AGAIN, on Immigration (excuse the repetitiveness).

Response to a Facebook post. 

I AM Asian. Let's look at this issue pragmatically as we calm the drama down. To be in America as a foreigner, you need to be useful to America. You need to be NEEDED. Let me elaborate.

       <>Regardless that many Asians are also illegal/undocumented or "visa overstays," they are the highest household earners among all ethnicities and the most educated/skilled (among all races here, including whites). They are essentially "quiet," partisan/politically unengaged, and law obedient. They work, they pay taxes, they have fun. Useful and needed. 

       <>Central Americans and those that entered/crossed via the southern border are a bit complicated and complex. They are similar to those who entered Europe illegally via the border "laxity" of the Schengen Area. Their punishing journeys in large groups are mostly facilitated by human traffickers and drug cartels. Syndicates and smugglers and coyotes, in cahoots with border patrols and bent/corrupt local officials, profit from them. Many are forced to "pawn" their kin left behind back home vis-a-vis "cartel activities" in America. 

       Meanwhile, many are deposited in factories and farms as an arrangement with business owners, paid in coins, housed in trailer homes like sardines in a can, no health security, not counted when calamities hit them. But they toil the land. They are "needed" by America that way. As long as they don't "moonlight" as mules or drug couriers, they can stay. Slaves but hey they keep farms and factories "alive." Never mind that they don't speak English. THAT is the reason why this side of partisanship wants them here otherwise all illegals in America are legal now. As we speak, there are 14 million undocumented in America, a modest number since that's only the official count. This: Around 70 percent of farm workers are illegal. 

       <>Anyhow, it was Barack Obama who deported the most number of illegals, 400,000 on average, in his first term. That rivaled Dwight Eisenhower's Operation Wetback in 1954. Donald Trump had so far deported close to 200,000 this year but that's mainly because Joe Biden also let in a record number from 2021 to 2024 1st Q. Also in 2021, Joe abolished the Merida Initiative, the US/Mexico et al law enforcement cooperation/partnership per anti-cartel or human trafficking program. As expected, cartels exploited that; smugglers from elsewhere in the world hooked up with Mexican cartels for "management" of border crossings. Hence the record numbers, in many instances, 4,000 to 6,000 a day. 

       <>In fairness to Obama or Trump, the illegals that they sent home or removed are those with clear ties with cartels or criminal organizations, has active crime dossier, no adapting citizen kin here, not sponsored by NGOs or churches, and don't qualify for asylum (the program has been bankrupt for years). Yet millions stay because they are NEEDED by the economy. 

       <>I can talk more but this is already long. This immigration issue has to be discussed in length over one-click of memes. I could be wrong but majority of my insight are based on my work as journalist who covered the border in California and migrant shelters, police beat, and I worked as well as paralegal for an NGO in LA and law office in New York + I co-wrote a grant for a nonprofit that assisted via legal advice to illegals in both cities. 🗽🏃‍♀️🏃

Compilation of my short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Apparently, I am an avid follower of sports and politics. Yet, I don’t really have a favorite sports team. I am after an exciting game. Entertainment royale! And I am not also a follower of any political party. I am after good leadership for the majority, regardless (if ever) I am not part of the majority. I am not into ism, ideology, or paradigm. I’d prefer a system that works for more people. But I try my best not to mix my earnest for politics with my sports leisure.⛹️👨‍⚖️😜

Boycott. Out! Cancel. Shame. These words or their equivalent have evolved into vicious weapons of character punishment these days. Reread a book that was written 75 years ago. Don't like a paragraph: Boycott! Boss scolds staff for tardiness: Out him! White dude wore an afro wig: Cancel! Neighbor went to Church: Shame! Years ago, that’s fine. First amendment? But on the internet/social media per New Moralism? Better be careful. You may even lose your job. 👤🗣🫂

I don’t dig protest moves in situations where/when people are having fun. But uh huh I get the tactic. Still, I don't see the sense in advocating stuff while the crowd’s focus is obviously on (non-political) entertainment. Not the venue, not the time. Don't engage. I'd rather sit and be cool. Save my energy for sustained legislative lobby, media barrage, and dissent on the plaza with a legal permit. Change the law as I work in/around it. Meantime, enjoy the game! 👤?☮️

Many activists brag that their acts of dissent are done voluntarily, without pay. Not necessarily. Years ago, I was an active organizer of civil disobedience moves. A professional job with nonprofits/NGOs that were funded big time. A personal passion but it was also a job. I know of protesters these days who are paid a lot better than regular employees. Yet there are those who help in calamity areas, no pay. Many get injured, got sick, die/d. The true activists. Heroes. 👤🗣🫂

Wars don’t solve any problem, global or regional. Repeat: I am anti-war, not anti-military. Soldiers are needed beyond wars. But the military budget doesn’t need to exceed spending for gut issues like health care, vaccine research, safe housing, internal law enforcement, food supply etcetera. Washington’s military budget is now at $811+ billion. Budget of America’s perceived “enemies,” you ask? $253 billion combined: China: $229.5 bn; Russia, $24.6bn.

