The sweet silence of the unplugged
Analysis and Opinion
By Joe America
It takes commitment to write. Words do not appear orderly in the mind. They must be gathered, mixed, sifted, spiced, sorted out and aligned to have meaning and humor. Thanks to all of you for keeping the discussion going here at The Society of Honor whilst I enjoyed the sweet silent world of the unplugged for a full month. Nary a tweet nor blog passed my eyes, not even a news report or baseball update. Nothing except weather reports which are important for seafarers.
Instead I got to know my son better and my wife as perfect as two people can be. Difference is a catalyst to adventure and a whole lot of laughing.
It will take me some time to go through the comments of the articles posted during my vacation. I seem to be in not much of a hurry this first day back. But I’ll get to them, for sure.
I see President Marcos is in Washington sealing the Philippines to the US like a mushroom on rotted wood. Subic is likely to become an arms production center, good old nitroglycerine by the ton to be sailed in right there outside Olongapo where Joe Jr was born. I wonder if the base PX is still operational. It’s where we bought a whole lot of stuff to get our domestic life started.
Donald Trump is as sleazy and cruel as he was when I left. ICE is America’s cowardly masked gestapo.
Manny Pacquiao fought the good fight and everyone kissed their sister. I can’t remember a fight in which Manny didn’t bring his A game, and that is why laboring Filipinos can relate. Hard work may not start on time but, man, no one can match the power of Filipino labor once it’s fully engaged.
Water in the Philippines moves north. Have you noticed? It’s a big country and a good storm can take five days to move through.
Reading is what separates the highly intelligent from the half-smart. Be distinguished, eh? And music fires the soul. I like blues myself. I don’t relate too well to music concocted after 1980. Age is another separator, I think. Youth is fast and shrill, age is pedantic and wise.
Nice to be back.
_________________________
Cover photo from usphilippinesociety.org article “President Bongbong Marcos Begins Official Visit to Washington DC”
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
I read somewhere that trump is ignoring 1 in 3 judicial orders to reverse some of his nefarious actions. Snowballs start small.
PH President Marcos (probably) has a detail of ICE following him around. His meet and greets among Filipinos there will be smaller gatherings I bet.
Stay moist.
Indeed, snowballs in hell. That ICE band of thugs is everything the US should not be, cruel and racist. I don’t know how Republicans live with themselves knowing they are the enablers. Mango juice right now. A tip of the glass to you. I miss my Bob Seger albums, thanks to you and your tube.
Welcome Back Joe!
I second emotion. Joe, my rampage when you were away wasn’t Karl’s fault. He could not restrain me, and I take full responsibility for my lowlights and highlights.
Thank you. 🍺🍺
Always my pleasure!
Welcome back Joe from a well deserved rest.
Here in the US there was just another large 50-state day of protest in honor of the late Rep. John Lewis, which was not covered in the legacy media, yet the Los Angeles protest I participated in had a large attendance. The first large cracks are starting to appear in the MAGA coalition, though I was quite surprised it was over the Epstein scandal and associated conspiracy theories. Americans are starting to notice price increases, but the worst is yet to come during the back to school season. American federalism may be the thing that holds everything together and large population state governors are aggressively fighting back. I never lost faith in the Philippines; the world must not lose faith in the US as well.
Excellent advice. I shall take heed and temper my blanket condemnations in favor of specific acts. That big tax bill will benefit me personally several thousands of dollars per year, but it’s not worth kicking 10 million people off their health coverage which seems to me to be rather murderous.
I benefited last time around, and picked up some good investments too. I expect to do so again this time.
The sad reality is most of the people who will be hurt by Trump are not “liberals” like me, but the very voters who see him as their savior. In that regard the poor White Americans who form the MAGA base aren’t so different from the DE Filipinos who consistently vote against their own interests. Lack of education and exposure to different lived experiences creates lack empathy, further exasperated by the disconnected modern society where civic and religious institutions have retreated from daily lives. It’s a vicious cycle which only reinforces the negative to the point where if positivity is offered it will be rejected as foreign. Sometimes people just need to experience pain in order to wake up, as much as empathetic people such as ourselves wish we can persuade with reason. But there’s scant few chances to persuade people once their constructed bubble is pierced. Let’s hope leaders in both the US and the Philippines figure it out before it’s too late.
