So...Bernie has returned to the center on immigration. He's praised Trump on the topic, while saying Biden didn't get the job done. Now, I have mixed thoughts on this one too. First, I've never been "woke" on immigration. I also believe we are a nation with borders, the borders should be enforced, but I'm not gonna lie, Biden basically did secure the border. The republicans just kept acting like it was an issue because THEY wanted to be the ones to do it, and now they're doing psycho crap that reminds me of early nazi germany. And...for me, that's where I stand. I've never been a far left progressive on the border. I've always been a moderate, a centrist on this issue. And I did support Sanders in 2016 when he wasn't "woke" like clinton was. But let's be blunt. The right tried triangulating. Biden did keep the border secured mostly. He actually gave the republicans most of what they wanted. For me, the issue isn't whether to enforce our borders, it's HOW. Trump is all optics. He plays the tough guy like "I'm going to build a wall and make mexico pay for it" (even though his wall is nothing but a monument to racism and solves nothing, and mexico didn't pay for it), and now he's just rounding up people without due process. It's insane. We shouldnt praise trump or act like he did a better job than Biden on this.
Why is bernie saying this? because I think he understands the current zeitgeist that "woke" is dead, the dems dragged him through the mud in 2016 and 2020, forcing him left on social justice issues, and now that that stuff has been unquestionably unpopular, he's shifting back to the right and kinda agreeing with trump. Bold move cotton, let's see how this pays off.
While I'd normally expect shrill cries from the social justice left over this, he isn't getting as much criticism as I would normally expect I think. Maybe woke really is dead. Good riddance. Either way, I'm ambivalent on these comments. Just because I ain't woke doesn't mean I'm a right winger on immigration. And I'm gonna keep it real, Biden gave the GOP like 85% of what they wanted and it STILL wasn't enough. Again, because Trump had to do it himself. HE had to be the one to solve the border crisis, not the democrats. Maybe Sanders simply recognizes that and is conceding the issue to Trump so he could focus on other stuff. It's smart, but I can't say I approve of that. My honest, objective opinion was Biden was adequate (even if not perceived so), Trump is a psychopath, and I'd rather not give into right wing framing more than we have to. And I say this as someone who has blasted the woke left all along for being too soft on the issue, and even got my fair share of criticism over the decade for not being on board with their ideas.
The left should concede the border issue somewhat to the right, it's just a debate of how much. I do believe the left should offer contrast with the right, especially in this age where what Trump is doing on the issue seems Hitleresque. We SHOULD be pushing back on Trump here. He's NOT doing a good job. He's a fricking psychopath and should be recognized as such. Even if we believe in strong borders and the like, the difference is the democrats try to do things more humanely and legally. Trump isn't, and that's the problem. And that's basically the difference between just being right wing on the issue and being a fascist. I can respect a right wing position on immigration, even if I dont fully agree with it. I can't agree with fascism.
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