Texas Rep. Chip Roy rips into DHS Secretary Mayorkas while the Dems label it as slander. The Republicans in Congress must fight hard and harder against the Biden Administration's disregard for US Border Security!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFyJPTm4Yh4

Federal judge halts preparations for end of US asylum limit

https://apnews.com/article/immigration- ... f7c729fe11

A federal judge ordered a two-week halt Wednesday on the phasing out of pandemic-related restrictions on seeking asylum — and raised doubts about the Biden administration’s plan to fully lift those restrictions on May 23. The Justice Department declined to comment on the order but the administration has said it will comply, while contending it will hamper preparations for Title 42 to end on May 23.

The judge has scheduled a critical hearing on May 13 in Lafayette to hear arguments on whether to block Title 42 from ending as planned 10 days later.

Texas filed a similar lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Victoria, Texas. Judge Summerhays’ order requires the Homeland Security Department to “return to policies and practices in place” before it announced plans to end Title 42 and to submit weekly reports that demonstrate it is acting “in good faith.”

Rest assured Abbott is doing everything in his power to stunt and make everything worse.

What did Greg Abbott’s border inspections turn up? Oil leaks, flat tires and zero drugs
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/21 ... spections/

Texas Governor’s Border Slowdown Cost $4 Billion, Research Shows
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... arch-shows

Suicides, living conditions spark concern among Texas National Guard deployed at border
https://abcnews.go.com/US/suicides-livi ... d=82540700

Sen. Rand Paul on the Border: "If I were in charge, I'd put a helicopter station every five miles, and anybody who comes across would be immediately transported back," said Paul. "You don't get processed at all unless you come through legal ports of entry."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/rand ... linkin.bio

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Sen. Rand Paul on the Border: "If I were in charge, I'd put a helicopter station every five miles, and anybody who comes across would be immediately transported back," said Paul. "You don't get processed at all unless you come through legal ports of entry."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/rand ... linkin.bio

A helicopter station...every five miles... Apparently this blubbering fool has never looked out the window of a helicopter or small aircraft of any kind..ever.

House Republicans Are Reportedly Gearing Up to Impeach a Key Biden Administration Official, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

https://www.axios.com/house-gop-impeach ... bd4fc.html

Conservatives in the House apparently have seen enough. The Republican Study Committee, which represents more than 150 conservative members, is fixing its sights on the man in charge of border security and immigration under Biden.

https://www.westernjournal.com/house-re ... -official/

Aaron747 wrote:

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Sen. Rand Paul on the Border: "If I were in charge, I'd put a helicopter station every five miles, and anybody who comes across would be immediately transported back," said Paul. "You don't get processed at all unless you come through legal ports of entry."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/rand ... linkin.bio

A helicopter station...every five miles... Apparently this blubbering fool has never looked out the window of a helicopter or small aircraft of any kind..ever.

I don't know how much time you've spent along the Mexico-U.S. border (or any border for that matter) but both CBP and BP use lots of light aircraft and helos, precisely to interdict foot traffic.

Especially at night, thermal/FLIR from above is one of the only ways to find humans in both high vegetation terrain or built up areas.

Aaron747 wrote:

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Sen. Rand Paul on the Border: "If I were in charge, I'd put a helicopter station every five miles, and anybody who comes across would be immediately transported back," said Paul. "You don't get processed at all unless you come through legal ports of entry."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/rand ... linkin.bio

A helicopter station...every five miles... Apparently this blubbering fool has never looked out the window of a helicopter or small aircraft of any kind..ever.

While the "helicopter station every 5 miles" is obviously overdramatic, border patrol uses A LOT of aircraft along our southern border.

I was based out of Yuma and we occasionally worked with their aviation unit. Their helicopters would be up flying all day and night, as it's very hard for someone to outrun FLIR/thermal imaging. Other bases use smaller aircraft such as Cessna 206 and PC-12 aircraft. In fact, there are several TFRs set up along so that they can conduct these operations.

So before calling someone else foolish I'd learn a bit more about the topic. Aircraft and UAV's are one of Border Patrols greatest's assets at patrolling the border.

FlapOperator wrote:

Aaron747 wrote:

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Sen. Rand Paul on the Border: "If I were in charge, I'd put a helicopter station every five miles, and anybody who comes across would be immediately transported back," said Paul. "You don't get processed at all unless you come through legal ports of entry."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/rand ... linkin.bio

A helicopter station...every five miles... Apparently this blubbering fool has never looked out the window of a helicopter or small aircraft of any kind..ever.

I don't know how much time you've spent along the Mexico-U.S. border (or any border for that matter) but both CBP and BP use lots of light aircraft and helos, precisely to interdict foot traffic.

Especially at night, thermal/FLIR from above is one of the only ways to find humans in both high vegetation terrain or built up areas.

