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Badges? We Don't Need No Badges.
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5/2/2006
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So as predicted, several major cities across the nation were completely brought to their knees when Latin Americans came together in a show of solidarity and refused to work in protest of the immigration reform bill.
Or rather, no one really noticed. I mean, grass only grows at about a quarter of an inch a day...they'd probably have to take like a week off before you'd really notice they quit...
I'm kidding. Shut up.
In Atlanta, at least, the chaos was largely centered around the northeast perimeter area, AKA Gwinnexico. I totally feel for their struggle, but all they did around here is shut down commerce in their own neighborhoods, not getting much attention from those of us who went about our daily lives.
I'm not against them or their cause- I have my share of passion about the immigration issue, and frankly I am very impressed at how effectively such a large group was organized and put in motion and how they all showed up in one car. I'M SORRY. I TAKE THE LOW-HANGING JOKE ONCE IN A WHILE, OKAY? Other protesty-type groups could learn a lot from them, including (for the most part) how to craft a message that doesn't make you seem whiny, bitter, and lots of fun to run over with a car.
*cough* war protestors *cough*
This is the part where I should preface my argument by telling you I have tons of Mexican friends and wrongly assume that that somehow validates my point of view. I don't and it doesn't. The few Mexican friends I have are here legally and are college grads who have pretty much the same mindset I do about it. I also have a couple of Cuban friends, and Cubans are the most fiercely patriotic American citizens I have ever met, having in some cases experienced communism firsthand and not merely via textbooks. I just call them Mexican because I'm an insensitive prick.
After hearing the arguments and reading up on the issue a bit, I have found myself erring on the side of not being an idiot. In fact, I really have a hard time believing that anyone actually ascribes to any of the main schools of thought I have been hearing about.
Solution 1: The Open Border Model- Amnesty for everyone! Hold hands and sing happy songs until our economy collapses.
Yeah, just open the gates and let everyone in without any attention being paid to documentation or intent. After all, America's infrastructure is infinitely sustainable and cannot be overburdened. Here's a news flash- something like 5,000 illegal aliens are coming over every day as it is right now, and we currently have a problem. Letting more people live here without paying into the system really feels warm and friendly, but as with most arguments that have zero logic behind them, it will only work for a little while before it goes down the toilet.
Solution 2: Round 'em up and Send 'em back to Tacoland!
Seriously, go to hell you ignorant redneck. You propose we find 250,000 buses and just go door to door and ask everyone who isn't properly documented to leave and not come back? If you think this is a viable solution, try and wrap your mind around a few logistic issues for a moment-
1. You are talking about millions of people.
2. By virtue of the fact that they are undocumented, you don't really know where they are.
3. Even if you found them, you'd have to prove that they are illegal.
4. You might as well let them get off the buses in Texas, because they'll be back there within the hour.
5. You are an idiot.
Solution 3: A poorly thought-out piece of legislation that probably won't pass.
There are several versions of this, so I'll just go over the high points. Most of the proposed legislation includes some sort of work visa that employers can use for jobs that "can't be filled by Americans." Great idea- This job can't be filled by an American because I don't want to pay him $30 an hour, so tell Juan to be here at nine a.m. Screw the work visa- force a minimum wage and destroy the incentive to hire illegal workers. Then they will still get the jobs because they work harder. Amazing, huh? Of course, a head of lettuce will cost $400, but let's not split hairs...
Another version had this draconian naturalization process that included (among other things) a $6000 fine, all back taxes, a 12 year wait just to be considered, and a requirement that they learn English during that time. I think most people in this country have a better chance of success if they are able to speak English, and most would like learn the language if they had the opportunity, but 6 grand is a little steep. Plus, how stupid do you think these people are that they will give up what they have been doing (and getting away with) for years and years just so they can have the honor of paying back taxes in hopes of being considered for citizenship in 2018?
I don't have the answer, or even a very good idea. I'm a blogger and I just point stuff out that I think is stupid and make fun of people. As with most political issues, I do think the solution lies somewhere between the two parties' ideologies. This whole thing just seems to be an area where the party lines could stand to blur a bit and possibly use some good ideas from both sides to solve something. Unfortunately, most of them are too busy towing their ridiculous party line to admit that anyone else might actually have a point. I am increasingly alarmed by that.
Maybe we should start by sending the politicians back to Mexico. They will be replaced by normal people with common sense where their political background should be. Then everybody start speaking Spanish while they're gone and when they come back they can clean our gutters. I'd pay $2.50 an hour to have Howard Dean edge my yard and ask for a glass of water in broken Spanish.
Me for president as soon as I'm old enough.
 Dusty
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posted by Dusty at 8:19 PM |
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18 Comments:
Me too! All making fun of yourself aside, this was very well-thought out and put together. Kudos.
-H
I am just glad that the "Mexicans" took the day off yesterday. They probably needed the rest. I actually got to sleep until 7:30 am! There wasn't any leaf blowers,lawn mowers or hedgers waking me up at 6:00am. But when I arrived at my office at 9am, I was rather pleased to see our bathroom attendant working deligently in my office complex. I gotta tell you, I was very surprized! My ride to work was pretty much peacful, and non-eventful. For the first time in a long time I didn't have a truck full of Mexicans yelling and whistling, licking their lips or winking at me...what the fuck? What is this world coming to?
Chika - are you sure you aren't one of my co-workers? I was just now review my FY06 Budget to Actual numbers...
dunderfunk.
Du-stee! Du-stee! Du-stee (I can't figure out how to put the upside down exclamation points in the post)!
He's got this blogging thing down pat I must say.
Great one this time Dusty. I just happen to think that those that come here illegally should know English, and if they don't, then they need to learn it.
How else do they expect to exist in a society where everyone speaks a different language than them? If they don't like the fact that they can't speak English, and hate it because no one listens to them because of that, then GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM DAMNIT!! They need to stop bitching at us because we don't take them seriously.
I know they work hard, and hard work is always appreciated, but do it legally for God's sake. Don't come here illegally and then DEMAND that I give you rights for simply existing. That alone should be worth a good extradition all by itself; preferably to a country far away from here, like Afghanistan, or better yet Siberia.
Ok, I'm done now.
where's the love? no new pork in eons... how do you expect me to kill all this time at work!
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