# Who is organizing/supporting the "caravan"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 22, 2018, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326 "2018-10-22T12:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/41 "2018-10-22T23:34:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Probably the fact that they don’t control any of the levers of government. Being the minority party doesn’t mean that one’s stance makes no difference. Otherwise this would be like Republicans in California saying, “We’re the minority, so whether we support gay marriage or not is irrelevant.” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/42 "2018-10-22T23:43:55Z")
> [@justins7](#): > > People do not seem to be seeing the alarming fact that this caravan is a GIFT TO THE REPUBLICANS (in addition to being a human catastrophe). It is like a moving image of how Repub. supporters see Latin Americans: a growing horde clamoring to get in, lest we let the Democrats get in office. Close the gates (they’ll say)! > > Somehow it always seems like the Republicans have the benefit of an October surprise before an election —either up their own sleeves or by “luck.” I wouldn’t be shocked if the horde was organized by Trump himself or his Russian partners. > > Of course I don’t mean to diminish the horror of their plight; rather, I am referring to the political implications. I don’t believe the Soros conspiracy theorists one bit, but if this were a Soros-funded attempt to rally the vote in favor of Democrats it would be one of the most poorly thought out ones conceivable. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/43 "2018-10-23T02:30:19Z")
> [@justins7](#): > > I wouldn’t be shocked if the horde was organized by Trump himself or his Russian partners. The timing is very suspicious. I doubt Trump himself is behind it; he’s too cheap and this is too subtle for him. But I strongly suspect some conservative PAC fronted the money to get these people on the move. I don’t know about the Russians. I think Putin would be just as happy seeing the Democrats winning control of Congress with Trump remaining in office. Putin’s interest is in America having a dysfunctional government and conflict between Congress and Trump would further that. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/44 "2018-10-23T06:51:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > that is a very long way to walk. I can’t see many people actually finishing the trek. There is really little hope they will succeed. Or on the other hand, it could become a huge wave: > [@Skywatcher](#): > > 7200 and **growing** according to the UN After a month of walking, some will drop out, but several thousand will still be on the move. And after a month of constant publicity, the final few days will draw a LOT of followers, and a LOT of TV news cameras. As the caravan reaches, say, an easy 3 day walk to the US border, the thousands of Hondurans may find that thousands of local Mexicans join the bandwagon. Some might just do it for a show of support, and then drop out. But others will be trying to get to America,perhaps after being afraid to try on their own, but now feel emboldened and hopeful by being part of a large group. So this may not fizzle out.On the contrary, it could become a _huge_ political event. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/45 "2018-10-23T11:16:10Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Or on the other hand, it could become a huge wave: > > After a month of walking, some will drop out, but several thousand will still be on the move. > And after a month of constant publicity, the final few days will draw a LOT of followers, and a LOT of TV news cameras. > As the caravan reaches, say, an easy 3 day walk to the US border, the thousands of Hondurans may find that thousands of local Mexicans join the bandwagon. > Some might just do it for a show of support, and then drop out. > But others will be trying to get to America,perhaps after being afraid to try on their own, but now feel emboldened and hopeful by being part of a large group. > > So this may not fizzle out.On the contrary, it could become a _huge_ political event. Along with that, there are all those former migrants who have been deported before who can now join in. Heck anyone can. Even if they are not from central america but from places like the middle east or Africa. So I suspect the numbers will swell as they get close to the border. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/46 "2018-10-23T11:17:22Z")
Oh yeah. Because people from Africa who can’t even get on a plane to Europe will be getting in one to Mexico. That’s some real amazing illogic there. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/47 "2018-10-23T11:42:33Z")
Even if they average about 20 miles per day – a tall order walking through mixed terrain with children and (possibly) elderly migrants – they wouldn’t get to the border until well after election day. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/48 "2018-10-23T11:49:06Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Now I also think we really need to figure out what is causing the problems in their home countries and seek to help them so they wont need to immigrate. …[and yet the Republicans are planning to **cut** aid to those countries](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-45933845). Because that totally makes sense… ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/49 "2018-10-23T13:12:16Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > …[and yet the Republicans are planning to **cut** aid to those countries](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-45933845). Because that totally makes sense… I know, bad idea. Although I dont know what we could do to help them. People mention the war on drugs but would making drugs legal really help the mass poverty down there? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/50 "2018-10-23T14:18:08Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I know, bad idea. Although I dont know what we could do to help them. If you believe that it is a bad idea, don’t tell us about it-we already know. Write your congresscritters and your President and tell _them_ what you think, or organize groups to get your point across, or vote people that support this crap out of office. Unless of course your post is just lip service and you feel that, no matter how bad it gets, the ends justify the means as long as Your Team Wins. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/51 "2018-10-23T14:47:15Z")