That’s it in a nutshell, The problem seems to me to be loss of community conscience. Even leaders subscribe to self-interest over the well-being of their nation or constituents. The drive to be a great nation/community has been weakened by micro-beliefs promoted by social media such that loyalty to bad ideas is a prominent force when amalgamated. The sheep are deaf, blind, and exceedingly dumb, the shepherds are drunk, and the wolves are feasting.
Yes what is happening does seem like a lost of community conscience — but leaders are also members of the community. In the modern day people have lost physical community, but have not lost their innate craving for that community, it has just been replaced by easily manipulated digital analogues. See the phenomenon of MAGA and DDS which both started out on Facebook before seeping out into the physical world.
I believe that the technocratic governments since the 1980s have fundamentally failed. Politicians need to be close to the pulse of the people, yet today do politicians in Western/Western-aligned countries better serve the interests of the wealthy and of business or serve the interests of the citizen? Technocratic rule in its effort to min-max outcomes by keeping people at the knife’s edge of survival while maximizing the free market has done this to all of us, leaving people feeling unfulfilled and the common person without hope for self-betterment.
Resentment is adjacent to dependency. Not everyone is equipped to charge forward on self-initiative and with a bit of recklessness. People want a bit of guidance from their leaders, to point them to where and how they may gain opportunity if they are willing to put in the hard work. People depend on their leaders; that much hasn’t changed since the time we were still roaming tribes of pre-hominid Australopithecines. When people can no longer depend on the social contract they were led to believe in, we have societal breakdown. We are lost. But he who is lost may yet find his way back — together.
ahem, big daddy trump had better find his way back sooner, before the grim reaper gets him! trump is already showing signs of the ravages of old age, large bruise on his hand where the IV line supposedly was and hidden with thick makeup, does not bode well. old people easily bruised, and then, the swelling on his lower legs, poor venous return that the deoxygenated blood cannot get back up quicker for reoxygenation.
at 79yrs, his heart must be starting to show its age and is slowing down. trump probly would have to wear compression sox or stocking, to force the pooled blood on his leg to return back up, and pool a lot less. but, as president of the richest nation on earth, trump’s medical care must be first class. the grim reaper would just have to hover, be patient, and wait for his chance.
But didn’t you hear? Trump is 6’3” and 224 lbs; an Adonis among men. McDo still has a chance of getting the Nobel Peace prize.
an aging adonis!
It takes commitment and discipline as well to stay unplugged except for the weather news — but some weather sites may still contain items other than news? Thus, requiring more commitment to resist temptation and stay unplugged.
On President Marcos: he must have tried his best to get concessions from the new “Uncle Sam.” My use of that phrase must date me as an old oldie. Haha.
I use windy.com for my weather, and pay for the premium service to get all the bells and whistles. It is strictly weather, no news or ads, and seems highly accurate. It’s all just data after all. This vacation we were hopping islands so the wave forecasts were particularly helpful. They also do fires and lightning strikes which are a blast to watch as electrical storms plaster here or there.
President Marcos got 1% off of tariffs, a token if ever there were one. He got leaned on for ammunition production at Subic and refuelling ships in Mindanao (42 million gallons per year), both of which seem very advantageous for the Philippines. The US is sewing a militery net across the nation that can look like either a security blanket or bulls eye target depending on where one is standing to look at it. 🙂
With or without the US we are bullseye, domain awareness makes us alert ducks.
I think some of the Re-Horizon 3 ideas like refueling tankers for the PAF are a bit silly. The Philippines is only the size of California and even if the maritime aspect is included, land bases are within reach.
