Seriously, don’t bother visiting the US until 2029. That's my advice. Plenty of fascinating and more welcoming countries out there.

#travel https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/entering-the-us-has-become-more-fraught-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-20250407-p5lpny.html

What would a truly socialist prime minister say to their country about immigration ?

"Sánchez urged Spaniards to reject stereotypes and hoaxes about migration. In the past decade, 94% of migrants who had arrived in Spain had done so legally, he said. About 40% of them were Latin Americans, 30% hailed from other parts of Europe and 20% were from Africa. “We’re talking about a diverse migration flow that looks nothing like the image [perpetuated by] the far right.”

"Migrants were more likely to be working than people born in Spain, and less likely to access social services, he said. When age and income levels are taken into account, the rates of delinquency were about the same for both groups, he added.

"“I want citizens to understand that this is not a battle between Spaniards and foreigners, or Christians and Muslims or saints and criminals,” he said. “It is a battle between truth and lies, between tales and data, between what is in the interests of our society and the interests of a few who see fear and hatred of foreigners as their only path to power.”"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/09/pedro-sanchez-unveils-plans-to-make-it-easier-for-migrants-to-settle-in-spain

Good point here - cash handling costs way more than dealing with credit card payments (estimated here as 3.9% of a purchase).

"As part of the debate about surcharges imposed by retailers on people who pay with a card or another electronic device versus physical money, I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve had to explain that cash is not free."

#Money https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-costly-business-of-cash-has-to-change-20240917-p5kb4g.html