The VOLAGS of Minnesota

 

 

"VOLAGS have more power and influence than many people realize..."

Many decades ago, in fact over the past couple centuries, Minnesota was settled by immigrants. Most came here legally, and for the most part, settled in land whose topography, climate, and religion were similar to the country they left. In Minnesota, we ended up with quite a few Norwegians, Swedish, Finish, Germans and so on. And that is how the complexion of our state was determined for years. We were the Ole and Lena, "you betcha" state.

That was then and this is now. Anyone who has driven through parts of Minneapolis (who has done so for years), is in for a shock. Minneapolis looks nothing like the way it once did. The same is true for St. Paul, St, Cloud and a host of other smaller cities. However, it is Minneapolis which has become ground zero due to the power and effect of the VOLAGS.

For those who do not know, VOLAGS stands for "voluntary agencies". And Minnesota has some very powerful ones. They were active with the resettlement of the Hmong (mostly in St. Paul) and now the Somalis (mostly in Minneapolis). How does this work? In 1991 civil war breaks out in Somalia. Millions flee the country and go to refugee camps. The United States steps in and voluntarily takes a number of these people into our country. They are assigned to a region. How they are assigned is due primarily to the strength of the VOLAGS.

Minneapolis has the big three VOLAGS - Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities and World Relief Minnesota. They help receive the incoming immigrants, and get them "hooked up" with the necessary social services. Most of these services are provided by the local community and the state. Once the immigrants are "into the system", the heavy lifting of the VOLAGS is about over.

What started as a trickle in in the 1990's had turned into a flood today. With the population of Minneapolis being just over 400,000, it is currently estimated the Somali population is about 100,000. In fact, there are so many Somalis living in Minneapolis, it is sometimes referred to as "Little Mogadishu". What was once a Scandinavian city, is rapidly looking more like an Eastern African one.

So what is it that keeps people here who grew up in areas of the world with much a different climate, topography, customs and religion? Certainly there are other safe places in the world which offer more familiar and suitable surroundings. More and more citizens are starting to wonder "why Minneapolis?". Is it the more than generous welfare benefits? Is it the extreme Leftist tolerance? The PC? And is there a "cap" as to how many immigrants (who have very little English and labor skills) cities like Minneapolis will allow in before the output of benefits exceeds the input of tax dollars?

More questions than answers. Don't ask the VOLAGS however - they are on to bigger and better things. Obama's transformation of America is nothing compared to the transformation the VOLAGS are doing on cities like Minneapolis.