Well aware. My point related to the 'every five miles' idiocy. Sight range is much better than five miles by altitude, moreso with scanning equipment, not to mention light aircraft and helos can cover wide areas as they regularly do in CBP use. If Sen. Paul has ever paid attention once when aboard one, he'd know that.

That and there are large stretches of the border in AZ, NM, West Texas that have very little foot traffic, if ever, and there are obviously other areas where coyote operations are exceedingly common. In low traffic areas, sensors and visual monitoring are the most effective ways to measure activity.

I see the newest talking points from the GOP and Fox news are making the rounds to their very misinformed base. I have a hard time believing a thread starter that involves a quote from an Anti American traitor like Chip Roy. He is so dumb he believed Trump's lies.

Either way illegal immigration is just a scare tactic for the misinformed GOP base.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_i ... ted_States

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2 ... opulation/

https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/ ... ion_02.png

Illegal immigration has been dewntrending for years. and guess what. Most of the illegal immigrants are ones that overstayed valid visas.

In recent years, immigrants from countries outside of Mexico and Central America accounted for almost 90% of overstays, and in 2017, there were more than 30 overstays for every border apprehension for these countries. Although the Census Bureau data Pew Research Center uses to estimate the size of the unauthorized immigrant population does not indicate directly whether someone arrived with legal status, the origin countries of immigrants in these sources provide indirect evidence. From 2007 to 2017, the share of newly arrived unauthorized immigrants (those in the U.S. five years or less) from regions other than Central America and Mexico – the vast majority of whom are overstays – increased from 37% to 63%. At the same time, the share of new unauthorized immigrants from Mexico fell from 52% to 20%.

Aren't people in the GOP just a little mad that their traitorous leaders are only using these lies and false talking points to get airtime on Fox to push an agenda rather than seriously addressing the issue?
https://thehill.com/policy/national-sec ... s-hearing/

Cicilline pointed to a 60-page memo prepared by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the panel, that was the focus of a report by The New York Times last week.

“There’s a whole plan about what this hearing is about,” he said to Mayorkas. “And it’s about creating Fox News spots that they can use for politics, and I regret that you have to be part of it.”

“That’s a memo that includes misleading and provocative talking points that seek to portray migrants and refugees as perpetrators of gruesome crimes,” the Rhode Island Democrat said.

“It’s a confidential for internal use only document, and it’s prepared so that the Republicans can argue that Democrats are seeking to, listen to this, abolish all immigration enforcement and even encourage illegal immigration,” Cicilline said.

Who again is Jim Jordon to talk about crimes? He perpetrated one on Jan 6 last year. He wouldn't know legal from illegal.

SoCalPilot wrote:

So before calling someone else foolish I'd learn a bit more about the topic. Aircraft and UAV's are one of Border Patrols greatest's assets at patrolling the border.

Never said they weren't. Just not impressed by senators of both parties continuing to parade their idiocy unabated on a variety of topics. I'm from California dude, not lacking for knowledge on this topic.

casinterest wrote:

I see the newest talking points from the GOP and Fox news are making the rounds to their very misinformed base. I have a hard time believing a thread starter that involves a quote from an Anti American traitor like Chip Roy. He is so dumb he believed Trump's lies.

Either way illegal immigration is just a scare tactic for the misinformed GOP base.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_i ... ted_States

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2 ... opulation/

https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/ ... ion_02.png

Illegal immigration has been dewntrending for years. and guess what. Most of the illegal immigrants are ones that overstayed valid visas.

It is a scare tactic/cudgel issue, but to be fair the posted chart ends in 2020, and family apprehensions in the Yuma and Rio Grande sectors were up by over 200 and 400% respectively from March of 2020 to March 2021.

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sout ... rehensions

Current levels of undocumented immigrant flows are certainly nothing like what was seen in the 80s/early 90s, but they are definitely beyond the scope of current CBP resources. As has been posted every time this topic comes up, CBP has been suffering on the hiring front for more than a decade. The ability to add/sustain agents has declined considerably since 2012 or so.

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Conservatives in the House apparently have seen enough.

It has nothing to do with 'seeing enough'. If they actually cared they'd be working toward a bipartisan permanent immigration reform solution, such as bringing back something like the Bracero program.

It's all performative posturing, nothing more.

Aaron747 wrote:

casinterest wrote:

I see the newest talking points from the GOP and Fox news are making the rounds to their very misinformed base. I have a hard time believing a thread starter that involves a quote from an Anti American traitor like Chip Roy. He is so dumb he believed Trump's lies.

Either way illegal immigration is just a scare tactic for the misinformed GOP base.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_i ... ted_States

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2 ... opulation/

https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/ ... ion_02.png

Illegal immigration has been dewntrending for years. and guess what. Most of the illegal immigrants are ones that overstayed valid visas.