Domain awareness requires eyes and sensors within the domain. Rather the money intended for refuelers may be more useful to buy manned and unmanned aircraft to gain those eyes and sensors. Drones would be of great use for this purpose. I know the PAF is looking into the Saab Erieye system mounted on bizjets, but the number I saw was a suggestion to purchase two (2)! The US has been de-emphasizing GWOT era drones like the MQ-9, with many set to be decommissioned while the USAF and USN focuses on more high-end drones. These would still be very useful for the PAF and PCG for surveillance. Saab is developing a miniaturized version of Erieye that can be pod-mounted on the MQ-9B for Ukraine. Imagine how useful these would be for the Philippines? The Philippines might be able to get the MQ-9Bs for free or cheap, then buy the Erieye pods.
https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/saab_aims_to_complete_its_mq_9b_unmanned_awacs_by_2026-14874.html
Hope the decision makers decide well.
what decision makers? we need entertainment, we are sick of what nature throws at us, sick of storms, sick of floods, sick of dirty politicians, sick of being sick, just sick of sick, porbida.
let me entertain you, nah, it will not be gypsy rose lee, (did I spell her name correctly?) but duterte’s son: baste, the mayor of dabaw vs torre the police chief. one is younger the other older, but this is entertainment. I bet for torre. I like his style, he is serious but has time to humor a loud mouthed tyke.
go for it, torre!
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/07/23/2460128/pnp-chief-torre-accepts-baste-dutertes-fistfight-dare
Yes we want to be entertained
fight is scheduled on sunday 27 july 2025 at rizal memorial coliseum in manila.
baste duterte seems to be having 2nd thought and waffling: for him to fight torre all those newly elected officials as well as president marcos to undergo hair follicle drug test!
but why only newly elected officials, why not all incumbents in the public service, all sitting senators as well as all congressmen, governors, mayors and all those in city halls including those in mindanaw, the lot!
and because baste issued the drug test challenge on top of the boxing challenge, he should be the one to pay for all the drug testing expenses involved, using his own money, from his own pocket.
Is he that confident that he will pass the drug test?
I dont know, baste has just scooted off to singapore! tumakbo yata. will he be back in time for the fight, no one knows.
he passed drug test previously, I doubt if it was done by an independent party, one that has no vested interest.
to be clear, his specimen should have been tested by three different laboratories, see if they come up with the same result.
Yes all that the Dutertes can not control or threaten
Another reinforcement
You’re absolutely right — in modern warfare, domain awareness has become more critical than simply understanding geography.
Here’s a concise breakdown of why domain awareness trumps traditional geography, especially in the context of missiles, drones, and precision warfare:
—
🛰️ Why Domain Awareness is More Important Than Geography Today
1. Precision Over Position
Modern weapons like drones and guided missiles don’t just target areas — they hit specific assets (radars, command centers, vehicles).
You can know a mountain range or river, but if you don’t know what’s moving in your airspace or at sea, you’re vulnerable.
2. Multi-Domain Threats
Today’s battlefield is not just land. It’s air, sea, space, cyber, and electromagnetic.
Without domain awareness (tracking, monitoring, anticipating), a force can be blindsided from above (drones), below (submarines), or digitally (cyberattacks).
3. Time-Sensitive Intelligence
A missile or drone strike can happen in minutes.
You need real-time data, not just maps. Knowing where an enemy is now matters more than where they could be.
4. Sensor Fusion and AI
Advanced militaries integrate satellite imagery, radar, sonar, SIGINT, HUMINT, cyber intel into a unified picture.
This is domain awareness — it allows for early warning, targeting, and rapid response.
5. Geography is Static — Domain Awareness is Dynamic
A map doesn’t change. But an enemy fleet can reposition, a satellite can pass overhead, a UAV can scout a new path — awareness must adapt instantly.
—
🚀 Real-World Example: Ukraine-Russia War
Ukraine has inferior geography and hardware, but uses superior domain awareness (NATO intel, Starlink, drone surveillance) to survive and strike effectively.
Russia, despite geographic depth, often loses key assets to real-time drone targeting.
—
🔐 Military Strategy Takeaway
> “You can’t defend what you can’t see.”
Domain awareness is about perception, anticipation, and control — the lifeblood of precision warfare.
Geography is still a factor, but awareness dictates advantage.
—
Would you like a visual or infographic version of this comparison?
Does the Philippines Need Tanker Refuelers and Submarines?
Short answer: Yes — but with strategic caution and context.
1. Tanker Refuelers (Underway Replenishment Ships)
Why important: The Philippines is an archipelagic nation with thousands of islands. Refueling tankers extend the range and endurance of naval vessels, especially offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and larger multi-role frigates.