       China has more people, 1.4 billion (almost 5x than the U.S.) Russia is the largest geography. They got more people and home territory to protect, if need be. The U.S. and NATO can easily pulverize both nations, sure. But would that “silence” or defeat them? Hate would be louder, for sure. Not even talkin’ about the gargantuan global divide, massive ruin, and huge economic implications to the majority of the world—that a nonstop war between superpowers would usher. That’d be the end of Life, not climate change. ☯️💝☮️

Understandable to defend your president. But there are obvious flaws that hit leadership that we shouldn’t hide with twisted memes. Such as the price/s of gasoline. A meme says why are we so hot with $4+ per gallon, when it is double in France? Here: The cost of gasoline in Europe has always been higher than the U.S. Always. Also: E.U. is still buying oil from Russia despite the so-called sanction. Oil giants dictate economics but leaderships approve and implement them.

       [1] Taxes in Europe have always been a lot higher than in America; hence oil/gas are also taxed high out there. Most European nations also don’t impose “wealth tax.” Some who do, tax their rich a lot lower than the U.S. China taxes its rich 46 percent. [2] Oil/gasoline are still delivered to Europe, despite the Ukraine War or its sanctions, as long as these are pipelined, not shipped. You may google European energy/utility giants that have invested a lot of money on Nord Stream pipelines. But they gotta say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the reason why you are paying this amount at the pump. Dig? ⛽️💰⛽️

Post-Uvalde or post more shootings (I really am so sad to say), we wash our grief, cushion our pain, muffle our fear—how? Toss balls at the wall that keep on bouncing back at our face? Shaming. Shame the police, shame the “rogue” state, shame the other polar extreme. Easy, smartass memes as response to the unending horror? Arm the teachers, embarrass the cops. Expand NATO, let the hawk flaunt its military brawn. The Dove of Peace gasps. Wounded.☮️💔☮️

I was raised in a Catholic/Conservative family. I grew up in conformity per parental rules. Whole lotta don’ts. No problem. My dad on the dinner table before us nine children: “Eat and finish your food. Don’t talk unless you have something important to say.” No problem. Rules, law, common cool. But then I wasn’t raised to hush it when I got “important things to say,” regardless of disagreements. So from age 14, I pursued journalism—and activism. Speak my mind. No problem. 👶🗣👴

Right and Left. Then and now. I coexisted with polar extremes. I learn from both. The Right, when they deem you are the opposite, would treat your presence like a bumblebee. Though mostly they are not rude; they’d just leave you alone. The Left, so hot to talk because of the rabid need to lecture how wrong you could be. Difference? Old Left, will spend 4 hours straight, in calm, to gain your thumbs-up. New Left, it won’t take a minute for them to auto-call you “Idiot.” LOL! 😛😝😂

Vehemently, I don't agree with euthanizing dogs while in shelter. I get the rationales but still. Control reproduction, I agree. But euthanize them? Nope! No more budget for animals? What about military spending? Or study 1000 year old Viking poop? WTH! All the weird frivolities that we spend on? We throw away lots of food that can be (re)processed as dog food. Dogs have a short life span—to enjoy earth and its blessings. Why can’t we give them love before they go? 🐕💖🐕

REPEAT: Immigration Story.

Response to a (Filipino) Friend’s Facebook post. 

FIRST, “immigrants and migrants” are two different people in a foreign country. Anyhow, the facts: <>A record number of illegal migrants (400,000 average) were deported during Barack Obama's first term. The only time that such number of removals was recorded was in 1954's Operation Wetback; Dwight Eisenhower years. Donald Trump's number isn't near Barack's number although near or may be broken. Why?

<>Joe Biden let in a record number of migrants from 2021 to first quarter of 2024; 4000 to 5000 a day. In 2021, Joe somehow relaxed border controls per cartel-facilitated crossings by ending the Merida Initiative. Hence human traffickers and other organized syndicates from South America, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia took advantage by hooking up with Mexican and Central American drug cartels for passage through Darien Pass or Rio Grande into the US southern borders. 

