Immigration Reform: Building on America's Greatness! 🇺🇸

via: CNN

People like a good theme- something catchy and simple- like: Build the Wall!

Not sure who came up with the phrase that is chanted at every Trump rally, although it does have a Roger Stone whiff to it. But I digress... the point is that even though immigration was THE topic of the 2016 campaign and the hot topic of 2018 it is not something that has surged to the point most experts are concerned. And the Central American "flood" is balanced by fewer Mexican immigrants coming here to stay. 

Today the costs are almost the least to be concerned over-- what's at stake now is whether we stay united as a country or as latest Twitter trending meme alludes to start a #SecondCivilWar?!

Since something clearly needs to be done and while I don't have a perfect solution a few things seem obvious, non-partisan and doable so let's at least start building on America's Greatness*:

1. Family Separation: Stop separating families and reunite ones that already have been. Only deport folks if their children have been located and are able to travel back with them to a safe drop point.
2. Registering: Register all immigrants with reason for entry and asylum request when applicable. Finger print and ID everyone as way to help prevent smuggling/sex trafficking of minors/women.  
3. Freedom Anklet: Release family as unit with one person per family agreeing to wear an ankle monitor. (Yes, I understand this is degrading and it is not my preference as well but better than separating families and also quashes the reason not to allow entry while in process). Intensive Supervision Appearance Program already has protocols in place. 
• This keeps families together and children with parents.
• Savings: ~$5/person/day vs. $300. Should be easy for Rs to support.
• If they break rules of monitoring then are permanently banned from US.
• The anklets can be different color- lets say gold or rwb- vs criminal black ones to signify awaiting immigration status so as to be a bit less stigmatizing.
4. Guest Worker: Finally establish a guest worker program where compromise is needed.
• Criminalize all employers who willfully break laws.
• Allow folks to travel back and forth as long as they are following rules.
5. Home Sanctuary: Instead of the super controversial and unsustainable sanctuary cities in the US, establish sanctuary zones in the countries of origin so folks are not fleeing the violence of their preferred home.
• Take the $750 million in development aid for Central America (Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) and establish safe zones in the countries so their citizens do not feel need to flee for their safety. 
• Not necessarily a military-led base but create a full package that would include economic opportunities, education, military security zones, and infrastructure support for struggling areas.
• No cooperation, no aid.

Immigration is a tough problem to completely solve but we are dividing ourselves as a nation when we should be protecting our borders and laws while showing we are still a melting pot that welcomes those who are willing and able to keep Building on America's Greatness!  

* 🇺🇸 Granted way less catchy, but way more humane, hopeful, and American! 

Will Mark & Jack Cause WWIII? or Save US From It?

We were cyber attacked by Russia during the 2016 election and it's not OK. I mean it's really really not OK. And the astonishing thing is Russia shot a weapon at the U.S. and we're going to let them reload for 2018 like there is nothing we can do about it.

There is!

We need to demand that Facebook and Twitter either get their services under control or take them offline and shut them down while any and all voting is taking place in our country. We don't let this type of sabotage and not only false advertising but blanket foreign propaganda on our airways we can not allow it on our other media platforms as well.

I'm no tech expert but there must be a way to block IP addresses that spam, unleash bots, or are found to be connected with nefarious foreign sources. Start a volunteer bot-army brigade that provides the company with suspected violators- I'm sure your communities would step up to help. Or just spit-balling here...how about asking Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney to head bi-partisan group to work with both the government and Silicon Valley to unite behind American Commission on Cyber Safety.

We now have Russia sitting back and relishing Trump starting tough talk with other nations. Who knows how far this will go? Are we going to let our enemies use our own technology against us?

I am a huge fan of Twitter and before they screwed with my feed (another rant for another day) loved Facebook as well. I dare say they have been two of the best inventions of our time. But with great power comes great responsibility and these two brilliant guys need to know their country needs them to put our nation's sovereignty and well being before their shareholders and even their customers. 

Tech-war could start a real war and there is no like-ing our way back from all the loss of life, treasure, and progress this will cause. I'm calling on Mark and Jack to step up and stand up for their companies to stop aiding and abetting our enemies.

Come one guys, I know you want to do good in the world - now's your time!

The Pence Stake

Mueller might take too long and there are threats of a revolt and violence if Congress makes a move to impeach... so now there is only one clear path to getting 45 to go and that is by making Republicans do it themselves. 

And the only way they will is to tie them to him and have them firmly stake their future on his.

Mike Pence is a constitutional officer who has sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He was the head of the Trump transition team, has a security clearance, gets regular briefings, talks to the president daily, and I'm assuming also has a TV, internet access, and a subscription to a paper or two. If he doesn't know what's going on at this point, he can't claim himself commanding enough to lead our country at any time in the future.  

Therefore, it is now time to demand that Vice President Pence either get Donald Trump to step down or stake his own personal reputation and future to Trump's. He has more access to knowledge, intelligence, and occasions to observe 45's erratic behavior then almost anyone and it is literally his job to step up if the president is not capable of commanding the country. Every reporter should ask:

Is Trump physically, mentally, and morally up to leading our nation? 

Yes or no?

The follow up:

If President Trump is ever found to have committed crimes or enrichment against U.S. interests will you stand behind Mueller's findings and commit to not pardoning his behavior and let all consequences stand?

If he wants to stand there with all the smoke swirling around Trump, his campaign, his business profiteering, and his policy making then Pence must stake his honor firmly and unwaveringly.

Pence has a rule he will not be in a room alone with a woman who is not his wife, he should have as high of standards to not serve a man who is this corrupt, dangerous, dividing and damaging to our nation. Let's get him on the record now and clearly.

He's either a man of honor or of complacency; it's time to make him choose which.

_________________________________________________________________

Note: We need same 1st question asked of all Cabinet Secretaries with follow up: 

If President Trump is ever found to have committed crimes or enrichment against U.S. interests will you seek to rally and get behind a 25th Amendment remedy? 

_________________________________________________________________
09.18.2017 Update: 

This sums up Pence issue clearly. He knows Trump is ill-equipped to run the country but pretends he doesn't which is not only fraudulently authentic it is a danger to our country:

Making Trump Great: Unite The OWL Council

I am not fan of Donald Trump and was less than thrilled he is our new president... BUT, after my pity-party and reading this tweet:

it struck me that the lesson and the legacy Obama instilled in us is to have HOPE. So in that vain I offer up The OWL Council (or The OWLs).

Two of the things that President Trump will have going for him is that he loves building and also loves entertaining and being around celebrities and people of importance. So let's expand on Uncle Rush's advice and surround him with the wisest, deepest, most honorable bench of advisors.

Since his win many have tweeted (yes, the times we live in) words of conciliatory congratulations, and although few leaders are brave enough he could do as one of our all time greatest presidents Lincoln did and surround himself with a Team of Rivals.

The OWLs would be a group of Omnes* World Leaders that would be assembled, say monthly, to offer President Trump a full range of views on important governing issues. Include the greatest experts on leadership and other specific topics (the economy, trade, business, education, climate) and have differing views discuss all points of debate with him. He would make the policy but would have a plethora of arguments flushed out instead of relying on only his cabinet and those who would seek to merely serve him.

The one thing Trump would like to do is succeed and be the greatest president ever. He is in office because people are tired of politicians same old way of doing business. Dividing our country further will serve no good for our country nor our citizens. We must give him this final opportunity to bring us together before we permanently end what makes us the UNITED States of America.

I have many other thoughts on how to expand this idea, so as a patriotic citizen I offer my help to make President Trump's dream come true and make this country as great as it can possibly be.

(*Latin: for all)