I think it was the morning of September 10 that JD Vance starting telling a lie about illegal Haitian refugees killing and eating cats and ducks in Springfield, Ohio. Then geese were added to the list of animals being killed and eaten. Never mind the fact that the city manager said it's not true. There are a lot Haitians in Springfield. The city had successfully brought a Honda engine plant, a vegetable packing plant and a distribution plant to the city. The problem was that there were not enough people to take the jobs due to the epidemic of addiction. The city placed ads in newspapers asking people to relocate for jobs and a low cost of living. The Haitians answered the call. Factory managers report they're excellent employees, no drama, no drugs, they show up and do the work. Local churches are happy, Haitians go to church. Yes, rents went up due to competition. Yes, more social services were needed. There were more kids in school. However, the Haitians rescued Springfield from going the way of so many small towns in the rust belt.
During the debate September 10, the orange one repeated the lie. Since then parents are keeping their kids home from school, the city administration has had to close due to bomb threats, and schools have had to evacuate due to threats. Haitian property and lives are being threatened.
None of this is true. Yet, JD continues the lie and does the former president, who is now vowing to deport all of the Haitians to Venezuela (!) on day one. Never mind that they have Temporary Protected Status. They are here legally.
What kind of people do such a thing? As Mayor Pete said, it's a strategy. He's got us talking about this (like I am) and not paying attention to Project 2025, his complete and total lack of any good policies, and his total fecklessness. Twitter is full of memes making fun of him saying it, and they're funny, but the fact remains real people are in danger of real harm if JD and the orange slime keep telling the lie.
Haiti is a mess. Hurricanes, earth quakes, bad governance have all contributed to its becoming a failed state. You know who else helped the process along? The great US of A, and France. Haiti freed themselves from the slavers. This made Thomas Jefferson, a huge slave holder, fear the same thing would happen here. He set about to ruin Haiti. Then France told Haiti they would have to pay reparations to their previous owners, at ruinous interest rates. Over the years other countries, including us, have interfered with their government. We have a lot to answer for. There is a good NPR article here. One of my favorite writers, Elie Mystal, has an article up in The Nation.
Did you ever think we'd be here?
That's it.
It's a horrible situation in Springfield. There ought to be a way to charge JD and IQ45 for the lies they are spreading, as they are putting others lives in danger.
ReplyDeletethe man is despicable. both of them. they don't care who they hurt. and apparently Trump has said in a speech yesterday (?) that if elected he will not be sending any aid to California during wildfires. what kind of man says elect me because I will throw people I don't like to the wolves. even worse, the ones who vote for him because of it. if we are a failed nation as Trump likes to declare, it's because of him and his hate.
ReplyDeleteYou were braver than I, actually posting the ducks-and-kittens meme! It would be funny if it weren't so scary for the Haitians on the ground in Springfield. And yet I understand the anger, the source of which you alluded to in your post -- what's being done about the Springfield residents who are hobbled by addiction or otherwise unable to work in these manufacturing jobs? There really are a large number of forgotten people out there, and they've all jumped on the Trump train. (Ironically, because Trump doesn't give a hoot about them and won't do a thing to help them. They'd be far better off voting Democrat.)
ReplyDeleteI hope Walz can effectively clean JD's clock.
ReplyDelete