Immigration control is a smokescreen for the real intentions of Trump and his appointees. Nevertheless, it is a very real and damaging issue if not tackled humanely. The Trump team (with very similar attitudes to the Brexit team) know that this is an emotional subject and will divide the electorate. The many who suffer as a consequence of this smokescreen are merely collateral damage in their eyes.
Not everyone on Trump’s team is racist; they may be immigrants themselves, some have married foreigners, but their rhetoric is very much aimed at persuading members of their electorate who do hold racist attitudes. The team may not be anti-Muslim, but they know that there are those who fear the very weakest and those in most need: the refugees.
We who oppose these actions must tackle both the prejudices and racist smokescreen and also be aware of their real intentions. We have no other option. The Trump team feel they are winning. As we rightly attempt to “put out the fire” that they lit they can get on with their more subtle agenda; hidden enough to go unnoticed by much of the electorate.
“Their” agenda:
To move towards a more extreme political framework that allows businesses to operate without the need to consider the environmental or social consequences.
That’s it. That sums up all their moves. That is the longer term goal; to maximise their profits in their lifetime. Now I am not just referring to Trump (he personally is unpredictable) but the team that will use him and aim to gain power and his support by pandering to his narcissistic temperament.
The evidence.
The starting point for them is to dismantle regulations. We take for granted the many regulations that have both improved social conditions and reduced environmental damage. The Trump administration has already begun this dismantling. This climate deregulation tracker from Columbia Law school is regularly updated.
Historically, we have seen that hard fought for regulations have improved the lives of many around the world. These conditions relate to working hours, health and safety, pollution emissions, human rights etc., that many have opposed with all their efforts and would like to remove if they get the slightest of chance.
It is clear that in general the Trump team will be very sympathetic to climate change denial since the obvious solution to this problem is that we will need to deal with the external consequences (or social costs) of the causes of human induced climate change. (The same applies to many related environmental issues such as bio-diversity loss and degradation of oceans via excessive nitrogen leakage from croplands). To tackle these environmental issues we will need to continually upgrade and improve tax systems and regulations. These are global in nature but handled differently around the world to accommodate different climate, geographical, and political conditions. Unfortunately, many climate deniers have managed to get onto Trump’s team.
Playing on fear.
A short life-time business opportunity is the arms trade. I would expect this not only to continue but to expand on the basis of my claim that we are witnessing a “move towards a more extreme political framework that allows businesses to operate without the need to consider the environmental or social consequences”.
For those who have no concerns of the “collateral” damage this provides an ideal opportunity to promote life-time financial personal gains. If the weapons get into “the wrong hands” this has the added advantage of increasing sales, increasing, terrorism, increasing fear of terrorism, encouraging extreme political attitudes that further promotes fear of foreigners and refugees. A reinforcing cycle is created. Whether this is done wittingly or or otherwise the consequence are the same.
Hope.
All around the world we see protests at Trump’s attitude to women and immigrants.People are either involved directly or are witnessing these events via word of mouth and via the media. Trump over-impatiently exposes the more subtle agenda by attacking regulations and the science of climate change within the first days of his presidency. This draws attention to these issues that have largely not been seen as connected or have not been in the forefront of people's minds.
It is my hope that Trump may have unwittingly sparked a rebound effect that will promote awareness and a willingness to put out his “fires” from inhumane immigration attitudes to the need to curtail environmental degradation and improve social well-being for all.
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