The Immigration "Problem"
Hey Folks,
It has been said – quite wisely I believe – that any system that exists is perfectly designed to deliver just what it delivers. Ignoring this reality leads to such mistaken analysis as demonstrated in the Columbus Dispatch editorial posted below.
The editorial bemoans the situation regarding “illegal immigration.” It describes two opposing factions: those who benefit monetarily from employing these inexpensive, hard-working immigrants and those who fear the immigrants are a threat to legal Americans’ ability to make a living, a threat to the dominant Anglo culture, and a weight on the taxpayer for schools, health care, social services, etc.
The editorial ignores the plight of the third group, the actual immigrants, altogether.
After setting up the dichotomy and discussing various “compromises” it says are going nowhere, the editorial ends with:
“This is not a surprise, nor is it unusual in American history. There have been numerous instances in which Americans have agonized for years over a social or economic issue before taking a side or reconciling themselves to a compromise.
With illegal immigration, neither outcome appears to be at hand.”
This leaves one feeling that since nothing has been “compromised” nothing is going on, but it ignores the fact that the system HAS been and WILL CONTINUE to produce EXACTLY what it is designed for: increasing the wealth of a few people at the expense of the rest of us – including the exploited illegal immigrants.
We do not have immigration problems because the system is broken; the system is DESIGNED to MAINTAIN the “problems.” For the few in a position to control the system, illegal immigration is a “blessing”! and one they fully intend to keep receiving!
That’s why “There have been numerous [historical] instances in which Americans have agonized for years over a social or economic issue.” And “agonized” is the correct word. The rich vampires who have always been in charge of this plantation don’t care whether we “agonize” forever over what WE see as a problem – as long as THEY can painlessly profit from it!
It’s always been that way; the system is designed to make it so – whether the good editors at the Dispatch are ready to admit it or not – perhaps they are naïve, or perhaps they are just clouding the issue – sounding concerned and erudite, but actually propagandizing for the Titans’ benefit!
In any case, we ought to take the World Can’t Wait call to drive out the Bush Regime seriously. Nothing will change until the system changes.
- Uke Man
Divided, we stall
Americans cannot make up their minds about illegal immigration
Thursday, December 29, 2005
The topic of illegal immigration can make people livid, never more so than now. In recent months, a series of incidents and legislative proposals has brought the issue to the forefront.
The problem is, Americans have contradictory views of illegal immigrants, and until the contradictions are resolved, little is likely to be accomplished.
Earlier this year, a Butler County tavern owner made the news when he posted a sign requiring customers to order in English or do without service. The sign was declared discriminatory by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, but the incident helped fuel calls to make English Ohio’s official language.
The Butler County sheriff wants federal authorities to reimburse him for the cost of jailing illegal aliens. And a state lawmaker from Butler County wants to pass a law that would allow police to expel illegal immigrants from the state as trespassers.
In Congress there is a proposal to override the constitutional provision that declares that anyone born on U.S. soil, even those whose parents are noncitizens, is a U.S. citizen. Supporters of this change say that many foreigners sneak into the country to give birth so that, when the child is 18, he can use his citizenship to bring other family members into the United States.
But despite making headlines and generating much discussion, such proposals have not gotten very far.
On one side are those Americans who point to the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants and see a threat to the livelihoods and security of U.S. citizens. Since the largest group of these illegal aliens are Spanish speakers, the threat is seen as linguistic and cultural, as well.
In the view of many Americans, illegal immigrants impose costs on police, schools, social-service agencies and the health-care system. And since 9/11, the ease with which foreigners cross into the country raises fears of terrorists doing the same.
On the other hand are Americans who benefit from the labor provided by illegal immigrants.
These immigrants can be found building housing, harvesting farm produce and landscaping around homes and businesses throughout the country. They work hard and they work cheap, satisfying a demand for low-wage labor.
Probably at least one argument about this issue has occurred over dinner in a restaurant where the reasonable prices are due in part to the cheap labor of illegal immigrants who are cooking the food, washing the dishes and clearing tables.
The GOP-controlled Congress feels pressure from both sides. Many conservatives want strong action to stem the tide of illegal immigration. But powerful business interests want the cheap labor immigrants provide.
Politically, the issue is deadlocked, too. Republicans could mollify one part of their base by cracking down on illegal immigration but thereby risk losing Hispanic voters.
President Bush, former governor of a border state who is very familiar with the issue, has tried to find a middle way that offers something to both sides. He has proposed to beef up border-control efforts to prevent illegals from entering the country, while creating a guest-worker program that would allow foreigners to remain in the United States for up to six years before returning home and reapplying for admission.
But his idea has not caught on, and the opposing sides of the debate remain entrenched.
This is not a surprise, nor is it unusual in American history. There have been numerous instances in which Americans have agonized for years over a social or economic issue before taking a side or reconciling themselves to a compromise.
With illegal immigration, neither outcome appears to be at hand.
It has been said – quite wisely I believe – that any system that exists is perfectly designed to deliver just what it delivers. Ignoring this reality leads to such mistaken analysis as demonstrated in the Columbus Dispatch editorial posted below.
