Xenophobes in Salem
By Bob Reinhardt of Salem, Oregon. Bob describes himself as a "Historian, Dog Owner, Red (in the traditional John Reed/revolutionary sense)"
A group calling themselves "Oregonians for Immigration Reform" is holding a rally in Salem tomorrow (Saturday) to "honor American heroes [the "Minutemen"] who are volunteering to protect our borders" (read: "Three cheers for xenophobic gun-owners who like to hunt less-fortunate humans!").
Among the fear- and hate-mongers will be "radio talk show hosts Victoria Taft and Richard Sturm and state Rep. Jeff Kropf, R-Sublimity." Apparently, the bigotry of the Columbia County Republicans has worked its way upstream into the Willamette Valley.
Sadly, though, the group claims some Dems among its ranks. If true, is this evidence--I fear it might be--that "liberal" Democrats are only willing to go so far with their progressivism? Let's hope that most of the Lefties in the crowd tomorrow will be booing, not cheering...
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Oct. 14, 2005
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3:28 p.m.
Oct 14, '05
there are a ton of registered Dems in this state who are anything but progressive. only a few miles to my east, Linn County has a majority of Dems registered, but damn if we can elect Dems. these folks have moved to the right over the years (and i think we can blame Reagan for much of that).
those who are registered Dem & supportive of the Minutemen (and what an obscene use of that historical term) probably vote R much of the time; i'm betting most of them should change their registration to the party they truly support.
somebody go & boo double loud for me!!
3:58 p.m.
Oct 14, '05
Sadly, though, the group claims some Dems among its ranks. If true, is this evidence--I fear it might be--that "liberal" Democrats are only willing to go so far with their progressivism? Let's hope that most of the Lefties in the crowd tomorrow will be booing, not cheering...
Maybe it's evidence that some liberal democrats do not favor the immediate abolition of national sovereignty as it relates to border enforcement.
Just as the racist Right is attracted to movements like the Minutemen, so also the one world Marxist movement is attracted to the opposition.
The fact that the positions of both of these fringe groups is based entirely on mythology and dogma should give us all pause when we start slinging epithets.
<hr/>We do have immigration laws om the books.
We are doing nothing to enforce them.
The Left is directly allied with employers who use these immigrants to artificially suppress wages of legal residents at the bottom of the ladder here in the US........
<hr/>Is this an outcome desired by true Progressives?
Oct 14, '05
Did anyone see the Ruben Navarette column (in the print version of the Statesman-Journal but I don't know where online) talking about this? I only skimmed it this morning, but there was something in there about a "3 strikes and you're out" policy for employers who hire illegal aliens.
5:10 a.m.
Oct 15, '05
The Left is directly allied with employers who use these immigrants to artificially suppress wages of legal residents at the bottom of the ladder here in the US........
Is this a true statement?
I don't think that the Left has much to do at all with the hiring of illegal immigrants. That would be the purvue of Oregon agricultural employers who are mostly Republicans and conservatives to boot.
I agree that if we were hauling employers of illegal immigrants off to jail, The Right would change its position on this overnight....
Oct 16, '05
Is it a true statement that illegals are depressing the wages of lower income earners? Or that there is a conspiricacy?
I am a small construction contractor and I can tell you that in that market I am in direct competition with the thieves and liars that hire illegals. With employee costs roughly 150% of wage that allows for a large labor advantage, do I want to pay more, yes, can I and still get work for them to do, no. The math is simple and the cure is simple, remove these people from the labor force. Employer sanctions have to have teeth and the border has to be enforced.
How does it disqualify me from the ranks of Democrats to resent the underpayment of hardworking legal US workers that are doing all the right things? Mexico, et al, are responsible for their economies, not the US worker. Just exactly what racism is involved? I give a rat's patoot about any of that in my hiring/retention, what I care about is that you're legal, work hard, and do good work.
Is it to the benefit of the Plutocrats to depress wages? US history says they will do it, given the opportunity, right up to where the bombs and guns start coming out. Is that what Bob Reinhardt is working toward, the Worker's Revolution, or is he just a plutocrat's shill? The market will drive labor prices, wishful thinking won't change that, not one of you home buyers will cough up $20K more than other buyers just to get an assurance that good wages are paid on your job, so wages will stay crap until something is done about the labor supply.
11:48 a.m.
Oct 17, '05
Dangit Chuck.
If you're going to insist on using actual facts and logic in your posts, you're gonna get a reputation as a Threadkiller.......
Oct 17, '05
I do NOT like being called a RACIST! Yes, we have many Democrat members, they are not racist either. They don't like Foreigner's being EXPLOITED! Boy oh boy, the Mexican Government has got you fooled dummy. So a Neighborhood Watch group is a BAD idea? ONLY AL Quida and other DRUG DEALERS and BAD guys want our Border wide open. Which one are you? How can 20 MILLION people fleeing their OIL & Tourism RICH Nation, convince YOU that it is OK?