It is a scare tactic/cudgel issue, but to be fair the posted chart ends in 2020, and family apprehensions in the Yuma and Rio Grande sectors were up by over 200 and 400% respectively from March of 2020 to March 2021.

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sout ... rehensions

Current levels of undocumented immigrant flows are certainly nothing like what was seen in the 80s/early 90s, but they are definitely beyond the scope of current CBP resources. As has been posted every time this topic comes up, CBP has been suffering on the hiring front for more than a decade. The ability to add/sustain agents has declined considerably since 2012 or so.

The numbers are up huge from the start of Covid, but that date of Mar 20 is a bit of an anomaly. The numbers hold many that were held back by the asylum cases that were forced by the old Trump/Covid rules

The big issue is that instead of looking at the real causes of the rise in the numbers the GOP wants to just turn it into another of their political lies to build the HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE WALL instead of working with our neighbors and other southern countries on an effective solution, They don't want a real solution because it is an effective wedge issue for their very racist base. (https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch ... 8717765778)

Doesn't this "crisis" happen every spring? Except I don't recall it happening between 2016 and 2020, but still, the question remains.

When your despicable plan is discovered.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Acyn/status/ ... 2247359489

casinterest wrote:

Aaron747 wrote:

casinterest wrote:

I see the newest talking points from the GOP and Fox news are making the rounds to their very misinformed base. I have a hard time believing a thread starter that involves a quote from an Anti American traitor like Chip Roy. He is so dumb he believed Trump's lies.

Either way illegal immigration is just a scare tactic for the misinformed GOP base.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_i ... ted_States

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2 ... opulation/

https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/ ... ion_02.png

Illegal immigration has been dewntrending for years. and guess what. Most of the illegal immigrants are ones that overstayed valid visas.

It is a scare tactic/cudgel issue, but to be fair the posted chart ends in 2020, and family apprehensions in the Yuma and Rio Grande sectors were up by over 200 and 400% respectively from March of 2020 to March 2021.

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sout ... rehensions

Current levels of undocumented immigrant flows are certainly nothing like what was seen in the 80s/early 90s, but they are definitely beyond the scope of current CBP resources. As has been posted every time this topic comes up, CBP has been suffering on the hiring front for more than a decade. The ability to add/sustain agents has declined considerably since 2012 or so.

The numbers are up huge from the start of Covid, but that date of Mar 20 is a bit of an anomaly. The numbers hold many that were held back by the asylum cases that were forced by the old Trump/Covid rules

The big issue is that instead of looking at the real causes of the rise in the numbers the GOP wants to just turn it into another of their political lies to build the HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE WALL instead of working with our neighbors and other southern countries on an effective solution, They don't want a real solution because it is an effective wedge issue for their very racist base. (https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch ... 8717765778)

Well what's the real solution when illegal immigrants are coming from all over the globe? This list of where these migrants are coming from is well documented in the LA Times piece noted below. And when food shortages caused by the war and inflation begin to hit poor countries, it has the potential to get much, much worse.

Op-Ed: The border the U.S. shares with Mexico? We really share it with the world.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2 ... nts-global

MohawkWeekend wrote:

casinterest wrote:

Aaron747 wrote:

It is a scare tactic/cudgel issue, but to be fair the posted chart ends in 2020, and family apprehensions in the Yuma and Rio Grande sectors were up by over 200 and 400% respectively from March of 2020 to March 2021.

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sout ... rehensions

Current levels of undocumented immigrant flows are certainly nothing like what was seen in the 80s/early 90s, but they are definitely beyond the scope of current CBP resources. As has been posted every time this topic comes up, CBP has been suffering on the hiring front for more than a decade. The ability to add/sustain agents has declined considerably since 2012 or so.

The numbers are up huge from the start of Covid, but that date of Mar 20 is a bit of an anomaly. The numbers hold many that were held back by the asylum cases that were forced by the old Trump/Covid rules

The big issue is that instead of looking at the real causes of the rise in the numbers the GOP wants to just turn it into another of their political lies to build the HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE WALL instead of working with our neighbors and other southern countries on an effective solution, They don't want a real solution because it is an effective wedge issue for their very racist base. (https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch ... 8717765778)

Well what's the real solution when illegal immigrants are coming from all over the globe? This list of where these migrants are coming from is well documented in the LA Times piece noted below. And when food shortages caused by the war and inflation begin to hit poor countries, it has the potential to get much, much worse.

Op-Ed: The border the U.S. shares with Mexico? We really share it with the world.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2 ... nts-global

You are correct, that’s a huge dimension to the issue beyond the economic forces within the US that maintain the immigration limbo status quo.

