Actually I don't think you and I are that far apart on our views of the issues. I appreciate your feedback. That said, in regards to this exchange:
1. No one I know is calling for "open borders" - that is hyperbole. But we do need serious immigration reform as well as resolution to the past administration's actions such as resolving the reunion of family separation where hundreds of children were taken from their parents who were then deported. Another factor is helping places like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador etal better improve their INTERNAL economy and society which the USA has disrupted and manipulated for over 100 years. Our very actions destabilizing them enabled the rise of the gangs and dictators. But I do agree that immigration as we currently operate our economy does impact black people more than whites though it seems whites are the ones acting most aggrieved (to which Trump played aggressively).
2. "packing the court" is of course the perjorative manner of framing the issue. One can just as easily say "expand the court" which is a worthy discussion given the blatant hypocrisy of Republicans over the appointment(s). Regardless I doubt it would actually happen.
3. "defund the police" - UGH ! what a terrible slogan. While there are SOME who want to defund and eliminate police they are a miniscule minority of voices on the issue. At issue is funding- how many police, what kind of equipment, what kind of procedures as well as accountability. Unfortunately, if it takes three times longer to explain a slogan than it takes to say the slogan, that is an awful message. We do need reforms and civilian oversight and address the funding. For example, my city (Grand Rapids, MI) implemented a city charter change in 1994 (same time as the infamous federal Crime Bill) which locks in 32% of the city budget to go to law enforcement. They currently are getting aout 36%. In my opinion, NO department should have a guaranteed lock on funding. Times change, conditions change. If we had locked in, say, funding for early childhood development programs 25 years ago due to a large population of toddlers, but now we have a far smaller population of kids, but now have a demographic bubble of elderly and seniors needing services, but a charter lock prevents adjusting the budget. Crime is down drastically from 20 years ago much less 1994.
As an aside, I think the "defund the police" was inspired by "eliminate ICE." Immigration enforcement will NEVER go away. All agencies need an enforcement mechanism, something my fellow progressives seem to not understand. I would prefer we do "eliminate" ICE and return to the nomenclature INS (immigration and naturalization service). There is some documentation that with the title change to "enforcement" as well as encouragement from the Trump administation, that "ICE" practically became a rogue department. The INS title has a different mission in it's title.
4. I am not sure how you get a Joe Manchin as being a key to McConnell control of senate. Other than Manchin and Sinema vowing to maintain the filibuster which allowed the agreement to go forward, either way Schumer is Majority Leader and Harris breaks ties.
