Monday, June 13, 2016
Fear of Others – The 21st Century’s Foreign Policy Driver
Melting
pot/lettuce bowl nations, react to “perceived differences” of those hammering
on their doors for asylum based on three rather clear variables: numbers of
wannabe immigrées,
proximately to the source of mass migration (long-term prognosis) and economic
confidence.
This
easily explains Canada’s proud “open door” policy to those fleeing drought,
economic desperation, genocide, religious persecution and war. Her economic
policies – which press moderation/conservative stability versus over-leveraged
and loosely-regulated cowboy financial games – have managed to weather every
major recession, even the Great Depression, of the 20th and 21stcenturies.
Rich in natural resources and harboring a sparse population, Canada seldom
loses confidence in their long-term economic future. Income inequality is not a
Canadian issue. There are no hordes Syrians or Iraqis… or even Mexicans… next
door. With free universal healthcare and general access to solid schools,
Canadians are pretty sure they’ll be safe and doing “okay” for the foreseeable
future.
And
most of all, there is no populist movement of under-educated, quivering fear
that marks the negative reactions of white traditionalists in Western Europe
and the United States. That one of the two presumptive U.S. presidential party
candidates – representing the political party that currently controls the
majority of state legislatures, governorships and, oh yes, Congress itself – is
campaigning against Mexicans (including a platform to build a massive wall and
deport over 11 million people), willing to ban Muslims (even tourists) and
erect trade barriers and risk trade wars… is the clearest expression of white
rural values populism, isolationist and anti-foreigner.
Income
inequality? Blame foreigners. Rather than address the tiny body of mega-wealthy
in this country (including Donald Trump himself) replacing workers with
automation (that they conveniently own), lobbying tax rates and anti-regulatory
schema that favor them, using their money to tilt the playing field even more
in their favor… the Republican platform is rather harshly constructed on attacking
and blaming foreigners and those foreign-born who wish to live here. Taking
jobs? Seriously? What job have you lost to an undocumented Mexican? National
security threats? Like we would stop focused terrorists with a ban on Muslims
and hope that they do not use our anti-Muslim bent to recruit more radicals?
Unwilling
to talk to all the animals, Trump has developed a push-me-pull-you approach to
foreign policy. Threatening to bomb ISIS off the map – ignoring the millions of
innocent casualties who would perish under this unworkable potential as well as
the Islamic backlash that would make attacking the US anywhere priority one for
a much large angry horde – Trump appears oblivious to the risks or
consequences.
But
watching right wing backlash in Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe, against
a clearly unmanageable flood of Syrian and Iraqi immigrants, many dying in the
effort or trapped in horrific “temporary camps” awaiting policy shifts… is even
worse. And what too many Americans do not realize is the upcoming vote that
could pull the UK out of the European seems to have morphed into a referendum
on immigration and open borders.
England?
That polyglot nation where you probably can better Pakistani food than
Pakistan? In a recently televised plea from P.M. David Cameron asking his
people to stay the course and remain in the EU, he obviously struggled against
the powerful anti-immigrant message of those who think it’s time to sever EU
ties, even knowing that there would be serious economic disruption.
“David
Cameron on Tuesday [June 7th] night made an impassioned plea for the country to
stick with an organization that he acknowledged ‘can drive me mad.’
“Warts
and all, Cameron argued in a nationally televised appearance, in which he was
sharply questioned by voters, life in the E.U. is better than the alternative:
a leap into the unknown with a British exit, known as Brexit.
“Cameron,
who called the referendum despite his support for E.U. membership, said Britain
should stay in the 28-member bloc and try to reform it from within rather than
risk the economic shock that experts have warned would come with a departure…
‘Leaving is quitting,’ he said, ‘and I don’t think we’re quitters. I think
we’re fighters.’
“But in his 30-minute appearance, Cameron was repeatedly
pressed by voters on how he could stop the uncontrolled flow of immigrants from
elsewhere in Europe, levels of which have surged over the past decade. A man
who identified himself as a small-business owner said the prime minister had
been ‘humiliated’ when he tried to negotiate restrictions on immigration with
his fellow E.U. leaders this year.
“Cameron
repeatedly tried to steer the conversation away from immigration and back to
pounds and pence, citing the ‘extraordinary consensus’ of experts who say
Brexit could send the country into an economic tailspin. Immigration ‘is a
challenge,’ he said. ‘But it’s not a challenge we should meet by damaging our
economy.’
“The
prime minister’s appearance came against a backdrop of tightening polls, which
now show a dead heat ahead of the June 23 vote. As recently as
two weeks ago, they had measured a sizable advantage for the “remain” side.
“But
the pro-Brexit campaign’s unrelenting focus on immigration appears to be winning
over voters who worry that the country cannot continue to accept mass arrivals
from Eastern Europe under the E.U.’s free-movement laws.
“Cameron
was pitted Tuesday [June 7th] night against [powerfully anti-immigrant] Nigel
Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party, an anti-E.U. movement that was
the third-highest vote-getter in last year’s national elections.” The
Washington Post, June 7th. Post-Orlando, reflecting immigration fears, the
polls showed the “leave” vote surging past the “stay” vote by 7 percentage points. We
have moved from being a tolerant and democratic society to an angry nation
unable to understand, much less grapple with, the obvious changes in our world.
I’m Peter Dekom, and
sometimes in our fear of foreigners and our reactions to their aspirations, we
turn friends into mortal enemies hell-bent on destroying us and our way of
life.
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