Barackface: Mexico

Showing posts with label Mexico. Show all posts

Monday, July 07, 2025

7: Mexico

World War III Is Unnecessary
Grounded Greatness: The Case For Smart Surface Transit In Future Cities
The Garden Of Last Debates (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Trump’s Default: The Mist Of Empire (novel)
The 20% Growth Revolution: Nepal’s Path to Prosperity Through Kalkiism
Rethinking Trade: A Blueprint for a Just and Thriving Global Economy
The $500 Billion Pivot: How the India-US Alliance Can Reshape Global Trade
Trump’s Trade War
Peace For Taiwan Is Possible
Formula For Peace In Ukraine
A 2T Cut
Are We Frozen in Time?: Tech Progress, Social Stagnation
The Last Age of War, The First Age of Peace: Lord Kalki, Prophecies, and the Path to Global Redemption
AOC 2028: : The Future of American Progressivism

Sunday, June 15, 2025

What the U.S. Can Learn from Gulf Countries on Labor Mobility and Migration

Rot The Crop: The Devastating Consequences of America’s Broken Immigration Strategy
Emptying 40% of NYC Is Not Logical: America Needs Common Sense Immigration Reform
ICE: Los Angeles, New York City

What the U.S. Can Learn from Gulf Countries on Labor Mobility and Migration

In the global conversation around migration, few contrasts are as striking as the way the Gulf countries manage labor from South Asia versus how the United States handles labor from Mexico and Latin America. While both regions rely heavily on migrant labor for economic vitality, the systems in place could not be more different—offering critical lessons for U.S. policymakers seeking practical, humane, and economically sound solutions.

Gulf-South Asia: A Functional Labor Relationship

In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—millions of South Asian workers are legally employed in construction, domestic work, transportation, retail, and beyond. These workers often come through structured bilateral agreements between governments. While the kafala (sponsorship) system has its flaws and human rights concerns, the broader framework is functional in one key way: labor migration is acknowledged, formalized, and planned for.

There are no illusions. The Gulf countries understand they need labor to grow their economies. South Asian countries, in turn, understand the remittances from these workers are lifelines for millions of families and critical to national GDPs. The result is a relatively predictable, large-scale system that matches labor supply with demand.

U.S.-Latin America: Dysfunction and Denial

Contrast that with the United States. Despite relying deeply on undocumented immigrants to fill essential roles—in agriculture, elder care, food service, construction, and beyond—the U.S. has failed to create a coherent labor migration system that meets economic needs. Instead, the current system is a patchwork of outdated visa caps, long waiting times, harsh border enforcement, and political paralysis.

Worse, there’s a disconnect between rhetoric and reality. Political grandstanding calls for mass deportations of undocumented workers—as if the economy could survive such a move. The truth is clear: a full-scale deportation of undocumented workers would not solve economic issues; it would create a crisis. Crops would rot in the fields. Restaurants and care homes would shut down. Prices would surge, and vital sectors would slow to a crawl.

The Smarter Path: Document the Undocumented, Build Agreements

The United States should adopt a labor strategy that acknowledges its economic interdependence with Latin America. Like the Gulf countries, the U.S. could:

Create generous, flexible work visa programs for labor-intensive sectors that genuinely need workers.
Negotiate bilateral labor agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and other countries to allow circular migration—so workers can come, work, return, and repeat without falling into illegality.
Legalize and document the existing undocumented workforce, creating stability for families, certainty for employers, and new tax revenue for the state.

This is not amnesty. It’s smart economics, and it’s moral governance.

Conclusion: Fix the System, Don’t Destroy It

The U.S. doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel—it just needs to look abroad. The Gulf countries aren’t perfect, but they’ve recognized a simple truth: labor migration, when structured well, benefits everyone involved. It's time for the U.S. to stop pretending undocumented workers don't exist—or worse, scapegoating them—and instead build a 21st-century migration system that matches economic needs with human dignity.

Mass deportation isn’t just cruel—it’s suicidal for the economy. The smarter move is to bring order, openness, and realism into the system. Document the undocumented. Strengthen ties with the South. Let labor mobility be a driver of shared prosperity.

Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Trump’s Default: The Mist Of Empire (novel)
The 20% Growth Revolution: Nepal’s Path to Prosperity Through Kalkiism
Rethinking Trade: A Blueprint for a Just and Thriving Global Economy
The $500 Billion Pivot: How the India-US Alliance Can Reshape Global Trade
Trump’s Trade War
Peace For Taiwan Is Possible
Formula For Peace In Ukraine
The Last Age of War, The First Age of Peace: Lord Kalki, Prophecies, and the Path to Global Redemption
AOC 2028: : The Future of American Progressivism

1/
A man with no name.
No voice.
No country.
He’s deported from over 100 nations.
And still…
He builds the most beautiful country the world has never seen.
🧵 The story of Keir — and Spiral Island: @deepikapadukone @rashtrapatibhvn @chelseafc @m10 @kourtneykardash @foxnews
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 15, 2025

1/
The Gulf countries and South Asia have a labor system the U.S. should study closely.
Because if the U.S. actually mass-deported all undocumented workers, the economy would collapse overnight. 🧵 @just_mindy
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 15, 2025

Wow
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) June 15, 2025

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Rot The Crop: The Devastating Consequences of America’s Broken Immigration Strategy

Rot The Crop: The Devastating Consequences of America’s Broken Immigration Strategy

In the sun-scorched fields of California’s Central Valley, the fruits and vegetables that feed America depend on one thing above all else: labor. Not machines, not tech, not subsidies—but the hands of human beings, many of them immigrants. And yet, U.S. immigration policy—particularly under the Trump administration—has taken a cruelly ironic turn that can only be described as a "Rot The Crop" strategy.

This isn't just a metaphor. When anti-immigrant rhetoric turns into policy—raids, visa cuts, and bureaucratic bottlenecks—it isn’t just families that are disrupted. It’s the entire agricultural backbone of California, and by extension, much of the nation's food supply. Crops are left unpicked, fields lie fallow, and farmers lose millions. Meanwhile, grocery prices climb, and consumers grumble, rarely understanding that the chaos is self-inflicted.

Central Valley: Ground Zero for Labor Shortage

California’s Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, responsible for a quarter of the nation's food. It is also ground zero for the labor crisis. Despite industry cries for help, immigration enforcement policies have stripped farms of their seasonal labor force. Farmers have tried to hire domestically, offering better wages and even signing bonuses—but year after year, the same reality returns: Americans won’t do the work.

And it's not just a matter of effort. These are jobs that require skill, endurance, and speed. Harvesting perishable crops is a race against time and temperature. A shortfall in workers doesn't mean a slower harvest—it means no harvest. Entire fields can rot within days.

The Myth of the Job-Stealing Immigrant

For generations, fear-based narratives have scapegoated each new wave of immigrants—from the Irish and Italians to Latinos and Asians. But these myths consistently ignore economic evidence. Immigrants don’t "steal" jobs—they fill them. They start businesses, they pay taxes, and they contribute to the very social fabric that keeps America moving.

Yet time and again, nativist politics trumps economic rationality. We build walls while our crops wither. We turn away willing workers while unemployment is at historic lows. We wage war on our own supply chain, and then act shocked when inflation bites.

The Failure of Political Courage

The real blame doesn’t fall solely on any one president. The root of the dysfunction lies in Congress, which has failed for decades to pass meaningful immigration reform. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have used immigration as a political football—talking tough, stalling progress, and prioritizing fear over fact.

What America needs is a common-sense immigration policy that:

Provides a clear, legal pathway for seasonal and agricultural workers.
Protects immigrant families from arbitrary enforcement.
Ensures fair wages and rights for all workers, foreign and domestic.
Recognizes the contributions of immigrants not just in the fields, but in every corner of the economy.

It’s Time to Till a New Policy

The irony of "Rot The Crop" is that it harms everyone—from farmer to grocer to consumer. It is a policy of self-sabotage. And at its core, it’s driven by a deep misunderstanding of the very people who make America work.

Immigration reform isn’t charity—it’s economic necessity. It's about aligning our laws with our values and our needs. Until Congress finds the courage to act, we’ll continue to see fruit on the vine, families in fear, and an economy operating far below its potential.

America has always been a nation of immigrants. It’s time our laws stopped pretending otherwise.

