This is what I find most infuriating about the ban. Ask any Canadian, British or American soldier who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and they will tell you numerous stories about how the interpreters were incredibly vital and in many cases saved the lives of the troops they were assigned to. They did this at a huge risk to themselves and their families who were at risk of being killed for supporting us. It absolutely sickens me that he would be handcuffed and denied his rights that he more than earned to come to the US.
Knocked out by enemy mortar rounds, 1st Lt. Matt Zeller had just regained consciousness when the fire drew closer. As he got his bearings, he realized he was literally in an empty grave, dozens of Taliban militants firing down on him and his fellow soldiers from a ridgeline above.
“I thought, ‘I’m never going to get married, or have kids, and my parents are about to get the worst phone call of their lives,’ ” recalls Zeller, an intelligence officer with the US Army National Guard who had only been in Afghanistan for 10 days. “I freely admit to being terrified.”
Suddenly, AK-47 gunfire rang out, hitting the two fighters. An Afghan interpreter for US forces, Janis Shinwari, had just saved Zeller's life.
“In times of tragedy you look for the helpers, and these are the people who actually run into the fire,” he says. “That’s what Janis and others like him did…. He is the embodiment of these selfless traits in service to our country.”
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Yes, it was previously harder for people from those countries to enter the US and now Trump has made it even harder. He didn't pick those countries because of lack of business interests, it's just that they were the easiest targets because they were already countries of concern.
OK I gotta stop reading this thread it is seriously pissing me off too much absolutely disgusting what is going on over there
They're on the path to losing what's left of their so called democracy. It's incredibly frustrating but it was probably always coming. I don't know if any super power could reasonably operate as a democracy forever.
I also don't know if the average American even sees what's happening very slowly but surely in their country. They're mostly caught up in the "issues" that are slammed in their faces 24/7.
Tough times down there.
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Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
Exp:
Quote:
In a rare middle-of-the night decision, two federal judges in Boston have temporarily halted President Trump’s executive order blocking immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States.
At 1:51 a.m. Sunday, Judge Allison Burroughs and Magistrate Judge Judith Dein imposed a seven-day restraining order against Trump’s executive order, clearing the way for lawful immigrants from the seven barred nations — Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Syria — to enter the US.
ENJOINED AND RESTRAINED from, in any manner or by any means, removing individuals with refugee applications approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as part of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and other individuals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen legally authorized to enter the United States.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to assure compliance with the Court’s order, the Court directs service of this Order upon the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York, and further directs the United States Marshal Service to take those actions deemed necessary to enforce the provisions and prohibitions set forth in this Order.
I’ve never seen an order like that directed against the U.S. government in my life. What the judge just did is sent federal law enforcement affiliated with the court to JFK airport to make sure other federal law enforcement obey the order. In other words, Judge Donnelly does not trust that the Trump administration will follow the law and pre-emptively sent muscle to carry out her order.
If you’re to believe the Daily Kos, a source that I don’t necessarily consider reliable due to political bias on par with Fox News, but in the other direction, the U.S. Marshals were sent with good reason: they report that in other airports, U.S. Customs & Border patrol has ignored the order.
If Trump chooses to direct his agencies to ignore court orders, this could be a very rapid beginning and end to his administration, as I cannot imagine Congress not impeaching a president who does so. This situation may come to a head quite soon… stay tuned…
Not sure I'd consider this a legit source. If true however, when different federal organizations start getting directly conflicting orders, it doesn't exactly ease the tension. I would imagine no-one on JFK is happy about the mess they're in.
As a Canadian, I have always been proud of our nation's multicultural background. Also, I'm no socialist but, I think people have a right to health care It has been an eye opening week for sure.
I think, to a degree, we're all Socialists.
Being a pure Capitalist? Man...Pure Capitalism was founded during the Industrial Revolution and, while an important time in our history that was likely one really grim period to live through.
Capitalism is a great thing, but it has to be regulated and given a structure and rules to operate within.
I actually pity the United States in a lot of ways, and socialized Health Care is one of them. It seems like a 'No Brainer' but man, I do not envy any society trying to implement socialized Health Care now. We are hugely fortunate for what we have regardless of how much I complain about its bloated costs.
It isnt perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I dont think I'd like to live somewhere that didnt have it.
I think the biggest issue with it, from our perspective, is that its become something almost sacred and holy. It cant be touched and it cant be changed and I think thats wrong.
I totally understand it, thye're in charge of our Health Care, but its become too emotionally charged and isnt being crticially analyzed.
But thats one problem to have and the other is that you cant debate that problem because you're dying in the street of a country without Universal Healthcare.
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Being a pure Capitalist? Man...Pure Capitalism was founded during the Industrial Revolution and, while an important time in our history that was likely one really grim period to live through.
Capitalism is a great thing, but it has to be regulated and given a structure and rules to operate within.
I actually pity the United States in a lot of ways, and socialized Health Care is one of them. It seems like a 'No Brainer' but man, I do not envy any society trying to implement socialized Health Care now. We are hugely fortunate for what we have regardless of how much I complain about its bloated costs.
It isnt perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I dont think I'd like to live somewhere that didnt have it.
I think the biggest issue with it, from our perspective, is that its become something almost sacred and holy. It cant be touched and it cant be changed and I think thats wrong.