Use cases:
Sustained patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)
Humanitarian assistance/disaster response (HADR)
Support to smaller vessels during extended operations
Limitation: Costly and vulnerable to missile and drone attacks. The Navy must ensure it has sufficient escort and domain awareness before deploying.
✅ Recommended in the long-term as the Navy modernizes and expands blue-water capabilities.
—
2. Submarines
Why important:
Deterrence: Even a small fleet of submarines can make it riskier for adversaries to operate freely in contested waters.
Stealth & surveillance: Submarines can gather intel undetected and strike if necessary.
Strategic signaling: Elevates the Navy’s operational credibility.
Challenges:
High cost (₱30–50 billion per sub)
Requires long-term investments in infrastructure, training, and sustainment
Potential strain on limited defense budget
✅ Recommended with regional support (e.g., technology transfers, training via France, South Korea, or Australia) but must not come at the expense of basics like radar systems, air defense, and surface vessels.
—
Will Naval Mines, Unmanned Vehicles, and Weapons Be a Priority?
Yes — and they should be. These are cost-effective asymmetric deterrents.
1. Naval Mines
Passive but effective — excellent for area denial, especially in straits and chokepoints.
Useful in littoral defense — The Philippines’ geography makes this a viable option.
Cheap compared to high-end platforms
✅ Yes — priority for maritime denial strategy.
—
2. Unmanned Systems (USVs, UUVs, UAVs)
Low-cost force multipliers
Applications:
ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance)
Mine detection and clearance
Anti-submarine operations
Coastal monitoring
Notable advantages: Reduces risk to personnel, cheaper to deploy, and ideal for surveillance in EEZ or disputed areas.
✅ Should be fast-tracked with help from allies like the U.S., Japan, Australia, or Taiwan.
—
What’s the Alternative?
If the Philippines cannot yet afford a full fleet of high-end submarines or tankers, then the country should prioritize:
✅ Asymmetric and Cost-Effective Maritime Defense
1. Missile-equipped Fast Attack Craft (FACs)
Agile, lethal, and ideal for archipelagic defense.
2. Coastal Defense Batteries
Anti-ship missile systems (like BrahMos) on land deter enemy vessels without needing large fleets.
3. Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Enhancements
Satellites, radar, drones, and sensors to monitor Philippine waters.
4. Expanded Multilateral Patrols and Defense Agreements
Operational synergy with U.S., Japan, Australia, ASEAN states.
5. Maritime Militias / Civilian Integration
Trained fisherfolk and local vessels serving as the eyes and ears of the Navy.
6. Cyber and Information Warfare Capabilities
Undermine gray zone operations through electronic warfare and narrative control.
—
Final Strategic Take:
🔵 The Philippine Navy must evolve smartly — prioritizing awareness, mobility, and asymmetric firepower over prestige platforms. Submarines and tankers are valid but should follow foundational investments in surveillance, alliances, and rapid-response systems.
Let me know if you want a roadmap or defense modernization proposal based on these priorities.
I think the AI misunderstood when it was fed my comment. I have issue with RH3 identifying a “need” for aerial tankers, which is more of a tool of projecting power further away — something the Philippines does not need if the Philippines cannot protects her own sovereign airspace and territorial waters. I have the same opinion as to the proposed purchase of 2 submarines, which are also a tool of projecting power, are slow by nature, and 2 submarines can’t hope to protect the territorial waters.
The money should instead be used for assets that can monitor the domain, and the most defensive weapons to protect that domain as possible within the RH3 budget. That would logically mean a modest number of MRF like F-16 and LF like FA-50, enough surveillance aircraft and naval vessels to blanket eyes within the domain, then anti-denial weapons to arm the aforementioned platforms augmented by land-based weapons of the same. Otherwise the Philippines would end up with a few very expensive toys for military parades and flyovers while the defense problem still has not been solved.
My bad General Joey, GIGO.
Thanks for inputs and outputs.
🤣😂🤣 General Joey. I think we should make that official, lol.