Emptying 40% of NYC Is Not Logical: America Needs Common Sense Immigration Reform
ICE: Los Angeles, New York City
Kash Patel On The Fentanyl Crisis

1/
Welcome to California’s Central Valley—America’s agricultural powerhouse. But there's a crisis unfolding here that touches every dinner table in the country. 🥕🍓🌽
It’s called the “Rot The Crop” immigration strategy. And it’s devastating.

🧵👇
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 10, 2025

Sunday, June 01, 2025

The $50 Trillion Unlock: Why GovTech, Not the BRI, Will Transform the Global South

The $50 Trillion Unlock: Why GovTech, Not the BRI, Will Transform the Global South

In recent years, the world has watched China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reshape infrastructure development across continents. Roads, railways, ports, and pipelines have sprung up across Asia, Africa, and Latin America—symbols of Beijing’s growing global influence. In response, the US and EU have tried to offer counter-narratives and limited investments. But none of these efforts, impressive as they may seem, have come close to truly meeting the infrastructure needs of the Global South.

That’s because they’re all still playing an old game.

The real revolution won’t be in who builds the most roads or who lends the most money—it will be in who unleashes the latent wealth already buried in the soil of the Global South. The key? GovTech-powered land digitization. The act of precisely mapping, recording, and registering land ownership for every plot of land in every village, town, and city. Not just on paper, but on secure digital platforms tied to national ID systems and satellite imagery.

Why This Changes Everything

The vast majority of land in the developing world today—rural and urban alike—is informally held. Families live on it. Farmers farm it. But they can’t leverage it. Without legal recognition or digitized proof of ownership, land can’t serve as collateral for loans. That locks out hundreds of millions from credit markets and entrepreneurship. It traps the economy in an informal loop of low productivity and high poverty.

Now imagine this:

Every parcel of land is satellite-mapped.
Ownership is clearly established through digital title deeds.
Disputes are resolved via mobile courts or blockchain-backed records.
This digitized land becomes bankable collateral.

Suddenly, we’re not talking about aid or debt diplomacy—we’re talking about unlocking $50 trillion in dead capital, as Hernando de Soto famously argued. That’s money that local people could borrow from local banks to build homes, start businesses, or invest in community infrastructure. It’s money that doesn’t need to come from Beijing, Washington, Brussels, or the IMF. It’s already there.

A GovTech Revolution in the Making

This is what GovTech—government technology—makes possible.

GovTech is more than digitizing services or putting tax forms online. It is about re-engineering the very operating system of a country. Think:

Satellite-based land mapping.
Mobile-first property registries.
Blockchain land ledgers.
Integration with digital ID systems like India’s Aadhaar.
Interoperable databases between banks, courts, and land records.

This isn’t hypothetical. India has begun this journey. Rwanda has made progress. Estonia is already operating like a fully digitized state. But these are early experiments. The massive rollout—across Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and small island nations—is still ahead.

Why the BRI and the West Can’t Compete

The BRI builds things for governments. GovTech builds capabilities within governments. The former creates dependence. The latter builds sovereignty.

Western infrastructure programs, when they do exist, tend to focus on financing mega-projects, which often take years to execute and don’t always address the foundational needs of rural populations.

By contrast, land digitization is scalable, inclusive, and locally empowering. You don’t need to borrow billions from a superpower to do it. You just need satellites, software, and political will. You can map a country in months, not decades.

The Multiplier Effect

Once land is digitized, its value is activated:

Credit expansion: Farmers and micro-entrepreneurs gain access to capital.
Tax efficiency: Governments can collect more accurate property taxes to fund local projects.
Corruption reduction: Transparent ownership records end elite land grabs.
Urban development: Slums can be upgraded with real titles and services.
Foreign investment: Investors trust a land market that’s digitally verifiable.

This is the most inclusive form of economic stimulus the world has never tried.

The Call to Action

If you want to help the Global South rise, don’t build another port. Build digital infrastructure for governance. Build systems that turn land into leverage. Build GovTech.

With the right vision and partnerships, a coalition of tech firms, philanthropists, and forward-thinking governments could roll out a global LandTech initiative in the next five years. The returns would dwarf the BRI. They would permanently alter the economic trajectory of billions.

Infrastructure starts beneath your feet. It’s time we recognized that the most valuable resource in the Global South isn’t foreign capital. It’s local land, waiting to be unlocked.

