HOW WE CREATED THE MIGRANT PROBLEM

Every day the news includes coverage of the migrant problem at our southern border.  Our president has called these people rapists, gang members and a threat to our national security.  Actually, they are dirt poor people desperate for a chance at a better life.  Why they are dirt poor and at our border is the reason for this article.

Actually, there could be a number of factors that could have contributed to their poverty.  I will discuss one because I believe it’s the most important – American Foreign Policy.

When President Obama first took office, one of the first things he did when he visited a number of countries was to apologize for past American behavior.  He assured them that under his administration, their sovereignty would be respected.  He is still being criticized for it by conservative media.

While he wasn’t specific about the behavior he was talking about, the countries he was speaking to didn’t need specifics – they already knew.  It’s the American people that are in the dark.  Mainstream media usually avoid inconvenient truths, but authors write books about them.

Stephen Kinzer, in his book, “OVER Throw”, details how America has overthrown the governments of 14 countries.  In every instance, the action was taken in order for American corporations to gain control of the country’s resources. In Hawaii, it was pineapples.  When its government was overthrown, Sanford Dole was named provisional president. Dole pineapples are still in grocery stores today.

Most Americans are not aware that some of these governments were overthrown because no shots were fired and our history books don’t mention them.  American economic pressure, warships with Marines near their coast and a letter from an American president demanding that the leader resign is sufficient to bring about regime change.

John Perkins, in his book, “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man” describes how he played a role in the economic colonization of third world countries on behalf of corporations, banks, and the United States government.

According to media reports, most of the people trying to come across our southern border are from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.  All three are on the list of 14 overthrown governments.  The corporations got richer and the people got poorer. It’s not complicated. If you keep taking food from hungry people, eventually they are going to end up at your house.  Essentially, that’s what’s happening at our southern border.

Presently, Venezuela is in danger of being overthrown.  Recently, President Trump implied that military action might be needed to restore order.  Venezuela has the largest know oil reserves in the world.  I find it strange how our oil keeps ending up under other people’s soil.

Mabra Holeyfield used his decades of business experience in his newly published book, “Use What You Got”.  In it, he offers strategies to address poverty in the black community. Available at Amazon.com. Email mholeyfield@banksandholeyfield.com.