I have no strong feelings about immigration. As far as I can tell, the feds went hard on bringing people in, but didn’t do their homework when it came to ensuring appropriate services existed for the growing population.

The Feds did this because it was cheaper. They did their homework--inasmuch as they know we have a demographic problem--but didn't do the hard, expensive and unpopular part, which was ensuring a) that infrastructure would exist to support the people brought in, and b) taxing the wealthy to make sure a) happened.

It's very similar to the feds' policy on drugs: do the cheap half of the solution (decriminalization) but not the expensive part (comprehensive public housing & mental-health services).

This is neoliberalism in action, and it's something both the red and blue parties will do: if it can be solved by doing nothing, or at least doing less, they'll do it. If it involves giving public money to private entities, they'll do it. If it's a tax cut, grant or "accelerator fund", they're all over it. If it involves long-term funding commitments, permanent staffing levels, expensive facilities and the need to tax the rich, they'll shut up and look at their shoes.

I'm frankly amazed they announced a capital gains increase, but I'll believe it when I see it survive the year.