Immigration vs Democracy vs Populism?

Today I read an article in The Guardian where Hillary Clinton suggested that “Europe must curb immigration to stop rightwing populists”.

Interesting! Why does a former Democratic candidate for the US Presidency point fingers at Europe, fighting similar problems as the US does? Is she sharpening her profile for another go at the US Presidency? Maybe. In any case, she stumbles into the same treacherous alley as democratic politicians do all over Europe. Don’t fight an opponent on his home turf!

I am not megalomaniacal enough to believe that I know it all. I don’t think there is a simple and universally right answer about immigration for all countries. However, there is one thing which irritates me no end.

Democratic politicians are losing in Europe, the States, and indeed all over the world to populistic nationalists. Has it ever occurred to those Democrats that they fail because they suck?

• Social and economic inequalities increase despite global growth.
• Democratic politicians have been breaking their promises as a rule.
• Efforts to integrate immigrants have, at best, been lip service.
• Is there even one democratic country without corrupt politicians (right, left, or center)?
• The internet is global and has been around for what, thirty years or more, and politicians are not able to implement general rules?

Enough examples? Probably not, and I could go on and on and on, but I made my point! Some navel-gazing is due, cut the finger-pointing!

One more thing, most economists (at least those not poisoned by ideology) agree that immigration in Western countries is necessary for growth and diversity. Fortunately, we don’t even need to search for arguments why; we can point to Japan as a glowing example of what awaits us.

We need to find ways to integrate immigrants into our culture because we need them, and btw. @democratic politicians do your jobs so rightwing populists lose traction!