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Tag(s): Immigration; Immigration Deportation; Immigration Employment Illegal; Progressive Problems; Progressive Values - Issues
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June 15, 2007 at 10:57:50

Illegal Immigration: Left and right or top and bottom?

by Jim Arnold Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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The influx of illegal immigrants costs Americans their jobs and drives down their wages and salaries; the legalization of illegal immigrants will expand and institutionalize that trend. It’s that simple. The focus and discussion of every other aspect of the issue, to borrow a phrase from Lincoln, is just an intrigue.

The array of forces on each side of the immigration issue is not so simple. On the left there is a largely unspoken cleavage between the liberal elite and the people who work for a living. Union hierarchies see a potential expansion of dues collections. The Democratic Party leadership sees a potential expansion of votes. But the American working class, to the extent that they are conscious of the impact on their living standards, uncontaminated by racism and nationalism, see clearly the real negative prospects of the push for legalization.

On the right there’s a cleavage between the interests of employers enjoying cheap labor and a racist, nativist base. This is just another example of how the Grand Old Coalition doesn’t work so well outside morals legislation.

Hence the embarrassing assortment of bedfellows. Those with something to gain, left and right, against those with something to lose, left and right.

So what’s the solution, for progressives whose interests in living standards trump the collection of dues and votes? Advocate and enforce the existing laws against hiring illegals. Fine and/or jail the employers. Most illegals will go home and help solve the problems there that have driven them here.

All else is intrigue.

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3 comments

In progress
Samuel BryanIn progress

So, "Most illegals will go home

and help solve the problems there that have driven them here.”

Except, of course, for those problems caused by NAFTA and the massive U.S. corn export subsidies. We will need to solve those.

by Samuel Bryan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 122 comments) on Friday, June 15, 2007 at 1:44:01 PM

A member of Democratic Circles (DemocraticCircles.org), responsible for Internet publicity. A former visitant of UC Santa Cruz, union boilermaker, ex-Marine, Vietnam vet, anti-war activist, dilettante in science with an earth-shaking theory on the nature of light (which no one will consider), philosopher in the tradition of Hegel, Marx, and Fromm (no one listens to that either), author of a book on wine clubs (ahem), and cast-off programmer of ancient computer languages.
Jim ArnoldA member of Democratic Circles (DemocraticCircles.org), responsible for Internet publicity. A former visitant of UC Santa Cruz, union boilermaker, ex-Marine, Vietnam vet, anti-war activist, dilettante in science with an earth-shaking theory on the nature of light (which no one will consider), philosopher in the tradition of Hegel, Marx, and Fromm (no one listens to that either), author of a book on wine clubs (ahem), and cast-off programmer of ancient computer languages.

RE: So, "Most illegals will go home

I agree.

by Jim Arnold (12 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 80 comments) on Friday, June 15, 2007 at 2:06:37 PM

Cameron Salisbury is a biostatistician, epidemiologist and grant writer living in Atlanta. For more camsalis go to: www.opedinfo.com
Cameron SalisburyCameron Salisbury is a biostatistician, epidemiologist and grant writer living in Atlanta. For more camsalis go to: www.opedinfo.com

This author is so right.

There is a vast, unacknowledged gulf regarding illegal immigration between elected Democrats and their so-called constituents. Americans of all political persuasions are equally opposed to the tsunami of uneducated, unskilled, costly new neighbors forced on us by illegally open borders. The tired and moronic comparison of these aliens with earlier waves of immigration is beyond stupid. Those immigrants were legal, for starters. They were also screened for disease and often, skills. They weren't allowed to bring in their grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren or other assorted hangers on. All you folks who want to call me names for stating the obvious are welcome to pay my escalating property tax bill as we struggle to pay for the schools and medical care of millions of illiegal aliens.

by Cameron Salisbury (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 17 comments) on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 9:34:28 AM