I disagree that this is a good things for Republicans, or Trump. If they actually reach the border, it will be portrayed in the media in the worst possible light. Much like the the children being separated a few months ago. The fact is that decades of weak enforcement of our immigration laws and caused this problem. But while we should help legitimate refugees, WE need to be in charge of who comes in and who doesn’t. The best thing Trump can do is make this Mexico’s problem and close the border. Not a good thing to do, but seems like it’s his best option. After this episode is over, we should put more emphasis on helping countries like Guatemala and Honduras. And we should also do whatever we have to do to let people thinking about coming here in the future that you will NOT get in if you s=just show up at the border. Period ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/52 "2018-10-23T15:07:25Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Never has been perfect. > > But how do you think another country like say Canada, would approve of 5,000 Americans waving American flags, marching to their border with the intent of demanding asylum? Since the recent Presidential election many Canadians are surprised this has not already happened. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/53 "2018-10-23T15:08:08Z")
Can someone explain why giving more money to these countries will make things better? It’s an honest question. If the basic problem is with corruption in the government, then giving the government more money could make things worse. Maybe there is a way to give aid in such a way that it’s sure to go to the people who need it and not end up in the hands of corrupt officials and/or gangs and cartels. If so, is that what we are doing now and do we know who to do more of it? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/54 "2018-10-23T15:12:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Can someone explain why giving more money to these countries will make things better? It’s an honest question. If the basic problem is with corruption in the government, then giving the government more money could make things worse. … Legitimate questions. I’m not sure whether gov’t corruption can be separated from organized crime in those countries. I DO KNOW it would be a lot easier and cheaper to build walls down there than up here! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/55 "2018-10-23T15:15:54Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Legitimate questions. I’m not sure whether gov’t corruption can be separated from organized crime in those countries. Exactly. I know this was a huge problem in certain African countries, especially Somalia. I really don’t know much about Honduras and El Salvador, but I don’t generally think of then as hotbeds of liberal democracy. Costa Rica may be “the Switzerland of Central America”, but that’s Costa Rica. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/56 "2018-10-23T15:16:29Z")
NBC news is saying it’s an organization called [Pueblo Sin Fronteras](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/who-s-behind-migrant-caravan-drew-trump-s-ire-n862566) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/57 "2018-10-23T15:19:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Exactly. I know this was a huge problem in certain African countries, especially Somalia. I really don’t know much about Honduras and El Salvador, but I don’t generally think of then as hotbeds of liberal democracy. Costa Rica may be “the Switzerland of Central America”, but that’s Costa Rica. Costa Rica mostly abolished their army, and broke the perpetual cycle of coup d’etats and juntas. Maybe the Founding Fathers were right about standing armies. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/58 "2018-10-23T15:19:54Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I know, bad idea. Although I dont know what we could do to help them. People mention the war on drugs but would making drugs legal really help the mass poverty down there? Not immediately, but it would make it possible for the people growing plant-based ones to sell them legally. Pharma, tobacco and fairtrade companies would be over that in a NY second. **John Mace** , the aid doesn’t have to go through the government, and it doesn’t have to be in the form of money. Building schools and hospitals; urbanizing areas (roadworks, waterworks); sending Peace Corps people and other government-paid human resources; setting up channels for companies and other groups from different countries to network with each other; working with NGOs. All those are forms of aid which a government can do which are more targetted and less vulnerable to corruption than the “just give money to the government” which some people seem to think of when they hear “foreign aid”. The networking thing doesn’t have to be for commerce: the guy handling garbage disposal in my Costa Rican customer wanted to try his hand at composting but didn’t even know how to begin, I knew my local garbage-disposal people back home did compost and were in fact considered cutting-edge for it, so I introduced them to each other; being a non-profit government organization, “my” garbage-disposal people were super-happy to help (plus I suspect they didn’t mind a chance at another publishable study). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/59 "2018-10-23T16:08:30Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > **John Mace** , the aid doesn’t have to go through the government, and it doesn’t have to be in the form of money. Building schools and hospitals; urbanizing areas (roadworks, waterworks); sending Peace Corps people and other government-paid human resources; setting up channels for companies and other groups from different countries to network with each other; working with NGOs. All those are forms of aid which a government can do which are more targetted and less vulnerable to corruption than the “just give money to the government” which some people seem to think of when they hear “foreign aid”. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/60 "2018-10-23T16:48:05Z")
So what is the stance of Democratic candidates on this caravan so far? We know what the Republican stance will in all likelihood be - don’t let them in - but have any of the D’s said anything publicly yet? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326.md?page=4)