The huge surge in Central American migration seen from about 1987 to the mid 1990s also rarely gets mentioned these days, but was a direct consequence of proxy geopolitics between the US and USSR. The CIA assisted gun-running and worked with drug cartels to effect political goals, which had unintended destabilization effects throughout the region. Given the already fragile state of Latin American politics at the time, many subsequent issues persist in the present day.

With massive homelessness on the West Coast and the shortage of housing throughout the country, where will they live?
Housing costs (along with other necessities) are going up dramatically. It already costs LA County how much per housing unit for the homeless?

You are right about the past but aren't we coming up to some limits? Certainly some migrants (fleeing a crazy Russian dictator for example) should have priority over say a migrant from China or Cuba looking for a better economic opportunity.

I'm concerned that it will get much worse soon. And I vote democrat (usually).

MohawkWeekend wrote:

With massive homelessness on the West Coast and the shortage of housing throughout the country, where will they live?
Housing costs (along with other necessities) are going up dramatically. It already costs LA County how much per housing unit for the homeless?

You are right about the past but aren't we coming up to some limits? Certainly some migrants (fleeing a crazy Russian dictator for example) should have priority over say a migrant from China or Cuba looking for a better economic opportunity.

I'm concerned that it will get much worse soon. And I vote democrat (usually).

Multifamily dwelling situations are quite common in predominantly Latin neighborhoods, as family tend to take in their own. That of course presents problems of its own, but with so many Spanish-speaking people in LA county, there are economies of scale just around new arrival situations, as you can imagine.

The most common theme from non-Americans I have heard anywhere I have traveled in the world when US immigration came up: 'you guys seem to have a lot of space you're not using'.

Obviously nothing this complex has a single solution - there has to be a multi-pronged approach with generational, bipartisan political investment. And that's why the needle hasn't moved since 1986.

MohawkWeekend wrote:

With massive homelessness on the West Coast and the shortage of housing throughout the country, where will they live?
Housing costs (along with other necessities) are going up dramatically. It already costs LA County how much per housing unit for the homeless?

You are right about the past but aren't we coming up to some limits? Certainly some migrants (fleeing a crazy Russian dictator for example) should have priority over say a migrant from China or Cuba looking for a better economic opportunity.

I'm concerned that it will get much worse soon. And I vote democrat (usually).

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

Aaron747 wrote:

SoCalPilot wrote:

So before calling someone else foolish I'd learn a bit more about the topic. Aircraft and UAV's are one of Border Patrols greatest's assets at patrolling the border.

Never said they weren't. Just not impressed by senators of both parties continuing to parade their idiocy unabated on a variety of topics. I'm from California dude, not lacking for knowledge on this topic.

Calling Rand Paul foolish is a safe bet and always an understatement.

But what happened to WALL. I was told WALL would fix everything and Mexico would pay for it. We need UAVs too?

So many Texans talk about seceding. I'd like to see them secure that long border all by their lonesome.

johns624 wrote:

So many Texans talk about seceding. I'd like to see them secure that long border all by their lonesome.

At least they have a border. What’s really annoying is Congresspeople from IN or GA getting all uppity on this topic.

seb146 wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

With massive homelessness on the West Coast and the shortage of housing throughout the country, where will they live?
Housing costs (along with other necessities) are going up dramatically. It already costs LA County how much per housing unit for the homeless?

You are right about the past but aren't we coming up to some limits? Certainly some migrants (fleeing a crazy Russian dictator for example) should have priority over say a migrant from China or Cuba looking for a better economic opportunity.

I'm concerned that it will get much worse soon. And I vote democrat (usually).

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

With massive homelessness on the West Coast and the shortage of housing throughout the country, where will they live?
Housing costs (along with other necessities) are going up dramatically. It already costs LA County how much per housing unit for the homeless?

You are right about the past but aren't we coming up to some limits? Certainly some migrants (fleeing a crazy Russian dictator for example) should have priority over say a migrant from China or Cuba looking for a better economic opportunity.

I'm concerned that it will get much worse soon. And I vote democrat (usually).

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

I think he meant the general claim that homelessness is only an urban or Dem-city problem. It's an American problem. Other developed countries don't have it on the level we do.

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Federal judge halts preparations for end of US asylum limit

https://apnews.com/article/immigration- ... f7c729fe11

A federal judge ordered a two-week halt Wednesday on the phasing out of pandemic-related restrictions on seeking asylum — and raised doubts about the Biden administration’s plan to fully lift those restrictions on May 23. The Justice Department declined to comment on the order but the administration has said it will comply, while contending it will hamper preparations for Title 42 to end on May 23.

The judge has scheduled a critical hearing on May 13 in Lafayette to hear arguments on whether to block Title 42 from ending as planned 10 days later.