The editorial bemoans the situation regarding “illegal immigration.” It describes two opposing factions: those who benefit monetarily from employing these inexpensive, hard-working immigrants and those who fear the immigrants are a threat to legal Americans’ ability to make a living, a threat to the dominant Anglo culture, and a weight on the taxpayer for schools, health care, social services, etc.
The editorial ignores the plight of the third group, the actual immigrants, altogether.
After setting up the dichotomy and discussing various “compromises” it says are going nowhere, the editorial ends with:
“This is not a surprise, nor is it unusual in American history. There have been numerous instances in which Americans have agonized for years over a social or economic issue before taking a side or reconciling themselves to a compromise.
With illegal immigration, neither outcome appears to be at hand.”
This leaves one feeling that since nothing has been “compromised” nothing is going on, but it ignores the fact that the system HAS been and WILL CONTINUE to produce EXACTLY what it is designed for: increasing the wealth of a few people at the expense of the rest of us – including the exploited illegal immigrants.
We do not have immigration problems because the system is broken; the system is DESIGNED to MAINTAIN the “problems.” For the few in a position to control the system, illegal immigration is a “blessing”! and one they fully intend to keep receiving!
That’s why “There have been numerous [historical] instances in which Americans have agonized for years over a social or economic issue.” And “agonized” is the correct word. The rich vampires who have always been in charge of this plantation don’t care whether we “agonize” forever over what WE see as a problem – as long as THEY can painlessly profit from it!
It’s always been that way; the system is designed to make it so – whether the good editors at the Dispatch are ready to admit it or not – perhaps they are naïve, or perhaps they are just clouding the issue – sounding concerned and erudite, but actually propagandizing for the Titans’ benefit!
In any case, we ought to take the World Can’t Wait call to drive out the Bush Regime seriously. Nothing will change until the system changes.
- Uke Man
Divided, we stall
Americans cannot make up their minds about illegal immigration
Thursday, December 29, 2005
The topic of illegal immigration can make people livid, never more so than now. In recent months, a series of incidents and legislative proposals has brought the issue to the forefront.
The problem is, Americans have contradictory views of illegal immigrants, and until the contradictions are resolved, little is likely to be accomplished.
Earlier this year, a Butler County tavern owner made the news when he posted a sign requiring customers to order in English or do without service. The sign was declared discriminatory by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, but the incident helped fuel calls to make English Ohio’s official language.
The Butler County sheriff wants federal authorities to reimburse him for the cost of jailing illegal aliens. And a state lawmaker from Butler County wants to pass a law that would allow police to expel illegal immigrants from the state as trespassers.
In Congress there is a proposal to override the constitutional provision that declares that anyone born on U.S. soil, even those whose parents are noncitizens, is a U.S. citizen. Supporters of this change say that many foreigners sneak into the country to give birth so that, when the child is 18, he can use his citizenship to bring other family members into the United States.
But despite making headlines and generating much discussion, such proposals have not gotten very far.
On one side are those Americans who point to the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants and see a threat to the livelihoods and security of U.S. citizens. Since the largest group of these illegal aliens are Spanish speakers, the threat is seen as linguistic and cultural, as well.
In the view of many Americans, illegal immigrants impose costs on police, schools, social-service agencies and the health-care system. And since 9/11, the ease with which foreigners cross into the country raises fears of terrorists doing the same.
On the other hand are Americans who benefit from the labor provided by illegal immigrants.
These immigrants can be found building housing, harvesting farm produce and landscaping around homes and businesses throughout the country. They work hard and they work cheap, satisfying a demand for low-wage labor.
Probably at least one argument about this issue has occurred over dinner in a restaurant where the reasonable prices are due in part to the cheap labor of illegal immigrants who are cooking the food, washing the dishes and clearing tables.
The GOP-controlled Congress feels pressure from both sides. Many conservatives want strong action to stem the tide of illegal immigration. But powerful business interests want the cheap labor immigrants provide.
Politically, the issue is deadlocked, too. Republicans could mollify one part of their base by cracking down on illegal immigration but thereby risk losing Hispanic voters.
President Bush, former governor of a border state who is very familiar with the issue, has tried to find a middle way that offers something to both sides. He has proposed to beef up border-control efforts to prevent illegals from entering the country, while creating a guest-worker program that would allow foreigners to remain in the United States for up to six years before returning home and reapplying for admission.
But his idea has not caught on, and the opposing sides of the debate remain entrenched.
This is not a surprise, nor is it unusual in American history. There have been numerous instances in which Americans have agonized for years over a social or economic issue before taking a side or reconciling themselves to a compromise.
With illegal immigration, neither outcome appears to be at hand.
1 Comments:
Hi Tom,
Hey, they can't even make up their minds about LEGAL immigrants here in Ohio. There was a story on NPR this morning about all the Somalis who have been brought to Ohio by various church groups. It seems they have very large families which can not be supported on the low wages they are able to make. All of the cash they were given is gone and many are on welfare rolls. Now the complaining begins. Sondra
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