Tying Our Own Hands

I wonder if, when Dubya met with Vicente Fox on those Mayan steps a couple of weeks ago, he spoke with him about this?

I mean, no wonder they want to come here, right?

Wouldn’t it make sense, then, to apply pressure on Mexico to improve its own economy and not engage in criminal tactics against their “undocumented” workers? Wouldn’t that then give the workers an actual incentive to stay in their own country?

Couldn’t we advocate through the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of the migrants and try to stem the flow of “undocumented” workers into this country, thus making it possible for more American citizens to obtain work and lessen any post-9/11 security risks?

My guess is that the answer to those questions is yes. However, there’s a problem, as noted here.

Is it completely disgusting that Cuba and Iran – Iran! – are seeking seats on the council? Absolutely.

But here is what grownups do in a situation like this, as opposed to Bushco. They sit down and talk, discuss, mediate (or try to anyway), bargain, and try to accomplish something. They don’t stamp their feet and march away, a la John Bolton, saying the council is “fundamentally flawed.”

You have to admit, though, that there is a certain lunatic Bushco logic about this position. As noted here in this good Inquirer editorial (the Inky sure is “schizy” about this stuff these days), this is yet another example of showing blatant disregard for policies and protocols that are observed by allegedly civilized countries run by responsible leaders.

One more thing: Frist helped form Bush’s warped opinion on this, which was expected, but another person responsible was Chris Smith; I think Smith did a good job on the House Veterans Subcommittee from ’01 to ‘04, believe it or not, but he’s a total Bushco zealot when it comes to everything else.

One more final thing: as I pointed out a couple of weeks ago, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in writing and ensuring passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. I can never imagine that she would have sided with the current administration and its childish attitude.