Deportations Will Spike Food Prices; Tariffs Likely to Crash the Global Economy – Again
In 1929, President Hoover started mass deportations of Mexicans and signed the Smoot Hawley Tariff Act. Taken together, Hoover made the Depression, "Great"
Nvidia and DeepSeek are great and all, but we can’t eat words or images and they can’t farm our fields. For some reason, the only people that Americans have been able to find to harvest the produce on our farms are immigrants.
Americans want it both ways - come here and work in the fields, but you cannot be here legally. After over 200 years of this, Americans have not offered any alternatives, like massive work visa programs. Why you might ask - because of racism.
Did you hear the news? 30,000 Ukrainian refugees came to Chicago from 2022 to 2023. You probably only heard about Venezuelans or Mexicans. Ukrainian immigrants were allowed to come to the US under Temporary Protected Status, humanitarian parole, refugee resettlement either from outside the U.S. or through the Priority 2, visitor visas (B-2) or entered under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and asylum. These immigrants received food, housing, job training, resume help, case management and social services, health screenings, and insurance (Medicaid), and short-term housing assistance (usually 90 days) from the Federal government. They also received aid from charities, State and local governments and private employers who may need labor. My point is that you don’t see this in the news - you just see brown skinned people getting aid and White people complaining about it - but there’s no one complaining about Ukrainians - this is racism. This is also why Christianity is a failed religion. If Christianity were successful and helpful, Americans would be loving and helping all immigrants without complaining, because that’s what the bible clearly says to do.**
Racism is when Donald Trump re-names the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, and Mt. Denali (which sounds elegant and authentic), to Mt. McKinley, after President McKinley who was a White Supremacist. McKinley believed that Whites needed to colonize countries because people of color were not capable of self-governance. So, he annexed the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Of course McKinley framed it like other White supremacists of his time: the “White man’s burden,” to “manage those places.” Trump wants Greenland and Panama, and is renaming things to create a legacy for himself of expanding White America, like McKinley and the other presidents on Mount Rushmore - that’s why some have started talking about adding Trump’s bust to Rushmore.
Trump and Republicans have vilified these migrant farmers. They have made them out to be criminals and insane, “bad hombres” coming here to rape and pillage, live off public aid and free healthcare, avoid taxes, but at the same time, steal our jobs, and get free homes from the government from some federal program that doesn’t exist. Given their talent for working and collecting free benefits, we should respect their ingenuity for figuring out how our government works on a 3rd grade education without knowing how to read, write, or speak English. I have a Masters and practically a PhD, yet I cannot figure out how to file my taxes sometimes, but these illegal immigrants are apparent geniuses! Trump doesn’t pay taxes and his voters cheer him on - these guys don’t pay taxes (they do!) and they’re villains - oh wait - they have brown skin.
Immigrants do us the favor of farming food for us but they could be deported at any time. I’m surprised they come at all. They literally risk their life trying to get here, traipsing across deserts with a backpack at best, their bone filled clothing often found littering areas around the border of the humans who did not make it (see article about it by clicking underlined text).
Republicans have begun rounding up these “bad hombres” and deporting them. Even though they have only started to deport about 1,000, the rhetoric and dramatic show has had a chilling effect on the immigrants - “legal” and “illegal.” They’re scared to go to work. Farms across the country have already noticed sharp declines in workers and things haven’t even started. Republicans have called for jails to be made available to hold 100,000 humans who they plan to deport.
In the 1930’s, President Hoover blamed the Mexicans for the Great Depression, telling Americans that they were stealing our jobs. It was a lie, but it led to the deportation of at least 1,000,000 Mexicans, many of whom were citizens. This cheap labor was not replaced and food prices increase dramatically. Most Americans were in a severe credit crunch from bank failures which triggered the Depression, so increasing food prices was devastating. Smoot-Hawley Tariff’s were also enacted, causing a trade-war which led to a 65% decline in world trade.
These dramatic increases in tariffs against China, Canada, Mexico and Europe will seriously damage America’s economy and the worlds, and combined with mass deportation, will stress our construction and agriculture sectors, leading to credit stress and spikes in food prices. This inflation will have other negative effects, such as loss of government revenues which will lead to cutting government services, higher interest rates which will further slow economic growth, increased unemployment, and declines in stock market values.
The Economic agenda of the Republican party is a plan to crash the American economy just as Herbert Hoover unwittingly started to do in 1930, but today, these Republicans know what they’re doing - so why are they doing it?
By crashing the American economy, they will use this as excuse to diminish or dissolve Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security - the three major safety net programs started by FDR and LBJ - programs that the far Right has wanted to cut for decades - programs that the far Right, like the Koch Brothers and Ronald Reagan never wanted to begin with. With Trump at the helm, they may finally realize the dream of making America great for a few White men.
