The Trump Effect

[Abyss21]

On 27/01/2017 at 0:28 PM, pippi said:

I wonder if anyone else is considering giving up their U.S. grad school ambitions because of the political climate. I'm an American living abroad, and I knew Trump would be bad, but I didn't realize how bad it could really be until he was inaugurated. (And the scariest thing is, we still don't *really* know how bad it will be.)

For me, it might not make sense to come back, even if I get into a great program. I want to have a kid in the next few years: the social safety net was bad enough under Obama; I can only imagine how much worse things will be in Trump's America. It would be delusional to expect any sort of positive government action in terms of health care, parental leave, daycare, or education. There are problems everywhere, of course, but I suspect I would be better off having a baby/raising a child where I'm currently living. (And *particularly* as a harried grad student earning somewhere near the poverty line.)

Anecdotally, one of my professors here told me that he's heard that U.S. applications to European programs are waaaay up this cycle over previous years. 

On the other hand, I do feel a sense of responsibility. It's unreal to be here and not there while this is all happening. 

I'm a Canadian who applied to a bunch of American schools (and some Canadian ones). I finished my applications and paid for all of them mere days before Trump won the US election. I was thoroughly convinced that it was impossible for him to win. I had more faith in humanity than I perhaps should have had. Anyways, I couldn't withdraw my American applications, but I'm really torn on whether or not I should even consider accepting an offer to an American school if I do end up getting into one. Also, seeing the new immigration conditions has me worried about my chances of even being able to obtain a visa. Making matters even worse, my partner was going to come with me and he is racialized so that's not looking too good. Please Americans, get him impeached ASAP!

Edited January 28, 2017 by ThePomoHipster

[claritus]

Another Canadian here—and I'm starting to feel a little worried. I've been aiming mostly at American programs, although I do have a funded acceptance from a Canadian school already. The thing is, even if I get into an American program, I'm starting to worry about entering the country. I was arrested a few years ago for violating a civil injunction (environmental protest, etc), and even though the charges were complete bullshit, and were dropped, I know this stuff sticks around in less-than-official ways. That and I'm hearing reports about border services checking people's social media, asking opinions about Trump, etc. I'm definitely not secretive about my political leanings, and I'm starting to wonder if I should be self-policing my public opinions—or if I want to self-police. 

[XYZ1234]

I believe I'm screwed. Even if I get into graduate school, Trump is going to cut the federal funding agencies that support environmental sciences. 

[Abyss21]

4 hours ago, claritus said:

Another Canadian here—and I'm starting to feel a little worried. I've been aiming mostly at American programs, although I do have a funded acceptance from a Canadian school already. The thing is, even if I get into an American program, I'm starting to worry about entering the country. I was arrested a few years ago for violating a civil injunction (environmental protest, etc), and even though the charges were complete bullshit, and were dropped, I know this stuff sticks around in less-than-official ways. That and I'm hearing reports about border services checking people's social media, asking opinions about Trump, etc. I'm definitely not secretive about my political leanings, and I'm starting to wonder if I should be self-policing my public opinions—or if I want to self-police. 

Congrats on the acceptance to a Canadian school! Which one was it (if you don't mind me asking)? Yeah, I mean if Trump's America includes border services going through people's social media accounts and asking them whether they are Trump supporters before letting them into the country, then I doubt I (and many other Canadians) would be allowed through. You should never have to self-police to be allowed in a country. What kind of world do we live in if people can't even disagree with the US president's opinions?

[Yanaka]

I don't think you should worry about obtaining a visa, it's very clear that their restrictions target Muslim countries only...

Edited January 29, 2017 by Yanaka

[Abyss21]

1 hour ago, Yanaka said:

I don't think you should worry about obtaining a visa, it's very clear that their restrictions target Muslim countries only...

I guess you're right. The bigger worry for me is really just whether I feel comfortable living in a country that has a Muslim ban (among the many other ridiculous policies in this horrific political climate) for the duration of a PhD.

