Xenophobia May Cripple the U.S. Economy
Greg Abbott’s hate for immigrants of color is costing Texans and may cost you too
In response to Joe Biden’s lifting of Title 42, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made some controversial and costly moves. In addition to the $2 billion a year he’s spending on Texas State Troopers and Texas National Guard Troops at the border to catch asylum-seekers (who typically turn themselves in), he’s begun shipping migrants to D.C. on buses and imposed enhanced vehicle inspections at the border creating massive supply chain issues.
But has Greg Abbott gone too far?
Texas Agriculture Commissioner seems to think so. Sid Miller, an avowed Trumper and openly blatant racist criticized Abbott’s enhanced inspections citing produce rotting in idling trucks leading to a spike in prices for consumers. In a scathing statement, Miller calls for an end to the additional border inspections and urges a shift to defending Title 42 in federal court.
“Up to 20,000 truckers cross the border on a normal day. My reports are that each inspection is taking an hour and has created a backlog with thousands of trucks clogging the border. Refrigerated produce is being ruined as trucks run out of fuel after being in line for over a day.”
Miller makes a valid point. Governor Greg Abbott’s use of being “tough on the border” and the demonization of migrants of color are creating an environment for prices to skyrocket. If you don’t think we get a lot of food from Mexico, I ask, what do 20,000 trucks a day mean to you? Fruit, vegetables, meats, fuel, car parts, you name it. A lot of what we rely on comes through the Southern Border. It’s not just the cheap labor white corporate America enjoys abusing.
“And today the U.S. Labor Department reported the indicators for energy, gasoline, natural gas, and electricity are up 32%, 48%, 21.6%, and 11.1% over last year, so this inspection program is turning a crisis into a catastrophe.”
I hate to quote a racist, but he’s right. And what does it say when people on your racist team call you out for your stupidity? That’s a pretty big deal, right? Hell yeah, it is. But Beto O’Rourke, Abbott’s challenger in the Governor’s race, has keyed in on it too. I mean, who wouldn’t. Gov. Abbott knows in deep against O’Rourke. He knows he could easily lose to him.
Texas’ Governor is trying to find ways to stand out as his opponent gets most of the attention in the state. In my talking to people about Texas politics, the conversations are all about Beto O’Rourke. And it’s not all negative either.
Even rural Texas voters are talking about Beto O’Rourke’s promise to legalize marijuana and the revenue it would generate not just for the state, but for farmers as well. It’s the newest cash crop. It’s in high demand. They know it.
That’s exciting for any Texan.
I mean, the potheads are happy too but, the conversations with rural Texans speak volumes. It’s in those conversations it became evident that many see Greg Abbott’s actions as desperation. It’s a negative they don’t like because he looks weak and afraid.
At the end of the day, the ideology behind the platform of hate; xenophobia, homophobia transphobia, racism, etc., will eventually cause the hatemongers to expose their ignorance and stupidity. They always tell on themselves. It’s just nice when white people see it.
That’s exactly what’s happening in Texas.