I totally understand it, thye're in charge of our Health Care, but its become too emotionally charged and isnt being crticially analyzed.
But thats one problem to have and the other is that you cant debate that problem because you're dying in the street of a country without Universal Healthcare.
I think part of the reason it's become a sacred cow is because of where the discussion always starts on our health care system. I'm not sure where the discussion goes in your experience but in mine with conservatives in this country it almost always goes directly to it not being free for everyone and that's where people get their backs up immediately.
Cutting costs? Absolutely. Making sure it's not bloated and that we're getting good value for taxes? Absolutely. Trimming back health care wages and salaries? Sure, but just be careful.
But it almost always goes to "We need to implement user fees and it should quite frankly be pay for use, I'm tired of payin' for a bunch of new Canadians to get health care". This type of stuff will get the average Canadian's back up, for sure.
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I completely agree. I believe in the shared cost of certain things for the benefit of all.
I spend a lot of time in Idaho each year. I have lots of great friends there despite some having very different views on some things.
One friend was all for the richest people paying relatively small taxes and benefits because they had earned it. Sure, they have earned the money but on the backs of employees that are, in many ways, taken advantage of.
Idaho is a 'right to work state'. At first look, this appears to be protection for the workers but it's actually protection for the employer. A girl I dated was a waitress at a nice restaurant. Her wage was $3.25/hour; if her tips amounted to more than what her wages were, the employer didn't pay her a wage. Essentially, she was working for free because her tips were always higher. So, most of the serving staff were never actually being paid a wage. When the ACA came in, the owner dropped all hours below the threshold so that he didn't have to pay for healthcare. I never understood the defence of this concept...effectively have workers for free, reduce hours so that they don't cost you anything, and amass wealth.
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I think part of the reason it's become a sacred cow is because of where the discussion always starts on our health care system. I'm not sure where the discussion goes in your experience but in mine with conservatives in this country it almost always goes directly to it not being free for everyone and that's where people get their backs up immediately.
Cutting costs? Absolutely. Making sure it's not bloated and that we're getting good value for taxes? Absolutely. Trimming back health care wages and salaries? Sure, but just be careful.
But it almost always goes to "We need to implement user fees and it should quite frankly be pay for use, I'm tired of payin' for a bunch of new Canadians to get health care". This type of stuff will get the average Canadian's back up, for sure.
This is the thing that drives me absolutely batcrap crazy.
Of course 'be careful.'
This is the thing, everyone in positions of power wants to implement broad, sweeping policies that are intended to make positive changes.
Thats not always necessary or efficient (looking at you minimum wage). Look at the structure, look at the 'on-the-ground' actual and real information.
You get elected and then its all 'pay-for-access' dinners and flights to Conferences in Paris, nobody ever sits down and cracks open the goddamned ledger and asks 'is this a reasonable price?'
Nobody ever wants to sit down and do the actual work.
Its just too easy to say: "We're not going to touch healthcare because, well, its healthcare. We're not going to touch Education because, well, the children."
Why cant we sit down and go through the books and say:
- Do we need two managers for this?
- Is this a reasonable price?
- Can we reform the pensions somewhat?
- Are our wages in line?
- Can our practices be modified?
And we're not allowed to do any of this because if you even try you're killing old people and turning our children into idiots.
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But it almost always goes to "We need to implement user fees and it should quite frankly be pay for use, I'm tired of payin' for a bunch of new Canadians to get health care". This type of stuff will get the average Canadian's back up, for sure.
The average Canadian may get their back up over paying for new Canadians to get health care but I would liken this to IQ. You have the bell curve with 100 being the median. With this, you will get the stupid folks who just don't understand the value the majority of immigrants bring to our country. Next, take the uninformed and outright racists/bigots who don't agree with paying for the new Canadians health care and the pool of average Canadian gets larger. Soon, this starts to look similar to the bell curve with a median point.
I have worked in many communities with people who have the ability to work yet take advantage of every social program they can to avoid working. I would rather pay for the health care of the immigrant who is coming to work and improve their life than the lazy and unmotivated.
This is the thing that drives me absolutely batcrap crazy.
Of course 'be careful.'
This is the thing, everyone in positions of power wants to implement broad, sweeping policies that are intended to make positive changes.
Thats not always necessary or efficient (looking at you minimum wage). Look at the structure, look at the 'on-the-ground' actual and real information.
You get elected and then its all 'pay-for-access' dinners and flights to Conferences in Paris, nobody ever sits down and cracks open the goddamned ledger and asks 'is this a reasonable price?'
Nobody ever wants to sit down and do the actual work.
Its just too easy to say: "We're not going to touch healthcare because, well, its healthcare. We're not going to touch Education because, well, the children."
Why cant we sit down and go through the books and say:
- Do we need two managers for this?
- Is this a reasonable price?
- Can we reform the pensions somewhat?
- Are our wages in line?
- Can our practices be modified?
And we're not allowed to do any of this because if you even try you're killing old people and turning our children into idiots.
Absolutely agreed, Locke. If anything it's the healthcare system that kind of holds the discussion hostage by playing off the idea that it's untouchable because it needs to be free for everyone.
Politicians need to go after the inefficiencies by immediately separating the cuts from having it free for all. "Hey look, we're not touching the fact that health care is free for all, we're going after the system efficiencies". That would get peoples backs down.