Seconded with conviction.
ahem, I am happy with 1% less tariff our country got. if you know filipinos, we will haggle it further down when time comes. the most important is that communication line is open and well primed, president marcos had a face to face with trump, and the mighty trump has backed down! opened up with a small concession, but it’s a beginning: 1% today, 5% tomorrow! no one is stopping us if we go for seconds! when the american ammo factory gets going in subic, that will be our hedge. we are committed to our ally and ally had better be committed to us too. we can play a long game.
Fair enough.
president marcos is proving to be a lot braver than the prime minister of australia, my oz friends lamented. marcos secured a face to face with trump, whereas the prime minister of australia anthony albanese apparently did not. maybe albanese is still spooked by what happened to zelensky who got well and truly roasted at the white house. not once did albanese had a face to face with trump since trump’s inauguration last november. instead albanese went recently to china on a 6days visit and was lauded, praised and uberly flattered by chinese! aukus deal may well be in jeopardy, still albanese has yet to secure an appointment to the white house.
Filipino affability is a great asset in dealing with someone like Trump. Good to see the policies under Biden are being continued, at least in Indo-Pacific.
we are starting to believe that trump’s tariff is summat a bluff, (for want of a better word!) a call for governments to come and negotiate with trump. those that negotiated got a deal, those that did not, got cast aside. but who wants to be cast aside by the world’s greatest super power, the riches nation on earth, and home of most innovative of ideas!
trump’s tough love seems to be working, EU and NATO are both responding, upping their defense expenses and becoming lesser moochers of dearly beloved uncle sam.
My guess is US advisers have told Trump how important the Philippines is regarding China. So front burner. Australia is a resource but not a flash-point of current conflict.
australia is also flash point, but the albanese govt is playing it down, pretending all is well. it is certainly not well when china played war games right within arm’s length of australia’s eez and firing live ammo into the air without warning that airlines in the vicinity have to scramble to safety. airline pilots overhead the chinese conversation on their high frequencies and immediately radioed the tower; ultimately, the govt of australia got told later.
like with out navy, australian navy apparently also have issues with chinese navy, with australian navy narrowly missed being rammed at the bow. chinese navy is just as aggressive to filipinos as they are to australians.
One way to look at it is that China is the dumbest nation on the planet.
super nice to hear joeam back in circulation. missed him a lot and his voice of wisdom. happy too that he has uber good time with family: son is well, wife is well; relaxing and eating, worrying less and putting his feet up, and just letting the rest of the world go by. well, in his absence, china did have the gumption to invade us, and we are still standing with our usual belligerence.
I wish storms will follow joeam’s example and go on longer vacation and forget the philippines once in a while. we are sick of storms! we averaged 20 storms per year though not all made landfall. those that do cause massive damage and flooding. so much so that president marcos deferred sona, and directed public servants to help to provide typhoon and flood relief to citizens affected.
Our home in Biliran has 15 big vertical posts, each about 40 centimeters thick and stuffed with thick iron bars. The welder who was putting up the heavy-duty C-purlins to support the roof remarked with some amazement, “you have a very strong house here, Sir”. I smiled and nodded. I don’t think big storms are going away. We prune our big trees before storm season. The electrical wires are underground. We have a big pantry and tons of Spam, lol.
your house is much like fort knox! well fortified. you really must have a number of architects and engineers planning and designing the building. lots of food in the larder. you sure can survive a turn of a very bad weather.
One very talented designer who is also a fireman.
Yes, Trump is such an evil man to deport these good folks, amongst others:
From DHS / ICE Press Releases:
From DHS Weekend Arrest Releases:
Other Known Cases:
Due process does not protect the individual. Due process protects the rule of law. Otherwise we will have animal law.
They have been processed, found guilty. What special law do you want provided to them?
That’s my final thought and comment. No intent to hijack the blog into different directions.
The issue is not the cases you provide but others who have not been convicted of crimes but who are taken and sent to prisons that are brutal and dirty. Is that what you want the US to stand for?
With all due respect, relying on AI to gather information to prove one’s point often weakens that point.
The individuals in the second and third sections have already been deported years ago or are still incarcerated after receiving their due process and have no relevance to the present issue.
As for the individuals in the first section, the issue is not the crimes they were accused of, but that they were “deported” to South Sudan, an active war zone. Refer to 8 U.S.C., Section 1231 (b).
