On the grapevine WE 5 Jan 2005

Migration Migraine

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the consequences of massive immigration on Germany. The article titled "Germany Opened Its Doors to Migrants. Now It’s Struggling to Cope. Even before Christmas market attack, nation was straining under influx; economy needs new workers The Initial Reception Facility for asylum seekers on the outskirts of Suhl."

While the article focuses on the issues arising from an influx of a large number of migrants from a different culture in a small town, most of the issues are universal. The same problems have arisen in every country that has taken large numbers of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. These migrants certainly share many attributes of all migrants, such as a willingness to work hard to make a go of it. Many also try to fit in with the predominant culture, religion and values. Yet problems stem from a lack of employment opportunities, the need for welfare, language difficulties, schooling and housing. Despite the best intentions these inevitably cause a drain on the economy and friction with the population, especially when migrants appear to receive social benefits not received by many existing citizens.

And of course, the unspoken elephant in the room, is the problem of integrating Muslim migrants into a Judeo-Christian culture. Islam demands not only religious but also political loyalty. This is not surprising as many Islam-majority countries are theocracies. Not all migrants are strict adherents of course, and fewer still are dedicated Islamists, adhering to a jihadist interpretation of Islam. But it does not take many to cause serious societal problems.

We have been told for decades that migration builds a country, allows the mixing of cultures and provides economic benefits. The real-world experience with migration over the past 2 decades puts a lie to this. When accepting migrants, no country wants to replace their own culture. They want migrants to gradually but fully integrate into the society which they have joined. The only way to achieve this is to limit the numbers of migrants to a small proportion (<3%) of the population, and to ensure that those with a different cultural background are further limited.

Unfortunately, this is now the most pressing issue in much of the Western World, where migration from ME and Africa has exceeded my conservative numbers.  As a consequence many countries are now struggling with the growth of significant opposition to migration and social conflict where migrant populations and resident populations end up forming vigilante gangs. 

It is hard to put the migration genie back into the bottle.

Raw Hide

Clint Eastwood, burst onto our television screens 60 years ago as the archetype cowboy in RawHide. Soon after he always played the taciturn, cool, tough, principled hero in many a movie. His later career was as a director with academy award-winning films such as Bridges of Madison County and Million Dollar Baby. 

In an industry that has become the epicenter of Woke ideology, Eastwood has remained steadfastly independent. Both in his personal and public persona, and his movies, he has maintained his values, patriotism, self-reliance, respect for the law, and freedom of individual action.  A recent video covers his willingness to speak out against Woke culture.

Happy New Year!

2024 has been a tough year for too many around the world. Most notably those living in a war, zone; Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Ukraine, and Russia. And also those in Sudan who are suffering a severe famine due to civil war between military rivals. 

The ramifications of these wars have spread around the world. Most notably and somewhat surprisingly there has been a veritable explosion of anti-semitism seemingly triggered by a barbaric attack by Hamas terrorists on youths in Israel attending a music festival. Strangely, the antisemites celebrated these atrocities in many of the world's democratic cities. and even before Israel had taken any steps to fight back. The lack of a strong reaction to these outbursts of antisemitism has been shameful and has allowed ever-escalating demonstrations and anti-Semitic terrorist acts.  

On the political front, we have seen multiple attempts by left-wing organisations to maintain power. In the US the Biden presidency has decayed as has Biden's health. Multiple attempts at stopping Trump have failed, and miraculously he was elected in a landslide. The reelection of Trump is the singular most remarkable event of the year.  His victory in the face of unprecedented unscrupulous Democrat dirty tricks has elevated him. All around the world people are looking to Trump to stop the wars, stop the cultural extremists and right the world again. Alas, that is a total reversal of expectations at his last election. 

We have also seen the slow but increasingly rapid failure of Wokism. Whether it be gender politics, DEI, Open Borders, or Indigenous rights. It seems the majority has voted against the Woke. Trump has already and will continue to reverse the Woke policies of the Biden administration.

In Australia, the defeat of the Voice referendum last year was the turning point for the popularity of the Labor government.  Followed by the unprecedented deterioration of the standard of living, the high inflation, and high electricity costs, the Labor government is now likely to lose their majority and perhaps lose power altogether. We could have a return to a conservative government after just a single term of Labor. Given the damage Labor has managed to inflict on the country in just 3 years, let's all hope Labor is evicted early this year.

So like many years, we have had the good with the bad. Unfortunately, for many of us, it has been very difficult. On a personal note too, health issues inflicted their toll on both family members and friends. 

May the next year bring peace, maintain health, and provide success in all our endeavours. 

Wishing you all a more peaceful and healthy 2025.

Tech & Engineering Year in Review

The rate of technological change is ever-accelerating. Each year brings unpredicted developments many of which seem minor at the time but change the world. Here is a review of the changes over the past year.

Milei Miracle

In what can only be hailed as a miracle, in just 12 months Javier Milei the eclectic leader of Argentina has succeeded where even many supporters would have doubted. He has pulled Argentina out of recession, and to do so has demonstrated that conservative economics together with a good deal of guts and painful measures can turn around even a basket-case economy. Israel Hayom in an article titled "How Javier Milei pulled Argentina out of recession" highlights Milei's achievements.

At the time of his election, "Argentina was grappling with monthly inflation of 12.8% (a 211% annual rate). The government was printing money at a frenzied pace, resulting in a budget deficit of billions and a massive trade imbalance that created a foreign currency crisis. Poverty engulfed 42% of the population, the real exchange rate of the Argentine peso against the dollar was at a record low, and the economy was sliding into recession."

Yet in just 12 months

• Argentina recorded its first positive economic growth in years—3.9%. 
• Inflation has dropped to just 2.4% monthly, a low for the last 4 years
• the national budget  is balanced for the first time in 15 years
• closed the gap between official and black-market exchange rates.

Without a doubt, Milei has delivered economic recovery for what was a distressed nation.

 

Is there any morality in the UN?

Very little. But sometimes, some rare times, individual nations' representatives dare to call out the immorality of the mob . Here is one such case. I only managed to pick it up in a tweet. Alas that in itself shows how our media do not cover anything that goes against the zeitgeist.

here is the tweet. The included video is a must-see!

🇨🇿 voted NO at the #UN! The resolution's failure to clearly link a durable #ceasefire to the release of all the hostages risks sending a dangerously misguided signal to #Hamas terrorists that their reckless reign of terror may somehow be vindicated.

We must not abandon the… pic.twitter.com/wdxsuCJ61j

— Jakub Kulhanek (@JakubKulhanek) December 11, 2024