Let’s do it—with satellites, software, and sovereignty.

The $50 Trillion Unlock: Why GovTech, Not the BRI, Will Transform the Global South 🧵
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 2, 2025

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Fentanyl, Firearms, and Foreign Policy: Unraveling a Complex Crisis

Fentanyl, Firearms, and Foreign Policy: Unraveling a Complex Crisis

The United States is grappling with two overlapping epidemics: the synthetic opioid crisis, dominated by fentanyl, and the enduring scourge of gun violence. Both are devastating, deadly, and politically explosive. But when you zoom out, these aren’t just isolated American problems—they’re deeply embedded in global supply chains, cross-border politics, and international perceptions of American influence and vulnerability.

This blog post dives into the fentanyl crisis, draws comparisons to gun violence, traces supply chains, examines the role of China and Mexico, and confronts the haunting question: Are these problems too big to solve without US-China cooperation? We’ll also explore the argument that American guns are Mexico’s fentanyl—and whether either nation is truly ready for the level of collaboration required to turn the tide.

I. How Bad Is the Fentanyl Crisis?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 70,000 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2023 alone, making it the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 49. To put that in perspective:

In 2023, total gun-related deaths (including homicide, suicide, and accidental shootings) were around 48,000, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Fentanyl deaths have overtaken car crashes, gun violence, and even COVID-19 (as of 2023) as the leading accidental killer in the U.S.

It is not an exaggeration to say fentanyl is America’s deadliest drug crisis ever—far eclipsing the crack epidemic of the 1980s or the heroin wave of the 1970s.

II. Global Scope: Is Fentanyl Only an American Crisis?

While America is the epicenter, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are emerging threats in Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. However, the crisis has not reached the same level in other countries for key reasons:

Different prescribing practices and healthcare systems have meant less over-prescription of opioids elsewhere.
Tighter border controls and more centralized drug enforcement (such as in Japan and Singapore) have delayed or suppressed synthetic opioid inflows.
Stronger social safety nets in some nations may reduce demand for escape through drugs.

That said, Canada is seeing a sharp rise in fentanyl deaths, especially in British Columbia, and the UK has reported increasing fentanyl-laced heroin overdoses.

III. The Fentanyl Supply Chain: A Transnational Hydra

The supply chain of fentanyl is fragmented, decentralized, and global. Here's a simplified breakdown:

Precursor Chemicals:
Mostly sourced from China and India. These chemicals—some of which have legitimate industrial uses—are difficult to regulate.
Synthesis:
Often done in Mexico, where cartels like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operate clandestine labs.
Smuggling into the U.S.:
Smuggled across the southern border, often in small but potent amounts—just two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal.
Domestic Distribution:
Spread through online black markets, street dealers, and increasingly through counterfeit prescription pills made to look like Xanax, Percocet, or Adderall.

IV. Is This Chemical Warfare? A Geopolitical Flashpoint

Some have called the fentanyl crisis a form of “chemical warfare” against the United States, pointing fingers at China—either explicitly or through tacit state complicity.

What’s the Basis of the Claim?

China was historically the primary source of finished fentanyl shipped directly to the U.S. via mail and dark web networks until 2019.
After U.S. pressure, China cracked down on fentanyl exports but loopholes remain, especially around precursor chemicals, which are harder to track and regulate.
Critics argue that China’s enforcement is lackluster or selective, possibly using fentanyl as a form of asymmetric retaliation in the broader U.S.-China rivalry.

What’s the Counterpoint?

Chinese officials deny any intent to harm and claim they’ve made good-faith efforts to curtail illegal exports.
They often highlight U.S. demand as the core issue—arguing that without it, the supply chain would wither.
Beijing has also pushed back against naming specific companies or cities involved, saying it lacks the legal basis for preemptive enforcement without international cooperation.

Verdict:

The "chemical warfare" label is alarmist if taken literally, but there is truth in the geopolitical negligence. Chinese actors are part of the supply chain, and lack of enforcement could be seen as passive complicity. But to call it state-sponsored war would be an overstatement—though one increasingly used in U.S. political discourse.

V. What Role Do Mexican Cartels and American Guns Play?

The Cartel Side:

Mexican cartels have pivoted from cocaine and marijuana to fentanyl because of high profits, low risk, and compact logistics.
Labs can operate with modest setups, producing enough fentanyl to supply entire U.S. cities.

