Issues Under Fire: The Migrants Are Coming, the Migrants Are Coming!

Issues Under Fire: The Migrants Are Coming, the Migrants Are Coming! 

After a long hiatus one would think we'd be charged up and ready to grab the world by the tail and give it a whirl. But after taking a good look at the world's condition, this observer is not so sure. We got most of the middle east and northern Africa trying to migrate to Europe to escape the results of Western policies in their region of the world. We got Europeans having a difficult time managing that migration. We got a worldwide problem of millions of people on the move and we got nobody proposing any reasonable solutions so far. 

Besides the global warming/climate change issue, this international challenge of absorbing millions of refugees by nations with limited resources and less than tolerant populations could prove to be quite interesting. If the ugly rhetoric over the immigration issue being spewed by Republican candidates for 2016 presidential election is any indication, one can see how the United States will respond to its humanitarian responsibilities. 

Since most would agree, it was primarily U.S. foreign policy that's led to these massive movements of people seeking international sanctuary, it should be the U.S. shouldering the cost of their resettlement. Considering that cost could reach into the hundreds of billions, selling a Syrian refugee sob story won't be easy. Having this issue heat up during a major election places candidates in the awkward position of having to take a position.  

If the United States sends the message of building walls to keep people out, it will be difficult to convince Europe to accept more strangers into their countries. Many of these strangers can't speak the language of their new host. They have no money. They have no jobs. They have no shelter. They have no access to education or healthcare for their families. They have nothing. And on top of all that, some of them may be bad people.  

Considering the United States has significant issues dealing with people of color and the Muslim faith (foreign an domestic) it'll be entertaining to see how U.S. policy makers walk the narrow line between the hardcore border security first and foremost mindset and still maintain a narrative of being fully engaged and concerned internationally. If the United States wants to be seen leading on this issue, it can't be seen dodging its international obligations. Podcast below