This Product Not Fit For Human Consumption I realize I've been neglecting my blog for the past few weeks, but its difficult for me to post on what goes on with me of any interest on a routine basis because it is largely very private. I could report on all the mundane (however interesting to myself) events of my life, but I'm afraid I would lose more readers that way than if I were not to blog at all!

I recently told my friend Arcadiy that I believe it is the moral obligation of the Western world to democratize the rest of the world, by military force if necessary (and in most cases it is). The U.S. has taken a prominent and tirelessly criticized role in this since the end of the second World War, and to no shame or regret it has largely been in our own interest. Whether to liberate oppressed people, redirect control of resources, or improve our political positioning against a more dangerous enemy, and despite a long list of mistakes, the U.S. has been the benefactor of peace and stability more than any other single nation in history. Humanitarian efforts have their short term successes, but I'm afraid it often prolongs and intensifies the problem. When you don't couple food and medical supply delivery and school building with forcing the hand of an irrational and narcissistic dictator, all you do is make it easier for him to survive.

The wall along the U.S.-Mexican border is a good idea, but its not enough (especially for how poorly engineered it is; has the southwest ever heard of razor wire?). I don't have any issues with regulated immigration (its one of the few things I believe the government should have the power to regulate) but illegal immigration is intolerable for a number of reasons:
1. Honest Mexicans are outside the umbrella of free market forces and vulnerable to the worst America has to offer.
2. With honest Mexicans illegally crossing the borders comes drugs, criminals, disease, and of course terror agents.
3. Most of all, it allows the Mexican government to stay ever corruptive because Mexicans have a better alternative to revolution. Holes along the border through which Mexicans cross are like steam pipes releasing pressure from a power plant.

The latter is exactly what happens in nations throughout the world that we make possible through government sponsored international aid and humanitarian charity organizations.

To say that we are imperialist or fascist for influencing change abroad through military efforts is grossly hypocritical of those who support humanitarian organizations. Change does not occur in a vacuum; we're calming the potential angry, desperate masses in many nations, we are quelling potential revolution and liberation of people and are the best friends of the governments we mutually criticize the harshest. It's not unlike taxpayer fueled bailouts for failing U.S. industries, whereby the subsidized industry essentially becomes an arm of the government.

In any case, I've rethought what I told Arcadiy only a month or two ago, and democratizing the world may not necessarily be the obligation of the West, but I've only repositioned myself to find uncertainty rather than another, more moderate role for the U.S. and Western Europe. Always glad to uselessly opine for the ol' blog.  ¶ 8:28 PM