nation of immigrants and initiative taking people who have sought for a better life.
I’ll go out on a limb and probably get flamed for my immigration solution but if I were king for a day as the border was being secured, I would implement a policy to allow those undocumented immigrants who are gainfully employed and have no felony convictions to have some form of legal documentation and eventual path to citizenship. It’s always been about character for me and if an illegal immigrant has shown his character by being an asset to our society then I am fine with rewarding his initiative.
Those who have demonstrated their character by committing violent felonies or are perpetually dependent on social welfare programs would be targeted for deportation.
Have everyone who is here illegally but gainfully employed without felonies, self register, pay a fine for breaking the law and move into open society.

It wouldn’t solve every problem but would be a huge improvement over what we have now.

Currently, there’s so much criminal activity that is hidden by the “shadows” of undocumented immigration that giving the folks of good character the chance to become legit would go a long way towards separating out the career criminals from the undocumented.

 

[Bonasababy]

Regarding blaming congress for lack of immigration policy...or Biden...

Actually a bi partisan group of congressmen worked up legislation that while not perfect, would have helped.

It was moving towards passage when Trump intervened and most Republicans pulled their support.

Seems immigration is too useful a distraction to actually put work in to solve.

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

Regarding blaming congress for lack of immigration policy...or Biden...

Actually a bi partisan group of congressmen worked up legislation that while not perfect, would have helped.

It was moving towards passage when Trump intervened and most Republicans pulled their support.

Seems immigration is too useful a distraction to actually put work in to solve.

That's happened 3 or 4 times since W. The gang of 8 in 2013 drafted a bill that was essentially what @Gerald Martin described a few posts above.

Illegal immigrant labor is just too profitable for the donors to give up.

 

[Elky Welky]

I’ll go out on a limb and probably get flamed for my immigration solution but

Or… you can be pleasantly surprised by how many other reasonable people exist, agree with 90% of your solution, and laud your thoughtfulness.

Good post Gerald.

 

[Elkmagnet]

You mean you're waiting on affordability?

• Calls it a "Hoax/Con Job": Trump has labeled the "affordability" issue a "fake narrative" pushed by Democrats, suggesting it's a political distraction, per PBS and NPR.
• Downplays Reality: He claims the economy is strong and inflation has dropped significantly, despite public perception and data showing otherwise for many, according to The New York Times and NPR.
• Contrasts with Past: He contrasts the current situation with what he calls the "worst inflation in history" during a previous administration, claiming his policies reduced costs, according to PBS.
• Shifts Focus: He's reportedly looking to move away from the topic, preferring to discuss immigration, notes The New York Times.

This is missing the fact that economic markers and figures have been either changed to look more favorable, outright not reported or both.
A president will never allow favorable data to not be reported that goes double for this president.

With the censorship of media and the removal of critical media from government buildings we are being blacked out.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Of greater concern for me than what’s going on with our national forests is what’s happening with Venezuela. We’re either on the brink of a regime change that will hopefully bring some stability to the country or another Iraq à la GW Bush.

Another Bay of Tonkin type incident seems a bit too convenient for my liking.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Of greater concern for me than what’s going on with our national forests is what’s happening with Venezuela. We’re either on the brink of a regime change that will hopefully bring some stability to the country or another Iraq à la GW Bush.

Another Bay of Tonkin type incident seems a bit too convenient for my liking.

Hopefully a change of OUR current regime.

 

[smw110136]

Or… you can be pleasantly surprised by how many other reasonable people exist, agree with 90% of your solution, and laud your thoughtfulness.

Good post Gerald.

My sister in-law and I (we don't see eye to eye much politically) had a very good conversation about this recently. We are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but we both agreed to pretty much what @Gerald Martin had to say. Enforce a border, fix legal immigration for the people who will contribute, get rid of those who don't contribute or are criminals, and provide some type of fast tracked path for those who have been here a long time, stayed out of trouble, and been productive members of American society. The conversation ended up a lot better then how I thought it would when we started.

