'Riots' in Los Angeles demonstrate one of U.S.'s political problems

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of either CGTN or Robert Morris University.

There is a popular meme that shows multiple Spider Man characters pointing fingers of blame at each other. The meme is supposed to make people laugh because it suggests that instead of addressing a crisis, the superheroes are blaming each other for what is unfolding. But when real people – especially those who claim to be leaders – start pointing fingers, there is nothing funny about it.

An absence of leadership combined with a deliberate attempt to selfishly misguide public opinion is a bad look. And it is especially unacceptable in a country that speaks so often about its exceptionalism.

Unfortunately, that is the situation that continues to unfold in the United States and especially in California and Washington, D.C. On the West Coast, local and state officials are insisting the Trump administration is seeking to make a mountain out of a mole hill through its fiery rhetoric that suggests Los Angeles is gripped by large and vicious immigration-related riots. On the East Coast, it is arguing that California's leaders are basically doing nothing to contain an out-of-control mob.

Let's first address the protests. Anita Chabria, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, perhaps best described what is taking place there. She wrote, "Rocks being thrown, even Molotov cocktails. Masked protesters hammering at concrete pillars outside a downtown federal building. Cars on fire. All of this is terrible and those responsible should be arrested – by our local police and sheriffs, who are more than up to the job of handling a few hundred protesters. But 99 percent of this city is business as usual, with brunches and beach walks and church and yoga classes."

In other words, there is no crisis on the streets. And that leads to intriguing questions: Why did the president of the United States send the National Guard to the city? And why is he questioning whether an even stronger federal response might be necessary to contain…well, not much?

Los Angeles has experienced bloody riots. The most recent occurred more than 30 years ago. Then, following the acquittal of four white police officers in the beating of a black man, pockets of the city erupted. Widespread looting, attacks on private citizens and arson showed the nation and the world that Angelenos had declared war on each other. In 1992, the city’s mayor and the state's governor contacted the White House and asked for federal help to quell the unrest.

That is how the process is supposed to work: The states ask for help. But a few days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump simply ordered the National Guard to go to Los Angeles without any request from anyone in California. Such a move has added to the deep dislike he and California officials have for each other.

The president is either the bully or the hero, and California's leaders are either the upholders of democracy or absolute idiots. Notice how easy it is to either define oneself or an opponent in such simplistic ways? And much like the Spider Man characters in that meme, blame is soon delivered here, there and everywhere, and no one is addressing the bigger issue. That issue? Fixing the broken immigration policies that exist within the U.S.

Doing something meaningful about immigration will require Republicans and Democrats to sit down together and find a bipartisan solution. Here are just three of the challenging questions: What kind of amnesty should be set up for undocumented workers? How can the interests of business owners, who frankly need workers who accept low salaries, be met? How will the government ensure that families that cross the border illegally and are then caught remain together as their cases are discussed?

Difficult questions indeed; however right now in the U.S., it is far more fashionable to avoid the hard work and to instead blame the other side for being stubborn. Meanwhile, U.S. citizens grow increasingly uncertain about whether their elected officials are actually willing to figure out something. 

Pay attention as feckless politicians seek to score political points and generate favorable news coverage rather than roll up their sleeves to tackle the complexities of immigration. Ask yourself how such arrogance aligns with America being a responsible player on the global stage.

Also pay attention as Republicans think Democrats are seeking to destroy the country, and Democrats think Republicans want to send America back to the 1950s. Is this what the U.S. ought to be arguing about right now?

Sadly, Americans are used to their politicians saying that the other side is solely responsible for the crisis of the moment. And over the past few days, they have watched multiple Republican officials side with the Trump administration in insisting Los Angeles needs law and order to get straightened out. Meanwhile, Democrats, such as the city's mayor, the state's governor and former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, are demanding that the president backs off the rhetoric and instead admits that his draconian immigration policies are causing widespread fear.

When reckless rhetoric is high and sensible solutions are low, nothing meaningful can happen. That is America in the year 2025.

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