The
Democrats have
conceded the immigration issue to the Republicans because they benefit equally
from it. Not only do both groups require exploitative "guest worker
programs" for their corporate donors, but also benefit immensely from the
scapegoating effect. For example, the Democrats are now beginning to be
correctly viewed by most Americans as "tools of Wall Street",
especially after the bank
bailouts. Better that the resulting rage be directed towards
society's most vulnerable people.
This is why it is especially sad that labor unions and
some national immigrant right's organizations have opportunistically fallen
behind the Democrats/Republicans "immigration reform," the inevitable result of
which will be further border militarization and consequent deaths along the
border, while increasing immigrant scapegoating and consequent hate crimes.
Workplace intimidation will also increase.
If the emerging reform becomes law, it
will be a springboard for the extreme right, like the Minutemen, who will
benefit from the bill's scapegoating essence, while also incorrectly denouncing
the Republicans and Democrats for granting "amnesty."
The honest "left," therefore, must do the
opposite. Promoting "amnesty for all" is the only consistent, progressive
argument around immigration - all others fall victim to the evils of
scapegoating and "border security." The foundation for an "equality for
all" argument lies not only in the fact that immigrants are workers too, but in
recognition that the immigration issue is used as a central wedge to divide and
conquer all working people, thus allowing a tiny financial elite to dominate
the country in the pursuit of endless wars and corporate bailouts.
"Give me your tired, your poor," ¨ your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," ¨ The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." ¨ Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, " ¨I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Shamus Cooke is a social service worker, trade unionist,
and writer for Workers Action (www.workerscompass.org). He can be reached at shamuscook@yahoo.com
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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