The Rallies
Captain Ed has a good general look. In particular he notes that 25% of school kids were absent yesterday in the LA school district. Doing the math, that accounts for about 2.4billion dollars worth of taxes in one school district in one year. There's going to be a lot of math taking place.
It's hard to say what the fallout will be from these rallies. Certainly the publicity always brings out the crazies. So we're likely to hear more stories about real bigots being idiots. With any luck these rallies will open people's eyes to the true numbers we're talking here and the govt can get moving. They can't agree on "comprehensive" policy, so start with step one. Fix the borders! Whether it's a fence or more enforcement. Step one. Just take it.
Steps 2-20 can deal with the people who are here. But take step one.
Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post really goes out on a limb today. He suggests that while the civil rights movement and this nascent movement are completely different, they ought to be working together.
I don't think that's the issue at all. The people rallying suggest they have a right to be here. Even without paperwork. The businesses here, want those illegals here because it helps with the low wage job issue. If the illegals gain their paperwork why on earth would they continue to hold the low wage jobs? So then what.....well, wash, rinse, repeat. If the borders aren't closed, then the businesses here will need low wage laborers. Then the people will come with or without papers.
Sheesh - doesn't it all seem so simple? Close the borders, increase the number of allowable work passes to what is actually needed. Ignore the 12 million already here who arrived illegally. Don't deport them unless they are caught in another crime just like we do today. Don't put them at the head of the line of immigrants, they didn't wait their turn before. And by all means don't make them the single issue that is keeping you from securing out borders!!
It's hard to say what the fallout will be from these rallies. Certainly the publicity always brings out the crazies. So we're likely to hear more stories about real bigots being idiots. With any luck these rallies will open people's eyes to the true numbers we're talking here and the govt can get moving. They can't agree on "comprehensive" policy, so start with step one. Fix the borders! Whether it's a fence or more enforcement. Step one. Just take it.
Steps 2-20 can deal with the people who are here. But take step one.
Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post really goes out on a limb today. He suggests that while the civil rights movement and this nascent movement are completely different, they ought to be working together.
For the two groups to fight over low-skilled, low-wage jobs would be a tragic waste of time and effort. The issue is how both African Americans and Latinos can claim a fair share of this nation's vast wealth and opportunity, not how we can wrestle the scraps from one another. The issue is who gets to occupy the corner office during working hours, not who gets to clean it at night.
Congress may do something reasonable on immigration, giving the estimated 12 million people already here without papers a chance to become citizens or legal residents, but there's no guarantee.
I don't think that's the issue at all. The people rallying suggest they have a right to be here. Even without paperwork. The businesses here, want those illegals here because it helps with the low wage job issue. If the illegals gain their paperwork why on earth would they continue to hold the low wage jobs? So then what.....well, wash, rinse, repeat. If the borders aren't closed, then the businesses here will need low wage laborers. Then the people will come with or without papers.
Sheesh - doesn't it all seem so simple? Close the borders, increase the number of allowable work passes to what is actually needed. Ignore the 12 million already here who arrived illegally. Don't deport them unless they are caught in another crime just like we do today. Don't put them at the head of the line of immigrants, they didn't wait their turn before. And by all means don't make them the single issue that is keeping you from securing out borders!!
posted by Terri at
6:42 AM