[claritus]

1 hour ago, Yanaka said:

I don't think you should worry about obtaining a visa, it's very clear that their restrictions target Muslim countries only...

But the restrictions also apply to dual-citizens, people with green cards, etc. There are Canadian and British MPs who would no longer be able to enter the country. It's completely unprecedented, and if this is happening only days into Trump's presidency I expect much worse to come. 

[Yanaka]

@claritus you mean people who are e.g. Iranian + Canadian? 

I agree @ThePomoHipster, I never truly imagined myself moving into a fascist country. I guess noone but his electors thought all of this would actually happen.

[Abyss21]

9 hours ago, claritus said:

But the restrictions also apply to dual-citizens, people with green cards, etc. There are Canadian and British MPs who would no longer be able to enter the country. It's completely unprecedented, and if this is happening only days into Trump's presidency I expect much worse to come. 

Trudeau clarified that Canadians would not be affected by these restrictions. However, this doesn't stop the restrictions to be completely ridiculous and unconstitutional. 

6 hours ago, Yanaka said:

@claritus you mean people who are e.g. Iranian + Canadian? 

I agree @ThePomoHipster, I never truly imagined myself moving into a fascist country. I guess noone but his electors thought all of this would actually happen.

Iranian + Canadian people should be fine, but I have no idea if someone who is Iranian + French or Iranian + British would be allowed in the US for example. I don't even think that a lot of Trump's electors predicted him to be this level of horrible... and it's only the beginning. Who knows what's going to happen next?

[Yanaka]

18 minutes ago, ThePomoHipster said:

Trudeau clarified that Canadians would not be affected by these restrictions. However, this doesn't stop the restrictions to be completely ridiculous and unconstitutional. 

Iranian + Canadian people should be fine, but I have no idea if someone who is Iranian + French or Iranian + British would be allowed in the US for example. I don't even think that a lot of Trump's electors predicted him to be this level of horrible... and it's only the beginning. Who knows what's going to happen next?

I'm too afraid to ask my dad. I think he's content, and I think T electors almost all are because otherwise it means realizing the terrible mistake they've made...

Edited January 29, 2017 by Yanaka

[Abyss21]

35 minutes ago, Yanaka said:

I'm too afraid to ask my dad. I think he's content, and I think T electors almost all are because otherwise it means realizing the terrible mistake they've made...

I think they finally admit that they've made a mistake once his policies start negatively impacting them too. I've seen a bunch of articles and social media posts of this happening already. People who needed Obamacare or who have spouses that are now affected by the Muslim ban are really regretting their decision. It's frustrating to see this happening because anybody could've predicted that Trump's policies would impact the poor white population negatively too (except for themselves).

[tvethiopia]

this is definitely kind of a nightmare happening in the US right now, but know that there are a lot of people fighting very hard against the insanity. the ACLU has made some significant strides already in getting courts to block the ban, at least temporarily. immigration lawyers are walking through airports taking names for class-action suits and offering free legal advice and assistance. we're getting hit with so much so fast it's hard to keep up, but a lot of americans are fighting back as hard as we can, and are totally ashamed of what our government is doing.

fun fact: roger baldwin, a co-founder of the ACLU, originally taught the first Sociology course that washu had to offer.
 

[Yanaka]

Yeah... hope so. 

Didnt some organization sue him for conflict of interest? 

[KikiDelivery]

7 minutes ago, Yanaka said:

Yeah... hope so. 

Didnt some organization sue him for conflict of interest? 

Yes!

The organization is called the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington according to several sources.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ethics-group-suing-trump-conflict-interest-claims-article-1.2953205

 

I hope they win their case. I know many people fear Pence if Trump were to be impeached, but dealing with one is easier than dealing with both of them.

[tvethiopia]

7 minutes ago, Yanaka said:

Didnt some organization sue him for conflict of interest? 

yes, though it may be unsuccessful, even though his violations are fairly obvious. to have legal standing to sue, the group is required to demonstrate that they've suffered concrete harm as a result of the conflicts, and that's pretty hard to establish.