If you think I’m overreacting, Republicans led by Newt Gingrich in the 1990’s had developed a plan with President Clinton to convert Social Security into a privatized system, but it never came to fruition because of the Monica Lewinsky affair. The issue has been tabled but not forgotten - the Koch Family and other billionaires like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been very open about ending Social Security altogether in a “stochastic” manner - heartless.
Trump’s plans to cut payroll taxes is another way to defund Social Security and give a tax break to Corporations. It sounds appealing to workers, but for most working class people, Social Security is all that they’ll have for retirement.
When the GDP drops from Tariffs and inflation, the deficit and national debt increase. Trump already elevated the national debt to over 100% of our GDP. Tariffs, inflation, and tax cuts - the Republican economic plan - could easily bring out GDP to debt ratio to 200%. This level of debt will be used as an excuse to “cut entitlement” programs (Social Security is called an entitlement program because when you pay into with your payroll taxes, you are then entitled to get it back when you retire). The program was started by President Roosevelt because people 65 and older were living in poverty, often going hungry and cold. Medicare was started by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 for people 65 and older because elderly people were going broke due to healthcare expenses or suffering from untreated diseases because of poverty. Elderly Americans are one of the most impoverished groups of citizens, so these programs are very important, but Republicans have been wanting to take the money from these and give to the Bankers and Billionaires to use for their own profits.
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** The Bible is often vague and contradictory, but most of the bible is about helping the poor and unfortunate, and some things are as plain as day, in particular that we should treat immigrants kindly and welcome them into our land. Yet, Republicans and Trump, who claim to be Christians hate brown skinned immigrants, who farm our fields and build our roads, bridges and homes, and treat them like animals or criminals.
1. Old Testament Verses
1.1. Exodus 22:21 (NIV)
"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt."
This verse highlights the importance of empathy for foreigners, reminding the Israelites of their own experience as immigrants and strangers in Egypt.
1.2. Exodus 23:9 (NIV)
"Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt."
Here, God commands the Israelites to treat foreigners justly, emphasizing their own history as immigrants and strangers in Egypt.
1.3. Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV)
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
This is one of the most direct calls to welcome and love immigrants, treating them with the same respect and care as native-born citizens.
1.4. Leviticus 25:35 (NIV)
"If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner or a stranger, so they can continue to live among you."
This verse extends the call to care for the vulnerable, comparing the poor among you to foreigners and encouraging generosity and compassion.
1.5. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NIV)
"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."
This passage emphasizes God's love for immigrants and His call for His people to love and care for them as well.
1.6. Deuteronomy 24:17-18 (NIV)
"Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this."
The call to ensure justice for foreigners is closely tied to the Israelites' own history of being oppressed and redeemed from Egypt.
1.7. Deuteronomy 27:19 (NIV)
"Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow."
A warning against injustice, particularly toward those who are vulnerable, including immigrants.
2. Psalms
2.1. Psalm 146:9 (NIV)
"The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked."
This verse underscores God's care for the foreigner, along with other vulnerable groups like the fatherless and widows.
3. Prophets
3.1. Isaiah 56:6-7 (NIV)
"And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
God welcomes foreigners who seek to honor Him, indicating that the blessing of His presence and promises is available to all, including immigrants.
3.2. Jeremiah 7:6 (NIV)
"If you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm,"
A call for justice and protection for vulnerable groups, including immigrants.
4. New Testament Verses
4.1. Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV)
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Jesus teaches that welcoming strangers (immigrants, in the modern sense) is akin to serving Him. This powerful teaching on hospitality underscores the spiritual importance of caring for others, especially those who are outsiders.
4.2. Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan) (NIV)
In this well-known parable, Jesus teaches that loving our neighbor extends beyond our own people and includes foreigners, outsiders, and even those considered enemies. The Good Samaritan, a foreigner, shows compassion to a Jewish man, illustrating that true love for one's neighbor knows no national or cultural boundaries.
4.3. Romans 12:13 (NIV)
"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
The New Testament encourages hospitality, which includes being open and welcoming to those in need, including immigrants.
4.4. Romans 15:7 (NIV)
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
This verse calls for acceptance of others, following the example of Christ’s unconditional acceptance, which includes welcoming all people, regardless of background.
4.5. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
A direct command to show hospitality, which can include immigrants or anyone who is a "stranger."
5. Other Relevant Verses
5.1. James 1:27 (NIV)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
While this verse focuses on orphans and widows, the principle of caring for those in distress can easily be extended to immigrants and refugees, who often find themselves in vulnerable situations.