Texas filed a similar lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Victoria, Texas. Judge Summerhays’ order requires the Homeland Security Department to “return to policies and practices in place” before it announced plans to end Title 42 and to submit weekly reports that demonstrate it is acting “in good faith.”

Americans make me laugh. We promote this country as the greatest place on earth and that everyone wants to come here. And yet when they do, we seem to try and make them feel as unwelcome as possible. Or we pass laws saying that if they are from a certain country not to even bother showing up.

What really blows my mind is that its this countries very own domestic and foreign policies that helped create the desperate situations that these people are trying to escape. Yet most Americans are either unaware of this or don't want to admit it.

Aaron747 wrote:

johns624 wrote:

So many Texans talk about seceding. I'd like to see them secure that long border all by their lonesome.

At least they have a border. What’s really annoying is Congresspeople from IN or GA getting all uppity on this topic.

Well, the migrants just don't stay in Texas, so there is that.

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

With massive homelessness on the West Coast and the shortage of housing throughout the country, where will they live?
Housing costs (along with other necessities) are going up dramatically. It already costs LA County how much per housing unit for the homeless?

You are right about the past but aren't we coming up to some limits? Certainly some migrants (fleeing a crazy Russian dictator for example) should have priority over say a migrant from China or Cuba looking for a better economic opportunity.

I'm concerned that it will get much worse soon. And I vote democrat (usually).

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

LCDFlight wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

So again, this is why simplistic solutions are not solutions. The above is fine and dandy for middle class people who move somewhere expensive and end up homeless, but it is useless advice for long-term mentally ill locals or Vietnam/Iraq war veterans who are long past rational decisionmaking of that type.

I just finished a few days back John Grisham's 'The Street Lawyer' which addresses the same problem. And that book was written in the 90s and according to the book, that started from 1970s and seems the needle hasn't moved at all to date

LCDFlight wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

Did you seriously type out "Indulge" Mmmyes, Mmmyes Buffy, let us indulge in crack and fentanyl. So you do admit the more desirable places to live are in California, the east coast (Boston) and NYC. But if you'd rather slum it up in states notoriously ranked in the bottom for quality of life, healthcare, crime and safety, then the south is where you need to be Jimbo! Appreciate your honesty LCD!

LCDFlight wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

Actually, people WANT to work. Look at the unemployment rate. It's not that people don't want to work. That is a Republican talking point that gets the base ginned up. People can't afford the "affordable" housing. THAT is the problem! Even in the Republican led states, housing costs are out of control. Along with health care costs and the cost of living (food, electric, water) but workers are not being paid enough to scrape by.

Our base minimum wage in Oregon is $12.50 and we still have homelessness and low unemployment and jobs needing to be filled in rural "affordable" areas. Same in Kansas and Oklahoma and Alabama, etc. Explain this. If these Republican led areas are so great and overflowing with milk and honey, why can't people afford to live there, either?

LCDFlight wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

I know, it’s excellent how well rural and right wing locales have kept themselves totally clear of fentanyl and meth.

LCDFlight wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

seb146 wrote:

As was just pointed out, immigration always gets worse in an election year. This is the exact same thing that has been happening for decades. Republicans don't like the Democratic plans because "open borders" or something that is not even remotely true and Democrats don't like Republican plans because this is a nation of immigrants or something. Both sides know there is a problem but refuse to do anything about it for selfish reasons.

Homelessness is not unique to the West Coast, either, so just stop. It is not limited to "liberal woke" cities, either. I live in a right wing town in a right wing county in Oregon and we have a huge homeless problem. There are huge homeless camps in right wing controlled Jackson and Douglas counties as well as Portland and Eugene.

One last point, Rand Paul defended Putin because "Ukraine used to be part of Russia" so, are California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas going back to Mexico? Is Florida going back to Spain? Is New York going back to Holland? See where I am going?

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

Wut. On earth. Is this.

We don't have an affordable housing crisis because fentanyl? Huh? Fentanyl and crack are endemic where there is no career to be had, but the housing is affordable! I just...

What?

seb146 wrote:

LCDFlight wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

So just stop what? We have a massive homeless issue and not enough affordable housing. How about you figure out how to stop that.

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

Actually, people WANT to work. Look at the unemployment rate. It's not that people don't want to work. That is a Republican talking point that gets the base ginned up. People can't afford the "affordable" housing. THAT is the problem! Even in the Republican led states, housing costs are out of control. Along with health care costs and the cost of living (food, electric, water) but workers are not being paid enough to scrape by.

Our base minimum wage in Oregon is $12.50 and we still have homelessness and low unemployment and jobs needing to be filled in rural "affordable" areas. Same in Kansas and Oklahoma and Alabama, etc. Explain this. If these Republican led areas are so great and overflowing with milk and honey, why can't people afford to live there, either?

