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What happens in Guatemala… — 12 Comments

  1. “caravans”? Tsk. I read a few days ago that the use of that word in that context is intended to support white supremacist narratives.

    To quote a left-wing friend of mine, but with a completely opposite intention: it really is a case of two different realities. (Subjectively speaking, of course).

  2. The mostly unspoken about tragedy of “aid” since WW II is that so much of it has been diverted into support for local elected crooks, er, officials. Those most willing and able to lick the boots of rich donors, and get projects funded, but with no followup. Aid becomes a Cargo Cult.

    Note how the Clinton Aid has so totally failed to help Haiti.

    Instead of aid, what is now needed, and has been needed, is financial support (low cost loans ) to poor entrepreneurs starting a business. And more sweat shops. Like Bangladesh has — which has helped create a successful developing economy.

    The world needs more leaders talking about this, hopefully NOT to then “commit suicide” like the Hatian Eberwein.
    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-16/haiti-official-who-exposed-clinton-foundation-found-dead

    Sad so few links to this Clinton critic even after Epstein’s suicide.
    Which I now believe was murder.

  3. FOAF on September 2, 2019 at 10:01 pm said:
    Right off the bat, what the hell are we doing telling Guatemala who to put on their courts?
    * * *
    Or telling the Israelis who to elect as Prime Minister?
    Or telling Great Britain how to vote on Brexit (with threats, no less)?

    Countries always meddle in other countries’ affairs; it is only when Republicans do it (or can be accused of doing it) that the press and Democrats find it so reprehensible.

  4. “The root cause of migration,” said Duarte, is “the lack of opportunities for people to work in our country,” adding, “Climate change is being used as an excuse for poor planning all over the globe” by those subscribing to “communist ideology.”

    Quelle surprise.

  5. Most complaints about ‘meddling’ are rubbish, but what he describes – if true – is de trop. If we’re meddling, we should be doing so to prevent: (1) a situation of insurrection, or (2) a breakdown of the formal political order, or (3) the alignment of the country with an antagonistic foreign power, incorporating co-operation in the politico-military sphere; or (4) containing a financial crisis in that country; or (5) addressing a humanitarian catastrophe; or (6) defending ourselves against verious sorts of ‘asymmetric’ threats. Nothing like this is at stake with the Guatemalan judiciary, Brexit, or a Likud ministry in Israel.

  6. I’ve had several conversations on immigration with my lefty friends that go something like this:

    Lefty: “It’s our fault that conditions are so bad in Central America, so we have to look to the root causes and fix them!”
    RS: “How should we do that, more aid?”
    Lefty: “Yes! Much more!”
    RS: “But you know the countries are so corrupt — the plutocrats and drug cartels steal most of the aid we send them.”
    Lefty: “Yes, and we have to stop them!”
    RS: “How should we do that? Send in the Marines, like we did in the first half of the 20th Century?”
    Lefty: “No, of course not!” or “Did we do that? I didn’t know that.”
    RS: “Well, then how?” or “We certainly did. Look it up.”
    Lefty: “I don’t know about that, but we have to do something!”
    RS: “Well, what should we do?”
    Lefty: “Oh, you right-wingers always want to use the military.”
    RS: “Huh?”
    End of conversation.

    Here’s another of my favorites:

    Lefty: “It’s our fault that conditions are so bad in Central America, so we have to look to the root causes and fix them!”
    RS: “You mean those countries are totally corrupt plutocracies, run by drug cartels and tin-pot military dictators?”
    Lefty: “Yes.”
    RS: “So, if I’ve got this right, these Central American countries are shitholes, so we have to take in their illegal immigrants, but Trump is a very bad man for saying they’re shitholes?”
    Lefty: “Oh, you Trump supporters!”
    Walks away.

  7. Speaking of idiot Gringo interference in Guatemala, I am reminded of seeing in Guatemala the “whole word” versus “phonics” conflict for teaching beginning readers, where the “progressive” Gringo(a) was pushing whole language approach to learning to read.

    From what I have read on the subject, phonics wins hands-down. As Spanish is much more phonetic than English, there is even less reason to not use phonics to teach reading in Spanish.

    Oh well,one more idiot-well-intentioned Gringo “helping” our poor solumates down South.

  8. From what I know of the State Department, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the Guatamalan government was actively pressured by them into appointmenting those judges.

  9. In 2014, the Obama administration put pressure on Guatemala with regard worker’s rights:

    “Our goal in taking action today remains the same as it has always been: to ensure that Guatemala implements the labor protections to which its workers are entitled,” he said.

    “We remain hopeful that Guatemala can achieve a resolution that results in concrete improvements for workers on the ground and sends a positive signal to the world that would help attract investment, expand economic activity, and promote inclusive growth.”

    Guatemala, whose economy is around the size of that of the U.S. state of Alaska, could face fines of up to $15 million a year or the suspension of trade benefits if an arbitration panel finds it has violated labor provisions in the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).

    According to the International Trade Union Confederation, at least 73 trade unionists have been killed since 2007 in Guatemala, which has one of the highest murder rates in the Americas. The ITUC said in June that the country was the most dangerous place in the world for the exercise of trade union activities.

  10. Richard Saunders on September 3, 2019 at 5:14 pm said:
    I’ve had several conversations on immigration with my lefty friends that go something like this:
    * * *
    Sounds about like the way they approach any issue, domestic or foreign.
    L: There’s a problem! It’s a crisis! We have to do something!
    R: We could do (a).
    L: Bigot – racist – homophobe – meanie!
    R: We could do (b).
    L: Bigot – racist – homophobe – meanie!

    R: We could do (z).
    L: Bigot – racist – homophobe – meanie!
    R: What is your solution then?
    L: There’s a problem! It’s a crisis! We have to do something!
    (wanders away, when not screaming, cursing, throwing things, or hitting someone)

    Ann’s comment perfectly illustrates the Catch-22 that the Left excels in creating.

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