President Joe Biden calls Japan and India 'xenophobic' nations that do not welcome immigrants
President Joe Biden has called Japan and India “xenophobic” countries that do not welcome immigrants, lumping the two with adversaries China and Russia as he tried to explain the four countries’ economic circumstances and contrasted them with the U.S. on immigration.
apnews.com
No, Mr Biden! You're Wrong to Say That Japan is 'Xenophobic'
The clumsy remarks made by President Biden were incorrect and unhelpful. Japan is welcoming more immigrants than ever, a trend the government wants to continue.
japan-forward.com
Great move Joe! Making "friends" with every self promotion. Appeal to one voter group by disparaging entire nations. An advise Joe, the sequence of order is think before you speak not the other way around. Also this is the age of social media. Everything you say will be recorded and uploaded somewhere onto the internet. Maybe just maybe don't say the soft part out loud. At least we know how he sees his allies - the same as he sees his enemies. Pawns for re-elections.
In a situation so nuance as macro economics, he can boil down every nations' problem to no immigration. Does he have any idea how things work? More people more productivity right? More consumers right? New people new ideas right? Absolutely moronic logic. India & China two of the biggest populations in the world are having economic issues because there is not enough immigration he reasoned. I fail to see how. Even if I don't major in Economics (I'm in IT) I know it is not as simple as adding people. You know because I have 22 years of working experience and lived through 2 economic crisis.
Economic condition of a nation is influenced by believe it or not national & international economic policies. Japan's economic problem came into being long before they have an aging population. It was due to the real estate bubble that was formed during their economic boom. Not to mention America putting higher tariffs on Japan for "competitive" reasons. The aftermath of this caused the economy to stagnant for 3 decades. GDP growth plateaued with average annual growth in the 0.5% - 2%. Wages remained the same and general deflation followed. Due to the economic stagnation people began to have less children. This compounded the issue further.
India's issue is mainly due to the size of the nation and how their political system works. India is very decentralized with each province governed by their own regional administration while the federal administration sets the general framework and foreign policies. India for most of its modern existence is a very poor country. Most people are uneducated and the elites only centralized in a few cities like Delhi. It wasn't until recently India started to built up its middle income group. Their economic standing is also vastly improving without the need of immigration. By improving their education and sending their children to Ivy leagues they are able to draw on a more diverse and young talent pool of ideas. India is poise to overtake Germany and Japan in the near future.
Then there is the hidden dark side of immigration people are afraid to talk about. Demographics and culture. Not every immigrant is an upstanding immigrant to put it gently. Just take a look at the American sanctuary cities. How is it going? Is the economy growing with the increased numbers of immigrant (illegal immigrants may I add) or is the cities hemorrhaging public funds to cater to them. How are they adjusting to the American culture? Let me answer that all in one word - negative. People across the world can see these problems, who would like these kind of immigrants in their nation? Japan and India have never been closed to immigration but they want controlled immigration (prerogative of the natives to decide). The best of the best from other places just like Singapore. Diversity is not always a strength. London, Paris and Malmo can attest to that. Everything has its pros and cons. If Tokyo and Delhi no longer resemble their native people, no longer practice their native culture and no longer talk the native language are they still a Japanese and an Indian cities?
America only likes to measure others by their own perception of acceptable standards. It is unthinkable to people like Joe that he doesn't have all the right answers. There are competing standards and ways of life others would like to live by. Just because they don't align with yours don't make them bad or phobic. So to people like Joe kindly stop smelling your own body fumes.
And can we please have Trump back, Americans? Pretty please with cherry on top? I know I'm not Donald's biggest fan but I'm just about to have enough of the current administration.
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