They can. I was quoting the top affordability areas in the country. I don’t live there, but again… I am not complaining to a magical father, like a child, complaining I can’t afford to live where I want. That’s my responsibility to earn the money to take care of those needs. It’s also my responsibility not to use recreational drugs so much that I become a community problem. It’s about self respect and being a good citizen / community member.

And yes, for the third time… drug use and homelessness are related. Intimately related. If you spend $100-200 a day on heroin, that’s your rent money. That’s your housing, your food and your car payment. You are putting it in your arm. It’s amazing that this is news to people. I have to believe a lot of you do not live in areas with significant homeless population like I do. It’s almost entirely a drug and alcohol mental health issue. Not entirely.. but 80-90%.

LCDFlight wrote:

seb146 wrote:

LCDFlight wrote:

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

Actually, people WANT to work. Look at the unemployment rate. It's not that people don't want to work. That is a Republican talking point that gets the base ginned up. People can't afford the "affordable" housing. THAT is the problem! Even in the Republican led states, housing costs are out of control. Along with health care costs and the cost of living (food, electric, water) but workers are not being paid enough to scrape by.

Our base minimum wage in Oregon is $12.50 and we still have homelessness and low unemployment and jobs needing to be filled in rural "affordable" areas. Same in Kansas and Oklahoma and Alabama, etc. Explain this. If these Republican led areas are so great and overflowing with milk and honey, why can't people afford to live there, either?

They can. I was quoting the top affordability areas in the country. I don’t live there, but again… I am not complaining to a magical father, like a child, complaining I can’t afford to live where I want. That’s my responsibility to earn the money to take care of those needs. It’s also my responsibility not to use recreational drugs so much that I become a community problem. It’s about self respect and being a good citizen / community member.

And yes, for the third time… drug use and homelessness are related. Intimately related. If you spend $100-200 a day on heroin, that’s your rent money. That’s your housing, your food and your car payment. You are putting it in your arm. It’s amazing that this is news to people. I have to believe a lot of you do not live in areas with significant homeless population like I do. It’s almost entirely a drug and alcohol mental health issue. Not entirely.. but 80-90%.

That really doesn't make sense--if that were true then the Midwest and places like WV would have the highest homelessness in the country

Ah so it has nothing to do with housing costs skyrocketing while wages stagnate and everything to do with fentanyl and crack.

I earn a higher wage than either of my parents ever did. But the house they were able to buy is so far out of reach that it might as well be a dream for people my age.

Must be all that crack and fentanyl I’ve apparently been buying without realizing it

I'm still trying to figure out why any American would NOT want a secure border.

Interesting story in USA Today about Asian Pacific immigration. https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/01/us/asian ... index.html

Excerpt - "Asians comprise a significant portion of immigrants in the US but they are often overlooked in the debate over immigration reform. Of the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, 1.5 million people are from Asia, according to the Migration Policy Institute. That's about 13% of the total undocumented population in the US."

India - 469,000
China - 394,000
Phillipines - 233,000
Korea - 113,000
Vietnam - 58,000
Japan - 25,000

The top 3 countries for legal immigration in FY 2020 were Mexico, India, Mainland China.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article ... nent-immig.

So escaping US policy mistakes isn't the only reason people stream to the US.

SoCalPilot wrote:

Aaron747 wrote:

DIRECTFLT wrote:

Sen. Rand Paul on the Border: "If I were in charge, I'd put a helicopter station every five miles, and anybody who comes across would be immediately transported back," said Paul. "You don't get processed at all unless you come through legal ports of entry."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/rand ... linkin.bio

A helicopter station...every five miles... Apparently this blubbering fool has never looked out the window of a helicopter or small aircraft of any kind..ever.

While the "helicopter station every 5 miles" is obviously overdramatic, border patrol uses A LOT of aircraft along our southern border.

I was based out of Yuma and we occasionally worked with their aviation unit. Their helicopters would be up flying all day and night, as it's very hard for someone to outrun FLIR/thermal imaging. Other bases use smaller aircraft such as Cessna 206 and PC-12 aircraft. In fact, there are several TFRs set up along so that they can conduct these operations.

So before calling someone else foolish I'd learn a bit more about the topic. Aircraft and UAV's are one of Border Patrols greatest's assets at patrolling the border.

What Rand Paul said was basically red meat for the reactionary base. He knows that base will not bother to analyze that statement and see it for the foolishness that it is. They're not going run the numbers in their head and realize you would have to have almost 400 helicopters running 24/7. Which would be totally unfeasible and it would make no sense be covering areas that people would not be crossing because of geography/remoteness. Let's not forget that a lot of the people here illegally did enter through legal pints of entry and just never bothered to leave.

