I don’t think they generally think that deeply. I think they really do want less illegal immigration (and less legal immigration, and the expulsion of all non-white, non-fundamentalist-Christian people) because that will create the “unified, blessed” nation they believe that they need to have.
That said, they aren’t concerned about dealing with either of those issues rationally or efficiently. It’s moral, not policy. “Impure” people who enter our “pure” nation are evil and must be thown out so we continue to have the favour of our deity (I refuse to write capital-g god here out of respsect for actual, loving Christian doctrine, as rare as it is). You deal with moral violations with exile and shame, not with compassion, wisdom, and welcoming.
Trump doesn’t even get that deep. “How does this play in the ratings? (and secondarily, how do I look?)” That’s it. It’s why he likes Mamdani in person—he gets ratings.
I don’t think they generally think that deeply. I think they really do want less illegal immigration (and less legal immigration, and the expulsion of all non-white, non-fundamentalist-Christian people) because that will create the “unified, blessed” nation they believe that they need to have.
That said, they aren’t concerned about dealing with either of those issues rationally or efficiently. It’s moral, not policy. “Impure” people who enter our “pure” nation are evil and must be thown out so we continue to have the favour of our deity (I refuse to write capital-g god here out of respsect for actual, loving Christian doctrine, as rare as it is). You deal with moral violations with exile and shame, not with compassion, wisdom, and welcoming.
Trump doesn’t even get that deep. “How does this play in the ratings? (and secondarily, how do I look?)” That’s it. It’s why he likes Mamdani in person—he gets ratings.