       <>Record number of illegals means Donald has to send back more as well. But those sent back are deemed "undesirables" and have no sponsors in the U.S. or don't qualify for asylum (the program has been bankrupt for years). <>Illegals are majority provided by coyotes to farms and factories and human trafficking "safehouses." Coyotes are employed by cartels who work with "bent" border security. These workers are not paid the legal pay and no benefits. Of course. And so on and so forth. 🗽🏃‍♀️🏃

Trump and Venezuela. Regime Change. Stuff.

Response to a Friend’s Facebook post. 

I DON’T think a Washington “regime change” of Venezuela, if ever, would be cool with China. The top buyer of Caracas’ oil is Beijing. But I feel Mr Trump's recent aggressive moves vs. alleged cartel ships in Venezuela, apart from the obvious, also serves as part of his tactics per trade with China. A few shudders could force Nicolas Maduro to shut his waters from cartel transit, as Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum gets strict on Rio Grande, Darien Pass, and Gulf of Mexico on President Trump’s pressure. Same case in the recent drama in Iran. Selective thrillers. China is Tehran's #1 oil customer. The CCP won't allow shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. 

       Meanwhile, the insane U.S. military buildup everywhere is a Washington habit. The report about another near Venezuela doesn’t really surprise me. America maintains 750 bases in 80 countries! The last regime changes in Asia were in 1945 (Philippines and Korea) and 1963 (Vietnam) or, you may also count 1986 in the Philippines. Yet there are currently 41 U.S. military bases in the region. Including satellites, some sources say 300! 

       Why can't the U.S. simply do the military brinkmanship trick or "gunboat diplomacy" there in the East since the 21st century strode in? In Myanmar, especially? Or shake North Korea a bit? Actually create real hostilities in the South China Sea besides fishing boat "quarrels"? 

       China.

       ADD: Despite biggies Japan and South Korea (and the Philippines) as all-out Washington political hound dogs, they are economic allies of China. Refer to RCEP, for example, which also has Australia and New Zealand as members. India and Indonesia are BRICS.

FB Friend: The bill is coming due for a faltering U.S. hegemony.

U.S. (global) hegemony has already "faltered." The signal was ushered by the 2000 trade pact between Bill Clinton and Jiang Zemin, which cleared the path for China to enter the WTO and the universal economic terrain that was dominated by the U.S. and Europe for centuries. Anyhow, Mr Trump as in other POTUSes before him will always abide by America's military narcissism to influence global relations although Donald tries to diversify a bit mainly due to China not biting Washington's traditional hawkish dare. 

       Yet as I keep on saying, the U.S. will stay #1 as long as it maintains a relatively cordial relations with China and BRICS and continually challenge/s NATO and Europe's timewarped belief that the West is still as mighty as the 18th century. But Mr Trump is demonized big time, regardless of the dovish insistence in his playbook. ☮️☮️☮️

Compilation of my short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

I quit organizing concerts and publishing indies when hate got really louder than the music and words. Relentlessly, I was so high on gathering people for fun then. Then the divide got eerily wider; public safety, blurry. I felt ushering venues for convergence peace would only slide to political murkthrow. I covered the countryside war in Asia. But then I had ideas where danger was. These days in America, we don’t know where and when the bullet will hit, and who shot it. ☮️💔☮️

I am old and grumpy or achingly political. So be it. It disappoints me that many would ogle at confectioned stench like Johnny vs Amber over many pertinent issues these days. I did post/blog the Depp/Heard kitsch. Done. What about billions$ tossed to a war amidst 8.5 percent inflation? Defense spending now exceeds $800 billion. Years ago, people minded inane prez tweets but not actual work. Who cares about tweets; I mind leadership performance sans blah. 

       Per the President’s Asian trip, expect military “aid” to soar some more. I am virulently anti-war. Leaders who pull troops out of war and thumb down NATO? I doff my hat. But leaders of the West nowadays? Nope. I don’t care about personality swagger. I am not a 20something romantic anymore. My wicked pragmatism is borne out of my long rock journeys and worn/torn sublime madnesses. Show me the workboard, not the high-falutin’ morality. 🗣👤👥

Another high school friend passed away yesterday. Heart and lungs complications. I survived my own near-fatal health issues in 1995 in Manila and 2000 in New York, after a surgery. I have never been healthier, I think, since then. All I get is pollen allergy for 2 or 3 weeks. Yet my body’s armor is what it is. Wear and tear. I mostly protect my mental health. I engage in less arguments and try to avoid drama. Plus the babedawg and koolcat help me chill. Amen? 🐕💞🐈