90% of people want a reasonable solution that doesn't involve deportation of good people or on the other hand, a completely unsecured border. There is a middle ground most would agree on, regardless of what is said in mainstream media. It get's exhausting watching all the division around this topic when I truly believe most of it is manufactured.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I know this is a crazy idea, but democrats could run someone that doesn’t suck.
Trump won because they ran an unprincipled, unintelligent, unlikable twit that according to the 2020 primary wasn’t liked by democrats.

Trump is a horrible president-likely one of the worst ever- and he’s 100x better than her.

Last part is debatable because we'll never know, but I agree with the first part. I blame the dems as much as I do the cult.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

My sister in-law and I (we don't see eye to eye much politically) had a very good conversation about this recently. We are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but we both agreed to pretty much what @Gerald Martin had to say. Enforce a border, fix legal immigration for the people who will contribute, get rid of those who don't contribute or are criminals, and provide some type of fast tracked path for those who have been here a long time, stayed out of trouble, and been productive members of American society. The conversation ended up a lot better then how I thought it would when we started.

90% of people want a reasonable solution that doesn't involve deportation of good people or on the other hand, a completely unsecured border. There is a middle ground most would agree on, regardless of what is said in mainstream media. It get's exhausting watching all the division around this topic when I truly believe most of it is manufactured.

The majority sits in the middle like spectators at a tennis match. If we don't fix our broken primary system, literally nothing will change unless it just continues to get worse.

 

[SAJ-99]

My sister in-law and I (we don't see eye to eye much politically) had a very good conversation about this recently. We are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but we both agreed to pretty much what @Gerald Martin had to say. Enforce a border, fix legal immigration for the people who will contribute, get rid of those who don't contribute or are criminals, and provide some type of fast tracked path for those who have been here a long time, stayed out of trouble, and been productive members of American society. The conversation ended up a lot better then how I thought it would when we started.

90% of people want a reasonable solution that doesn't involve deportation of good people or on the other hand, a completely unsecured border. There is a middle ground most would agree on, regardless of what is said in mainstream media. It get's exhausting watching all the division around this topic when I truly believe most of it is manufactured.

90% seems high, but the story was hopeful. Which one of you is changing how they vote as the Administration basically shuts down the LEGAL immigration system?

 

[smw110136]

90% seems high, but the story was hopeful. Which one of you is changing how they vote as the Administration basically shuts down the LEGAL immigration system?

90% might be high, but I still think its MUCH higher than what the media and politicians would have us believe. I doubt either one of us change our political alliance, not after a single productive conversation surrounding immigration. And that's part of the problem in my opinion. We shouldn't have to vote MAGA or Woke. We need politicians that can lead from the middle. Not pander to the far side of either political spectrum to win votes.

Also, this is the last of my political opinion posting. If I get too far into this, I will end up on a watch list.

 

[SAJ-99]

90% might be high, but I still think its MUCH higher than what the media and politicians would have us believe. I doubt either one of us change our political alliance, not after a single productive conversation surrounding immigration. And that's part of the problem in my opinion. We shouldn't have to vote MAGA or Woke. We need politicians that can lead from the middle. Not pander to the far side of either political spectrum to win votes.

Also, this is the last of my political opinion posting. If I get too far into this, I will end up on a watch list.

We believe what we want. Blaming politicians and media is just an excuse. Being in the middle means compromise, which leads to imperfect solutions to complex problems, which leads to more fuel for social media to overemphasize the problem. It's a vicious cycle. Probably only fixed when we decided to stop having unrealistic views of how things should be. (I laughed a little as a i typed that.) You see it on HT with some people being "Not one acre!" regarding public lands. That is an oversimplification that might fit on a t-shirt but might end up blocking progress that actually may be net positive. Regardless, it is will involve a complex discussion.