Due process does not mean show trials and rigged juries as often is the case in the Philippines. Due process is not a buzz word. Due process means that when the Government imposes a punishment, the individual target of that punishment has a right to (1) have notice of that fact, (2) given reasonable opportunity to challenge the Government’s claim, (3) not have their legal rights which do not disappear regardless of their criminal status violated, (4) one of those legal rights is the right to life, which precludes being sent to a country where they may face torture, be subjected to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or death.
The US Declaration of Independence lists 27 grievances against the tyranny of the British Monarch. 3 of the grievances were about denial of due process, taxation without representation, and forced rendition to foreign countries on simple accusation. Today the US faces abridgement of due process, taxation through tariffs without the consent of Congress, and people being kidnapped to be sent to foreign prison camps.
Ensuring the due process of the worst among us protects the due process of the most innocent of us.
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” — Benjamin Franklin
As earlier AI is just GIGO it regurgitates sometimes if fed the wrong food.
Here is something
Your summary powerfully captures the key issues surrounding the U.S. immigration detention system. Here’s a refined and structured version you can use for clarity and emphasis, especially if you’re preparing this for a report, article, or advocacy piece:
Immigration Detention in the U.S.: High Rates Without Conviction and Due Process Concerns
1. Widespread Detention Without Criminal ConvictionsA significant number of immigrants and foreign nationals are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite not having been convicted of any crime. According to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), as of July 13, 2025, 71.5% of individuals in ICE detention had no criminal conviction. This aligns with findings from CBS News, which reported that nearly half of the 59,000 people in ICE custody at the time had no criminal record.
2. Detaining the InnocentMany of those held are detained for civil immigration violations rather than criminal offenses. Others, including asylum seekers and those who entered the U.S. legally, are detained despite having no record of wrongdoing in either the U.S. or their home countries. This raises serious ethical and legal concerns.
3. Prolonged Detention Without TrialIn some cases, individuals are held for extended periods without a trial or timely resolution of their immigration status. The immigration court system is often overburdened and under-resourced, leading to months or even years of detention for some detainees—particularly those in deportation proceedings.
4. Case in Point: Venezuelans Sent to El SalvadorA CBS News investigation highlighted the case of Venezuelan migrants who had entered the U.S. legally but were deported and sent to El Salvador’s mega-prison. Many of them had no criminal history in either the U.S. or Venezuela, yet were detained and subjected to harsh conditions without due process.
5. Erosion of Due Process ProtectionsDetaining individuals without criminal charges or convictions raises serious due process concerns, as guaranteed under U.S. constitutional principles. Immigrants may face inconsistent legal representation, limited access to evidence, and prolonged detention without judicial review, violating the presumption of innocence.
6. Human Impact on Families and CommunitiesBeyond legal concerns, immigration detention has a profound emotional, economic, and psychological toll on individuals and their families. Children may be separated from parents, breadwinners removed from households, and entire communities destabilized due to unjust or indefinite detentions.
If you’d like, I can help you format this for use in an op-ed, policy brief, or infographic. Would you like citations, legal context (e.g., regarding immigration law and the right to due process), or comparative international examples as well?
Thanks Karl!
I appreciate the due process.
Overstayers in Philippines are also hauled away somewhere and kicked out. No due process.
What I fail to comprehend is this – any other country, the moment you enter without a chop on passport, you have already committed a crime. A very serious crime at that. Afterall it’s not for nothing they are called illegal immigrants.
I
As for AI, it also said this :
Between January 2009 and January 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recorded approximately 5.3 million deportations and returns combined under President Obama. This includes people deported after formal proceedings (removals) and those turned away at the border (returns).
Hi Jan. The answer regarding “any other country” can be lengthy, but the short version is: the US is unlike any country that existed at her founding. The US is founded on ideals, not ethnic identity or ties to an ancient land. The US replaced the rule of self-ordained autocrats with the rule of law.
By the way, I often still use the term “illegal immigrant” by way of habit from my time on the right. However legally there is no such thing as “illegal immigrant.” Rather, crossing the border without (civil) authorization or overstaying a visa is a civil, not criminal infraction.
