Ron Unz: Raise the Minimum Wage As Part of Amnesty
“American businesses can certainly afford to provide better pay given that corporate profits have reached an all-time high while wages have fallen to their lowest share of national GDP in history. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of our lowest paying jobs are in the non-tradeable service sector, rendering them immune from foreign competition. A major factor keeping wages low has been the large annual influx of new immigrant labor, which steadily reduces the bargaining power of existing workers, especially including all previous immigrants. Only the power of the federal government can halt this downward spiral into national impoverishment for most Americans by setting a reasonable floor on wages,” says Run Unz in a new article at Salon.
NC Sheriffs Oppose Amnesty
“A North Carolina sheriff is sounding the alarm about immigration enforcement and calling on other law enforcement officials and lawmakers to oppose the Senate immigration bill. Rockingham Sherriff Sam Page has been a vocal opponent of the Gang of Eight’s immigration reform plan, saying it lacks a focus and real solutions to immigration enforcement,” the Daily Caller says.
“Page, co-chair of the National Sheriffs Association’s Border Security and Immigration Committee, has taken his message to the White House, halls of Congress, and embarked on a letter-writing campaign against the legislation.”
House GOP Remains Opposed to Amnesty
“In a sign that immigration reform still faces steep odds in the House, Reuters reports that a significant number of House Republicans are still not convinced that an immigration bill would help GOP outreach to Latino voters. Reuters quotes one representative, Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, capturing the mood of many of his colleagues this way: ‘There is no evidence to support this idea that Republicans will pick up a lot of votes if we give amnesty to 11 million folks,'” the Washington Post says.
Amnesty Supports Won’t Confront the Wage Issue
“It’s astounding that Jennifer Rubin can write an article attacking the lack of “coherent arguments” from immigration skeptics without once mentioning those skeptics’ primary argument, but she pulled off just that in a blog post this morning at the Washington Post,” says Justin Green at the Daily Beast.
“Spin it as you will, but what this reform will do is legalize millions of unskilled laborers and condemn the native born working class to dimished career prospects at the same time fiscal realities necessitate a drawback of the American welfare state.”
5 Comments
FAIR is run by very nice people with good and noble intentions.
However, they were founded in 1979. Since this date, our immigration situation – both legal and illegal – has exponentially worsened each year. Perhaps it’s time that FAIR rethinks its strategy.
My own solution is the change Congress with pro-FAIR candidates.
It would not be hard to identify key geographic sectors where a FAIR-supported candidate will win. It is important to remember that more than 10 years ago in the most liberal state of the union – California – citizens voted overwhelmingly on a statewide voter initiative to end government funding to illegals – Prop 209 (later overturned by the courts- why?). So, it is clear that Americans of all ages and nationalities support the work of FAIR.
It is time to actually do something about it – changing Congress is the only way, and the most effective way to do this. Otherwise, FAIR will simply be what it is now – a reactionary and rather ineffective organization. It’s time to get on the offensive, and stop playing defense.
Tom
the GOP better focus on its American constituency and forget about the latinos, if the GOP loses its American constituency they can start walking home today, I am confident then that republicans will form another party without the old guard…
I think a lot of people, finally, are starting to get the idea that the big push behind the mass immigration of the last three decades has been by companies trying to drive wages and benefits to nothing, while the already overburdened American taxpayers picks up all the other costs of providing services. And instead of forcing an increase in the minimum wage, do the logical thing and cut immigration to a trickle. Like it was in the 50s and 60s when the middle and working class in this country did very well. Wages will rise on their own as companies have to pay to get the American workers they want and need. They will also be more willing to train Americans if they have no choice but to do that.
And it is an absolute fact that voting for amnesty is a lose/lose for the GOP. It simply makes more voters for the other side and if anyone thinks demands by the professional ethnic groups end at amnesty, they are indeed foolish. That will only be followed by other complaints of victimization which will be expected to be catered to.
I Agree Leland
Ask practically everyone if they think our Democrats and Republicans open border politicians [most of them] have gone Fascist on us; they all mostly agree, they simply don’t care about voters anymore…..a BIG difference from even a few years ago, when most of us thought we had two parties when it came to amnesty/overpopulation.
Edmund Burke said it in 1795:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
I’d add too to Burke’s statement…..Americans have a big heart and even BIGGER resolve….there is more hope now than a few years ago….they aren’t fooling us anymore.
What do you exactly mean Leland???….a lot of people???…the Gov at fault??? you are mistaken……The People are the ones that took the cheap labor…………..not the Gov……we already knew this for decades…………….