British Satirist John Oliver, of HBO's Last Week Tonight, delivered unto the American people more than a few truths in his show's season finale this past Saturday. Among them include a thorough breakdown of the Syrian refugee vetting process and a 10 minute tirade on the value of penny that explains just how worthless the coin is.
Since the Paris attacks, many people have been panicking about terrorists smuggling themselves into the US as Syrian refugees. Governors of many states are even refusing to take the refugees because of the panic it is causing. So, Oliver took the time to explain exactly why it would make more sense for a terrorist to simply use a Visa than to pose as a refugee.
First, it should be noted that the refugee vetting process takes between 18 and 24 months, not including the amount of time it takes for the United Nations to run their preliminary checks to see if they will even recommend someone for resettlement. Only 1% of all refugees who apply to the UN are approved. If a refugee is among that 1%, they might then be referred to the State Department where the real fun begins.
Ahead of them, they have up to two years worth of rigorous screenings from the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security as well as interviews with the USCIS, health scans and eventually, cultural reorientation classes.
Why would a terrorist put themselves through so much hassle, when there are far easier ways to get into this country... Like using a Visa to pose as a tourist?
On a lighter note, Oliver's penny sermon was just as enlightening if not nearly as serious. Over the course of 10 minutes, he explains that pennies cost more to make than they are worth and "there are no alternative metal compositions that [would] reduce the manufacturing unit cost of the penny below its market value."
If this is the case, why do we even still keep them around? Apparently, no one wants to give up Abraham Lincoln's likeness even though it can also be found on the $5 bill and there is some group called Americans for Common Cents that simply will not let the coin go.