None of that really matters though because what's important here is that Rand Paul got his sound bite for the base to salivate over.

Obvi

LCDFlight wrote:

seb146 wrote:

LCDFlight wrote:

The US has an immense amount of affordable housing. But people refuse to follow the laws and work, instead harassing taxpayers in top desirability areas, as they indulge in crack and fentanyl. It's not an affordable housing problem. There is plenty of that. It's primarily a drug use and illegal behavior problem. The most affordable places to go (if you care about that) Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc. If you choose to live in California (or Manhattan, Boston), you don't get to complain about affordability. Get your career going first, before moving there. Make sure you have very strong earning power, and make sure you are an exceptionally strong taxpayer.

Actually, people WANT to work. Look at the unemployment rate. It's not that people don't want to work. That is a Republican talking point that gets the base ginned up. People can't afford the "affordable" housing. THAT is the problem! Even in the Republican led states, housing costs are out of control. Along with health care costs and the cost of living (food, electric, water) but workers are not being paid enough to scrape by.

Our base minimum wage in Oregon is $12.50 and we still have homelessness and low unemployment and jobs needing to be filled in rural "affordable" areas. Same in Kansas and Oklahoma and Alabama, etc. Explain this. If these Republican led areas are so great and overflowing with milk and honey, why can't people afford to live there, either?

They can. I was quoting the top affordability areas in the country. I don’t live there, but again… I am not complaining to a magical father, like a child, complaining I can’t afford to live where I want. That’s my responsibility to earn the money to take care of those needs. It’s also my responsibility not to use recreational drugs so much that I become a community problem. It’s about self respect and being a good citizen / community member.

And yes, for the third time… drug use and homelessness are related. Intimately related. If you spend $100-200 a day on heroin, that’s your rent money. That’s your housing, your food and your car payment. You are putting it in your arm. It’s amazing that this is news to people. I have to believe a lot of you do not live in areas with significant homeless population like I do. It’s almost entirely a drug and alcohol mental health issue. Not entirely.. but 80-90%.

Again, I live in a far right wing county in Oregon and we have a terrible homeless problem and "help wanted" signs everywhere. According to Republicans, cost of living is cheap in these areas. So, why can people not afford anything in this right wing paradise?

Well if left wing paradises of Oregon, Washington, and California had a $20 per hr minimum wage, would you still have the worst homelessness outside of New York?

Google search - "To make sure you have enough money to go around, a good rule of thumb is to spend 30% or less of your gross monthly income on rent. For example, you should earn $70,240 a year, or $5,854 per month, to comfortably afford a one bedroom apartment in Los Angeles.Apr 25, 2022"

Aaron747 wrote:

MohawkWeekend wrote:

casinterest wrote:

The numbers are up huge from the start of Covid, but that date of Mar 20 is a bit of an anomaly. The numbers hold many that were held back by the asylum cases that were forced by the old Trump/Covid rules

The big issue is that instead of looking at the real causes of the rise in the numbers the GOP wants to just turn it into another of their political lies to build the HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE WALL instead of working with our neighbors and other southern countries on an effective solution, They don't want a real solution because it is an effective wedge issue for their very racist base. (https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch ... 8717765778)

Well what's the real solution when illegal immigrants are coming from all over the globe? This list of where these migrants are coming from is well documented in the LA Times piece noted below. And when food shortages caused by the war and inflation begin to hit poor countries, it has the potential to get much, much worse.

Op-Ed: The border the U.S. shares with Mexico? We really share it with the world.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2 ... nts-global

You are correct, that’s a huge dimension to the issue beyond the economic forces within the US that maintain the immigration limbo status quo.

The huge surge in Central American migration seen from about 1987 to the mid 1990s also rarely gets mentioned these days, but was a direct consequence of proxy geopolitics between the US and USSR. The CIA assisted gun-running and worked with drug cartels to effect political goals, which had unintended destabilization effects throughout the region. Given the already fragile state of Latin American politics at the time, many subsequent issues persist in the present day.

We need to empower our neighbors with better options to help secure the US. However we also need to crack down on business hiring in the US for illegals. There is far too much reward for the risk of becoming illegal in the US, whether crossing the border, or overstaying a visa. Far too often in rural areas, the manufacturers of grains, produce, and meat packing hire illegal immigrants with a blind eye to status. That needs to change.

This thread is about the border crisis which is real. Its sickening and heart breaking seeing crowds of people over flowing the border, and yes I have been down there. Not a new problem, for decades as the UP train came across the border in South Texas, immigrants would jump off the train and run down the street, you better keep your screen door locked, and that was in the 90s. Drug gangs are using the crises to good effect moving people and drugs at the same time. Look, you have Democratic mayors along these border towns trying to get the WH attention, no doubt they are getting phone calls to use the talking points. On the flip side you have Republicans making worthless photo op stops with the Rio Grande River in the background. Just because the news media have moved on to something else does not mean it has stopped.