Now that I am old—much older than my dad when I was a virulently fired-up radical, I realize how annoying I was. My father wasn’t even political. Just inquiring about a son who was a journalist. Yet I insisted on my politics—on anyone who dared argue via the contrary insight. My opinion or eat your onion; my way or walk the freeway! So these days when I talk with peeps who push their partisan pizza on me, I just shake my head. Then I whisper to Alexa: “…Play Bee Gees, please.” 🗣👂🥱

NBA talk. Chet Holmgren, who played for Gonzaga only for 1 year, could be the top draft pick. Yet, I believe, Chet is a project, full of potential but still very raw. Yet consider this: Top pick gets over $8 million on Year 1. The 10th pick: $3+ million. If a rookie is a Top 10 newbie? Instant millionaire! You don’t get that pay even if you finish with a PhD. Meanwhile, look at what happened with Top Picks Greg Oden and Zion Williamson who went straight to pro ball? But hey they got millions! 

       The 1-year pay, of course, doesn’t include perks, bonuses, and endorsements. In case the rookie gets hurt (like Mr Oden and Mr Williamson), still—he gets the money per contract. In case the injury didn’t heal and so he retires? Still, the pay goes on per contract. Hence, these days they are very careful that players don’t get hurt. Hard foul? Let’s review the TV monitor, okay? Flagrant Foul 67 or Flagrant Foul 89? These guys are huge business investments! 🏀💰🏀

Due to primal cultural diversity, we will stay different till we expire. Your belief is yours; mine is mine. But it doesn’t mean we can’t share dinner, play chess, or dance pasodoble as ballroom partners. Mutual fun is gained as we explore what we can enjoy as two over those that instigate us to fight. Left or Right; religious or atheist; pro life or pro choice etc. Human reflex works around a common response to universal coolness. Pursuit of good is fun; dwelling on bad, sux!☯️💝☮️

I observe other homepage/s that are busier than most, with a minimum of 15 usually intense comments to a post. Ah! Imagine if I’d be responding to each rude response to whatever I wrote? Old age coolness wasted! LOL! It would be nice to get a few grownup replies once and a while, which I do, but I am thankful I am not usually provoked to respond to silly fireballs. Yet I wish I could meet that person in person. Maybe he/she’s cool without an e-gadget? 🗣👤👥

Peeps always ask for watch (streaming TV) recommendations. Of course, there are thousands to type up. But in terms of comedy, which are mental health imperatives especially these days: Try “Kung Fu Hustle,” a Hong Kong made tickler. However, if you say “Nah ah!” because it is essentially Chinese or it is martial arts (violent?) that’d mean, the movie will not do you no good for laughter. So I suggest, increase your Zoloft dosage and go click “Dr Phil” on CBS. 😜🎬🤪

I do follow politics, 24/7. It was a professional (journalism) job and so even though I am not active anymore, I got used to it as second-nature. Many say they don’t want to talk “political” or delve into politics chat. I understand. Few really follow politics as “crazily” as I do or dig in deep to figure things out. They don’t want to talk about stuff that they are not familiar with. The problem is, when people who don’t really read/follow politics argue about politics a lot. 😏🍆😟

What is shared on Social Media are those that we choose to reveal. Sure. The integral parts/truths of us stay TMI a.k.a. "too much info." Yet despite all the drama and genius that are shared for transparency, I notice that humanity here tend/s to get scared, guarded, or wary of people more. Walls are built rather than bridges connected. Interaction out there would know us better—but hoping that the conversation isn’t about whoever you voted for president. Otherwise, stay in. LOL! 🗣👤👥

China's military parade, Trump deportations, and stuff.

Response to Facebook posts by friends. 

<>Military parades are an annual show of hawkish superpower spunk. No big deal. The big deal? China's military budget: $249 billion (#2 globally). U.S.? An uncontested $850 billion! Yet China is the U.S.’ #2 or #3 top trade partner; could be #1 again after an expected trade pact 2 by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

 

       Current top trade buddies Canada and Mexico? Mark Carney is being dramatic about stuff while Claudia Sheinbaum may shudder per President Trump's pursuit of drug cartels etcetera. (Narcopolitics is a superpower ogre out there. But Mexico's leadership must work with Don in obliterating the padrones to make sense of Washington's current plan.)

       Meanwhile, the U.S., Canada and Mexico have been haggling and hawing over tariffs for years so “Trump tariffs” are not really their issue (refer to NAFTA). 

