This Blog is Obsolete

Hello Dear Readers,
I wanted to to let you all know that I have moved websites. I grew weary of blogger’s limitations—I guess I can’t have it both ways: free and complete control—and switched over to a different service that provides full website creation instead of just blogging. Here’s the new url: http://furiousramblings.com/

Birthright Citizenship—To Be or Not To Be

Immigration will once again be at the forefront of either candidates’ talking points in 2016. This topic can be distilled into smaller variations and one specificity has caught my attention. A few Republican hopefuls are calling to end birthright citizenship in the United States. In relation to illegal immigration, I see the logic behind that notion. Often people will cross the border and then have a child who is technically a citizen. Since our government isn’t full of monsters, generally a pathway to citizenship is offered to the child’s parents. “Anchor baby” is popular term for this practice.

From a sustainability perspective, ending birthright citizenship might be one of many solutions to stemming illegal immigration. Unfortunately for politicians who promise to end this policy, both the Constitution and tradition stand in the way. The Fourteenth Amendment directly states that people born in this country are automatically citizens. Therefore, writing a new law simply isn’t enough. A new amendment would be necessary and with political division deeper than ever before, I doubt congress could even get the process started. Even before 1868, people born in the U.S. were generally considered citizens.

If birthright citizenship was legally eliminated, our country has no system to replace it. Would everyone have to take a citizenship test or would the replacement process only apply to younger generations? Personally, I am stuck in the middle. On one hand, I see benefits of abolishing this practice. On the other hand, potential complexities and a lack of legal infrastructure might cause more problems compared to the status quo. Of course there are certain political ideologies—which will remain unnamed— that want to keep birthright citizenship, allowing our government can keep giving amnesty to every immigrant. After all the U.S. is a “nation of immigrants,” but I digress. What are your opinions on this issue dear readers? Feel free leave a comment below or on my facebook page. 

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King of Clowns

The circus is back in town, Republican primaries are now in full swing. It seems like every GOP congress person/governor thought, “This year I’ll run for president and win!” Then cue seventeen candidates hoping for the coveted RNC nomination. While messy and chaotic, eventually one presidential hopeful would be chosen. Unfortunately Republican and Conservative voters are once again shooting themselves in the foot.

It's so funny

Donald Trump’s rise to fame among the American Right is not surprising. For at least twenty years the GOP has struggled to convince conservatives that their party can lead this country to prosperity. They pedal social conservative values, but fail to deliver on reducing national debut and the federal government’s size. CISPA, government shut-downs, wars in the Middle East, trying to repeal estate taxes, and other misfires drive swing voters away and sow mistrust among Republican voters. Despite voting for Romney last election, I don’t trust the elephants to change the course our nation is heading down. However, another eights year of Democratic leadership will further expand Federal authority, bureaucracy and continue eroding individual freedoms.

In many ways, our country is walking down a path which splits into two different directions. Each new path leads towards a new outcome and future. I believe the next few presidential administrations and congressional majorities will determine which way is chosen. Life is rarely that binary, therefore, imagine these paths as general trends of political actions and policies. Republicans also reside in unique and beneficial circumstances. Hilary’s recent scandals might destroy her chance at nomination. Sanders has significantly divided Democratic voters since Bush’s second election. One knows the DNC is getting desperate when they encourage Joe Bidden to run for president with Elizabeth Warren as Vice-President. Fate is blessing Republicans with a presidential victory on a silver platter; but as usual, this opportunity will be for naught.

Trump is a cancer to an already poisoned political system and he represents everything wrong corporate American. Neither were his beginnings humble nor did he build his monetary empire from the ground up. Selfishness and pragmatism dictate all of Trump’s actions, meaning he can dress and talk like a conservative, but a fraud can’t mimic forever. Politically minded conservatives—my own term those of us who treat social issues as secondary—aren’t bewitched by Trump’s mindless dribble. Corporate statism is a system the grotesquely rich bastards of Wall Street, including Trump, want to perpetuate. When powerful people from private business and government become good friends, everyone else suffers. Donald’s administration wouldn’t return us to a free market because that doesn’t benefit him or his friends. He represents the greed and corruption that lead to the housing crisis in 2008. On daily basis Trump directly contradicts himself or makes racial comments about Hispanic people. He has made donations massive donations both to previous Democratic candidates and the Clinton foundation—easily one of the most corrupt organizations on earth. Whether it’s immigration plans, national security or other hot-button issues, Trump states his plans with absolutely no detail. Why don’t Trumpkins see this?

I can hear the objections now, “But Trump says what Americans are thinking!” “He’s not a corrupt Washington politician!” “He’s not afraid of politically correct fascism of the left!” “All politicians flip-flop on certain issues.” I am paraphrasing, of course, since I can’t bother myself to find an actual article openly supporting Trump. Here some of my refutations:
1. Trump does occasionally speak nuggets of truth, but as my friend Sean said, “Donald Trump is like a piece of gold at the bottom of a septic-tank.” He’s right. Honest observation is useful, but not when one has wade through a mountain of shit to get there.
2. You’re right nameless Trumpkin, he’s not a corrupt politician, just a corrupt businessman. Honestly, I can’t decide which is worse.
3. Rejecting political correctness is noble quality, but being an asshat and disregarding peoples’ justified criticism is not an admirable quality. Presidents need to have manners and humility.
4. On the issue of flip-flopping, Trump seems to change his mind about any issue on a weekly basis. He makes politicians look decisive and committed.
5. If only he could be honest about his net worth and who actually supports him.

There are conspiracies which position Trump as a democratic plant to discredit Republicans. Given his behavior, this theory has some legitimacy to it, but whether he is working for Democrats or not is irrelevant. Even if the GOP doesn’t nominate Trump, he’ll run on a third party ticket which will steal votes from better candidates. Even Sanders or Biden could win an election against Trump. Conservatives don’t make this mistake, don’t give up another election. Trumpkins please get your heads your butts and stop supporting faux-conservatism.

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