These are just some of the facts, now back to the regular arguing over talking points.

scbriml wrote:

When your despicable plan is discovered.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Acyn/status/ ... 2247359489

Not nearly as despicable as allowing everyone to enter this country illegally with no questions asked simply because 7 out of 10 them will vote for you. It's sick actually.

MohawkWeekend wrote:

Well if left wing paradises of Oregon, Washington, and California had a $20 per hr minimum wage, would you still have the worst homelessness outside of New York?

Google search - "To make sure you have enough money to go around, a good rule of thumb is to spend 30% or less of your gross monthly income on rent. For example, you should earn $70,240 a year, or $5,854 per month, to comfortably afford a one bedroom apartment in Los Angeles.Apr 25, 2022"

Yes, and there are plenty of other places to live if you make less than that. Alternatively, hey. You cannot afford a 1BR. Share a 2-3BR. Sleep in the living room. Make it work.

MaverickM11 wrote:

LCDFlight wrote:

seb146 wrote:

Actually, people WANT to work. Look at the unemployment rate. It's not that people don't want to work. That is a Republican talking point that gets the base ginned up. People can't afford the "affordable" housing. THAT is the problem! Even in the Republican led states, housing costs are out of control. Along with health care costs and the cost of living (food, electric, water) but workers are not being paid enough to scrape by.

Our base minimum wage in Oregon is $12.50 and we still have homelessness and low unemployment and jobs needing to be filled in rural "affordable" areas. Same in Kansas and Oklahoma and Alabama, etc. Explain this. If these Republican led areas are so great and overflowing with milk and honey, why can't people afford to live there, either?

They can. I was quoting the top affordability areas in the country. I don’t live there, but again… I am not complaining to a magical father, like a child, complaining I can’t afford to live where I want. That’s my responsibility to earn the money to take care of those needs. It’s also my responsibility not to use recreational drugs so much that I become a community problem. It’s about self respect and being a good citizen / community member.

And yes, for the third time… drug use and homelessness are related. Intimately related. If you spend $100-200 a day on heroin, that’s your rent money. That’s your housing, your food and your car payment. You are putting it in your arm. It’s amazing that this is news to people. I have to believe a lot of you do not live in areas with significant homeless population like I do. It’s almost entirely a drug and alcohol mental health issue. Not entirely.. but 80-90%.

That really doesn't make sense--if that were true then the Midwest and places like WV would have the highest homelessness in the country

You are on the right track. (1) yes, it really is true. (2) yes, a lot of homeless people did migrate from the interior US to places like LA, because of the open drug scene and the good weather. Why wouldn’t they? You are right about where a lot of them come from. Now what?

NIKV69 wrote:

scbriml wrote:

When your despicable plan is discovered.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Acyn/status/ ... 2247359489

Not nearly as despicable as allowing everyone to enter this country illegally with no questions asked simply because 7 out of 10 them will vote for you. It's sick actually.

If you didn't make things up you'd have nothing to rage over. If dems did 1% of the things you dream up they'd be pretty bada$$

LCDFlight wrote:

MaverickM11 wrote:

LCDFlight wrote:

They can. I was quoting the top affordability areas in the country. I don’t live there, but again… I am not complaining to a magical father, like a child, complaining I can’t afford to live where I want. That’s my responsibility to earn the money to take care of those needs. It’s also my responsibility not to use recreational drugs so much that I become a community problem. It’s about self respect and being a good citizen / community member.

And yes, for the third time… drug use and homelessness are related. Intimately related. If you spend $100-200 a day on heroin, that’s your rent money. That’s your housing, your food and your car payment. You are putting it in your arm. It’s amazing that this is news to people. I have to believe a lot of you do not live in areas with significant homeless population like I do. It’s almost entirely a drug and alcohol mental health issue. Not entirely.. but 80-90%.

That really doesn't make sense--if that were true then the Midwest and places like WV would have the highest homelessness in the country

You are on the right track. (1) yes, it really is true. (2) yes, a lot of homeless people did migrate from the interior US to places like LA, because of the open drug scene and the good weather. Why wouldn’t they? You are right about where a lot of them come from. Now what?

You think the drugs in the Midwest pushes up rents on the coast? People who can't afford houses/rent are driving up housing costs? That doesn't make any sense. You have the whole thing backward. Rising rents push people out of housing onto the streets, who then in some part turn to drugs--not the reverse.

NIKV69 wrote:

Not nearly as despicable as allowing everyone to enter this country illegally with no questions asked simply because 7 out of 10 them will vote for you. It's sick actually.

LOL what