<>President Trump has so far deported or arrested close to 150,000 illegal migrants. Take note the record number of border crossings by the undocumented from 2021 to 2024, after Joe Biden ended the Merida Initiative in 2021. Deportations are no-brainer. 

       Yet it was Barack Obama, in his first term, who deported the most number of migrants: 400,000+ average. That is the U.S. record of deportations (after Operation Wetback in 1954). But no Left-wing howl this loud in Obama years. 🏛🗽🏛

Compilation of my short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page

Would it matter if Jesus Christ, Mohammad, or Buddha are white, black, yellow or brown-skinned? Would people stop shaming others’ religion? All religions are guilty of wrongdoings, as they are respected as well for good deeds. Because human existence treads imperfection. What matters are the teachings on those preserved texts that inspire and motivate universal good. But we usually anchor conflicts on our outer layer diversity. What if our Faith is all one-color? No color? 🕌?✝️

France’s presidential aspirant Marine Le Pen is anti-IMF and anti-NATO. Those anti positions were Old Left ideals. Yet she is branded Far Right. Then, workers who forged energies versus corporate greed were called Communists or Leftist radicals. These days, they are called Conservative Right—although they also forge energies vs corporate greed. Populism is essentially the majority poor. Yet the word is now demonized by the media. How the world’s words get mixed up. ☮️☮️☮️

I was a radical Leftist. But raised as a Catholic Conservative. The Old Right: They’d quietly dismiss or evade you in case of disagreement. They are essentially still the same. The Old Left was more focused, patient, and intent—in pursuit of gut issues. Differences ignite them to reach out more. The New Left, however, expanded its reach to include “correctness” morality and ideological purity. They’d stick to their paradigm similar to how devout religious cling to theirs. Me? Just a pasckie. 🗣👤👥

Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife, Amber Heard, for an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post referring to herself as “…representing domestic abuse.” This Hollywood drama, albeit supposedly “private” is VERY public. Unless they are family or close friends, I am not interested in the personal life of people, rich and famous or not. Why would I? Meantime, my viewing pleasure of movies is just-that: Viewing pleasure. Depp is Depp and Heard is—at least now, you heard about her. 🎬😭🎬

Most of my life as a journalist I covered politics. Listened to politicians talk a lot, off the record as well. But since Obama’s last campaign in 2012, I lost interest in listening to politicians talk. I also considerably stopped watching News TV. But my reading madness of politics got more intense, focused, and frequent. You see, when news is spoken, I often lose the facts of the matter. The “spade” isn’t tackled as “spade” per se but somebody else’s “spade.” 🗣👤👥

I don’t believe most of the political news that I read these days--but I read them just the same. Reading those that I don’t agree with—is also a learning curve. For example, although I don’t concur with most of what the New York Times reports these days, I haven’t stopped reading it. The only newspaper that I read ceaselessly since high school days. Though grossly opinionated by way of its partisan bent, NY Times presents its stuff with aesthetic flair. Good writing. 📝📚📝

Money and punishment—in pro sports. Most recent: NBA fines Miles Bridges $50K for hitting a fan with mouthguard after ejection. Next: Patrick Beverley fined $30K after telling opposing players to “…take your ass home!” Those shenanigans don’t compare with the “ordinary” violence in ice hockey games, of course. NHL fines range from "only" $1,000 to $15K (which is max so far). And then I still read scholarly analysis of the Slap over the nonstop shootings out there. ?☮️🏒

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator, looms as frontrunner in the presidential election in the Philippines next month. He is ahead by 20+ points over 2nd-running Leni Robredo. Philippine politics is multiparty; the eventual winner doesn’t get a majority vote. Strategically, if the campaign focuses on persuading voters who opt for the three other aspirants to go to Leni, she will have a chance. The tactic of shaming the rival candidate doesn’t work. 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

News: “Video shows Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine being beaten and shot in their legs.” We know what a war is all about. How many wars have excised punishment on humanity in our respective lifetimes? Hence, does the media need to parade the atrocities, cruelties, and mayhem right on our gadgets, 24/7? We get it. We get the message. What is the point? Pummel in our head who are the villains and who are the heroes? And add fire to more hatred? ☮️☮️☮️

When a politician or any individual issues an insight that runs against the popular narrative, that person is auto-dismissed as Conservative Rightwinger or Populist Right. A long time ago, “popular narrative” a.k.a. The majority voice was defined as populism. Antithesis to elitism of the rich, privileged few. Today’s weird conjecture: If the “populist” take tends to go Old Left vs the New Left, then it is called “populist Left.” So what do we call the New Left? Liberal? Progressive? Yet not Elite? 👈👅👉