The Gun Loop:

The Mexican government points the finger back: “You send us guns, we send you drugs.”

Roughly 70% of guns recovered at Mexican crime scenes are traced back to the U.S.
These firearms fuel cartel wars, killings of journalists and civilians, and undermine the Mexican state’s law-and-order efforts.
American gun stores and loopholes (e.g., gun shows, straw purchases) enable this flow.

It’s a vicious cycle: U.S. demand and lax gun laws fuel both the fentanyl epidemic at home and the violence in Mexico.

VI. Comparative International Perspective on Gun Policy

In countries like China and Japan, gun ownership is virtually non-existent outside of law enforcement:

Japan averages less than 10 gun deaths per year in a population of 125 million.
China has strict penalties for illegal gun possession and a cultural absence of civilian gun ownership.

How are U.S. gun laws perceived?

In much of Asia and Europe, American gun culture is viewed as incomprehensible, dangerous, and tragic.
The frequency of mass shootings, school shootings, and accidental deaths is seen as a failure of governance.
International observers often ask: “If America can’t solve this, what can it solve?”

VII. Is the Fentanyl Crisis an Origin Problem or a Demand Problem?

The truth is: it’s both.

Origin-side enforcement matters, but it’s not a silver bullet.
Without tackling American demand, the market will find new sources—just as heroin replaced oxycontin, and fentanyl is now replacing heroin.
Addiction is fueled by social despair, economic hopelessness, trauma, and mental illness.

This is not just a law enforcement issue. It’s a public health, mental health, and economic dignity issue.

VIII. Is There a Country That Has Handled It Well?

There is no perfect model, but some best practices stand out:

Portugal:
Decriminalized all drugs in 2001 and invested in treatment, not punishment. Results include lower overdose rates and fewer drug-related deaths.
Switzerland:
Offers medically supervised heroin programs, effectively removing street-level drug crime and greatly reducing overdose deaths.
Canada:
Experimenting with safe supply and supervised injection sites in cities like Vancouver.

These models show that harm reduction, treatment access, and social reintegration work better than mass incarceration or border crackdowns alone.

IX. Can This Be Solved Without U.S.-China Cooperation?

No. Not entirely.

Chemical supply chains run through Chinese manufacturers.
Global financial regulation, including cryptocurrency monitoring, requires joint enforcement.
Standardizing precursor tracking, labeling, and real-time customs data will require real diplomatic coordination—not just press releases.

Just as climate change and AI safety require global cooperation, fentanyl control is a systems-level problem.

X. What Now? A Path Forward

Demand Reduction:
Massive investment in mental health, social services, housing, and job programs.
Supply Chain Intelligence:
Real-time tracking of chemical precursors, and coordinated enforcement with China, India, and Mexico.
Gun Control and Export Laws:
Tighten domestic gun laws and enforce international traceability for arms exports.
Bilateral Agreements:
Launch a U.S.-China-Mexico opioid diplomacy track, akin to climate talks.
Harm Reduction in the U.S.:
Expand safe injection sites, naloxone distribution, and access to medication-assisted treatment.

Final Thought: A Mirror and a Window

Fentanyl and guns may seem like separate crises. But they reflect a deeper American dilemma: how do we confront the consequences of our own consumption, culture, and capitalism, while holding other nations accountable for their contributions?

These are mirror problems. They reflect who we are.

And they are window problems. They show us who we could become—if we dare to change course.

What do you think? Can fentanyl and firearms be tackled with policy? Or is it cultural? Global? Psychological? Leave your thoughts below.

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Sunday, February 02, 2025

2: Mexico

2/ Grok, analysis!

New feature that will appear on posts across your home timeline.

This button is designed to help you discover relevant context, understand real-time events, and dive deeper into trending discussions. pic.twitter.com/OdKjtRlBsx
— Poonam Soni (@CodeByPoonam) February 1, 2025

3/ Real-time data:

Grok can access real-time data from X (formerly Twitter) to provide up-to-date information on current events, trending topics, and ongoing discussions pic.twitter.com/UTx1vZGN5D
— Poonam Soni (@CodeByPoonam) February 1, 2025