If someone is here without permission, they should be eligible for deportation. A country has the right to secure her borders. If a person is here without permission AND commits violent or serious crimes, they definitely should be deported. However, the rule of law should also be fair by principle. This means in essence that the law also has discretion to consider the circumstances of the accused. Is it useful to deport people who while may be present without authorization, have built their lives for decades contributing to society? If anyone ever wondered why it’s so hard for Fil-Ams to sponsor their family members with decades long wait times, and it’s hard for regular Filipinos to apply for visitor visas, the fact that Filipinos TNTs are some of the biggest visa jumpers is the reason. The fairness and discretionary nature of the law would say no. Aside also from the fact that big business interests have for decades benefited from illegal labor and lobby against immigration reform/restrictions. Would not he who facilitates the wholesale abrogation of the law be more culpable? That is to say, the big business interests are a large part of the problem, and many of those interests are within the Republican coalition.
Lastly, kidnapping people in the street, not allowing them to have their basic due process rights heard, then summarily deporting them to third countries in the middle of the night is a direct attack on due process. It’s not an accident that all of the biggest SCOTUS cases regarding the Bill of Rights were cases defending the rights of the worst among us. If there is no due process, then any official can accuse anyone of committing crimes and lock them up with no chance of appeal. If they can illegally abridge the due process of people we don’t like, they can do the same to us. I can’t speak to others, but I would rather trust what the Constitution and the laws say, rather than what some official claims the aforementioned says.
I would add that undocumented immigrants perform valuable work in the US, and are a subset of “accepted” workers in California and for a whole lot of businesses across the nation. They aren’t criminals at all. The demonizing of immigrants, or other groups, is the tried and true trick of authoritarians everywhere to raise public ire to a frenzy so thuggery and even troops can be deployed to suppress dissent. Marines in LA? Absolutely comical . . . and tragic. Immigrants are to Trump’s America what Jews were to Hitler’s Germany, in effect. Demonized for authoritarian purposes.
Before the 1954 Operation Wetback and the 1965 Immigration Act, foreign workers more or less migrated freely back and forth over the US-Mexico border for seasonal work. Both were a reaction to anger among returning White GIs who lacked work. It was more common for White Americans to do labor or farm work at the time. The increased (civil) enforcement after the 1965 Act essentially trapped foreign workers on the US side as it became more risky to cross back and forth. This caused migration flow to be one-way into the US from the southern border.
Despite the political actions I described in the former paragraph, large agribusiness and service industry received tacit approval by the US government to hire illegal immigrants who were paid lower wages. The entire US agriculture and meat processing industry runs on illegal labor, especially in the Midwest. Last time I looked around, native Americans don’t want to do hard labor work that is back breaking and is paid low wages, yet Americans still love low prices.
After the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act White backlash started building, culminating with the conservative period from 1968 until the present time. We need to get past the noise and distractions and as reasonable people should look at the issues and fixes if there is a problem. Case in point, Biden offered the Republicans to sign the strictest immigration enforcement bill in the entire history of the US, which included funding for increased enforcement and hiring tens of thousands of new (Article III) immigration judges to fast track reviews that would speed up deportations in a way that respects due process (Constitution) and the existing US statute (congressionally passed) law, yet the Republicans blocked the bill to score political points. And they are doing all these actions to harm the US in order to make a segment of the population remain angry so that billionaires and big business can continue to steal money while Americans are kept at the knife’s edge of financial survival.
Good of you to visit the blog Jan. The issue is masked thugs kidnapping people without due process, not whether some of millions of undocumented immigrants are criminals. Take millions of Americans and you can also cite anecdotal evidence that there are criminals among them.
Welcome back.
The shopping center is still there but in a different mold as a half-empty duty-free joint, but as for the PX that was for the retirees, it was long gone for more than 30 years.
Marcos paying the real estate slumlord a visit in DC was quite a contrast despite both of them byproducts of a massive disinformation campaign; the Philippines seems safer and saner, more than that DT regime now persecuting anyone who is not white, while pursuing policies to make the rich much richer, and get rid of half the sciences critical to controlling climate change and disease.
Ah, thanks for the update on Subic. The wife and I are rather fond of the area. Our first home was in San Felipe up the road a ways. The mayor married us. Your snapshot of DT and Marcos is spot on.